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

===================================================================

San Ramon Valley Times, March 9, 2001
524 Hartz Avenue, Danville, CA, 94526
(Fax: 925-837-4334 )
(Online Mailer: http://www.contracostatimes.com/contact_us/letters.htm )
( http://www.contracostatimes.com/community/srvt )

Groups stress tolerance
Gay and lesbian organizations want to talk to San Ramon Valley students about tolerance and appropriate language

By Kyra Kitlowski, Times Staff Writer

DANVILLE -- In response to concerns of some parents, gay and lesbian groups say they want to talk to San Ramon Valley school district students about what it means to hurt someone by using inappropriate words -- not about sexual preferences.

The issues of tolerance, hate speech and homophobia have become high-profile topics around the district in recent weeks after Charlotte Wood Middle School art and drama teacher Gary Leveque was ridiculed on a Web site by a former student.

"We tell the students that (homophobic slurs) are put-downs and are never acceptable things to say to another person," said Ann Acrey, co-founder of the San Francisco East Bay chapter of Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Acrey, Leveque and others want the district to begin talking more pointedly to students about slurs, hate speech and related issues. They believe the process should begin in kindergarten and continue through grade 12.

District representatives plan to meet with Leveque, California Teachers Association members and others April 25 to discuss the issue.

The student who chided Leveque wasn't disciplined by the district because the Web site was created off school grounds. The site also featured several remarks from students who poked fun at other students' personalities, looks and races.

Leveque said he is openly gay to his friends and faculty members but denies ever addressing his sexual orientation in the classroom. He said he did have to talk to students about the issue when the Web incident was reported in newspapers and on television.

Acrey said the words homosexual, gay or lesbian should never be brought up to kids in elementary schools, and that isn't what groups such as hers are advocating in this case.

"What GLSEN advocates teaching in the primary years is about families," she said. "About all different sorts of families. Some who are single parent families, some who have two moms or two dads, some who have a mom and a dad."

Katie Webb, a former student of Clayton Valley High School and member of the Queer Youth Action Team, said Leveque's situation should spur the school district into offering more education about homophobia. The 19-year-old said she has been part of group discussions in schools around Contra Costa County to get students to talk about homophobia.

"We're not trying to change their beliefs, but to tell them it's not OK to call someone (derogatory names)," she said.

Webb said talking about homophobia in schools does not mean talking about sex.

"Many people take it as a sex issue and it's not, it's an issue of acceptance," Webb said.

In addition to the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, other groups such as Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and East Bay Catholic Charities have joined Leveque in calling for the district to directly address tolerance issues.

"We continue to talk about the need for the message of tolerance and respect for individuals to get down to the students," said Terry Koehne, district public information coordinator. "However, we can not promote or advocate (a particular) sexual orientation or lifestyle for the same reason we can not promote or advocate any (particular) religion."

Groups such as the East Bay Catholic Charities have spent time in schools working on addressing issues of homophobia. The group, through its Safe Schools Project, worked with teachers at San Ramon Valley High School two years ago after a flag representing gay pride month was torn down and marked with graffiti.

Catholic Charities representatives spoke to teachers about how to address issues surrounding gay and lesbian issues.

Barbara Beeler, founder of a local chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said her group is prepared to help the district, such as by creating panel discussions and providing counselors.

Beeler said the group also has videos created to help educate teachers on tolerance and how to pass that information on to their students.

Charlotte Wood English teacher Betsi Jamison started immediately after the Leveque incident to incorporate a theme of tolerance into her curriculum by having her students read "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry," by Mildred Taylor. The story deals with racism.

"I can tell you, from Day One these kids know what's acceptable behavior in my classroom," she said.

Leveque said he hopes every student and faculty member in the San Ramon Valley school district eventually will be accepted for who they are.

"This should be a place where we are all equal, but definitely never the same," he said.

· Kyra Kitlowski covers San Ramon Valley schools. Reach her at 925-743-2219 or kkitlowski@cctimes.com.
====================================================================
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)

Return to P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page