From the Editor: We're Here!
So we've gone and done it... separated from our former parent organization (GLSEN) to form our own local grassroots group: Respect Sacramento. Many folks called, wrote, or emailed their congratulations and offers of help or support and we thank you all.
A few wanted to know if there was something "wrong" with GLSEN or was there some precipitating event or conflict that led up to our decision. I can honestly say no to all those questions. The fact is that we (those of us on the local board) have been operating as a fairly autonomous group for so long anyway that when GLSEN National began to make some restructuring moves last year, we began to ask ourselves if we could make a go of it on our own. And after months of discussion, we agreed that it would be better for all concerned that we separate. And so we did. No acrimony, no anger. We wish GLSEN well, and they sent back their response that, while saddened at our departure, they wish us all the best, too.
But we fully realize that we have our work cut out for us, much as we did before. Many districts and schools in our area are starting to get the idea that providing safe environments for all students is not a luxury, but there are many schools that are behind the curve. That's where we come in.
We are beginning to see ourselves more as local problem solvers and consultants than activists and demonstrators. While we are certainly advocates and activists, we are coming to see that helping schools provide environments conducive to learning that includes all students is a far more productive endeavor for us than event-oriented marketing or national campaigns. We see value in the work that other organizations like GLSEN do; we just see ourselves as better at doing other things -- with more flexibility and local focus. We look forward to continuing this work, with your help and support, in the months and years to come.Come to Our First Party: Tuesday September 13!
The whole community is invited to our coming out "birthday party" on Tuesday, September 13 from 5:30 to 8 pm at Butch and Nellie's Coffee House at 1827 I Street in midtown Sacramento. Will the whole community fit? Well, we'll see. We have food, drinks, and of course a birthday cake! Meet all the board members and some of the students who contribute to and benefit from all our work. We really hope to see all those from the LGBT and education communities who are dedicated to making schools safe and affirming places for LGBT people--students, staff, and parents alike. Join our email group on Yahoo!
We've changed our name and our email group on Yahoo! has changed, too. You can join by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/respectsacramento/ and clicking on "Join this group!" Once you join, you can post messages and news for the whole community. I post articles of interest to the LGBT education community culled from news services such as 365gay.com, Topix, and The New York Times, as well as local items sent to me from a variety of sources. Even if you don't join, you can always visit the site and read the posts; all posts are viewable for members and non-members alike. Only members can post to the group. Our Next and Future Meetings
Our regular meeting time and place will remain the same as it was when we were part of the GLSEN network: on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Lambda Community Center, 1927 L Street in midtown Sacramento.
But note well: our September meeting will be our Birthday party on Tuesday September 13 at Butch and Nellie's (see above). We'll return to our usual Wednesday meeting time on October 12. Sac City schools update
Here's a little update for all those community supporters who took the time and energy to let the Sacramento City Unified School District know that their actions are being monitored to ensure that they are living up to their promise to protect LGBT youth in their schools.
Respect Sacramento members and other observers attended the SCUSD adminstrators' training last week and report that the trainers the district hired (lawyers) were "wonderful" and youth voices were incorporated into the training to bring home the importance of the issue. Our members report that the presenters were excellent in their delivery, humor, and firm tone on LGBT issues.
Thanks again to all those in our community who helped achieve this remarkable first victory for our students. You can be proud of the progress we have made toward training for all personnel in the district. LGBT student and teacher voices needed for new books
Professor Ian K. Macgillivray of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia passes along two requests:
Laurie Stapleton, a doctoral candidate from Stanford University, would
like to interview GLBTQ students and teachers about their experiences on high school campuses. Interviews will be used for a book scheduled for
publication in Spring, 2006. If you know a recent or current high school
student or teacher who might wish to participate, please email Laurie at:lstapleton@stanford.edu.
Dr. Macgillivray is authoring a book titled, "Gay-Straight Alliances: A Handbook for Students, Educators, and Parents." I am seeking pieces of LGBT
student work to be included in the book. Group photos of GSAs, photos taken at GSA events, artwork, quotes, doodles, very short stories (no more than ˝ page), or anything artsy, fun and fabulous (that is related to GSAs and LGBT youth) to adorn the pages of this book would be appreciated. Electronic artwork, photos (in jpg, gif or tif formats), and word documents can be emailed to me at:macgilik@jmu.edu.
Hand drawn art and black-and-white and color photographs can be sent in the mail to Dr. Ian K. Macgillivray, James Madison University, MSC 1908, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.
