Gay Teacher

The Book

I am researching and writing a book, Gay Teacher: A Story of Love, Hate and Lessons Yet to be Learned. My book is about the experiences of gay teacher Gerry Crane in 1995-1997, along with the experiences of LGBT during the past few years.

Gerry Crane, a high school music teacher in Byron Center, Michigan, was outed by a student, harassed and ostracized by parents, administrators and the larger community and eventually forced to resign. Gerry died 6 months later from a stress-related heart attack at age 32. Gerry's ordeal was covered by Time magazine and the television show 20/20.

While Gerry's struggle occurred between the fall of 1995 and January 1997, almost two decades later teachers are still losing their jobs for merely being gay or lesbian, only 18 states have LGBT-related anti-discrimination employment laws and three states have anti-discrimination laws which exclude gender identity and expression protections. LGBT children continue to be bullied, some to the point where they end their own young lives. LGBT youth will not be safe in their schools until at a minimum their adult teachers cannot lose their jobs for being gay. My book also addresses the current climate for LGBT teachers.

In 2013, The Advocate reported a study which revealed that lesbian and gay teachers are less likely to challenge LGBT-based bullying in schools because they feared for their jobs. The teachers' fears are warranted:

-in 2014 Marian High School chemistry teacher Barbara Webb was fired for having what her employer called an unconventional pregnancy, that being a planned pregnancy through alternative insemination with her wife

-in 2013, the Hesperia Unified School District in California refused to renew lesbian teacher Julia Frost's contract after she helped LGBT students speak out about harassment perpetrated by other teachers

-in 2013, gay elementary school principal Tom Klansnic was fired by the North Gresham Elementary School in Gresham, Oregon after he revealed that his is gay

-in 2012, high school principal Cynthia Davis was fired from the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Arizona after a “concerned community member” submitted a letter stating she suspected Davis was a lesbian and thus living a “questionable lifestyle”

These and other stories will be addressed in Gay Teacher.  To learn more about my book listen to my 12.16.14 interview on Michigan Public Radio's "Stateside with Cynthia Canty" at:

http://michiganradio.org/post/story-gay-high-school-teacher-illustrate-lack-civil-rights-protections

My Motivation For Writing This Book

LGBT discrimination and hate ended Gerry's career and cost him his life. A young, dedicated, passionate, talented music teacher and a man of exceptional character died at age 32 as a result of discrimination and hate. I want to tell Gerry’s story to honor him and his struggle, one that is representative of generations of people who have lost their families, housing, jobs, careers, health and lives for merely choosing to live an authentic life.

The trauma that Gerry suffered--and even his death--were not enough to generate support for the passage of a state law in Michigan prohibiting LGBT-based employment discrimination. It is my belief that Gerry's story of death from discrimination, coupled with similar current stories will increase awareness and provide the impetus for cultural and legal change benefiting LGBT educators and students and improving our education system.

Gay Teacher also includes the story of a community that was greatly affected by a vicious, public, personal condemnation of Gerry. Many religious leaders and others in the community cited the Bible to justify their view that a gay person should not be able to work as a public school teacher. A large number of religious leaders and believers remained silent. Gay Teacher includes the story about how a small group of courageous religious leaders formed a coalition, Concerned Clergy, to offer a differing Christian and Jewish view and initiate a dialogue within the community about faith and homosexuality. I want to chronicle this history and challenge people to consider the application of civil equality laws to parochial schools.

Finally, I am motivated to write this book because I have a passion for history which I inherited from my father. I find history to be informative, inspirational, thought-provoking and in an odd way comforting. Gerry's story is an important part of our nation's LGBT history and Michigan history. As aptly stated by George Orwell, "The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”

Use Of The Funds Raised

I will use the funds to complete the research and writing of my book and obtain professional developmental and copy editing, publication, distribution, technology and marketing services. The most effective research method for this book is conducting face-to-face interviews. I have been able to conduct most of the interviews relating to Gerry's story in West Michigan where I reside. There are additional interviews relating to Gerry's story, and the experiences of current teachers which require travel expenses.

The production process costs include interior book layout and design, art and design for covers, indexing, photography, editing, copyright and legal compliance services, binding and printing to create an initial inventory of books. The technology and marketing services include establishing an author website, social media platforms, eBook conversion and distribution services and search engine optimization.

The marketing and promotional expenses include public relations services to develop and disseminate promotional materials, press releases, reviews and videos to print, radio, television, online, social media sources and to participate in education and LGBT-related conferences, community events, book exhibits and book fairs.

My Qualifications To Write The Book

I work as a sole practitioner attorney. One of my areas of specialization has been serving the legal needs of those in the LGBT community, including employment, family and criminal law.

In October 2014 I had a significant victory when a family law judge declared my client to be an equitable parent for her non-biological son which she has raised with her former partner. You can read more about this case at my blog: Christine Yared's blog

In the 1990's I developed a course at Grand Valley State University, Sexual Orientation and the Law" a course I teach as an adjunct professor. I have taught other courses at GVSU including Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties and Legal Research & Writing.  In 1997, I published an article about Gerry Crane, "Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Teachers," in the American Bar Association’s journal, "Human Rights."

I have had extensive public speaking experience on LGBT issues including marriage equality, free speech,   LGBT parenting issues, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and diversity issues for K-12 teachers. In addition I have written LGBT-related articles for the legal and LGBT community, conducted gay and lesbian diversity training sessions for governmental and university employees,  presented professional papers at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ and the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender College conferences. I have been interviewed by the print, radio and television media about my cases and LGBT issues.

My current community service includes serving as a founding board member for Healing Children of Conflict, Refugee Resource Center and West Michigan LGBT Chamber of Commerce.  My past community service includes: the Lesbian & Gay Community Network of Western Michigan (Board of Directors & past President), Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network ("GLSEN”) West MI Chapter (Board of Directors), Riverside Elementary School PTA (past President), American Civil Liberties Union, West Michigan Chapter Lawyers' Committee and committee service for the Michigan Bar Association & Grand Rapids Bar Association.

Request For Your Assistance

I would greatly appreciate your donation to my GoFundMe campaign. I am also requesting your assistance by:

-"liking" my Gay Teacher facebook page at:  Gay Teacher Facebook Page

-sharing my GoFundMe and Facebook links with others you know who may be interested in supporting a book which chronicles Gerry's ordeal and the struggles which many LGBT teachers experience today.

-providing me with information about Gerry's life story or the stories of current LGBT teachers at [email redacted]

Thank you for your support! Please contact me with any questions.

warm regards,

Christine Yared