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

FYI
JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1400 W. MONROE STREET
JACKSON, MI 49202-1999
County Name: JACKSON
Phone: (517)789-8144
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Jackson Citizen-Patriot, December 5, 2000
214 S. Jackson St., Jackson, MI, 49204
(Fax: 517-787-9711 ) (E-Mail: vop@citpat.com )
( http://ja.mlive.com/news )
http://ja.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20001205jgsa036.frm

Board, public back gay student group
Board president tells nearly 80 residents that members have no intention of disbanding any clubs at Jackson High School.

By Keith Roberts, Staff Writer

Support for the Gay-Straight Alliance was nearly unanimous at the Jackson School Board meeting Monday night.

About 80 people were present for the discussion of the club and only one spoke against it.

Kelly Ellis, whose son is a sophomore, called for the board to disband the club because she said it encourages children to have sex before the legal age of 16.

"I don't believe it's appropriate for a school to condone a sex club," Ellis said.

Ellis also said the establishment of such clubs is part of the "homosexual agenda," which she said was promoted by both the national and Michigan education associations. But support for the alliance came from all quarters: students, parents, teachers and, most importantly, board members.

Board President Stephen Osmond literally ended the discussion by saying no one on the board had any inclination to disband any club. His brief remarks were greeted with applause.

The Gay-Straight Alliance was recognized as a school club at Jackson High School this fall. In response, students, with the support of some area residents, announced their intent to form an opposition group they call Lifting Our Voices for Excellence.

This was the first board meeting following that announcement.

Fifteen people completed forms to speak in support of the alliance, but in the interest of saving time, only five spoke at length.

Lorraine Hampton, mother of alliance co-founder Tyler Hampton, said she was proud of her son, who she said didn't choose to be gay but chose to be open about it.

Sobbing, Hampton said she hopes one day gay-straight alliances won't be necessary because homosexuals will be accepted, but until then, she urged all students to "coexist and love one another."

Betty Desbiens, a former teacher and valedictorian in 1938, said it was about time the high school had such a club. Desbiens said she knew of a star basketball player at the high school who committed suicide 40 years ago because he was gay and didn't have anyone to talk to about it.

Others who spoke in support of the alliance were Gautham Nagesh, a student who said he isn't a member of the alliance but supported its right to exist and express its views; Steve Berman, a parent who read the board its own mission statement, which says it will "promote emotional wellness;" and Candice Risner, a member of the class of '89 who said she was afraid to let other students know she was gay and doesn't want students today to have that same problem.

Several other alliance supporters and members stood and introduced themselves to the board.

Faculty adviser Gita Gemuts also read part of the statement of the club's principles and purpose to the board, which said the club does not advocate "premature sexual behavior" and "makes no attempt to 'promote homosexuality or a homosexual agenda' (whatever that is)."

· Reach reporter Keith Roberts at kroberts@citpat.com or 768-4922.

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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

Unity Through Diversity (Long Island)
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Castro/3212/
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/

"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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