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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If you can stomach it, see flier at http://www.godhatesfags.com

"God Hates Fags" Minister Fred Phelps Targets Santana High School, School Shooting Site

Anti-Gay Group will Picket School on Monday, March 26th, 2001

Local GLBT Organization, Family Pride Coalition, Says "No Counter Demonstration!"

Family Pride Coalition
Post Office Box 34337
San Diego, CA 92163
619.296.0199 phone
619.296.0699 fax
director@familypride.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2001

San Diego, CA - Don't give Phelps the time of day, but make his protest support the students and families of this school. Give Santana HS a dollar for every minute he waves his hate-filled, violence promoting signs.

Santana High is the Santee, California site where a March 5 school shooting took the lives of two students and injured several students and teachers. There have been reports that the student who has been arrested was taunted with "gay" name calling.

Apparently Fred Phelps feels compelled to use this tragic situation for his extremist political agenda. Phelps, who runs the Westboro Baptist Ministry, is known for his hate filled demonstrations. He and his followers picketed the Matthew Sheppard memorial with signs that said "Matthew burn in hell."

"I learned of this demonstration from my son, who is a preschool teacher," said Family Pride acting executive director Suzette Southfox. "Like so many parents, I have been deeply disturbed by the campus violence, but when I heard that Phelps was planning on picketing, I felt that the campus was going to be assaulted all over again. As a parent, and a visible member of the LGBT community, I need to tell the families of Santana that this is NOT OK with me."

Friday, March 23, Southfox spoke with an administrator at Santana High and learned that the school had secured a court injunction against the demonstration on their property. "I doubt this will stop Phelps," Southfox said.
"Undoubtedly he will be across the street on the corner." The Santana High principal has asked that students, teachers and community members ignore the action and tend to the business of healing and reclaiming their campus.

Do not counter demonstrate. It only gives recognition to Phelps and his twisted vision. Instead, tell the kids at Santana High that you support them. Family Pride, a San Diego based national nonprofit devoted to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered parents and their families is suggesting an alternative means of protest against this insulting and hate filled action. Show Santana High that the LGBT community will not stand for this. Send them a donation for every minute Phelps pickets. Or make a ten, twenty or fifty dollar donation with the words "for all families" written in the memo.

Watch the website of Family Pride at http://www.familypride.org for a Monday update on the Phelps action, or email director@familypride.org with PHELPS in the subject line. We also request that you email us and tell us for what amount you sent a check.

The check can be submitted to the school administered memorial fund. Make the check out to the Santana HS Memorial Trust Fund. The address is below.

Santana High School
Memorial Trust Fund
Cuyamaca Bank
9955 Mission Gorge Road
Santee, CA 92071

Remember, put "for all families" in the memo section of the check. Please send this to every person on your e-address list. Even if they don't live in San Diego. Let's really show Santana the positive strength of our families.
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**************************
Suzette Southfox
Family Pride Coalition
Interim Executive Director
National Headquarters
Post Office Box 34337
San Diego, CA 92163
619.296.0199 phone
619.296.0699 fax
funding@familypride.org

Founded in 1979, the mission of the Family Pride Coalition is to advance the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families through mutual support, community collaboration, and public understanding.
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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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