University of Michigan offers class: "How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality & Initiation"

American Family Association of Michigan ^ | December 5, 2005 | AFA-Michigan

[AFA-Michigan]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Dec. 5, 2005

CONTACT: Gary Glenn 989-835-7978
Professor David Halperin 734-647-5884

Family group renews criticism of tax-
funded college class "How to be Gay"

U-M catalogue calls class "an experiment in the
very process of initiation it hopes to understand."

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A statewide family values group Monday renewed its criticism of a controversial University of Michigan class -- offered this fall for the first time since 2003 -- again calling on state lawmakers to pressure university officials to drop the course altogether.

The American Family Association of Michigan, in a letter to supporters statewide, condemned U-M for again offering the class, titled "How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality & Initiation."

"Every time U-M offers this ludicrous class, you and I cannot fail to speak out against it," Glenn wrote. "And we must take full advantage every time of the invaluable opportunity to point to (the class) as proof of homosexual activists’ 'political militancy,' to expose their use of our public education system to indoctrinate young people, and to hold accountable those politically correct or timid politicians who stand silently by and do nothing to stop it."

The mailing included pre-addressed postcards to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Mi., the office of U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, and Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, who in response to the class in 2003, introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would give legislators more oversight and control of university class offerings in Michigan. It also urged taxpayers to contact the Legislature.

"Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn't mean that you don't have to learn how to become one," according to the U-M Fall 2005 course catalogue's description of the class. The course "will examine the general topic of the role that initiation plays in the formation of gay male identity. ...(The) course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand."

See full course description at:
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsa/cg_detail/0,,8,00.html?termArray=f_05_1560&term=Fall%202005&content=1560ENGLISH317002

Openly homosexual U-M Professor David Halperin, the course instructor, frankly discussed the purpose of such classes in Australian Humanities Review:

“Let there be no mistake about it: lesbian and gay studies, as currently practiced in the U.S., expresses an uncompromising political militancy. Indeed, nothing short of political militancy suffices to establish such courses of study in the first place. ...Lesbian and gay studies scholars have...lobbied…to adopt and enforce anti-discrimination policies, to recognize same-sex couples, to oppose the U.S. military's anti-gay policy, to suspend professional activities in states that criminalize gay sex or limit access to abortion, and to intervene on behalf of human rights for lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men. ...The fact is that lesbian and gay studies simply is the academic wing of the lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender movement.”
http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/emuse/Globalqueering/halperin.html

In 2003, Halperin refused Glenn's offer to meet for a face-to-face public debate on the merits of the class. When U-M offered it in 2000 and 2003, the state House of Representatives fell a handful of votes short of cutting the university's funding in response, and AFA-Michigan's protests generated national news coverage, including:

The Washington Times (front page): http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030818-122317-3268r.htm

CNN Primetime: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0308/19/se.02.html

Fox News Channel: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95013,00.html

As Glenn said on CNN Primetime, "Michigan taxpayers don't think they ought to be forced to pay to advance homosexual activists' militant political agenda. Those are the words of the professor, not ours."

See full text of AFA-Michigan November 2005 letter below.

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AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN

Dear AFA-Michigan supporter,

This fall, our taxpayer-financed University of Michigan is once again serving as a propaganda forum for homosexual activists’ political agenda…once again offering the outrageous class: “How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation."

And once again, infuriating as it is, you and your family are forced to pay for it.

Every time U-M offers this ludicrous class, you and I cannot fail to speak out against it.

And we must take full advantage every time of the invaluable opportunity to point to “How to be Gay” as proof of homosexual activists’ “political militancy,” to expose their use of our public education system to indoctrinate young people, and to hold accountable those politically correct or timid politicians who stand silently by and do nothing to stop it!

You’ll be outraged when you read exactly what your tax dollars are paying for. Enclosed is a copy of the course description from U-M’s Fall 2005 catalogue, which explains the course:

“How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation...will examine the general topic of the role that initiation plays in the formation of gay identity.”

