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MI: Gerry Crane passes away

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Jean Richter

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Jan 10, 1997, 3:00:00 AM1/10/97

Many of you may remember Gerry Crane, the Byron Center (Michigan) High School
band director who's job was threatened when the public school he worked for
learned he was gay. A few days ago he had what they thought was a heart
attack and he slipped into a coma, though they found no traces of any heart
damage. They then suspected it was an allergic reation. Tonight I received
the following letter from a friend of mine informing me that Gerry has passed
away.

Please widly distribute this post. Many people around the world responded to
support Gerry when he was threatened by the school board and I know they
would want to know this information.

Please pray for Randy, Gerry's partner. He was steadfast during the whole
scandal and is one of the sweetest men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting,
along with Gerry. I'm sure he'll be devastated. I'll provide updates as I
get them.

Brad Bergman
LstRm...@aol.com
(formerly BBerg...@aol.com)

>Dear friends,

>It is 3:50 am Friday morning, and I have just returned from St. Mary's
Hospital. >About a half an hour ago Gerry Crane died. I had the tremendous
privilege of being >there in the room. Afterward, one friend described it as
a holy moment. I can think >of no better way to describe the experience.

>Gerry is now at peace. Randy faces a difficult road of grieving. Actually,
many of >us do, but especially Randy. Please pray.

>Earlier in the evening we held a prayer vigil at the chapel at Westminster
Church. It >was a beautiful weaving of God's Spirit through the words,
prayers, and songs of >many people. What most impressed me was how Gerry
touched the lives of so >many people. What a gift he was to us! We thank
God for that gift!

January 3, 1997

TO: All GLSTN Members and Supporters
FROM: Kevin Jennings

It is with tremendous sadness that I write to inform you that one of our
members, Gerry Crane, died this morning. Gerry suffered a heart attack
on Friday December 27 and lapsed into a coma, from which he never
awakened prior to his death this morning. He was 32 years old.

Many of you will remember Gerry's story, and perhaps you met him at our
Midwestern Conference last March in Chicago.. An outstanding teacher who
had revived the nearly-defunct music program in the Byron Center (MI)
Schools, Gerry answered a student's question about his commitment ring
with the truth about his marriage to his husband, Randy Block, in the
fall of 1995. Gerry then faced relentless harassment for the remainder
of the school year, including a full school board meeting where it was
voted that homosexuals were "unfit role models" as well as the sending of
anti-gay hate videotapes to all of his students' families by a colleague.
At year's end, he accepted a one-year severance package rather than
return and continue to face this harassment. This fall, he was involved
in the fledgling GLSTN/Kalamazoo chapter, which was formed in the wake of
the Byron Center controversy.

I have just spoken with Gerry's husband, Randy Block, who has asked me to
inform you that, in lieu of flowers, the family will welcome gifts to a
scholarship established in Gerry's memory. Please direct gifts to:
The Gerald M. Crane Memorial Music Scholarship Fund
c/o The Grand Rapids Foundation
161 Ottawa Ave. Suite 209-C
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Gerry's death leaves me deeply sad as well as deeply angry. While Gerry
was not directly assassinated by bigots (as were leaders such as Medger
Evers or Harvey Milk), he may as well have been. My heart goes out to
Randy and their friends in this time of enormous pain and loss.

May we all recommit ourselves to our work so that I never have to write a
memo of this nature again.

