WE WON!!!

I can't think of a better present to get on my birthday. =)


>From: "Garden State Equality"
>Subject: School board reverses itself and allows The Laramie Project!
>Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:51:42 GMT
>
>Dear Friend,
>
>Ocean Township High School has reversed itself and will now
>allow The Laramie Project to be produced at school this fall.
>See today's Asbury Park press article, below.
>
>This is a major victory for the thousands of people who
>participated in Garden State Equality's campaign, including you.
>All of us at Garden State Equality thank you from the heart.
>
>Time and again, Garden State Equality has fought discrimination
>against the LGBTI community in New Jersey. Time and again, we
>have won. If you're proud of Garden State Equality's work,
>consider donating to us online at www.GardenStateEquality.org .
>
>Since Garden State Equality's founding in 2004, New Jersey has
>enacted 153 LGBTI civil rights laws at the state, county and
>municipal levels. That's more LGBTI civil rights laws in less
>time than in any other state -- ever in American history.
>
>And we're not going to stop, we won't rest even a moment, until
>we win real marriage equality to replace the state's failing
>civil unions law. But we need your help. Again, please think
>about donating to us online at www.GardenStateEquality.org . What
>better cause could there be than you, or someone you love? Thank
>you, again, so very much.
>
>Asbury Park Press, August 10, 2007
>
>"Laramie Project" reinstated as a school play
>
>OFFICIAL REVERSES PRIOR DECISION
>
>By Erik Larsen, Coastal Monmouth Bureau
>OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Superintendent of Schools Thomas M. Pagano on
>Thursday reversed an earlier decision and said "The Laramie
>Project" will be performed at the high school this fall, ending
>a weeklong controversy that had gay-rights groups promising to
>bring hundreds of protesters to town.
>The play — based on the true story of the murder of Matthew
>Shepard, a homosexual college student, and the aftermath — had
>initially been canceled by administrators, who said its
>provocative themes might prove a disruption to the district.
>
>In explaining his reversal Thursday, Pagano — who had said
>previously that he would not be pressured into changing his mind
>— said reaction in the community was overwhelmingly in favor of
>the play going on and that no one had expressed support for the
>initial decision.
>
>Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, a statewide
>gay-rights group, said the district's about-face represented one
>of the most jubilant days in the organization's history.
>
>"This victory means that the students of Ocean Township High
>School will see a play that will change their lives," Goldstein
>said. "And that will go such a long way in bringing mutual
>respect and tolerance for all people from the area. It says a
>lot about the power of the LGBT community and our allies. It is
>also a huge victory for academic freedom."
>
>Garden State Equality was preparing for a massive rally and had
>started securing tour buses for up to 500 people who were
>expected to protest at the Board of Education's Aug. 28 meeting,
>Goldstein said.
>
>News media tuned in
>
>The event would have drawn national media attention. The
>controversy had reached statewide talk radio and The New York
>Times this week. "The Jersey Guys" on 101.5 FM had managed to
>informally book Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton,
>where the governor is inaugurated, for a fall show in the event
>the play was not reinstated by the district or school board.
>
>As of Thursday, high school drama coach Bob Angelini got "The
>Laramie Project" reinstated for the first three nights in
>November and also won additional concessions from the
>superintendent.
>
>First, the play will not only be viewed by parents and community
>members over three nights but will be shown to the entire
>student body during school hours. Angelini also will — with
>individual parental permission — take the show on the road
>outside the district, under the West Park Players moniker, the
>name of the high school drama club.
>
>"We had a blunt conversation," Angelini said about a talk with
>Pagano.
>
>"I have a responsibility that supersedes all of the other issues
>to extricate the community, the (school) board, from this
>situation," a visibly shaken Pagano said Thursday in his office,
>where the decision was announced. "This really is it."
>
>Pagano, who received hate mail protesting the cancellation of
>the play from as far away as California, said it seemed like
>"the entire universe was focused on this community," adding that
>high school Principal Julia Davidow, who had made the original
>decision against putting on the show, was in agreement with him.
>Davidow was recovering from surgery and has been unavailable for
>comment this week.
>
>Angelini said Pagano called him earlier Thursday.
>
>"Pagano said something to the effect of: "This is my fault. We
>have to stop this madness,' " Angelini said. The superintendent
>then asked Angelini to meet with him at 5 p.m.
>
>The reinstatement announcement also was attended by Martin
>Lefsky, the affirmative action officer for the school district.
>Lefsky was appointed to the Monmouth County Human Relations
>Commission Monday, the day when the panel voted 13-0 with three
>abstentions to send a message to the school board urging it to
>override the administration. Lefsky abstained, given his
>conflict of interest.
>
>Angelini brought Lindsay Wagner, 25, a social worker and
>aspiring screenwriter, to the meeting. Wagner, who graduated
>from Ocean Township High School seven years ago, had been one of
>Angelini's star performers and now works with him in producing
>the plays at her alma mater.
>
>Praise for all sides
>
>School board member Michael Beson, who said he would have voted
>to override Pagano's initial decision, said misconceptions about
>the play led to the controversy. He praised the superintendent
>for his change of heart Thursday.
>
>"Tom did a great job and service to this community," Beson said.
>"I think it was a learning experience for all of us and the
>community. The superintendent did a good thing today. I'm proud
>to have him as our superintendent."
>
>Beson said when the curtain does go up on "The Laramie Project"
>Nov. 1, he will be in the audience with his 12-year-old
>daughter.
>
>"We live in a time when these discussions are more common than
>when even we grew up — it's a common thing, our own former
>governor came out of the closet, and I had to explain that to my
>kids. This is life, it's the world we live in."
>
>Richard Virgilio, 34, who lives with his partner in the
>Wanamassa section, said that as he watched the story unfold this
>week, he wondered whether they had made the right decision in
>moving to Ocean Township.
>
>"It should never have become an issue," Virgilio said. "It was
>insane it became an issue, and I'm glad the insanity is over
>with."
>
>"What this really shows me is that this is what our schools
>need, and that's tolerance," said Emily Zupkus, 19, a psychology
>major at Ramapo College of New Jersey, who graduated from Ocean
>Township High in 2006. She worked with Angelini in the West Park
>Players and said she was appalled when the controversy erupted.
>
>"It's really great that they decided to listen . . . That's
>awesome," she said.
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>
>To help make Garden State Equality's work possible, you may
>contribute to online at www.GardenStateEquality.org
>
>http://eqfed.org/join-forward.html?domain=gse&r=Od2Aza41yONd

