NEA-GLBTC Blog

2009-06-26T18:51:00.001-04:00

2009-06-26T17:42:00.001-04:00

Maine Marriage!

2009-05-05T22:13:00.001-04:00

Posted by Neal Flynn

I am so proud that the Maine House of Representatives voted today to allow same-sex marriages. It now has to go to the Senate where it has already passed once and then on to the Governor's desk-- the Governor might be a crap shoot. We can only hope and then my partner of 33 years and I can finally stop "living in sin." J This makes 4 of the 6 New England states.

Best to all and see you all at the RA.

Guy cannot be gone...

2009-04-27T21:18:00.000-04:00

This message was sent by Lily Eskelsen...

Guy cannot be gone. And so he is not. He is smiling that sly smile that makes you think he knows something you don’t know. He’s giving you a hug in those big arms that don’t let go. I cannot let him go. And so I will not. I will keep him here with me and remember his good heart and his strength of character and his sweet laugh and the hundreds and hundreds of friends who loved him, too, and who will keep his memory alive with me, and who will make sure he is not gone. Never gone. He cannot be gone.

Lily Eskelsen

What a GUY!

2009-04-24T09:06:00.005-04:00

Kathleen (aka Debbie by some of us ) Leadley, WI sent this e-mail yesterday...

As I am reflecting upon the passing of Guy DeRosa, I take comfort because I am a better person for having known him. His dedication to GLBT issues, and passing that knowledge to others through trainings, was a benchmark many of us sought. His commitment and work with the NEA, SOGI and GLBT Caucus, to name just a few, was tireless and inspired me to go home to Wisconsin and be a better leader. At our Cadre trainings we worked hard all day and play hard at night. Guy was in the know on where to go and a fun loving person to be around. And fun we did have. He will always be with me in my fond memories of him. I keep referring to this passage below.

I believe this is what Guy would have told us:
Weep not for me though I am gone: into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will but not for long, upon my soul’s sweet flight.
I am at peace, my souls at rest. There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was blessed for all those many years.
There is no pain; I suffer not, the fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts. In your memory I live on… Anonymous

I hope the pictures come through they are dedicated to the best DIVA I have known!
Kathy Leadley

Guy DeRosa

2009-04-23T21:23:00.006-04:00

It's been a very long time since anything has been posted here. Sadly it is the passing of our dear friend guy that brings us to write.

If you wish to write anything about Guy, please do so. The postings are moderated by me to prevent spam or inappropriate "outsider" comments.
I will try to post them at least once a day.

If you wish to write a tribute to Guy, please click on the Comment button. Feel free to also add any photos.

dan

This was such a great day on the roof of the Chicago GLBT Center on Halstead.
NEA's First GLBT Summit / July 2008

Dan, Angie, Marc, Kathy, Guy, Frank

July 4 Caucus

2008-07-04T09:35:00.005-04:00

9:30AM Opening
Frank spoke of election being tomorrow - Saturday. We will vote 9:30 - 10:00 then go to the Hall to see Senator Obama's Speech then voting will resume 11:00AM-1:00PM.
NEA President Elect Dennis Van Roekel briefly addressed the group with his continuing support.
Nichole DeVore - reminding people to contact her with information regarding Marriage Support.
Still seeking Female Director in NE and Midwest
Mary spoke of need to increase membership and activity in the Midwest.
Mary also spoke as a member of the MidAtlantic. Their directors are campaigning with Princess Moss. MidAtlantic is growing and changes are occurring.
NBI coming from Michigan re: Dominos Pizza doing campaign to make Michigan a Right to Work State.
NBI20 - Chicago is the only city in in North America vying for the 2016 Olympics. Eric B. Moved support.

Thursday Caucus

2008-07-03T09:38:00.023-04:00

9:30AM Welcome Mary Paradise, Co-chair
Report Michael Simpson - NEA Office of General Counsel
Members provided document with several recent court decisions regarding GLBT teachers and students.
Locals should seek anti-discrimination language in their contracts.
Question raised by member regarding clause of "moral turpitude" in code of ethics. No specific response made.
Member raised point that there is "language" in Superintendent's policy. Legal counsel urged for additional language in the contract.
What about Right to Work states? Should still bring it to School Board with request for inclusive language.
Important case that was mentioned last year is Garcetti v. Ceballos where the Supreme Court ruled that public employees do not have 1st Amendment Rights in the workplace.
Linda Bacon -Interim Manager from NEA spoke regarding the work that NEA continues to do through HCR regarding achievement gap issues for GLBT students.
Dr. Sheila Simmons - Director of HCR. Budget - Funding is now in budget to cover travel and expenses for GLBT Cadre of trainers. ABCD Goals
A. Achieving Social Justice
B.
C.
D. Diversity is value added
Goals & Tactics to examine learning and working conditions of students and employees.