========================================================
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Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN).
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The Detroit News, January 4, 1996
OBITUARY
Gay teacher forced out of conservative high school dies at 32
GRAND RAPIDS -- Gerry Crane, who was forced to resign as a music teacher
because he was gay, died Friday from complications of a heart attack. He was
32.
Crane, who began teaching music at Byron Center High School in 1993, quit
his job last July after months of unrelenting hostility from the community.
Byron Center, 15 miles south of Grand Rapids, is typical of many western
Michigan communities where conservative Christians have significant
influence.
Crane's family declined comment through Saint Mary's Health Services, the
Grand Rapids hospital where he died early Friday.
"Mr. Crane's family and loved ones request prayers, support and that
their privacy be respected at this time," spokeswoman Micki Benz said in a
statement.
Benz said Crane suffered a heart attack Dec. 27 and had been in intensive
care all week. She said funeral arrangements were pending.
"We are stunned and saddened by this sudden and unexpected tragedy," Byron
Center Education Association President David Prindle said in a release. "He
will be missed."
A release put out by Byron Center Public Schools said officials there were
saddened to hear of Crane's death.
"Despite the prior public controversy, Mr. Crane's dedication to teaching
and to music was unwavering and unquestioned," the release said. "He will be
missed by the many friends he made while working in the district."
The campaign against Crane included the threat of dismissal after school
board members discovered he "married" his same-sex partner and an explicit
video mailed to the parents of his students that showed homosexual acts.
The anti-gay packages mailed last February included a letter signed by 38
people associated with a group called Parents for Traditional Values.
Crane will be remembered by his supporters as an excellent teacher who
revived a mediocre music program and produced the school's first musical.
Opponents, however, believed his sexual orientation set a poor example
for teen-agers.
Richard Gregory, pastor of Byron Center Bible Church, had said just as
news of Crane's homosexuality was spreading through the community in December
1995 that he "made a choice that imperils the morals of our community. The
issue is the biblical authority that teaches that homosexuality is immoral."
A woman who answered the phone at the church Friday said Gregory would
have no comment on Crane's death.
Although the school board did not fire Mr. Crane, it issued a statement
that December, making its stance clear.
"Individuals who espouse homosexuality do not constitute proper role
models as teachers for students in this district," the board said in pledging
to keep him under scrutiny.
Stung by the criticism, Crane nonetheless pledged to stick around. But by
July, he opted to take a severance package and move on.
Crane received support from his students who gave him a standing ovation
during a holiday concert on Dec. 7, 1995.
"We want him to know we are 100 percent behind him," senior Joe Pennington
said at the time.

NOTES: from BC...@aol.com
- The telephone number for Byron Center Bible Church is 616-878-9658.
- Below are a list of all daily newspapers in Michigan for those who wish
to compose a letter to the editor about this sad situation:
MICHIGAN
The Daily Telegram,Box 647,Adrian,MI,49221
-(Fax 517-263-4152, print run 17,316)
Albion Recorder,111 W. Center St.,Albion,MI,49224
-(Fax 517-629-5790, print run 13,000)
Sun,Box 425,Alma,MI,48801
(print run 11,200)
News,Box 367,Alpena,MI,49707
-(Fax 517-354-2096, print run 12,559)
(E-MAIL: alpen...@oweb.com)
Ann Arbor News,340 E. Huron St.,Ann Arbor,MI,48106
-(Fax 313-994-6879, print run 53,988)
-(E-Mail: Lette...@aol.com)
Huron Daily Tribune,211 N. Heisterman Street,Bad Axe,MI,48413
-(Fax 517-269-9893, print run 8,652)
Battle Creek Enquirer,155 W. Van Buren St.,Battle Creek,MI,49016
-(Fax 616-964-0299, print run 28,664)
-(E-MAIL: enqu...@ccm.tdsnet.com)
Bay City Times,311 5th St.,Bay City,MI,48706
-(Fax 517-893-0649, print run 39,920)
The Pioneer,502 N. State St.,Big Rapids,MI,49307
-(Fax 616-796-1152, print run 5,200)
Cadillac News,P. O. Box 640,Cadillac, MI,49601
Daily Tribune,Box 290,Cheboygan,MI,49721
-(Fax 616-627-5331, print run 4,800)
The Daily Reporter,15 W. Pearl St.,Coldwater,MI,49036
-(Fax 517-278-6041, print run 7,200)
Daily University Star
(E-MAIL: j...@swt.edu)
Detroit News,615 W. Lafayette,Detroit,MI,48226
-(Fax 313-222-6417, print run 481,766)
(E-MAIL: Let...@detnews.com)
Detroit Free Press,321 W. Lafayette Blvd.,Detroit,MI,48231
-(Fax 313-222-6774, print run 622,349)
(E-MAIL: Edi...@det-freepress.com or
DFPLe...@cis.compuserve.com)
Dowagiac Daily News,Box 30,Dowagiac,MI,49047
-(Fax 616-782-5290, print run 3,000)
The State News,343 Student Services Bldg.,East Lansing,MI,48824
-(Fax 517-353-2599, print run 38,000)
-(EMAIL: sn...@pilot.msu.edu)
The Daily Press,600 Ludington,Escanaba,MI,49829
-(Fax 906-786-9006, print run 11,000)
Flint Journal,200 E. First St.,Flint,MI,48502
-(Fax 810-767-7518, print run 106,284)
(E-MAIL: f...@flintj.com)
Grand Haven Tribune,101 N. Third Street,Grand Haven,MI,49417
-(Fax 616-842-9584, print run 11,000)
Grand Rapids Press,155 Michigan St. NW,Grand Rapids,MI,49502
-(Fax 616-222-5212, print run 146,749)
-(E-MAIL: edi...@gr-press.com)
The Daily News,Box 340,Greenville,MI,48838
-(Fax 616-754-8559, print run 8,500)
Hillsdale Daily News,Box 287, Hillsdale,MI,49242
-(Fax 517-437-3963, print run 8,300)
Holland Sentinel,54 W. 8th St.,Holland,MI,49423
-(Fax 616-392-3526-?, print run 19,104)
The Daily Mining Gazette,206 Shelden Avenue,Houghton,MI,49931
(print run 12,500)
Ionia Sentinel-Standard,114-6 N. Depot,Ionia,MI,48846
-(Fax 616-527-6860, print run 4,200)
The Daily News,Box 460,Iron Mountain,MI,49801
-(Fax 906-774-7660, print run 11,282)
Ironwood Daily Globe,118 E. McLeod Ave.,Ironwood,MI,49938
-(Fax 906-932-5358, print run 8,100)
Jackson Citizen Patriot,214 S. Jackson St.,Jackson,MI,49204
-(Fax 517-787-9711, print run 37,634)
Kalamazoo Gazette,401 S. Burdick Street,Kalamazoo,MI,49007
-(Fax 616-345-0583, print run 64,l201 - no out of Michigan letters
accepted)

Western Michigan Herald,1523 Faunce Student Services Building, Western
Michigan
University, Kalamazoo, MI,49008
(E-MAIL: WMU_H...@wmich.edu)
Lansing State Journal,120 E. Lenawee St.,Lansing,MI,48919
-(Fax 517-377-1284, print run 70,652)
Daily News,Box 340,Ludington,MI,49431
-(Fax 616-843-4011, print run 8,000)
Manistee News Advocate,75 Maple Street,Manistee,MI,49660
-(Fax 616-723-4733, print run 5,800)
The Mining Journal,Box 430,Marquette,MI,49855
-(Fax 906-228-5556, print run 18,326)
Marshall Chronicle,115 S. Grand St.,Marshall,MI,49068
-(Fax 616-781-4012, print run 1,700)
Menominee Herald-Leader,Box 10,Menominee,MI,49858
Midland Daily News,Box 432,Midland,MI,48640
-(Fax 517-835-9151, print run 16,610)
(E-MAIL: mdnle...@mdn.net)
Monroe News,Box 1176,Monroe,MI,48161
-(Fax 313-242-3175, print run 23,600)
The Macomb Daily,P. O. Box 707,Mount Clemens,MI,48043
-(Fax 810-469-2892, print run 48,253)
(E-MAIL: ed...@macombdaily.com)
Mount Pleasant-Alma Times,215 N. Main St.,Mount Pleasant,MI,48858
-(Fax 517-773-0382, print run 11,000)
Muskegon Chronicle,Box 59,Muskegon,MI,49443
-(Fax 616-722-2552, print run 47,741)
Star,217 N. 4th St.,Niles,MI,49120
-(Fax 616-683-2175, print run 4,500)
The Argus-Press,Box 399,Owosso,MI,48867
-(Fax 517-725-6376, print run 12,500)
(E-MAIL: ar...@shianet.org)
Petosky News Review,Box 528,Petosky,MI,49770
-(Fax 616-347-6833, print run 10,801)
The Oakland Press,P. O. Box 9,Pontiac,MI,48056
-(Fax 810-332-8885, print run 74,600)
Times Herald,911 Military St.,Port Huron,MI,48060
-(Fax 810-989-6294, print run 30,500)
(E-MAIL: tms...@ic.net)
The Daily Tribune,210 E. 3rd St.,Royal Oak,MI,48068
-(Fax 810-541-7903, print run 26,331)
Saginaw News,203 S. Washington Ave.,Saginaw,MI,48605
-(Fax 517-752-3115, print run 56,626)
The Herald-Palladium,Box 128,Saint Joseph,MI,49085
-(Fax 616-429-7661, print run 33,598)
The Evening News,109 Arlington St.,Sault Ste Marie,MI,49783
-(Fax 906-632-1222, print run 8,300)
South Haven Daily Tribune,259 Kalamazoo Street,South Haven,MI,49090
-(Fax 616-637-8415, print run 2,100)
Sturgis Journal,Box 660,Sturgis,MI,49091
-(Fax 616-651-2296)
(E-MAIL: jou...@sturgisjournal.com)
Three Rivers Commercial-News,124 N. Main St.,Three Rivers,MI,49093
(print run 11,600)
Traverse City Record-Eagle,Box 632,Traverse City,MI,49685-0632
-(Fax 616-946-8273, print run 24,696)
Wayne Eagle,35540 W. Michigan Ave.,Wayne,MI,48184
Ypsilanti Press,20 E. Michigan Ave.,Ypsilanti,MI,48197
-(Fax 313-487-8387, print run 15,634)

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS January 4, 1996
321 W. Lafayette Blvd.,Detroit,MI,48231
(Fax 313-222-6774, print run 622,349)
(E-MAIL: Edi...@det-freepress.com or DFPLe...@cis.compuserve.com)
(http://www.freep.com)

Small town respected, reviled gay teacher
BY BARTON DEITERS, Free Press Special Writer
GRAND RAPIDS -- By many accounts, music instructor Gerry Crane was among
the best teachers at Byron Center High School.
He won praise from the principal in an evaluation; directed the school's
first musical, and received high marks from the community for the performance
of the school's marching band.
But that all stopped when the conservative small town, 15 miles southwest
of Grand Rapids, learned he was gay. He quit his job last July because of the
hostility.
Early Friday, Mr. Crane died at St. Mary's Health Services in Grand Rapids
from complications following a heart attack Dec. 27. He was 32.
Mr. Crane was hired in 1993 and school officials credited him with
instilling discipline and professionalism, according to evaluation reports.
His standing fell after news leaked in the fall of 1995 that he had held a
commitment ceremony with a male companion in Grand Rapids.
He was threatened with dismissal if he even indirectly talked to students
about homosexuality, said a statement in his personnel file.
Said Mr. Crane when he resigned: "When you live and work in an environment
where you're constantly told you aren't acceptable . . . it's like poison;
just how much can you ingest?"
After his resignation, the Grand Rapids resident was a private music
teacher and choir director.
Services are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Westminster
Church, 47 Jefferson in Grand Rapids.

======================================================================

Jean Richter -- ric...@eecs.berkeley.edu
The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation
Nationally)
CHECK OUT OUR INFO-LOADED WEB PAGE AT:
http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/

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