Worse, the U-M catalogue openly states: "(The) course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand." http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsa/cg_detail/0,,8,00.html?termArray=f_05_1560&term=Fall%202005&content=1560ENGLISH317002

That’s right. U-M officials are forcing your family and other taxpayers to pay for a class whose stated purpose is to “experiment" in the “initiation" of teenage young men into a self-destructive lifestyle of homosexual behavior.

For centuries, homosexual behavior has been a violation of man’s law, and more important, we know as Christians that homosexual behavior violates God’s law as well.

And with good cause, given the severe threat homosexual behavior poses to the health of college-age young men. Oxford University’s International Journal of Epidemiology reports:

“(L)ife expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 years will not reach their 65th birthday.” http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/3/657?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=1021138136284_166&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&minscore=50&journalcode=intjepid

Even as this homosexual “initiation” class puts the lives of teenage young men at risk, homosexual activists openly admit that the real motive behind this class is political.

According to U-M’s catalogue, the “How to be Gay” class “seek(s) ultimately to create the basis for a wider acceptance of the plurality of ways in which people determine how to be gay.”

David Halperin, the openly homosexual U-M professor who teaches “How to be Gay,” was even more brazen in an article published by Australian Humanities Review. http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/emuse/Globalqueering/halperin.html

Halperin wrote: “Let there be no mistake about it: lesbian and gay studies, as currently practiced in the U.S., expresses an uncompromising political militancy. Indeed, nothing short of political militancy suffices to establish such courses of study in the first place.”

Halperin explained how such courses advance homosexual activists’ political agenda: “Lesbian and gay studies scholars have...lobbied…to adopt and enforce anti-discrimination policies, to recognize same-sex couples, to oppose the U.S. military's anti-gay policy, to suspend professional activities in states that criminalize gay sex or limit access to abortion, and to intervene on behalf of human rights for lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men.”

Halperin boasted: “The fact is that lesbian and gay studies simply is the academic wing of the lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender movement.” Then, mocking our concerns, he concluded, “Queer theory is in the process of becoming a game the whole family can play."

Professor Halperin also boasted in the Chronicle of Higher Education:

“If I had the magical power to make people gay, I wouldn't be wasting my time at a university. I'd engage in world domination." (Chronicle weblink available to subscribers only)

That’s the radical homosexual activist who’s using your tax dollars right now to teach young men at Ann Arbor “How to be Gay." And he’ll keep right on doing it, unless you and I stop him.

When U-M first offered “How to be Gay,” we hand-delivered a foot-high stack of petitions to the U-M Board of Regents with 15,000 signatures demanding the class be cancelled. U-M regents refused to act. Later, the university president’s office told us the class would not be offered again. But under U-M’s new president, no doubt hoping that you and I are no longer paying attention, they’re again putting students’ lives at risk by teaching teens “How to be Gay.”

We believe that every time U-M officials use your tax dollars to pay for this travesty, and the politicians allow it, they must hear from thousands of taxpayers who believe it’s wrong!

Here’s what you need to do immediately to help -- today if possible:

* Please mail the enclosed post cards. Please call or write your legislators today, and please circulate the enclosed petition and return it to AFA-Michigan ASAP.

Contact your state representative: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Contact your state senator: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm

* Please mail the largest check you can today to AFA-Michigan. AFA-Michigan is the only group in our state speaking out against this outrageous abuse of your tax dollars. Please help make sure we have the funds needed to turn up the heat.

Thank you for standing with us as we take a firm uncompromising stand to protect college-age young men from being taught a lifestyle of behavior that threatens to cut up to 20 years from their lives…and to stop the outrageous abuse of your tax dollars for such reckless propaganda. Respectfully,

GARY GLENN President

P.S. Unless we act today, we’ll be forced to keep paying for U-M’s outrageous class: “How to be Gay.” Please mail the enclosed postcards, please call your legislators, and please circulate the enclosed petition. And please make sure AFA-Michigan has the resources we need to defend your values, by mailing the largest tax-deductible check you can today!