Greetings from the Representative Assembly...

2008-07-03T07:31:00.003-04:00

We held our first caucus meeting of this RA Tuesday afternoon for
more than two hours. It was a productive meeting with much business
conducted and NEA Candidates speaking to us.
Reception held at Nellie's Sports Bar.
The second caucus was held from 12-1:00PM today.
Breakout sessions were held for each region.

I am trying to blog public information daily.

Please check there for information and photos!

Caucus Meeting - 7/1/08

2008-07-01T16:35:00.004-04:00

Meeting Room 147A

Report on upcoming GLBT Summit in Chicago - Bob Kim
NEA Candidate Speeches
Candidate endorsements
Treasurer's Report
Recommendation made that dues increase $5.00 to Certificated Members, a new category of ESP at the current $20.00 level. Recommendation passed.

I am so overwhelmed.

2008-05-23T09:09:00.003-04:00

I am so privileged to teach in a school and district where our kids are truly important!

I should start off by saying I am in Kissimmee, Florida... a small city by most standards. Granted, it was 12,000 when I moved here in 1974 and now has about 75,000 as its share of Metro Orlando. It's nickname is The Cow Town and is still pretty conservative even though the population has become much more diverse.

I just got a glimpse of my school's yearbook and found a double page color spread about our GSA and it's honoring of Lawrence King. I am overwhelmed. I hear of others in places that I think would be so much more progressive than Central Florida yet are facing obstacles. I am truly grateful as are our kids here at Poinciana High School.

dg

What's wrong with this picture?

2008-05-17T15:28:00.005-04:00

The president of the United States spends his time, energy, and taxpayer money fighting for marriage between one man, one woman while the government of Communist Cuba...

Raul Castro's daughter spearheads anti-homophobia drive
Monday May 12, 11:54 AMSource: Agence France-PresseHAVANA (AFP) - President Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela, is organizing Cuba's second anti-homophobia festival this week to boost public awareness of the country's long-marginalized gay community, this time with the approval of her dad's government. "There's political support for this educational strategy. It's the best thing that's happened to us," Mariela Castro said about the backing the National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX) she heads is receiving from Cuba's Communist Party.(snip) For as long as Cuba's communist revolution began nearly 50 years ago, Mariela and her mother have been busy trying to whittle away at the country's machismo tradition. The week-long festival in Havana and six of Cuba's 14 provinces, aims to increase public awareness about gay rights through television programs, movies, theater, debates and book fairs, culminating with the International Day Against Homophobia, on May 17. Besides the educational efforts, Mariela's group is also busy reforming Cuba's Family Code and has proposed in parliament a bill on freedom of gender -- the right to choose one's gender, and the right to "legal union" for gays. The legal union issue is an effort to sidestep the Catholic Church's determined opposition to gay marriage rights.

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

Maybe someday our country will provide all her citizens with the same non-homophobic legislation.

CONGRATULATIONS CALIFORNIA!

dg

Summit Reminder

2008-05-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

Hope you're having a wonderful mid-May weekend!

Just a reminder to register and make your reservations for the NEA GLBT Summit being held in Chicago this July! It is going to be a wonderful opportunity for GLBT Educators and Friends to learn more about how we can help ourselves, our kids and our colleagues!

There's more info just a few pages away...
http://nea-glbtc.org/summit_info.html

This is also an opportunity for those who do not attend the NEA RA's to learn more about the NEA-GLBT Caucus and join this growing community!

dg

A week after Day of Silence

2008-05-03T15:57:00.003-04:00

It's now been a week since the Day of Silence. I've been pretty busy but have watched the national news on television nearly every day. I didn't see much info... in fact I don't recall seeing any!

