Posted on 05/25/2005 10:24:45 AM PDT by OriginalChristian
US Parent Teacher Association Allows Gay Activists but Refuses Ex-Gays
WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has refused an ex-gay group's request to exhibit at its annual convention while welcoming a gay activist organization and inviting it to present a workshop. Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX.org) has had its application to exhibit rejected because it supports former homosexuals. The National PTA, however, sought the attendance of Parents, Families and Friends of Gays (PFLAG), a pro-gay advocacy group which believes in same sex marriage.
Comprising 6 million members, the National PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. One of its purposes is "to be inclusive in its efforts to represent and assist all who nurture and educate children."
"As we indicated on the application, our purpose at the National PTA exhibit is to distribute educational publications promoting inclusive school environments for ex-gay students and educators," said Regina Griggs, PFOX's executive director. "We fit right in because one of the themes of this year's National PTA convention is diversity. Ex gays are people, too. And it's about time the National PTA recognized that fact of life," she added.
"We submitted exhibit materials for the National PTA's review that included a booklet for students and teachers on how to address homophobia in the public schools from an ex-gay perspective," said Griggs. "We also included an information sheet from the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus outlining the goals sought by ex-gay teachers for diversity, tolerance and inclusion for all, including both ex-gays and gays," said Griggs. "Who could be opposed to that?"
According to the National PTA, PFLAG will present a workshop that "raises awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, their families, and the issues pertaining to them in the school environment. Participants will receive a 'how-to' guide for improving the school environment for LGBT students."
The National PTA has also allowed "It's Elementary," the gay affirming video for schoolchildren, to exhibit at its conference for the last three years.
Earlier this month, PFOX won a decision against the Montgomery County (MD) School Board, halting the implementation of a sex ed curriculum which would have promoted gay religious organizations over ex-gay ministries and traditional religions. The Judge, in writing his decision, criticized the curriculum "viewpoint discrimination" by excluding ex-gay material. The School Board had also approved materials published by gay advocacy groups that positively portray homosexuality while making negative references to ex-gays.
"The National PTA is discriminating against a class of students and that is just wrong," Griggs said.
To express concerns to the PTA: National PTA 541 N FAIRBANKS CT STE 1300 CHICAGO IL 60611-3396 Phone: 312-670-6782 Toll-Free: 800-307-4PTA (4782) Fax: 312-670-6783 info@pta.org
See related article Political Correctness: More Insidious and Dangerous Than Most Realize, Say Writers http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/may/05051909.html
jhw
Of course. These would be the LAST people they would like to see. Takes all the wind out of their argument that sexual preference is something a person is born with and not a learned behavior or a deviation.
Get these BLUENOSES outta' the schools.
Another reason I am glad to not be a PTA member.
Do local PTAs put up with this? This is amazing to me.
Our local school district broke with the PTA a long time ago.
The word for the week is, obviously, BLUE NOSE.
No surprise here.
This ex-gay group has a perfect inroad to attacking these pro-homosexual groups. They are being disccriminated against because they used to be queer. I smell lawsuits!
PFOX is a great organization. I personally give to them on a payroll deduction plan, primarily since my employer seems to go out of its way treat homosexuality as a 'civil right', I get some enjoyment out of payroll deductions to support a group that actually helps these people.
Please consider doing likewise, as they are a 501C organization.
http://www.pfox.org/
http://www.pfox.org/donations.asp
I'll take "Values of the Parent-Teacher Association of Sodom & Gomorrah's Public School System" for a $1,000 Alex
I thought the libs were so big on support groups and the like. What are they implying, that ex gays don't exist. (See Anne Heche)-- they do. Or maybe they are saying they don't need a support group. Which is it?
PTA exists largely on NEA-teacher dues. PTA won't take a political position opposed to the teachers' union; that could lose them most of their dues income. (p)TA is more appropriate.
Shhhh!! There aren't any EX-GAYS, only those non-practicing gays deluded by the evil Christian right into thinking they are ex-gays, cured of an affliction. I'm sure a program to help these poor misguided 'ex' gays will develop to help them emerge from this mind control and allow them to return to a fully active gay lifestyle... (/sarcasm)
Do you think that sort of attitude only applies to people of a particular bent, or could it be the case that BLUE NOSES occur in all venues on all sides of every issue?
First you have to discover who the ESTABLISHMENT is, and what the received standard of behavior they promulgate might be. Then you can determine who the BLUE NOSES really are.
Here, the PTA argues that if you are once a gay, you are always a gay. It's clear the PTA is the ESTABLISHMENT and the received standard of behavior is "gayness". Ergo, the PTA are a bunch of BLUE NOSES.
It's fundamentally none of the PTA's business who does what to whom with which and where provided it's not in the school.
So, let me say it again, it's none of the business of those BLUE NOSES in the PTA what sexual behavior people indulge in.
PTA exists largely on NEA-teacher dues. PTA won't take a political position opposed to the teachers' union
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