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

CSS-NYS Note:The members of the GLSEN National Board have developed a new PUBLIC POLICY PLATFORM, MISSION STATEMENT and VISION STATEMENT. These documents exhibit professional wisdom and steadfast fortitude.

You are encourage to consider the formation of a GLSEN chapter. There are a variety chapter categories.
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March 6, 2001

Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network
GLSEN (http://www.glsen.org)

PUBLIC POLICY PLATFORM

GLSEN believes that a quality Kindergarten through 12th grade education is a fundamental right in a democratic society, and calls upon federal, state and local governments to adequately fund K-12 public schools so that all students have access to a quality, discrimination-free education in their communities. GLSEN advocates for the following, with the understanding that adequate funding helps to enhance the efforts to achieve these goals:

1. GLSEN affirms the right of all students in publicly-funded K-12 schools to an education free of discrimination and harassment, and calls upon public policy making bodies to ensure equal educational access by adopting and enforcing measurable non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

2. GLSEN affirms the right of all students in parochial and private/independent schools to an education free from discrimination and harassment and calls upon the boards and administrators of these schools to ensure equal educational access by adopting and enforcing measurable non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

3. GLSEN believes that learning about the diversity of humankind is an essential part of education in a democratic society, and affirms the right of students to learn in classroom environments that nurture diversity. GLSEN encourages schools to allow students in all grade levels access to curricula, trainings, texts and materials -in all areas including but not limited to, history, literature, family life, sexuality and health education, that are relevant, comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically-accurate and inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. GLSEN calls upon public policy makers to remove any prohibitive laws that forbid or discourage in-school discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

4. GLSEN affirms the right of all students to participate safely and fully in all aspects of school life, including, but not limited to, school-sponsored co-curricular and extra-curricular programs and activities such as athletics, clubs, and school programs. GLSEN encourages the adoption of policies, procedures and trainings that ensure that these opportunities are made accessible to all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

5. GLSEN affirms the right of all students to have accurate information relating to LGBT people, history, culture and ideas, and to have access to such information through school libraries, guidance, health services and all other resources. GLSEN encourages the adoption of policies, procedures and trainings that ensure that these educational opportunities are made accessible to all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

6. GLSEN values the extraordinary leadership of young people and affirms the right of students to organize and lead school-supported Gay-Straight Alliances and other appropriate groups that address LGBT issues in schools.

7. GLSEN believes that all school employees need pre-service and in-service training that includes accurate information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and people. GLSEN calls upon boards and administrators to provide these trainings for current school employees and those studying to enter the profession as part of comprehensive training.

8. GLSEN understands that all school employees best serve students when they have workplaces that are free from discrimination and harassment. GLSEN calls upon public policy makers to adopt and enforce measurable non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

9. GLSEN supports the rights of all parents/families to participate in their children's school activities and calls upon public policy makers and school officials to adopt and enforce practices that recognize and support diverse families.

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NEW MISSION STATEMENT

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

NEW VISION STATEMENT

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network envisions a future in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
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Check out GLSEN's web site at:

http://www.glsen.org/

Tony O'Rourke, Northeast Field Organizer
Ext. 110
torourke@glsen.org

John Spear, National Field Director
Ext. 114
jspear@glsen.org

Chris Tuttle, Student Organizer
Ext. 134
ctuttle@glsen.org

GLSEN Western Field Office
870 Market #547
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-551-9788 phone
415-551-9789 fax

Kirk Bell, Western Field Organizer
kbell@glsen.org

GLSEN Southern Regional Field Office
1447 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1004
Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel:404-815-0551
Fax:404-815-1739

Brenda Barron, Southern Field Organizer
bbarron@glsen.org

GLSEN Midwestern Regional Field Office
5443 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone:773-271-8710
Fax:773-275-2951

Kristen White, Midwest Field Organizer
kwhite@glsen.org
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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
LIGALY Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
http://www.ligaly.com/
Unity Through Diversity
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Castro/3212/

"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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