Contribute to AFA-Michigan online: https://www.campaigncontribution.com/version6/process/info.asp?id=1700&jid=

Contribute to AFA-Michigan by mail:

AFA-Michigan PO Box 1904 Midland, Michigan 48641

[stephenjohnbanker]

He is staring at the guy's crotch........

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

LGBT STUDIES: LOCAL, NATIONAL, and GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES Schedule of Events Conference Home | Registration | Driving and Accommodations 8:30: Registration 9:00-9:15: WELCOMES from Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah Freund Senior Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs Barry Wells (introduced by Margaret Himley, Writing, SU) 9:15-10:15: KEYNOTE ADDRESS: AMY VILLAREJO (introduced by Steven Cohan, English, SU) 10:15-10:30: BREAK 10:30-11:45: CONCURRENT PANELS 11:45-1:00: LUNCH 1:00-2:15: CONCURRENT PANELS 2:15-2:30: BREAK 2:30-3:30: KEYNOTE ADDRESS: DAVID HALPERIN (introduced by Adrea Jaehnig, LGBT Resource Center, SU) 3:30-4:15: ROUNDTABLE WITH SU FOLKS Paula Johnson (Law School, SU)(ROTC and the Solomon Amendment) Tom Dunn (Communication and Rhetorical Studies, SU)(thesis and dissertation work going on at SU) Micere Mugo (African American Studies, SU)(consulting in Kenya) Keith Bybee (Political Science, SU)(equal marriage rights) Adrea Jaehnig (Director, LGBT Resource Center, SU) (LGBT Center) Stacey Lane Tice (Assistant Dean, Graduate School, SU)(Interrupting Heteronormativity) Steve Davis (Public Communication)(Student Voice on LGBT Community) (moderated by Andrew London, Sociology, SU) 4:15-5:00: CLOSING REMARKS and OPEN DISCUSSION Chancellor Nancy Cantor   Panels Morning Panels [10:30-11:45] [1] Transnational Feminist Perspectives: Robin Riley (Women’s Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh), and Chandra Talpade Mohanty (Women’s Studies, SU), and Linda Carty (African American Studies, SU) [2] Identities and Institutions: Paisley Currah (Political Science & Executive Director, CLAGS), Julie Gedro (Empire State College), and Ritch Savin-Williams (Psychology, Cornell) [3] Art and Activism: Juanita Diaz (Sociology, Women’s Studies, & Latin American and Caribbean Studies, SUNY Binghamton), Ellis Hanson (English, Cornell), and Thomas Glave (English, General Literature, and Rhetoric, SUNY Binghamton) Afternoon Panels [1:00-2:15] [4] Queering the Academy: Jackie Orr (Sociology, SU), Deb Amory (Dean, Empire State College), and Linda Alcoff (Philosophy and Women’s Studies, SU) [5] Film and Popular Culture: Douglas Crimp (Visual and Cultural Studies, University of Rochester), Roger Hallas (English, SU), and Caetlin Benson-Allott (English, Cornell) [6] Populations and Politics: Dan Black (Economics, SU), Amy Falkner (Public Communications, SU), and Ed Gallagher (Sociology, Hamilton) Conference Home | Registration | Driving and Accommodations   © 1995 - 2004 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244 (315) 443-3983 For technical assistance contact djlisi@syr.edu

[chronic_loser]

I would DEFINITELY sign up for this course.... Of course I would get expelled from the class, and probably the university. It is an old but true story: Our super decided we needed mandatory sensitivity training, so she brought in some 60's types. Divided us into whites, blacks, etc and each told why we "resented" the others. Then why we were "proud" of our group. The first white guy they asked "why are you proud of your group" said "I can't think of anything to be proud about." So I said "I can" "I'm proud to be part of aculture known over theworld as a beacon for freedom, opportunity, and a place for oppressed peoples. I am part of a group that, when we dominated western culture, produced more freedom, more tolerance, more wealth, more healthy people, than any civilization in history, so that oppressed minorities from all over the world want to come here." (The facilitator actually sneered, btw).

