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 September
Meeting In
this Issue
Board of Directors Ronald
Moore
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by David Payne
The Atlanta Executive Network will host a debate among the four candidates for City Council president at its September 20 meeting. All of the candidates, Cathy Woolard, Michael Bond, Julia Emmons and "Able" Mable Thomas will address issues of concern to Atlanta's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. This is the second AEN hosted candidate forum in as many months offering members a preview of the candidates for Atlanta's two top elected positions. In August AEN hosted the candidates for mayor. Chris Crain, editor of Southern Voice, will host this forum. Audience members will be able to submit questions for the candidates. Join us for this debate among the candidates for Atlanta's second most powerful position. The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 20th at the Colony Square Sheraton Hotel at the corner of 14th Street and Peachtree Streets. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. for networking and the debate will begin at 7:00 p.m. The door fee is $10 for members, $20 for guests, and free for students. 
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October
Speaker Tuesday,
October 16, 2001 Networking
begins at 5:45 p.m. |
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by Carl Lange On August 16, AEN members and guests were introduced to the next mayor of Atlanta. Gloria Bromell-Tinubu, Shirley Franklin, and Robb Pitts, three mayoral candidates, presented themselves in a panel discussion. Chris Crain, local gay media owner, was the moderator, and focused questions to the three on issues that were more specific to the GLBT community. Each candidate came with representatives from the community and various endorsements. Unlike some political races in Atlanta's past, there is no clear-cut choice between who claims to support the issues of the community and who doesn't. What is left is a choice of who appears to have the greatest ability to fulfill their promises. Dr. Gloria Bromell-Tinubu, an economist, spoke in measured terms of business, affecting change, and creating a new culture. She spoke of "shaking up the city" by hiring new people and dealing with the "money interests that currently drive the city." She spoke of her first 100 days in office and how she would change the business of the city. For GLBT issues she said, "The best way to pursue diverse concerns is to pursue a diverse community." Bromell-Tinubu, among other positions, has served on the city council. Shirley Franklin, stressed her support to the GLBT community, recognizing how it is discriminated against, stressing the importance of it in Atlanta. She discussed her support of an "equal benefits ordinance," enforcement of the city's comprehensive non-discrimination policy, and how she would be a strong vocal advocate on community issues that were beyond her purview as mayor. Franklin served as Atlanta's city manager in the 80s and as a part of the Olympic team. Robb Pitts, who is regularly seen attending AEN meetings, also talked about the importance of the GLBT community in Atlanta and how he has and will continue to support issues important to it. One way is to make sure his cabinet "will look like the city." While he said he would also "clean house" in city government, he said he's also careful not to over promise. Pitts, who has served on the city council for 24 years joked that he has been accused of knowing too much about city government. Questions from the audience followed with no great surprises in responses. All three expressed a desire to explore solutions concerning the closing of Atlanta's late night bars. Franklin supports a 24-hour city provided there are enough police, Bromell-Tinubu also spoke of public safety but also of it as an issue of "supply and demand," and Pitts on the importance of balancing the needs of the neighborhoods and city "institutions" like Backstreet. Most disappointing were the three responses to the question of what they could do as mayor to make schools safe for GLBT children. All three missed the mark in understanding the root of the problem as unchecked verbal harassment of students and the needed education and training of school staff. Instead, they spoke of enforcing laws, protecting against physical violence with more police, and conflict resolution. The AEN thanks all three candidates for their hard work and commitment and welcomes the next Mayor of Atlanta. For more information on the candidates, go to www.gloria2001.com, www.shirleyfranklin.com and www.robbformayor.com. |
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THE NONPROFIT PROFILE Enlight Atlanta goes back to school to end harassment of gay students By Harrison Perry
