Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
Email to: SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project

SUPPORT.......NYS Legislation..The Dignity for All Students Act of 2001

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Focus on the Family (anti-gay group)
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0015395.html

March 27, 2001

NEA to Consider Pro-Gay Resolution
By Stuart Shepard, correspondent

The president of the National Education Association has made good on a promise to advance the interests of homosexuals through the nation's largest teacher's union.

When the National Education Association (NEA) meets in its annual convention this summer, the group will consider a resolution that would enthusiastically promote homosexuality in classrooms across America.

The proposed resolution sounds like something that would be published by a gay advocacy group. It suggests bringing gay themes into classroom materials, setting up gay employees as role models for the students, even bringing representatives of gay organizations into the schools.

"What we're talking about is including homosexuality in reading classes and history classes and those types of things," said Dr. Dick Carpenter, education analyst at Focus on the Family. "The effect would be pretty significant in schools."

Carpenter said if pro-family teachers don't speak up to their schools and the union, he fears the resolution will pass.

"There seems to be so much momentum," Carpenter said. "Not only are NEA leaders talking about it, but you're looking at legislators who are also promoting it in California and in other states."

Karen Holgate, with California's Capitol Resource Institute, said laws being passed there under the guise of "hate crimes" are already impacting families.

"Their parents have been ridiculed in the classroom," Holgate said. "(They have been) made fun of, if they try to teach their children the Biblical perspective on homosexuality."

She said the NEA resolution would effectively cut parents out of the loop.

"That only needs to happen one time in a classroom, and it clearly sends the message to other children, 'Don't go home and tell your parents, because we'll ridicule you.' "

Holgate is also concerned about programs aimed at students "questioning" their sexual orientation. She worries about the damage that will be done when young boys and girls are told it is OK to experiment with homosexuality.

The NEA convention will be held in Los Angeles in July.

TAKE ACTION: Because the NEA is a teachers union, they will likely only respond to pressure from members. If you are a member of the NEA, please consider becoming a delegate to the July convention in Los Angeles in order to oppose the proposed resolution, titled "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Education." Please also contact the NEA and express your opposition to the measure. For more information about the resolution, see an article by http://CNSNews.com. For more information about the NEA and its political agenda, see the Focus on the Family report, "Grading the NEA."

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This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only.

PRIMER WEBSITES

GLSEN --- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
www.glsen.org
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
www.lambdalegal.org
Safe Schools Coalition of Washington
www.safeschools-wa.org
The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page
www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org
Empire State (NY) Pride Agenda
www.prideagenda.org
GLAAD
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
www.glaad.org
Unity Through Diversity (Long Island)
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Castro/3212/
LIGALY Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
http://www.ligaly.com/

"The Real or Perceived Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Student Protection Project"
("Being safe at school should not be a radical concept".. Jamie Nabozny)

A project of:
Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State

John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
PO Box 2345
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-0176

Email: saratogany@aol.com

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