We "healed wounds" by clapping for each group. Blacks, whites, women, stood and we clapped. Then she asked gays to stand . Then she asked us to clap for "Secretly gay 10% of the population" "Did I leave out anyone?"

I stood and said "I always knew I was different. I really dug funerals as a kid, especially corpse skin. I always got so..... excited and all. I didn't understand that I was just different. At puberty I realized I was a necrophiliac. I have decided to come out. I am tired of people saying I am perverted! I need love and acceptance, too!"

The horrified looks on some of the older secretaries was PRICELESS. My fellow engineers were biting on pens to keep from laughing. The look of pure hatred from the facilitator (who was a lesbian, btw) was all I could do to keep from laughing.

My supervisor called me into his office and asked me "what the HELL were you thinking?" and then started laughing.

I was planning on leaving anyway (I started my own business), but the division manager was a real pc wingnut and made a point of calling me in and firing me for "disrespect to homosexuals." I asked her if she thought I had a chance at an EEOC lawsuit. She called security and had me escorted off the property. That was 15 years ago and whenever I see guys out that I worked with they bring that up. I would not trade it for anything.

[rbg81]

I wonder what (exactly) the final exam is?

[Gordongekko909]

Actually, it's an English Lit class. http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsa/cg_detail/0,,8,00.html?termArray=f_05_1560&term=Fall%202005&content=1560ENGLISH317002

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Do you have any other Michigan resident FReeper friends you can ping?

[Gordongekko909]

What's with him being gay, anyway? His wife is pretty hot.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Scheduled for guest lecture . . .

[sam_paine]

... but for straight guys. How hard would the feminists be hitting that?

If I thought I could get a feminist to hit it, I'd go for it.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

A class? I'm surprised it's not already a campus department. ....or at least a major.

What kind of a job do you apply for with a B.A. in Homosexual Studies ? A hairdresser, airline steward ..?

[Tall_Texan]

to suspend professional activities in states that criminalize gay sex or limit access to abortion

I realize we are talking about wacky libs but, FWIW, why should homosexuals be concerned about access to abortion? Since they can't get pregnant on their own, why would it matter to them?

In fact, you'd think homosexuals would be pro-life since they have to depend on everyone else to create children who will someday be paying the taxes for health care for all the AIDS-infected poofters who are unemployable. Somehow that simple logic escapes them. They are slaves to their false gods even when their false gods contribute to their own genocide (forcing them to recruit from among the rest of us).

[AFA-Michigan]

"I guess we can put one aspect of the homosexual debate to rest...if you have to take a course from the University of Michigan to learn "how to be gay," I guess that resolves the question of whether or not it's learned behavior or a behavioral choice."

Gary Glenn
AFA-Michigan
CNN Evening Edition
August 19, 2003

[colonel mosby]

Easy remedy. If you're a Michigan grad, just tell them not to ask you for money, because you won't give them any until they come back down to earth.

[Mr. Mojo]

Classic story; wish I could've seen it.

[guitar Josh]

What would they need this class for if gays are born that way?

[perfect stranger]

Are you a Michigan grad? I'm not, but they will get an email from me expressing my displeasure with their idiocy.

[Crim]

"the “How to be Gay” class “seek(s) ultimately to create the basis for a wider acceptance of the plurality of ways in which people determine how to be gay.”

Uh...*raises hand*

Uh...teacher?

Doesnt that kind of fly in the face of people being "born" gay and just knowing it?

Why do you have to be taught something that "experts" say you are born knowing?

*teacher calls for security*

[BenLurkin]

I'm afraid we are going to hit bottom so hard there will be no picking up the pieces.

[longtermmemmory]

be careful, eventually University of Michigan will require a homosexual experience as a graduation requirement.

University of Michigan just became the "gay" university no mother or father should allow their child ANYWHERE near.