If your submission is not accepted and you want it returned to you please enclose a self-addressed envelope.
Artwork that is accepted for publishing cannot be returned. Signed permission releases will be required for any artwork that is accepted for publishing. If your submission is accepted you will not receive monetary compensation. You will be credited (by having your name printed next to your artwork) unless you specify on the permission release form that you want to remain anonymous.
Please include contact information so I can send you the permission release forms in case your submission is accepted. Not too late to join the Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk
It's certainly not to late to join in the fun and support a great cause in the Sacramento area. The Sacramento Valley AIDS Run/Walk is on Saturday, September 10 at the State Capitol. There are two routes: one for walkers and one for runners with both starting and ending at the Capitol. "Do your part to help somebody." Register now at http://www.sacvalleyaidsrunwalk.org/. Look for Respect Sacramento... we'll have members participating and we'll be manning one of the support tents. See you there! Change your addressbooks!
We'll be monitoring our old GLSEN email address for a while, but if you have that in your addressbooks for us, please update your contact list to reflect our change of email and web address: admin@respectsacramento.org and www.respectsacramento.org.
Do you have an announcement you would like included in our newsletter? A brief article or news item? Contact us and we'll see about getting it included. Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Get ready... it's almost here! The 14th Annual Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival starts October 5th. Everyone is invited to attend our monthly meetings, held at 6pm every fourth Wednesday of the month, at LLACE in midtown Sacramento, 1414 21st Street. Come share your ideas or skills!
Come to the opening night Gala Wednesday, October 5, 2005. Meet people. Meet someone. Get outside of yourself.
Wednesday, October 5th SHORT Films
Thursday, the 6th DOCUMENTARIES
Friday the 7th Women's FEATURE Film
Saturday the 8th, Men's FEATURE Film
Sunday, October 9th, SHORTS and CARTOONS!
Tickets are $9.00 each and full festival passes are $35.
Opening Night GALA, a catered affair, is on Wednesday, October 5th - tickets
are $35.
www.SIGLFF.org GSA Network News
Students at several Northern California schools faced more than just new classes and textbooks on the first day of school this year. Protesters carryings signs proclaiming "God Hates Gays" and "Homosexuality Is A Sin" stood outside of Placer High School in Placer County on the morning of the first day of school exactly two weeks ago. After an angry confrontation with students, they then traveled to Roseville High School where they staged a protest on the sidewalk during lunch. Trucks bearing banners with similar messages rumbled past Folsom High in the Sacramento area on that campus's first day during the same week upsetting many students. Lance Chih, president of the GSA at Folsom described his feelings when he saw the trucks: "The one feeling that always comes up when I see those trucks... is fear. I'm afraid of what can happen to me by these people. I also feel angry due to the fact that people in the 21st century can still be prejudiced and hateful towards another human being. People say that we've come so far from the civil rights movement in the 60's, but I don't think we have. Until I can walk down the street and feel safe and welcomed for being who I am, I shall always be afraid for my safety."
Several GSAs were first confronted with protests and the "hatemobiles" last spring. The Alliance Defense Fund, a far right legal organization, and conservative student clubs united to stage Day of Truth, a direct rebuke to the increasing popularity of Day of Silence (http://www.dayofsilence.org/). "Truth" activists in CA responded to Day of Silence's message of diversity and acceptance by staging protests and sending "hatemobiles" into several different CA communities including Rohnert Park in the northern Bay Area. Students at the Rancho Cotate GSA in Rohnert Park swiftly organized a large counter protest (200+ supporters!) in the same week and won the support of many local residents. Hatemobiles were also spotted at schools in Amador, Placer, and El Dorado counties where anti-LGBTQ protestors demonstrated against same-sex marriage in May.
Currently, GSA Network is collecting stories from GSAs that have been confronted with these tactics in order to develop resources to assist clubs who might face them in the coming year. But, we need your help! If your school was visited, please contact your local GSA Network Program Coordinator and share what happened:
Call or email Sandy in Southern California at 213.534.7162 or sandy@gsanetwork.org
Call or email Robin in Central California at 559.453.9040 or robin@gsanetwork.org
Call or email Lai-San in Northern California at 415.552.4229 or lai-san@gsanetwork.org | | | | | | | | | | Placer High opens to anti-gay protest
August 18 (AUBURN) Ryan Sabalow, 8/18/05, Auburn Journal
Authorities were called to Placer High School on the first day of class when anti-gay protesters were confronted by angry students, said Capt. Valerie Harris of the Auburn Police Department.