Did you? Was it positive, negative? Did you have a DOS at your school? How many do you estimate participated? What was the reaction of the students and faculty?

I will be e-mailing a survey to NEA-GLBTC members who are on our ListServe. Please participate.

dg

Day of Silence

2008-04-21T22:31:00.004-04:00

Friday, April 25 is the National Day of Silence. The event was started at The University of Virginia in 1996. The day of silence is meant to exemplify the silence that GLBT individuals are silenced daily when they are called names, bullied, and taunted with no one making it stop.

What are you doing to break the silence?

For detailed information, visit www.dayofsilence.org .

dg

Online Reservations!

2008-04-14T11:32:00.002-04:00

How exciting is this? We now have our Annual Dinner Reservations and Payment system electronic!! Y'all better be excited because I spent half my Spring Break working on this! :-) DB... you may stop your whining now!
I wanted it done and I hope you find it beneficial.
As soon as I catch my breath, I'll be putting our membership system online as well!
If you didn't notice the dinner system because you couldn't wait to get to this blog... LOL... it's on the "home" page between the Lambda icons.
http://www.nea-glbtc.org/

dg

Did you know?

2008-04-06T14:56:00.003-04:00

Did you know that some girls don't play sports because they are afraid someone will call them a lesbian or they are afraid one of their teammates or a coach might be a lesbian?

Did you know that lesbian and bisexual women in sport are discriminated against based on stereotypes and homophobia?

Did you know that gay boys and men in sport keep their identities secret out of fear of harassment from teammates and coaches?

Dr. Pat Griffin of The University of Massachusetts, Amherst has been in contact with Caucus Co-chair Mary Paradise and asked us to share information about It Takes A Team.
Dr. Griffin writes...
I am the director of It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for LGBT Issues in Sport. We are an education and advocacy initiative of the Women’s Sports Foundation (but we address homophobia in men’s and women’s sports). Our mission is to make school-based athletic programs safe and respectful for LGBT staff and students. We have a comprehensive and up-to-date array of resources for athletic directors, coaches, parents and student-athletes available on our web site - www.ItTakesATeam.org .

We are offering our DVD to schools for the cost of postage and handling - about $10. Any help you can give us in getting the word out about It Takes A Team and our resources would be great.

++++++++++++++++

Please visit their website for additional information.
dg

List Serve

2008-04-03T20:38:00.003-04:00

We have been without a member List Serve (aka Group E-mail System) for a few years now and are very happy that we have been able to coordinate with NEA and again have an electronic mail distribution network facilitated on NEA servers!

If you are a member and have an active e-mail address on file with us, you should have begun receiving e-mail messages, April 3. If you are a member and did not receive a message, perhaps you've changed your e-mail address or do not have one registered with the Caucus.

To update your e-mail and/or become a part of the List Serve send an e-mail to IT@nea-glbtc.og . You must be a member of NEA-GLBTC in order to be a part of the List Serve.

We are working on an online membership application form for new members and annual renewals.
dg

FINALLY!

2008-03-28T20:08:00.004-04:00

It's been six weeks since 15 year old Lawrence King was murdered in his 8th grade classroom in Oxnard, California and the media seems to finally be getting a CLUE that there is some merit to the story of this boy's brutal murder.

TODAY, March 28, the AP Wire Service writes...

Gay California student’s slaying sparks outcry

Activists demand that middle schools do more to teach tolerance

Gee... do ya think it's about time?
It's a good article and I must say that I am very glad to see it even if it took this long to make mainstream media. Please read it. dg

The Associated Press

updated 4:06 p.m. ET, Fri., March. 28, 2008

OXNARD, Calif. - Larry King was a gay eighth-grader who used to come to school in makeup, high heels and earrings. And when the other boys made fun of him, he would boldly tease them right back by flirting with them.

That may have been what got him killed.

On Feb. 12, another student, Brandon McInerney, 14, shot him twice in the head at the back of the computer lab at their junior high school, police say.

The slaying of the 15-year-old boy has alarmed gay rights activists and led to demands that middle schools do more to educate youngsters about discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Police would not discuss McInerney's motive. But the day before the shooting, King told McInerney he liked him, eighth-grader Eduardo Segure told the Ventura County Star.

