旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � 켠� � � 爐� 靈� 靈� 켠� 靈� � � 爐� 靈� 爐� � 靈� � 爐� � � � 픔� 픔 � 픔� � � 픔� 픈� � � � � � � � 픔 � � � � � 懃� 聃� � � � 聃� � � � � 聃� � � � 聃� 聃� 懃� � 突袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� THE CAT CHRONICLE ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * September 1, 1995 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization that produces educational videos for children and teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity, violence and GLB teen self esteem. CAT also provides as a public service a BBS, a weekly full color newsletter and a Web site for the family of the future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ * Please note a full color printed version of this newsletter is available upon request ($2 per week), as well as on the Web. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CAT Currents: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT has added a "Protect your rights, activism & such..." section to its GLB Youth Advisor Page on the World Wide Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/ Please check it out and let us know what you think! It seems that CAT's effort to educate children and teenagers is more important than ever. CAT believes kids need current and factual information relating to social issues. There are dark forces in this country who wish to turn back the clock of progress in the name of "Family values." As a small minority of this country manipulates the political process to foster censorship, hate and bigotry, educational efforts outside the schools are more important than ever. CAT wishes to expand its already popular newsletter and Web site in order to fill in the gaps the censors and hate mongers have created. CAT is also contemplating trying to set up a "Future Family" cable television network. We believe that love and the truth will prevail. The information that follows is a serious wake-up call. Please act before it is too late. Thanks Randy H. for forwarding us this critical information. -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The Nation's Largest Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights Organization To contact the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND, please call: (202)628-4160 fax (202) 347-5323 -or write- PO Box 1396, Washington, DC 20013 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30 1995 7:00 p.m. (EST) HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON "THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA IN SCHOOLS" CALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOW! WASHINGTON -- Anti-gay extremist Lou Sheldon, who has called for men, women, and children with AIDS to be confined in concentration camps, has succeeded in pressuring Congressman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Education Committee, to hold taxpayer-funded hearings on public school programs which deal with issues of sexual orientation. These hearings are part of his mean-spirited Radical Right agenda to dehumanize gay and lesbian people by singling them out for discrimination. The hearings are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 12 in a subcommittee which has no actual jurisdiction over the content of curriculum and programs offered by public schools. We must urge Chairman Hoekstra to reconsider his decision and to continue to allow local communities and state education boards to set guidelines for curriculum, counseling, and materials. The programs Sheldon is singling out are necessary to keep young people safe and healthy. They help prevent AIDS, violence, and suicide among young people. They are designed to save lives and keep families together - not to "promote homosexuality." Please use the following sample letter to write Chairman Hoekstra and urge him to reconsider the hearings. Then call the subcommittee members through the Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask them to do the same: Republicans Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) - Chair Bill Barrett (NE) Cass Ballenger (NC) Randy (Duke) Cunningham (CA) Howard (Buck) McKeon (FL) Micheal Castle (DE) Dave Weldon (FL) William Goodling (PA) Harris W. Fawell (IL) Democrats Thomas Sawyer (OH) Matthew Martinez (CA) Jack Reed (RI) Tim Roemer (IN) Robert Scott (VA) Gene Green (TX) Mel Reynolds (IL) *** SAMPLE MESSAGE *** August 30, 1995 The Honorable Peter Hoekstra 1122 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Hoekstra, I was very disappointed to learn today that you plan to hold a hearing on September 12 at the request of extremist Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition. This hearing, on the so-called "promotion of homosexuality in public schools," will prove to be nothing more than an opportunity for Lou Sheldon to continue his campaign of targeting lesbian and gay Americans with hateful rhetoric. Sheldon has gone so far as to advocate that men, women and children with AIDS be sent to concentration camps. Clearly, this is not an individual in step with mainstream America, but rather an extremist intent on raising money on hate and misinformation. It was, in fact, from a TVC fundraising letter that we learned of these hearings. Earlier in the year a constituent spoke to Chairman Goodling about the hearings Sheldon was advocating. Chairman Goodling wisely rejected any need for such hearings. I strongly urge you to reconsider your plans in regard to this matter. If you do decide to go forward, I hope you intend to present a balanced look at the issue. HRCF is prepared to assist in identifying expert witnesses to discuss school programs designed to address the epidemic of violence faced by lesbian and gay youth in public schools. I look forward to hearing from you and can be reached at (202)628-4160. Sincerely, Daniel Zingale Political Director 1101 14th Street, NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202)347-5323 Parent's Corner... