Vol 1(3) June 1997
A Message from our Co-Chairs: Kathryn Hamm
At GLSTN/DC, it has been our work over the past few years to help educators and other members of our communities recognize the devastating effects (such as suicide, drug abuse, and isolation) that homophobia has on gay youth and those who are perceived as gay. We have taken many new strides toward eliminating homophobia in schools this year, including the development of a Speakers Bureau (thank you, Liza Knapp!); an increase in fund-raising efforts to support our programming (thank you, Martha Pritchard!); an increase in volunteer activity (thank you, Members and Friends of GLSTN/DC!); and the development of this wonderful quarterly newsletter (thank you, Brenda Crawley!).
I am proud of what GLSTN/DC has accomplished thus far; and I am excited about our future. It has been a privilege to serve as Co-Chair of this active and enthusiastic local chapter. In my term, I have been both inspired and exhausted by our work. But most of all, I have been continually impressed with the many GLSTN/DC supporters who have, time and again, donated their precious time, money, and passion to our worthy cause.
In June, I will be resigning from my post as Co-Chair of GLSTN/DC in order to complete my graduate studies at Catholic University. I will miss the extent of my GLSTN involvement; but I am thankful for that which I have had. I have learned many lessons from and been inspired by my numerous colleagues. I wish you all a restful summer and a renewed commitment to continue our struggle to teach respect for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation. -- Kathryn Hamm, Co-Chair, GLSTN/DC
All over the Metro area, the 1996-97 school year is finishing. Thousands of high school seniors are graduating and will now spend the summer entering the adult work force, preparing for college, or just plain going wild. It is the first step of the journey of the rest of their lives. GLSTN/DC is proud to say that, in some ways, we too graduate this year. We've passed many milestones as part of a nationwide movement of Gay and Lesbian visibility. Here are some things for which to cheer this year (listed chronologically):
* GLSTN/DC provided volunteers to staff the GLSTN table in the education tent at the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt display in October.
* GLSTN/DC's Steering Committee set priorities, year-long project goals, and elected Co-Chairs.
* The Association of Independent Maryland Schools formed a Committee on Sexual Orientation. GLSTN/DC is represented on that Committee.
* GLSTN/DC hosted a roller-skating party.
* GLSTN/DC hosted an impromptu reception at the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference in Baltimore.
*The DC Safe Schools Coalition was formed, linking GLSTN/DC with SMYAL, PFLAG, National Youth Advocacy Coalition, GLAAD, and other ally organizations.
* In January 1997, GLSTN/DC became a full-fledged Chartered Chapter of GLSTN.
* Randolph Carter, Director of NAIS Office of Diversity and Multicultural Services, spoke and facilitated a Chapter Meeting discussion.
* We gave our first free-to-the-public Homophobia 101 training. It was a well-attended success. (Out of that training emerged a Speakers Bureau.)
* GLSTN held its first National Conference.
* The Blair High School students who produced the censored TV debate show "Shades of Grey" spoke at a GLSTN/DC Chapter Meeting.
* GLSTN/DC had a booth at Youth Pride Day '97 in Dupont Circle.
* GLSTN/DC held a dinner concert featuring "Not What You Think," an a cappella group grown from the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington.
* Our mailing list has grown from 300 to 650!
In order to prepare for these and other events, some of the participants at the March 1st workshop attended a GLAAD media training in May. Speakers Bureau volunteers will also be meeting some time in the early summer for an afternoon of practicing skills and preparing lesson plans.
We plan to give the second GLSTN/DC Speakers Training Workshop in the fall. Stay tuned! (for more information about the GLSTN/DC Speakers Bureau, contact Liza Knapp at (202)939-8803, ext 4032 or at lknapp@capaccess.org).
Jeanne Embich, Steering Committee member and director of the Peace Corps Fellows Program at George Washington University, has joined the fund-raising team. We look forward to more fun-raising money for GLSTN/DC.
Newsweek magazine has named Kevin Jennings, the co-founder and executive director of GLSTN, as a member of its "Century Club." The April 12 edition recognized 100 people who "will make a difference" in the next century. The magazine noted that "as Gay families multiply, so will his [Jennings] powerbase."
Virginia's first openly Gay candidate lost his bid for the District B seat on the Alexandria School Board. Although Joshua Lipsman lost by 621 votes, he called his campaign "a success for the Gay community" because it "has moved the reality of an openly Gay elected official one step closer."
121 West 27th Street, Suite 804
New York, New York 10001
Jill Karpf
Representatives from GLSTN are in frequent contact with other local and national organizations serving GLBT youth and have attended several conferences and events in support of these young adults. GLSTN had a busy table at Youth Pride Day on April 19th (thanks to Liza Knapp and her volunteers). We had our publicity at Fairfax County Youth Day; attended the Hidden Youth Conference sponsored by the Maryland State Aids Administration in mid-April; and were part of an information session at the Maryland School Health Council Conference in late April. By the time you get this newsletter, we will have had information tables at the Black Lesbian and Gay Pride and Montgomery County Pride Days. and many of you will have experienced the excitement of riding on the GLSTN school bus in the DC Pride Parade. Let's hope our bus will be over-flowing in '98!
Perhaps the most exciting development this spring had been the start of the Metro DC Safe Schools Coalition, modeled after the very successful Washington State Safe Schools Coalition. GLSTN is a founding member of the Coalition along with SMYAL, DC Metro PFLAG, the Coalition to End Prejudice in Our Schools and many interested individuals. National organizations like the Advocates for Youth, the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, and People for the American Way are lending their support as well. The new Metro DC Safe Schools Coalition got its official start at a press conference, held at the Montgomery County Board of Education offices on March 25, 1997, the first anniversary of the revised MCPS Human Relations Policy.