Two anti-gay protesters, who carried signs reading "Homosexuality is a Sin" and "Gays Hate God," were verbally accosted by dozens of angry students and passers-by.
It wasn't the only ugly incident in Wednesday's protest, the second such anti-gay rally at the school in five months.
Cars honked, drivers made obscene gestures, some cursed and one person threw a plastic cup of ice water on two members of the High School Conservative Club of America, whose self-stated mission is to get homosexuality and clubs that support the lifestyle out of schools.
The anti-gay protesters, Luke Otterstad, 19, of Placerville, and Tim Bueler, 18, of Rohnert Park, said they came on the first day of class to kick off a yearlong campaign to get homosexuality and clubs like the "Gay-Straight Alliance" out of Northern California schools.
Placer High School doesn't have a Gay-Straight Alliance club, but it does have a "Tolerance Club," which promotes accepting people of all sexual orientations, races and religions, school officials said.
Bueler said he started the High School Conservative Club at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park and has since been interviewed by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and has appeared as a guest on the Rush Limbaugh talk radio show. More...
| | | | | Half of teens say school's unsafe
August 18 NEW YORK
By Alvin P. Sanoff, Special for USA TODAY
Almost half of U.S. high school students feel unsafe in their schools, a survey to be released Wednesday finds. It also reports that students believe their schools care more about athletic achievement than academic excellence.
The High School Survey of Student Engagement finds that only 55% of students feel safe in school; those in cities are more likely to feel unsafe than those in rural areas, suburbs and small towns.
Survey director Martha McCarthy, a professor of education at Indiana University, calls the results from almost 81,000 students "appalling. Students who do not feel secure are not attending to what we want them to: education."
Gerald Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, says national studies show that schools are increasingly safe. Still, he says, if students feel unsafe, "we have to figure out why."
When asked about their schools' priorities, 41% of the students say there is "very much" emphasis on athletics, compared with 27% who say academic excellence is heavily emphasized. More...
Big award for gay student harassed in Kansas
August 18, Dylan Theno, whose complaints of sexual harassment in school began in the seventh grade, has won $250,000 in a lawsuit against the Tonganoxie School District in Kansas for failing to protect him against gender-based bullying. He was taunted as "faggot," "flamer," and "masturbator boy," despite pleas to administrators to intervene. He eventually dropped out and got a GED.GA high school bans all clubs to block GSA
August 30 (The Houston Voice) Non-academic clubs at White County High School in north Georgia are officially banned this school year after administrators decided to implement a proposal made last year when students tried to form a gay-straight alliance.
Superintendent Paul Shaw confirmed Tuesday that school officials agreed to enact the proposal made by White County High School Principal Bryan Dorsey last March. The school board didn't officially take action on the proposal after the school's attorney said it was legal to allow Dorsey to make the decision for the school, Shaw said.
"Our attorney said we should just let the high school administration decide what's best. We took the advice from our attorney and went on with it," Shaw said.
The school sent a letter to students in late July informing them of the changes, Shaw added. School began Aug. 8.
In March, Dorsey recommended to the superintendent and school board that all non-curricular clubs be banned from the school and instead such clubs be led by adults in the community.
Dorsey's recommendation came just two days after administrators approved the formation of Peers Rising In Diverse Education, a gay-straight club led by Kerry Pacer, 17, a lesbian. More... Anti-gay mag publishes 'Top Ten Pro-Gay Companies'
Business Reform is a virulently anti-gay publication, and they took the time to publish this list of the top 10 pro-gay companies as a warning! They also compiled a list of the top 10 anti-gay companies. This is an amazing piece of writing, so unapologetically bigoted that it smacks of something written during the late 1940s or early 1950s. Let's make sure we read this and turn it around on them! Support the pro-gay companies and do what you can to let the anti-gay companies know you disapprove.
"...So, we'd like to present for your reading pleasure—or, more appropriately, your reading horror—the first installment of Business Reform's Top Ten Pro-Gay Companies…as well as a list of our top ten "anti-gay" companies. The main reason for this list is to keep you, our dear reader, informed as to where the homosexual agenda is most prevalent within the marketplace. Knowing those strongholds can only be to your competitive and moral advantage.
Top Pro-Gay Companies
1. Xerox Corp.
2. American Airlines
3. Avaya
4. Eastman Kodak (they give money to GLSEN! Yikes!)
5. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Top Anti-Gay Companies
1. Alltel
2. BB&T Corp
3. International Steel Group
4. Meijer Inc.
5. Perot Systems Corp.
More... | | |
