Girls and Boys Can Be Gay
Files
Title
Girls and Boys Can Be Gay
Description
A press release detailing Robert Rygor's campaign platform for "rainbow curriculum" in the 1993 election for New York City School Board District 2
Subject
Gay activists--Political activity--United States
Rygor, Robert
Homosexuality and education
Creator
Rygor, Robert
Source
RobertRygorPapers.Box6.Folder9
Publisher
Queens College Department of Special Collections and Archives (New York, N.Y.)
Date
1993-03-26
Date Created
2014-09-25
Rights
This material may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). We welcome you to make fair use of the content accessible on this website as defined by copyright law. Please note that you are responsible for determining whether your use is fair and for responding to any claims that may arise from your use.
Is Part Of
Format
Image
JPEG
Extent
269,044 bytes
Language
English
Type
Text
Spatial Coverage
New York (N.Y.)
Text
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 26, 1993
CONTACT: 212-564-2437 OR 929-5009
“GIRLS AND BOYS CAN BE GAY”
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE CALLS FOR
‘REAL’ RAINBOW CURRICULUM
ROBERT RYGOR IS ONE OF 22 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR 9 SEATS IN SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT #2 WHICH INCLUDES THE UPPER EASTSIDE, MIDTOWN AND THE LOWER WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN. WHILE THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE GIVING AT BEST LUKE-WARM SUPPORT FOR RAINBOW, BACKING AWAY FROM IT ALL TOGETHER OR BOASTING ABOUT THE NEED TO GET "BACK-TO-BASICS",
ROBERT RYGOR, AN OPENLY GAY PERSON WITH AIDS AND THE FIRST TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ANYWHERE, IS LARGELY BASING HIS CANDIDACY AROUND A CALL FOR "REAL" RAINBOW CURRICULUM.
"WHAT REMAINS IN THE CURRICULUM DOESN'T GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER," SAYS RYGOR, WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING HIS THIRD TERM AS ACT UP'S
WORKSPACE MANAGER. "THE REAL ISSUE IS NOT THAT KIDS HAVE 'SAME-GENDER' PARENTS BUT THAT THEY THEMSELVES MAY BE GAY AND IF THEY ARE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WHO THEY ARE."
RYGOR'S SUPPORTERS ARE DISTRIBUTING POSTERS THAT FEATURE A DRAWING OF TWO
STICK-FIGURE BOYS AND TWO GIRLS WITH LINES CONNECTING WHERE THEIR LIPS MIGHT BE, INDICATING KISSING, UNDER A HEADLINE THAT PROCLAIMS THAT 'GIRLS AND BOYS CAN BE GAY'. THE ILLUSTRATION WAS MADE TWENTY YEARS AGO BY ROBERT RYGOR'S SISTER, VALERIE RYGOR, WHEN SHE WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE.
ROBERT RYGOR IS ALSO TAKING A STRONG STAND AGAINST VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE OF GAY KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.
"GAY KIDS HAVE BEEN CALLED 'SISSIES' AND 'FAGOTS' AND LESBIANS HAVE BE CALLED
'TOMBOYS' AND HAVE BEATEN UP BY 'BULLIES' EVERY DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR DECADES AND NO ONE HAS MADE AN ISSUE OF IT UNTIL NOW." SAYS RYGOR.
THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION IS TUESDAY, MAY 4TH.
MARCH 26, 1993
CONTACT: 212-564-2437 OR 929-5009
“GIRLS AND BOYS CAN BE GAY”
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE CALLS FOR
‘REAL’ RAINBOW CURRICULUM
ROBERT RYGOR IS ONE OF 22 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR 9 SEATS IN SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT #2 WHICH INCLUDES THE UPPER EASTSIDE, MIDTOWN AND THE LOWER WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN. WHILE THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE GIVING AT BEST LUKE-WARM SUPPORT FOR RAINBOW, BACKING AWAY FROM IT ALL TOGETHER OR BOASTING ABOUT THE NEED TO GET "BACK-TO-BASICS",
ROBERT RYGOR, AN OPENLY GAY PERSON WITH AIDS AND THE FIRST TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE ANYWHERE, IS LARGELY BASING HIS CANDIDACY AROUND A CALL FOR "REAL" RAINBOW CURRICULUM.
"WHAT REMAINS IN THE CURRICULUM DOESN'T GET TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER," SAYS RYGOR, WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING HIS THIRD TERM AS ACT UP'S
WORKSPACE MANAGER. "THE REAL ISSUE IS NOT THAT KIDS HAVE 'SAME-GENDER' PARENTS BUT THAT THEY THEMSELVES MAY BE GAY AND IF THEY ARE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WHO THEY ARE."
RYGOR'S SUPPORTERS ARE DISTRIBUTING POSTERS THAT FEATURE A DRAWING OF TWO
STICK-FIGURE BOYS AND TWO GIRLS WITH LINES CONNECTING WHERE THEIR LIPS MIGHT BE, INDICATING KISSING, UNDER A HEADLINE THAT PROCLAIMS THAT 'GIRLS AND BOYS CAN BE GAY'. THE ILLUSTRATION WAS MADE TWENTY YEARS AGO BY ROBERT RYGOR'S SISTER, VALERIE RYGOR, WHEN SHE WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE.
ROBERT RYGOR IS ALSO TAKING A STRONG STAND AGAINST VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE OF GAY KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.
"GAY KIDS HAVE BEEN CALLED 'SISSIES' AND 'FAGOTS' AND LESBIANS HAVE BE CALLED
'TOMBOYS' AND HAVE BEATEN UP BY 'BULLIES' EVERY DAY IN OUR SCHOOLS FOR DECADES AND NO ONE HAS MADE AN ISSUE OF IT UNTIL NOW." SAYS RYGOR.
THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION IS TUESDAY, MAY 4TH.
Original Format
8.5 x 11 inches (216 x 279 mm)
Paper
Memorandum
Collection
Citation
Rygor, Robert, “Girls and Boys Can Be Gay,” Queens College Civil Rights Archives, accessed May 26, 2022, http://archives.qc.cuny.edu/civilrights/items/show/307.