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.
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>
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>contribute to online at www.GardenStateEquality.org
>
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