Since 1995, Enlight Atlanta has been working tirelessly to end bias and harassment, based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, in our K-12 schools. The organization brings together concerned students, parents, educators and citizens from all walks of life to abolish the destructive effects of discrimination. Enlight Atlanta's goal is to create safer schools for all students and educators through education, advocacy and community involvement. I recently spoke with Steve Epstein, AEN member and Executive Director of Enlight Atlanta, about the organization's efforts to end the widespread harassment of students who either identify themselves as gay or are labeled as gay by their peers. HARRISON PERRY: What lead you to Enlight Atlanta? STEVE EPSTEIN: I got involved because I experienced sexual orientation bias and harassment in the Fulton County public middle school where I taught. Even though I adhered to a self-imposed "don't ask, don't tell" policy since my school district had no protections in place, I was harassed by some of my students and witnessed students being harassed. I also refused to give the students, faculty and staff any reason to believe I was straight. I'm confident that everyone assumed that I was gay. I feel that I was successful in being a positive gay male role model for all my students, both gay and straight. PERRY: What is the climate like in Metro Atlanta schools for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) youth? EPSTEIN: We recently surveyed guidance counselors at 144 metro high schools. With a 97% response rate, the results are very clear. They are aware of LGBT students. They are aware that these students are being harassed. They are aware that they have no resources and no training to deal with this harassment. Nearly half of the guidance counselors surveyed asked for help. Enlight Atlanta is working to meet this need for assistance. This month, we are sending instructional manuals detailing how to deal with sexual orientation and gender identity harassment to all 575 metro area guidance counselors. PERRY: How will Enlight Atlanta's educational programming benefit students? EPSTEIN: Sexual orientation and gender identity harassment is the number one form of harassment that is tolerated, if not encouraged, by many teachers and administrators in our schools. By educating these people on the issues facing LGBT students, we hope they will teach their students to have greater respect for all people. PERRY: What are the top three current challenges of Enlight Atlanta? EPSTEIN: First, we need to encourage educators, administrators and school board members to talk about bias and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Second, we need to enlist mainstream support for our activities. Third, we need to create awareness in the community about the need for volunteers and financial support so we can continue to provide our many vital programs. We are looking for individuals, businesses and groups that will support our education and advocacy work. PERRY: What recent grassroots initiatives has Enlight Atlanta undertaken to provide support for harassed students? EPSTEIN: In May, we implemented our now on-going Youth Leadership Institute. As a result of the first two workshops with students, we expect eight gay/straight alliances to be formed in Atlanta area high schools over the next few weeks. We are working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and Lambda Legal Defense Fund to be sure school districts comply with the Federal Equal Access Act, which ensures that these clubs will be permitted to operate like any other extra-curricular club. PERRY: What other message is Enlight Atlanta working to spread? EPSTEIN: Because we are working to end bias and harassment based on "perceived" as well as actual sexual orientation and gender identity, we are not just a gay rights group. We are a human rights group. We need the word spread about this. It will greatly increase our effectiveness, as more and more people understand our broader goals. PERRY: What are the current resource needs of Enlight Atlanta? EPSTEIN: We recently leased space at Studioplex, on Auburn Avenue next to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Aside from financial resources, we need furniture and other in-kind donations to furnish our new office space. PERRY: How can AEN members help Enlight Atlanta fulfill its mission? EPSTEIN: The best thing an AEN member can do is call 404.872.4320 or e-mail aen@enlight-atlanta.org, request to be placed on our mailing list and then tell others about our efforts. Better yet, offer time or money to support our educational and advocacy work. We need the community's help in all these ways.
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We're looking for an editor and contributing writers to help with the AEN eNewsletter. The newsletter reaches over 1,500 individuals in Atlanta and on 4 continents. If interested please send an e-mail to James Yancey at office@aen.org. The AEN online membership directory now has more than 120 members! Have you listed your information? If you'd like to see and be seen, the directory can be found at http://www.aen.org/directory.html. Any member that is interested in the programming of future speakers is welcomed and encouraged to contact the AEN office at 404.724.9008. Become an e-newsletter sponsor The AEN e-newsletter reaches many of your business' target customers. Advertising is easy with AEN. Just visit our sponsor page and begin today! Click here for more details.
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Special thanks to: Southern
Voice |
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Atlanta's
next mayor
Contributing
correspondent Harrison Perry is Director of Development at 