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

LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER
(find your NYS Senator and Assemblyperson)
Elected Officials -- Elected Officials
http://capwiz.com/pride/officials/state/?state=NY
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PASADENA STAR NEWS, May 17, 2001
525 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91109
(Fax:818-578-6460 ) ( http://www.pasadenastarnews.com )
(E-Mail: Click the Feedback tab on their website)

Mountjoy asks gay life bill be tabled

By Chris Rizo, Correspondent

SACRAMENTO -- Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy's proposal to ban public schools from "promoting homosexuality" will not be considered by the Legislature this year.

The measure was tabled until January at Mountjoy's request.

"This bill started off on the wrong foot," Mountjoy said. "This bill is not about hate. This bill is about getting back to the basics of education, back in the classroom where they belong."

Instead of the Legislature hearing Assembly Bill 1326 this year, Mountjoy said tabling the bill allows him time to garner political support for it.

"It will take some courage for my colleagues in the Assembly to stand up for this bill and I am not sure many have it in them," Mountjoy said.

The one-sentence bill, "the promotion of homosexuality in public schools is prohibited," had come under fire from Democrats and some moderate Republicans who said the bill would promote violence toward gay and lesbian students.

Part of the controversy over the bill lies in its vague language, said Eric Astacaan of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality, a statewide gay civil rights lobby.

"The bill does not do anything but create more problems," Astacaan said. "This is a cruel intention to raise fears and hatred towards lesbian and gay students."

The American Civil Liberties Union said the bill would strain "the American tradition of encouraging a free exchange of ideas" and could limit students' access to sex education programs.

"Schools should teach age-appropriate human sexuality in all its forms," said Valerie Small-Navarro of the ACLU.
A spokesman for Republican Leader Dave Cox said their fears are unfounded.

"I smell whiffs of hysteria," James Fisfis said. "Nobody is trying to promote violence against anybody. This is about education."

"There is too much social experimentation going on in our schools," Mountjoy said. "We need to get back to the three Rs and nothing more."

-- Chris Rizo can be reached at (916) 443-2483 or csrizo@pol.net.

(I wonder if "social experimentation" is a code phrase that seems to be popping up alot lately?...John Myers)
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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

(To subscribe or unsubscribe (CSS-NYS Email List) send request to saratogany@aol.com)

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