A Kiss Not Just a Kiss—2 Straight Girls Suspended
The girls were instructed by their English teacher in Clarkesville, Md., to do a 'nonconformist act.' Some chose to eat cereal at lunch, but two straight girls shouted 'End homophobia now!' on top of a lunch table and then kissed for several seconds.
Senior Katherine Pecore and junior Stephanie Haaser received a two-day suspension for being 'disruptive.' So much for an extra credit 'A' in English.
Principal Scott Pfeifer claims the suspension was not because they were both girls. But would a straight couple kissing be seen as 'disruptive'?
It's good enough for Britney and Madonna, Friends, Roseanne, All My Children ... and lots of shows on MTV. It's just not good enough for all the high school kids who watch TV.
The Washington Post reported that Pecore got a perfect score of 1600 on the SAT, and Haaser has a 3.88 grade-point average. Pecore has applied 'early decision' to Brown University and said she didn't think the suspension would hurt her chances. Haaser and her mother were on Good Morning America, and CNN is among the many media outlets who jumped on the story.
'[The media] don't care about our message,' Pecore said, according to the Post. 'They care because the whole lesbian kiss thing, because that sells. ... This is about the bigger issue of discrimination.'
ACLU Secures Historic
Win for Lesbian Mother
Unanimously agreeing to allow a lesbian mother to maintain custody of her two children, the North Dakota Supreme Court has struck down a 1981 decision that has been used to deny lesbian and gay parents custody of their children solely because of their sexual orientation. By reversing its earlier decision, the Court ruled that possible prejudice from others is not a valid reason to take children from lesbian and gay parents.
'Words can't even begin to express how happy we are,' said Valerie Damron, who was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. 'It seemed inconceivable to me that my children could be taken away simply because other people might be prejudiced against us. I'm thrilled that the court saw that it was wrong to punish us for other people's bigotry.'
The North Dakota Supreme Court reached a far different conclusion 22 years ago in Jacobson v. Jacobson, when it ruled that having lesbian or gay parents was inherently harmful to children because they may suffer 'the slings and arrows of a disapproving society.' But last week the court wrote, 'To the extent Jacobson can be read as creating such a presumption, it is overruled.' The decision, Damron v. Damron, leaves only four states—Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia—where courts still deny custody based on sexual orientation alone.
Damron's two daughters have lived in Minot with their mother and her life partner, Ann, for nearly two years. At the time of their divorce in 2001, Damron and her ex-husband agreed that she should have primary custody of the children and that he would have ample visitation rights. A year later, the ex-husband sued for primary custody. He argued that because of Damron's relationship with her partner the children might suffer harassment, although he was unable to produce any evidence of any such problems and offered no witnesses to back up his claims.
In January, a trial court relied on Jacobson when it ruled that the 10-year-old and the four-year-old should be taken from their mother and sent to live with their father. Damron appealed the decision, and it was argued before the North Dakota Supreme Court in September.
ACLU Pushes for DP Funds
The American Civil Liberties Union appeared before the Montana Supreme Court last week to ask the court to require the University of Montana System to give lesbian and gay employees the option of purchasing health insurance and other employee benefits for their domestic partners.
'The lesbian and gay employees of the University of Montana System have families to support, just like their straight colleagues, and they deserve the same employment benefits that straight employees receive,' said Tamara Lange, a staff attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project who appeared before the court. 'The university's policy shows nothing but contempt for its gay employees. They let married employees and even unmarried straight employees purchase health insurance and other benefits for their partners, but completely shut out gay employees.'
The ACLU brought a lawsuit against the University of Montana system in February 2002 on behalf of two lesbian couples and PRIDE, Inc., a Montana based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization whose members include employees and domestic partners of employees of the Montana University System.
Youth Receives WCT/IBM Honor
Chicago entrepreneur and youth activist Brenna Conley-Fonda is among those receiving an award during the Thursday, Nov. 20 Windy City Media Group/IBM Business and Technology Leadership Awards.
Conley-Fonda's Little Boy Panties Project is comprised of two components—a documentary and a stage performance. Both will be used as tools to start discussions about gender in various communities.
Little Boy Panties the stage version is a multimedia performance conceived, written and directed by three Chicago artists and activists who are committed to the exploration of gender identity. Like the documentary, the performance will be used as a tool for starting discussion about gender.
'I have to use many media components for this project. From video editing equipment, digital cameras, computers, and much more. Whenever I am shooting on location, or working on proposals for the project, I use my IBM laptop,' she said.
IBM and Windy City Media Group will present the 2003 GLBT Business and Technology Leadership Awards Thursday, Nov. 20 at Speakeasy Supper Club, 1401 W. Devon.
The following individuals and businesses will be honored for their technological savvy and business leadership: Ald. Tom Tunney, Aldo Castillo, R. Sue Connolly, D/E EntertainmenT & Grammy Award-winning DJ Frankie Knuckles, Mary Ellen Diaz, Malik Gillani, Materville Studios, and Judith Markowitz, Ph.D.
In addition, special awards, presented by IBM program director of GLBT Sales and Talent Sarah Siegel, will be given to reporter Andrew Davis and entrepreneur Jody Andre, owner of The Room and Speakeasy Supper Club (and formerly Tomboy Restaurant).
The Youth Entrepreneurial Scholarship will be awarded to one young individual who has started—or is about to start—a business venture. This year that is Conley-Fonda.
A cocktail presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the award presentation to follow at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and reservations to (773) 871-7610.
Anti-Gay Epithets at University of Iowa
University of Iowa freshman Julius Carter recently found homophobic epithets on his door. The door was plastered with at least 50 sheets of anti-gay comments. The University police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, according to media reports.
Carter is on a full scholarship in the name of slain gay student activist Matthew Shepard. 'The vandalism is very violent and homophobic,' Carter said. 'I'm afraid for my safety and my roommate's safety.'
A photo of Carter was defaced where it hung on a residence hall bulletin board earlier this school year.
NEED A JOB?
Illinois Center for Violence Prevention is looking for a YouthPeace/SisterNet Organizer to Implement YouthPeace/SisterNet program in collaboration with the YouthPeace/ SisterNet Coordinator.
The individual will work in the areas of Outreach, Chapter Development, Management Duties, General Duties as well as have opportunities to become an Advanced PeaceLeader.
For more information on the qualifications and experience as well a full detailed job description please contact:
Steve Miller, Youth Initiatives Director, Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, 220 S. State St., Suite 1215, Chicago, IL 60604, Fax (312) 922-2277, smiller@icvp.org .
GLSEN Going-Ons
GLSEN Chicago's Fabulous Holiday Bash will be Saturday, Dec. 20. You never knew the holidays could be such a DRAG!! Event is 9 p.m. to midnight, The North End, 3733 N. Halsted. GLSEN stated: 'Come see the most fabulous queens in Chicago! Take fabulous pics with Santa! Win fabulous prizes in the raffle!'
Suggested donation: $5 (must be over 21 to attend).
Questions? Mail@glsenchicago.org
Day of Silence
SAVE THE DATE: Day of Silence, Night of Noise—April 24, 2004.
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