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Parent's tip of the week. Communication: Your Children and You 1. Teach your children to listen. Gently touch a child and say their names before you talk. 2. Speak in a quiet voice. Sometimes whisper to children so they have to listen. They like this. 3. Look into your child's eyes so you can tell when they understand. Bend or sit down so you become the child's size. 4. Practice listening and talking. 5. Respect children and use a courteous tone of voice. If we talk to our children as we would our friends, our youngsters may be more likely to seek us out as confidants. 6. Encourage your children to say more about their feelings. Say things like, "What happened then?" or "How did that make you feel?" 7. Praise will build a child's confidence and reinforce communication. Unkind words tear children down and teach them that they just aren't good enough. 8. Children are never too old to be told they are loved. Saying "I love you" is very important. Write it in a note to give the child a reminder to hold on to. 9. Give your undivided attention to your children when they want to talk to you. Don't read, watch TV, or make yourself busy with other tasks. 10. "You never listen me!" is a complaint heard from children and parents. Good communication helps children and parents to develop confidence, self-esteem and good relationships with each other. Jeff Sam Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator, Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com Please visit Jeff's Sam's Parenting and Child Safety Web page: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/jeffsam.html/ CRISIS IN MERRIMACK: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello folks! This week CAT is proud to publish a "letter to the editor" from our freedom fighting pals in Merrimack... In case you didn't know, the School Board of Merrimack, New Hampshire voted into policy on August 14, 1995: Policy 6540--Prohibition of Alternate (sic) Lifestyle Instruction "The Merrimack School District shall neither implement nor carry out any program or activity that has either the purpose or effect of encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative. A program or activity, for purpose of this item, includes the distribution of instructional materials, instruction, counseling, or other services on school grounds, or referral of a pupil to an organization that affirms a homosexual lifestyle." The above policy is discriminatory, shows no compassion or love and allows the Merrimack School Board the unwise power of censorship. The policy flies in the face of everything that is decent, just and fair in our American society... People from all backgrounds must stand up and fight for the rights of our nation's youth... -------------------------------------------------------------------- Randal L. Kottwitz & Dr. Steven T. Birchall Merrimack, NH August 28, 1995 It's a Life, Not a Lifestyle To the editor: Because of our concern for education, we have become the best-known gay adults in Merrimack. Since Chairman Ager and Mrs. Uscinski are obsessed with our sexuality, we must address several points: 1) It's not a lifestyle, it's a life! Neither we nor anyone we know has chosen to be gay. Who would choose ridicule and discrimination - to have their employment, housing, indeed their very lives at risk due to others' hatred? Who would choose to have their community question their right to participate in the democratic process? Who would choose to have their lifetime loving partnership be attacked as immoral? 2) Our lives are astoundingly normal. We work, pay taxes, clean house, go to the supermarket together, argue politics and religion, worry about our elderly parents, care for our nieces and nephews, pay the mortgage, fight and make up. We spend holidays with family, take vacations, and try to give something back to the world. We enjoy helping and encouraging young people, but must do so indirectly because of the climate of suspicion in our town. 3) We have no hidden agenda. We care about all people - adults and children. Our families taught us we had a responsibility to seek equal and fair treatment for all. They also taught us that education is the key to the improvement of society and of our obligation to support education for the greater good, whether or not we have children. Fear not, fair citizens of Merrimack. We simply want to live our lives peacefully and participate in our community like everyone else. We're sorry some of you are threatened by our existence. If you knew us, perhaps those fears would subside. However, if you continue to attack us and relegate us to a sub-class for choices we never made, we won't remain silent. We aren't special, but we are equal. In the spirit of good citizenship, Randal L. Kottwitz & Dr. Steven T. Birchall, D.M.A. -------------------------------------------------------------------- CAT sponsors "The Outrage Page" on the World Wide Web, including a separate page on ways to combat the ignorance, shortsightedness and prejudice towards gay, lesbian and bisexual children voted into policy by Merrimack's School Board. Point your Web browser to: "The Outrage Page" http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/outrage.html/ "Here's what you can do to help..." http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/action.html/ GLB Youth Advisor: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor... Gay is NOT a Lifestyle ---------------------- Last week, someone asked me: "What does it mean to be gay?" A thorough answer would take volumes of books to explain so I will keep my answer simple. Maybe a better question would be, "What does it mean to be a homosexual or bisexual?" If you ask someone who dislikes or is confused about homosexuals, they might say, "Anyone who has sex with a