If King had flirted with the other boy, "that can be very threatening to someone's ego and their sense of identity," said Jaana Juvonen, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Hate-crime allegation
McInerney was jailed on $770,000 bail on an adult murder charge that could put him behind bars for life. Prosecutors also filed a hate-crime enhancement, which could bring three more years if McInerney is found to have acted on the basis of the victim's race, religion, nationality or sexual orientation.

The shooting has galvanized Oxnard, a city of nearly 200,000 people about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Several vigils for King have been held, including a march that drew about 1,000 people to this strawberry-growing section of Ventura County.

Like the killings of some other gay students — such as Matthew Shepard in Wyoming and Brandon Teena, the Nebraska transsexual whose story was the subject of the movie "Boys Don't Cry" — King's death has drawn national attention and outraged many gays.

Comic Ellen DeGeneres, who is a lesbian, said on her talk show Feb. 28: "Larry was not a second-class citizen. I'm not a second-class citizen. It is OK if you are gay."

'He wasn't afraid'
Students at E.O. Green Junior High said the other kids used to taunt King, call him names and throw wet paper towels at him in the boys' restroom, and he would bravely fire back by flirting with them and chasing them.

"He didn't like people insulting him," said his friend Miriam Lopez, 13. "Larry was brave enough to bring high heels and makeup to school and he wasn't afraid of anything."

Jerry Dannenberg, superintendent of the Hueneme School District, would not discuss details of what went on between King and McInerney but said students are encouraged to come forward if they have been threatened.

He also said that King was free to wear women's accessories with his uniform of white shirt and dark pants because the dress code prohibits only those items that could be a safety threat, such as steel-toed shoes.

"If girls are wearing jewelry, you can't stop boys from wearing it, too," he said. "Each gender has the right to wear what the other does."

The school system said that it has tolerance programs in its middle schools, but that sexual orientation is often not dealt with until high school. Since the killing, school officials have been meeting with gay leaders about changing the program.

"With young people coming out at younger ages, our schools — especially our junior highs and middle schools — need to be proactive about teaching respect for diversity based on sexual orientation and gender identity," said Carolyn Laub, executive director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network. "The tragic death of Larry King is a wake-up call for our schools to better protect students from harassment at school."

Abuse and harassment
A 2005 survey by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network found that more than 64 percent of gay and lesbian students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school, and 29 percent said they missed at least a day of school in the previous month out of fear for their safety. The group is holding its annual "Day of Silence" in memory of King on April 25.

The families of both boys have refused to comment. An e-mail message left for McInerney's attorney was not immediately returned.

Both teens have been described as good kids.

King and his mother crocheted hundreds of scarves that were shipped to U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. The avid singer planned to belt out the national anthem at his brother's opening-day baseball game this spring.

"He had an amazing voice and was always singing," said Averi Laskey, 13, a friend since elementary school. "He would stick up for you no matter what. Larry was the best kind of person you could meet."

McInerney was described as the typical eighth-grader, goofy and fun to be around. He trained to be a lifeguard and took martial arts. He also enrolled in the Young Marines, a group similar to the Army's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

Rough upbringings
The two had at least one thing in common: rough upbringings.

King had been in foster care at a center for abused and neglected children since November, said Steve Elson, the facility's chief executive. Confidentiality laws prevented him from saying why.

McInerney's parents accused each other of domestic violence and filed dueling restraining orders, according to court records. Several months before McInerney was born, his father was accused of shooting his mother in the elbow. Kendra McInerney told a local paper she struggled with drug addiction for many years. The couple divorced in 2002.

Jay Smith, director of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, a gay rights organization, questioned whether teachers have enough training to deal with gay teens.

"Those of us being out remember being bullied and we don't want to see that happen to another kid," he said.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23847511/

LOGO PSA

2008-03-14T21:47:00.003-04:00

Mar 10, 2008

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is honored to partner with Logo on a new public service announcement campaign denouncing hate in the wake of junior high student Lawrence King’s murder.

I am writing to Logo to learn how we may rebroadcast this one minute PSA at our schools. I will keep you posted on what I learn.

Logo PSA

dg

from the mouths of babes...

