Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 12:07:55 -0700
To: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu
From: PEGSANDEEN@aol.com
Subject: please forward for me

-- ACTION ALERT --
The Des Moines School Board is trying to fast track the decision on whether or not to remove the sexual orientation language from its non-discrimination policy. It could come up for a vote as soon as the Tuesday, June 4, 1996 Board meeting.

At a policy subcommittee meeting on Monday, June 3 at 6:30AM, subcommittee members Sands, Sandahl, and Jensen voted 2-1 to bring the issue to the full Board. Their recommendation is to amend the policy so that it doesn't cover the following three groups of individual:

  1. transvestites, transsexuals or cross dressers, those with gender identity disorders which are not biological, those with sexual behavior disorders, pedophiles, bestiality, voyeurism;
  2. compulsive gambling, kleptomania
  3. substance abuse.
(note-this language is from the Americans With Disabilities Act, and it was included in the ADA as a last minute concession to Jesse Helms to get the Act passed. I am quoting this from memory, and I know that I haven't given you the exact language. Should you need the exact language, please contact the Des Moines School Board at 515-242-7843)

There are four things we are asking you to do.

  1. Attend a community organizing meeting tonight -- 6:30 PM Monday, June 3, 1996 at the Interfaith Alliance office, 2718 University (the Wesley Foundation bldg) to discuss strategy.
  2. Attend the school board meeting tomorrow night -- 5PM Tuesday, June 4 at Central Campus 1800 Grand Avenue. It could be a long meeting, and at this point we don't know whether or not the sexual orientation language will be on the agenda. This is part of the opposition's strategy -- to catch us off guard.
  3. If you want to speak to the school board at this meeting, please call 242-7843 to sign up.
  4. Phone individual school board members as soon as possible & tell them to retain the current non-discrimination policy!!! Their phone numbers are:
    Jane Hein 287-2700
    Jacquie Easley 245-2194
    John Phoenix 288-0759
    Harold Sandahl 277-3357
    Suzette Jensen 266-7908
    Laura Sands 279-3424
    Liz Goodwin 279-0703
If you have any questions, please contact pegsandeen@aol.com.
Thank you!!!!!!

[The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project has received a report that one of the Des Moines Board members has refused to discuss the matter with anyone outside Des Moines, not even with someone only 12 miles away. Do not let that deter you from calling.
Point out that Des Moines has a special responsibility as the largest district in the state to teach and role model nondiscrimination. Graduates of Des Moines schools go on to play a role in Iowa's future. Do not let this false localism argument deprive you of your real standing as a constituent if you are from Iowa.]

------------------------------------

Last updated 6/4/96 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU