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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. Please do not post on USENET,
FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator.
				#  #  #