2008-03-14T21:27:00.004-04:00

The following is a letter from a young man in Oklahoma in response to Representative Kern's speech.
dg

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

A letter to Sally Kern from a senior in high school in Oklahoma.
*******
Today my nephew attempted to deliver a letter to Sally Kern but was stopped by a highway patrol man. With his permission I am distributing the letter to all news stations and thought I would include it here.
Maybe we can all stand to learn a listen from this smart, loving, young man. He more than most has reason to hate. He lost his mother, my sister, in the Murrah Building bombing.
Elizabeth ( by way News9 Comment Section at http://www.topix.net/forum/sou...

Letter From Tucker
Rep Kern:
On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day. Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would've likely included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were injured that day and many of those still suffer through their permanent wounds.
That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn't live up to them pay with their lives.
As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind of doubt you'll find one of them that will agree with you.
I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you told me that my mother's killer was a better person than a group of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.
As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.
You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they've been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?
I've spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen, however, many gay students beat up and there's never a day in school that has went by when I haven't heard the word **** slung at someone. I've been called gay slurs many times and they hurt and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of your students?
Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They've already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home bruised and bloody because of what you said.
I wish you could've met my mom. Maybe she could've guided you in how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.
I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she won't be there. So I'll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more people again. I don't want to be here for that. I just can't go through that again.
You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me. Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.
Sincerely
Tucker

Deluded State Representative Sally Kern (R), Oklahoma

2008-03-14T21:14:00.002-04:00

Please visit ABC News story on Rep. Kern (the file is in the video link on the right side of the page) and take a few minutes to listen to Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern's speech to a group of supporters where she proclaims that gays are a bigger threat to American society than terrorists.
"I honestly think it's the biggest threat even that our nation has," the lawmaker said. "Even more so than terrorists or Islam, which I think is a big threat."

dg

PS The scariest thing I heard her say... "I taught school for close to twenty years."

Congratulations RHS!

2008-03-04T23:38:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to the staff, administration, school board and community of Ridley High School in Folsom, PA for moving in the right direction by granting full status to the Gay Straight Alliance there. Students and communities like these are daily helping educate against hate.

Less than four weeks ago Lawrence King was murdered in his classroom for being gay. Last week seventeen year old Simmie Williams was murdered in Ft. Lauderdale because he was gay. Only one year ago Ryan Keith Skipper of Winter Haven, Florida was murdered because he was gay. The perpetrators in all of these horrific murders were young men.

GSA's are helping make the necessary movement in changing hearts and changing minds against hatred.

We look forward to hearing of the good work you have begun in Pennsylvania!

We laud the work of Ms Jordan-Keller, an NEA trainer on Safe Schools, Bias, and GLBT Issues for her leadership with the RHS GSA!

dg

Thank you Ellen

2008-03-02T19:14:00.003-05:00

Friday, February 29, 2008 Ellen DeGeneres on her show, recognized Lawrence "Larry" King and addressed the hatred that exists in our society.

Ellen said, "...when the message out there is so horrible that to be gay you can be killed for it, we need to change the message. Larry was not a second class citizen. I am not a second class citizen. It is OK if you're gay." "I would like you to start paying attention to how often being gay is the punchline in a monlogue or how often gay jokes are in a movie and that kind of message, laughing at someone because they're gay, is just a beginning. It starts with laughing at someone, then it's verbal abuse, then it's physical abuse and then it's this kid Brandon, killing a kid like Larry. " "This is an election year and there's a lot of talk about change. I think there's one thing we can change and that's hate. Check on who you're voting for and does that person really, truly believe that we are all equal under the law... and if you're not sure, change your vote. We deserve better."
The clip may be found at Ellen Tribute to Lawrence King .

An incredible day...

2008-02-26T12:45:00.008-05:00

I am incredibly proud of my students at Poinciana High School in Kissimmee, Florida. We held a vigil for Lawrence King this hour at our Memorial Garden. On this busy day at PHS we had over 100 students, staff, and our principal gathered in our courtyard to memorialize this young man whom none of us knew. We broke the silence as we spoke of acceptance and understanding for each other. The PHS GSA sponsored the event, the first of its kind at our school and one of only two Florida events listed on http://www.rememberinglawrence.org/ . I am honored that NEA has trained me to work with teachers and students throughout the US to further the cause for Safe Schools.

Ms Schaedel and I remarked how proud we are to teach at PHS. Our principal, Dr. Peter Straker, truly cares about our students and staff. In his first year as a principal, he is an exemplary leader and model for our students.