Original Message From: Zeke Individually To: Chris Hart,  Jim Sebesta,  Bob Graham & Jim Davis
 
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002
Subject: Two Messages on Florida Dignity for all Students Act Different Text
 
I have sent you a few automated form email messages, to assure my voice is not lost on this issue, I am taking the time to write you personally.
 
I am very concerned with the treatment our gay and lesbian high school students. Study after study has
shown that bias, torment, harassment and discrimination of gay students is rampant throughout our public schools. As if this was not disgraceful enough, when students turned to our Florida legislature for help, they were horrifically berated, ridiculed and condemned. This first hand lesson of religious bias, discrimination and hatred by one of our Representatives, further, fuels the anti-gay atmosphere in our schools. The abuse
by one of our lawmakers serves as an example of the type abuse our gay youth endure and the desperate need for your support to protect them..
 
I would ask that you take a stand against such treatment of our gay students and protect them from the reprehensible verbal and physical abuse they endure daily. The Florida Dignity for all Students Act requires your immediate attention and support. It is an important piece of legislation that directly addresses the plight of gay students. It will offer our gay students the much needed protection they deserve and could lead to ending harassment and discrimination of gay students on our schools.
 
Please, support the Florida Dignity for all Students Act and it passage into law. Don't all it to get sent into a legislative holding pattern and stalled forever. The lives of our gay youth in in your hands, I pray you will do what school officials have failed to do.

Respectively
R. Zeke Fread
Tampa Florida 33629-6022
zeke2@tampabay.rr.com


March 07, 2002

Dear Sen. Jim Sebesta,

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor a bill to be introduced next session by Sen. Skip Campbell and Rep. Ken Gottlieb that would amend Florida law to prohibit discrimination and harassment in
schools based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation or disability (the Dignity for All Students Act).

More than 82% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment. More than 90% of LGBT students regularly hear anti-LGBT comments at school; and almost one infour hear these comments from school staff. Almost one in three skipped school in the last four weeks because they felt unsafe.

Schools should have no tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any type, including harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. A school without harassment creates a safer learning environment and boosts student achievement. If students do not have to worry about walking down the hall without being called gay, they will be able to fill their potential and get the most out of their education.

Please support and co-sponsor the Dignity for All Students Act.

Sincerely,
R. Zeke  Fread
Tampa, FL 33629-6022
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