Fighting the Good Fight

I recently received a copy of a letter and was asked to pass it on and sign a petition, encouraging its sentiments:

THE MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
109 NORTH FULLERTON AVENUE
MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY 07042
(862) 823-1767 HUMANRIGHTS@POST.COM


WILLIAM A. COURSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

August 4, 2007

Julia Davidow, Principal
Ocean Township High School
550 West Park Avenue
Oakhurst, New Jersey 07755

RE: The Laramie Project

Dear Ms. Davidow:
I am writing to you in connection with my deep concern about your decision to prohibit the play "The Laramie Project" from being produced at Ocean Township High School this coming fall.

If ever there was a piece of theater that has educated its viewers about the need for tolerance of diversity and mutual respect, The Laramie Project is surely it. High schools all over the United States and the world, even in the most conservative and reactionary places imaginable, have produced more than 5,000 performances of the play.

People of every walk of life, race, religion, geography and ideology understand that the play has a universal message not only about combating anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered hate, but all forms of xenophobia: the hatred of all who may be different.

It seems hard to believe that in this day and age anyone would be afraid to show The Laramie Project at a school here in New Jersey. I join my sentiments to those of Judy Shepherd, Matthew's mother, who has written to you in this regard. Ms. Shepherd deeply supports the efforts of your theatre director, Bob Angelini, to show The Laramie Project at West Side High School:

According to press reports, you have stated that you “do not want to draw a line between those who think homosexuality is right and those who think it is wrong.”
This play is not only about being gay: it is about being hurt for being different, whatever that difference may be. Mr. Angelini shows great courage to mount a production that raises so many emotional and personal issues.
If the foregoing quote is in fact correct, Ms. Davidow, I must ask if you are aware that in New Jersey a prohibition of discrimination on account of sexual orientation exists, and has been a part of our state’s law for well close to two decades?
Would you similarly wish to avoid drawing a line between those who think racial oppression is wrong and those racists who think it is not? Do you feel the need to be sensitive to the moral sense of racists, or anti-Semites?
The underlying sentiment appears to be identical.
Such a posture threatens not only your standing as a professional educator, but that of your institution and of your entire community. BY holding to such a line, you nourish the roots of intolerance.
I deeply hope that you and your school board will embrace a theatrical production that will initiate a discussion in your school and broader community. I also ask that you use this opportunity to facilitate discussions in your classes on intolerance and hate."

The favor of your promptest possible reply is respectfully requested. I hope that your response evinces a reconsideration of the stand you have unfortunately taken: otherwise, I and many of my colleagues will see you in person to discuss this issue at the next Ocean Township Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, August 28th.

Thank you so much for your attention.
Sincerely,


William A. Courson

cc:
The Hon. Jon Corzine, Governor
Executive Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Lucille E. Davey, Commissioner
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Urgent Via Facsimile: (609) 777-4099

GLSEN-Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network
Central New Jersey Chapter
PO Box 261
Hightstown, New Jersey 08520


I forwarded on this letter as well as the link to the petition:

http://eqfed.org/campaign/laramie_project

My friend Michael responded:

Rock on! This one really hits home doesn't it? I was very happy to add my two cents. Let me know if you hear whether this principal reverses her decision. I'm going to forward this to a few hundred of my closest friends.

xo

I responded to him:

Thank you! Yes, it really hit me when I read her quote too; I started shaking!!! The play is so NOT JUST about whether you think homosexuality is wrong or not (ALTHOUGH I CANNOT BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE STILL GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT!!!) it’s about whether you think MURDER is wrong or not. And someone said, "Well high school kids are a little young to deal with these issues" to which I replied, "BUT MATTHEW SHEPHERD WAS PRACTICALLY THAT YOUNG WHEN HE DIED AND SO WERE THE ONES WHO KILLED HIM!"

It is a sad state of affairs, and in my home state of NJ! I hope we that are fighting the good fight prevail… in this and all battles against hate.