person of the same sex." This answer shows their disfavor towards the GLB community. If you reduce homosexuality to just the sexual act, you remove the human being from the picture. If you remove this human factor, then a homophobic person can make the claim to hate the sexual act, but not the person. Another confusing word associated with being gay is "lifestyle". Usually a lifestyle refers to the manner in which we conduct our daily lives. This includes financial, social and personal choices. In the 1980's the word "Yuppie" referred to people who earned an "upper-middle" income and purchased expensive cars and clothes. The "Hippie" generation of the 1960's represented a lifestyle of "peace and love", a minimal income, radical political views, and experimentation with drugs. These lifestyles represented a conscious choice. When I awaken each morning, I don't scratch my head and decide, "Hey! I think I will love men again today." At no point in my life did I consciously decide to develop an attraction to other males. It just happened. I will admit that I had a sudden revelation one morning when I did realize my desire for other males. This is not the same thing as waking up to a sudden decision to spend your extra money! Each member of the GLB community lives his or her own lifestyle depending on education, finances, career and personality. Their lifestyle does not include their sexual identity. A gay lifestyle is what a GLB political activist talks about in reference to matters of civil rights. People want to link gays exclusively with sexual promiscuity and assume it must be "the gay lifestyle." Very often we encounter this common misconception and exaggeration. At some future point I will share some of my opinions on why this occurs... So, what does it mean to be GLB? The answer is similar to the rest of the human race. It means we hope to find a suitable partner to fulfill our emotional and physical needs. It means we hope for the "American Dream" of gainful employment, building a home and perhaps even raising a family. The only difference here is that the relationship includes a member of the same sex. There is one big difference I should point out between gay and heterosexual people. Growing up gay, we encounter hostility and isolation imposed on us by certain members of society. We frequently find ourselves lacking supportive friends with whom we can openly communicate. Most of the time when other kids are dating, we remain home alone. We are afraid of the consequences of being seen with someone of the same sex on a date. Being denied employment is a reality we face if we are discovered to be homosexual or bisexual. Under these circumstances, the meaning of being gay takes on a new light. We must transcend the worries of daily living and focus on other issues. This adversity makes us more creative, intellectual and productive in our lives. Obviously all human beings can strive for these goals. But it is difficult when our lives are constantly bombarded by people who care little about our human rights. The GLB community is both rich and diverse, and forces us to be stronger individuals. In the end, this ultimately becomes the answer to "What does it mean to be GLB?" Mike Reddin Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor for Children's Animated Television Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/ What if??? ~~~~~~~~~~ A new feature to the popular CAT Chronicle is "What if???" Our President, Claude DiDomenica will be writing a weekly column to stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost their "youthful imaginations..." What if you were asked by two benevolent alien beings to take them on a guided tour of our planet??? Personally, I would be most troubled by this task. What would you do? Stay away from our polluted and crime ridden cities??? Hide them from the war, torture and prejudice that still plagues our world? How could you explain that a race that could produce Mozart and Shakespeare continues on its present path of suicide? Perhaps I'll ask them to come back in a thousand years after we have grown up, assuming we can make it through this self destructive stage of ours... Maybe it is wise to think that we are being denied entrance to what Star Trek calls "The Federation." As I was growing up in the 1960's, I believed in the future that science fiction showed me was possible. Maybe there really is a "Federation of Planets" waiting for a signal from us that we are ready. The conflicts that plague our world will someday end. Why not end them sooner??? Besides, haven't you always wanted to meet Mr. Spock??? :) Claude DiDomenica didom@usa1.com The CAT Credo... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future for all children... CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems through honest and open dialogue, education, information and compromise... CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate long-lasting answers to problems in their world... As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information using all available technology including a computer bulletin board, World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow... Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley Founders of Children's Animated Television July 15, 1995 -------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail: E-Mail to didom@usa1.com Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Bessie Hadley, Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 USA Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238 Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2 Internet: hadley@usa1.com Claude DiDomenica, President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS Internet: didom@usa1.com CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains intact and this notice is not removed. 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