Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
John Myers, Director of Operations and Programs
Email to: SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student
Protection Project
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LAMBDA LEGAL
http://www.lambdalegal.org
News Advisory
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 3, 2002
Lambda Legal and GLSEN/Chicago Present Safe School Forum
Join us for a lively discussion about how to make schools safer for all teachers and students
(CHICAGO, May 2, 2002) - Lambda Legal Senior Staff Attorney Heather Sawyer will join Michigan teachers Mike Chiumento and Tom Salbenblatt for a discussion about their recent victory over discrimination, and about Lambda Legal's efforts to help create safer schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and teachers across the country. Also, Jean Miller, union president from National Education Association District 207 will give an update on several local union issues.
Teaming up with the teachers' union, Sawyer represented Chiumento and Salbenblatt in their challenge to the Plymouth-Canton Community School District's order that they dismantle their lesbian and gay history month displays. A Michigan arbitrator recently ordered the school district to apologize for its misconduct against the two teachers.
The arbitrator found the district had violated its union contract, as well as one teacher's constitutional right of free speech. In addition, he determined the district discriminated against the teachers because of their sexual orientation and subjected them to unwarranted public harassment.
Chiumento and Salbenblatt's displays were in keeping with the school's theme of respect and dignity for all, and followed similar lesbian and gay history month displays that previously were created by a staff member who is not gay. When Chiumento and Salbenblatt created displays at their schools in 1999, however, the interim superintendent and members of the Board of Education attacked them for supposedly "promoting" their personal "lifestyles."
"For a school district to exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from a campaign of 'respect and dignity for all' is very damaging to all students," said Sawyer. "The arbitrator's decision rejects discrimination against gay students and teachers."
Sawyer and the teachers will discuss their recent victory, as well as how to create safer schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teachers and students on May 14 at the Conrad Sulzer Library in Chicago. National Education Association District 207 Union President Jean Miller will follow up this discussion with an update on the climate of Chicago's public schools.
Lambda Legal is the nation's oldest and largest legal organization dedicated to the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgendered, and people with HIV or AIDS. Headquartered in New York, Lambda Legal has regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and will be opening an office in Dallas later this year.
GLSEN Chicago is the local chapter of the national Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN). GLSEN Chicago strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
WHAT: Creating Safer Schools for LGBT Teachers and Students
WHO: Lambda Legal Senior Staff Attorney Heather Sawyer and Plymouth-Canton Community School teachers Mike Chiumento and Tom Salbenblatt, and Jean Miller, National Education Association District 207 union president
WHERE: Conrad Sulzer Library, 4455 N. Lincoln, Chicago
WHEN: Tuesday, May 14, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Link directly to Lambda Legal's news release:
http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/documents/record?record=1042
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Lambda Legal
http://www.lambdalegal.org
Midwest Regional Office
11 East Adams, Suite 1008
Chicago, IL 60603
312-663-4413 phone
312-663-4307 fax
pressqueries@lambdalegal.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.
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John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
(518) 587-0176
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Last updated 5/3/2002 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU