When Tom and Mary Jane Karger were in school, homosexuality was still considered a mental illness. So when their son, Dave, came out in 1996 at the age of 23, the Kargers had "a lot of unlearning to do."

"When Dave came out to us we really just were baffled; we didn't know gay people," said Mary Jane Karger, a retired member of the Carmel Teachers Association, which is led by Lisa Jackson.

"I know Dave very well. We were very close and I knew he was a good boy. I knew there was nothing mentally ill with him," Karger said. "I knew that he was also a sound person, so I went on that premise and decided I had to read and learn."

A social worker for 31 years, Karger reeducated herself and familiarized herself with LGBT — Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender — issues and organizations. That education included letting go of negative stereotypes and learning the history of the gay community and about gay culture — Stonewall, the pink triangle and the rainbow flag.

Soon after her son came out, Karger joined the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN. She became co-chair one year later.

"So many LGBT organizations have members or supporters who are gay, but GLSEN recognizes that we need straight allies, too," she said.

Karger went on to form the GLSEN Westchester sub-chapter and co-chapters in Rockland and Orange counties. She trains educators and students on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender concerns and, through GLSEN, supports Gay Straight Alliances in Hudson Valley schools.

Since 2003 she has been a member of GLSEN's National Board of Directors; since 2004 she has been its National Advisory Council co-chair. Both positions allow her to influence the work of GLSEN across the nation.

Changing or rethinking the curriculum taught in schools is also her mission.

"There is all this invisibility that we don't address in our curriculum." Karger said, noting that books addressing LGBT concerns should be more readily available.

She said schools, especially health classes, need to include more lessons about sexual orientation being one aspect of someone's individuality and not merely about the sex act. "NEA and GLSEN have amazing classroom materials available," she said.

In 1999, Karger co-founded PrideWorks, an annual conference for LGBT youth. "We started this conference with 125 people — mainly adults.

Last year we had 40 Gay-Straight Alliances represented. About half of the 500 participants this year were students."

Karger's work has extended beyond LGBT issues to include anti-bullying education and outreach.

A fierce advocate for all students, Karger this year was awarded the National Education Association's Virginia Uribe Creative Leadership in Human Rights Award, recognizing her work toward education and equal opportunity for those facing sexual discrimination.

She was also recognized as the GLSEN Educator of the Year.

"Mary Jane's awards are so appropriate and so important for our entire state," said NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer Lee Cutler. "As we continue to push for the Dignity for All Students Act and the Marriage Equity Bill, NYSUT, AFT, and NEA stand in solidarity with Mary Jane in fighting for equality and fairness for our LGBT folks."