Monthly planning meetings for the Safe Schools Coalition are held the second Wednesday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Advocates for Youth offices, 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 200. Please consider attending these meetings and joining in the work of this exciting new Coalition. Feel free to call the GLSTN Info Line (301)229-0496) for more details. Coalition activities include working on establishing a 1-800 Reporting and Support phone line, planning training for the volunteers who will be answering calls, and contacting area schools and youth providers to offer speakers for staff trainings.
If you have email, consider subscribing to GLSTN National's nation-wide gay/lesbian school related news updates. Just send a message to GLSTNAlert@aol.com with the word "subscribe GLSTN Alert" in the subject line.
One of Tim's summer projects will be to research The Many Joys of Bulk Mailing! If you have experience in this type of "postal rendezvous" and have any words of wisdom, please contact Tim Doyle at (703)212-2704.
Press HERE to use our online membership form.
Books for your PERSONAL and PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
Bernstein, Robert A. Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together (New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1995).
Clark, Don. Loving Someone Gay (Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts Publications).
Fairchild, Betty, and Nancy Hayward. Now That You Know: What Every Parent Should Know About Homosexuality (New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1989).
Herdt, Gilbert. Children of Horizons: How Gay and Lesbian Teens are Leading the Way Out of the Closet (Boston: Beacon Press, 1993).
Kissen, Rita M. The Last Closet: The Real Lives of Lesbian and Gay Teachers (Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann Publishers, 1996).
Unks, Gerald, ed. The Gay Teen: Educational Practice and Theory for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents (Routledge, 1995).
Woog, D. School's Out: The Impact of Gay and Lesbian Issues on America's Schools (Boston: Alyson Publishers, Inc, 1995).
Gay and Lesbian Characters and Themes in Children's Books
Wickens, Elaine. Anna Day and the O-ring (Alyson, 1994). A fairly bland but pleasant story about a boy living with two mothers and a dog. Illustrated with nice photographs of ordinary people. Toddlers to Pre-schoolers. Griman, Tony, ed. Not the Only One: Lesbian and Gay Fiction for Teens (Alyson, 1994). A collection of stories about teenagers either coming to terms with their own sexuality or that of their family or friends. Generally good reading, but could use more distinctive voices. Ages 12 and up.
Sweeney, Joyce. Face the Dragon (Delacorte, 1992). Eric's increasingly competitive feelings toward his best friend Paul threaten their friendship, and Paul's confession that he is gay seems to be the nail in the coffin. But when Paul is verbally attacked by a malicious teacher, Eric realizes that his friend needs him and forces himself to face his own fears to help him. A multi-layered and powerful story. Ages 12 and up.
GLSTN is working to educate Congresspeople on the fact that there are thousands of Lesbian and Gay educators who are outstanding teachers and should not lose their jobs because of anti-Gay bias. GLSTN National is putting together a briefing book (which tells the stories of a few individuals) which will be used to educate Senators. If you are an educator who has been formally recognized for outstanding performace (Teacher of the Year Awards...), or who can provide documentation in the form of evaluations, news articles, parental letters, etc., as to your performance, GLSTN needs you! Send an email with the title "ENDA Witness" to Kevin Jennings at GLSTNKev@aol.com if you are interested in serving in this way.
GLSTN is putting together a Curriculum Resource for pre-school through high school. This curriculum will be focused on GLSTN's mission, which is to "create safe classrooms for all." Lessons on topics such as famous historical g/l/b/t people, families, legal rights, discrimination, name-calling, etc., are now being accepted for inclusion in the resource. Submit your lesson to GLSTN Los Angeles, Curriculum Project, PO Box 13125, Long Beach, California 90803 or email: Figel@aol.com. Include the following format: Your Name; Title; Grade(s); Subject(s); Time; Materials; Objectives; Lesson; Evaluation; and Other Resources. The deadline for entries: June 13, 1997.
Two of GLSTN's Chapters have produced web sites recently. Check them out! GLSTN Austin's (TX) URL is: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/4611/ GLSTN Cleveland's Midwest Regional Conference Site URL is: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/9600/
The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington DC (LGCW) will present "Reclaiming Our Voices" at 8pm on Friday and Saturday, June 13, 14, 1997, in the Cecile Goldman Theatre of the Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC (DCJCC), 16th and Que Streets NW. The Chorus will take the audience "on a journey navigated by the music of the masters, lovers, and lavenderized revue of Les Miserables." Tickets are $15, general admission, and are available by calling Box Office Tickets at (301)738-7073 or (800)494-TIXS (8497). Tickets are also available at Lammas, Lambda Rising, and TICKETPlace (1/2 price on the day of the show). For more information, contact: Jill Strachan at (202)546-1549. (The June 14th performance will be interpreted for the deaf; and the DCJCC is fully accessible.)
RRUC's Open Church Task Force (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns) invites you to a dance on Saturday, June 21, from 7:30 to 11:30pm at the River Road Unitarian Church, located at 6301 River Road, Bethesda, Maryland. The $10 cover charge (sliding scale) includes DJ and snacks. Soda, beer, and wine will be available on a cash basis. (Childcare available at a nominal cost if you call before 6/14.) Contact Gail Henry or Sam Francis at (202)965-0314 or email: ghenry@his.com. Please write "dance" in the subject line.
If you have any questions, contact our WebSpinner at: TenorOne@cheerful.com.