21
new s
erally afraid of being visible.”
M onica Helms, director of the
A tlanta-based
advocacy
group
Trans=Action, told the Florida Trmes-
Union that Summers organized a protest
against W inn-Dixie in January. T he
supermarket chain had fired employee
Peter Oiler for off-duty cross-dressing.
“Terrianne’s family, friends and the
Jacksonville community deserve to know
if this crime is being investigated in a
thorough and technically proficient man­
ner,” Archer said. “The Justice for Terri-
anne Coalition is calling upon the Jack­
sonville Sheriff’s Office to investigate the
murder of Terrianne in a vigorous and
professional manner and to maintain
open and clear lines of communication
with community representatives.”
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M ICHIGAN
n arbitrator has ordered a school
district to apologize for misconduct
against two gay teachers whose gay his­
tory m onth displays promoted safety and
respect, Lambda Legal Defense and Edu­
cation Fund said Dec. 4.
Paul E. Glendon found Plymouth-
Trans activist Terrianne Summers (left) protests at
C
anton
Community Schools had vio­
Winn-Dixie corporate offices Jan. 5 in Jacksonville, Fla.
lated its union contract as well as one
FLORID A
instructor’s constitutional right of free speech.
quality Florida and other organizations have
In addition, he determined the district discrimi­
called on law enforcem ent agencies to
nated against the teachers because of their sexu­
investigate fully the possibility that the Dec. 12
al orientation and subjected them to unwarrant­
murder of trans activist Terrianne Summers was ed public harassment.
a hate crime. The 51-year-old reportedly was
Instructors Mike Chium ento and Tom Sal-
shot to death in the back of the head after park­ benblatt challenged an order that they disman­
ing in the driveway of her Jacksonville home.
tle school displays commemorating the histori­
Police suspect it was an attempted robbery,
cal role of gay men and lesbians and addressing
hut Summers’ purse was not taken from the car.
harassment. The displays were in keeping with
Authorities have not identified any suspects.
Plymouth-Salem High’s theme of respect and
“As a leader of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
dignity for all.
transgender community, when someone is an
Similar gay history month displays had been
open transgender activist, 1 have to wonder about
created by a staff member who is not gay. W hen
the possibility of it being a hate crime,” Cindy
Chium ento and Salbenhlatt created displays at
Watson, Jacksonville Area Minority Youth N et­ their schools in 1999, however, the interim
work executive director. “We know transgender superintendent and members of the hoard of
people are targeted more than any other group in
education attacked them for supposedly “pro­
the gay, lesbian and bisexual community.”
moting” their personal “lifestyles.”
A retired Navy lieutenant commander with
Salbenhlatt decided to create the display
22 years of service, Summers was a leader in the
when the parent of one gay student came to
trans community and active in the fight for
him, asking what he could do to help create a
human rights with several organizations. She is safer, more welcoming environment. The parent
survived by a wife and two children.
later said the display positively affected the child
“Terrianne was always quick with a smile
by showing contributions gay people have made
and eager to help others,” said fellow trans
throughout history. However, when the district
activist and friend Jessica Archer, Equality
ordered removal of the display, the student
Florida media and outreach director. “She
began noticing more anti-gay slurs and harass­
showed tremendous courage to be out and
m ent at school.
active in a part of the state where transgender
“For a school to have a campaign of ‘respect
people are highly misunderstood and are gen­
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Plymouth-Salem High School alum Bree Pastaleniec (left, with friend Becky M urray) says the
controversy “really makes us look bad”
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