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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2001

NEWS RELEASE

Statement of Bob Chase, President of the National Education Association On the Designation of a Task Force for Resolution New B

There has been a great deal of discussion and debate both inside and outside the Representative Assembly about proposed Resolution New B, dealing with sexual orientation. Within our Association, many people have been collaborating and working together to find a way to address the needs of and the problems confronting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students and educational employees.

Resolutions Committee has withdrawn Resolution New B, and instead is calling for the establishment of a task force to look at the issues relating to sexual orientation in a thorough and meaningful way.

Let me be clear: in no way is NEA backing away from dealing with the important issues raised by the proposed Resolution. Those who are attempting to interpret the creation of a task force in this manner could not be any further from the truth. We will not allow our policy or our discussions to be dictated by any outside group, particularly those that wish to demagogue on the issue instead of focusing on the needs and problems of these students and educational employees.

Far from backing away from these issues, this task force will expand the scope of the inquiry. NEA has a responsibility to our members and to our students to ensure that they teach and learn in a safe, supportive environment, and we fully intend to live up to that responsibility.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.