Posted on 11/21/2003 9:50:23 AM PST by scripter
"...Kindergartners are learning about "homophobia" as lessons about alternative lifestyles and homosexuality appear in America's elementary schools -- often without parental knowledge....
A Seattle school board member and official with the National School Boards' Association thinks third-graders are too young for a discussion of the pros and cons of homosexual marriage. "Third-graders should not be asked to contemplate something that deep and complex," says Michael Preston, chairman of the NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education. "I'm sure they should be allowed to marry, but I've come to that conclusion as an adult and it's not something I'd even care to think about as a third-grader."... "But you have to consider the age appropriateness of the subject matter. Young minds are sometimes like clay. We need to allow children to be children and not overly influence what they end up thinking about something." ..."
"... A prominent psychiatrist says the sex-ed curricula at these schools can lower children "to the level of animals" and inflict lasting harm. "Massachusetts schools' systematic promotion of homosexuality and promiscuity fosters sexual confusion and experimentation," says Nathaniel S. Lehrman, former clinical director of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in New York. "They dilute and trivialize [the capacity for] faithful sexual passion which should [later] be the cement of these children's marriages. Unstable youngsters may become particularly vulnerable to homosexuals who actively recruit them."
There are teachers all over North America quietly mainstreaming homosexual behavior to children as young as 5 years old. As widely reported, on "Gay Days" classes are cancelled and students led to compulsory activities where homosexuals explain their "lifestyles." The mind-control techniques are straight from Soviet schools..."
Youth support sex ed:Students call on government to look beyond abstinence-only
Gays in Society: The Growing Clash
Courage and compassion on homosexuality
An excerpt from "GLSEN Celebrates 2,000th Gay-Straight Alliance"
New York, NY The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, is proud to announce the 2,000th student club, often called a Gay-Straight Alliance or GSA, to register with the organization. The milestone came with the formation of a GSA at Detroit Central High School in Detroit, Michigan.
It is with immense pride that GLSEN celebrates 2,000 GSAs, said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. The young people involved in these student clubs are providing an invaluable service and support system for their peers while changing the climate of their schools and communities from one where discrimination and harassment are the rule to environments where everyone learns to respect and accept all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity / expression.
Note - GSA's are NOT simply student "clubs" and GLSEN knows it. It's the adults in homosexual organizations such as GLSEN and PFLAG that provide the encouragement, direction, and resources for the formation of GSA's. Some GSA's are taxpayer funded, as documented here and here.
WHAT "GAY" STUDENT CLUBS WILL BRING TO YOUR SCHOOL"
Other links:
From Denial to Denigration: Understanding Institutionalized Heterosexism in Our Schools
Institutionalized Heterosexism in Our Schools: A Guide to Understanding and Undoing It
GLSEN Expresses Concern as Iowa School Postpones Disney Trip Due to "Gay Days"
GLSEN Hails Historic Supreme Court Ruling in Lawrence v. Texas
With an eye for the future, the battleground for gay activists is in the schools and children are the targets, a new book, The Homosexual Agenda reveals, while developments in at least one state capitol seem to bear the authors out.
Quoted in the book is a rallying point from a 1999 Gay Lesbian Straight Educational Network (GLSEN) conference:
The fear of the religious right is that the schools of today will be the governments of tomorrow. And you know, they're right. If we do our jobs right, we're going to raise a generation of kids who don't believe the claims of the religious right.
The authors of the book, Alan Sears and Craig Osten describe a phenomenon that does more than threaten religious freedom. The 'sexual orientation community' is actively working to impose their value system upon the rest of society. The chapter entitled "Stupid Parents, 'Enlightened Kids'" is of particular interest to those who are concerned about childhood indoctrination.
Sears and Osten quote homosexual activist Chuck Jones: "This is war, so act accordingly." How is this war waged in the classroom? Gay orthodoxy is being imposed upon minor children in class as undisputable fact, rather then even the subject of controversy or debate.
A high school boy found himself made fodder for ridicule when he questioned a biology teacher's assertion that homosexuality is genetic: "What's the matter, Kyle? Are you unsure of your sexuality?" As the other students laughed, the teacher went on, "did you know that the people who scream the loudest turn out to be gay themselves?"
In The Homosexual Agenda, Sears and Osten report that the nation's largest teachers' union, the National Education Association, is enthusiastically developing programs to incorporate the gay agenda into public school curricula for children of all ages. Many of them are in place today and have been for some years now.
"GLSEN regularly collaborates with other national education organizations to broaden the reach of our message and materials," the lobbying groups executive director, Kevin Jennings writes in a recent fundraising letter.
"For example, last year we helped the National Education Association-the nation's largest teacher's union with 2.7 million members-pass sweeping new policies directing its members to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in their work."
Agendized educators are exploiting the confusion that characterizes normal adolescence, according to Craig and Osten in The Homosexual Agenda. . "As bodies change and hormones rage," the authors explain, youths are told that their feelings may indicate that they are bisexual. Further, heterosexuality is portrayed as being passé, while 'alternative' sexuality is promoted as chic and more likely to result in peer acceptance.
Organizations such as the aforementioned GLSEN are targeting children for gay advocacy participation, Sears and Osten point out. The book describes a Day of Silence that GLSEN orchestrates every year, wherein students are not to speak. Instead they are to present a card explaining that they will not speak that day in support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people.
Children are told that friends and family members who hold that homosexuality is wrong should be considered enemies and treated as such, according to research done by the authors. Alienating children from their family and indoctrinating them in school is a small price to pay if the Homosexual Agenda is to be realized, the authors conclude. Sears and Osten head the Alliance Defense Fund.
The results of a study conducted by Dr. Robert L. Spitzer have just been published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, October 2003, pp. 403-417.
Spitzer's findings challenge the widely-held assumption that a homosexual orientation is "who one is" -- an intrinsic part of a person's identity that can never be changed.
The study has attracted particularly attention because its author, a prominent psychiatrist, is viewed as a historic champion of gay activism. Spitzer played a pivotal role in 1973 in removing homosexuality from the psychiatric manual of mental disorders...
Although examples of "complete" change in orientation were not common, the majority of participants did report change from a predominantly or exclusively homosexual orientation before therapy to a predominantly or exclusively heterosexual orientation in the past year as a result of reparative therapy.
These results would seem to contradict the position statements of the major mental health organizations in the United States, which claim there is no scientific basis for believing psychotherapy effective in addressing same-sex attraction. Yet Spitzer reports evidence of change in both sexes, although female participants reported significantly more change than did male participants...
Is reorientation therapy harmful? For the participants in our study, Spitzer notes, there was no evidence of harm. "To the contrary," he says, "they reported that it was helpful in a variety of ways beyond changing sexual orientation itself." And because his study found considerable benefit and no harm, Spitzer said, the American Psychiatric Association should stop applying a double standard in its discouragement of reorientation therapy, while actively encouraging gay-affirmative therapy to confirm and solidify a gay identity.
Furthermore, Spitzer wrote in his conclusion, "the mental health professionals should stop moving in the direction of banning therapy that has, as a goal, a change in sexual orientation. Many patients, provided with informed consent about the possibility that they will be disappointed if the therapy does not succeed, can make a rational choice to work toward developing their heterosexual potential and minimizing their unwanted homosexual attractions."
Is reorientation therapy chosen only by clients who are driven by guilt--that is, what's popularly known as "homophobia"? To the contrary, Spitzer concludes. In fact, "the ability to make such a choice should be considered fundamental to client autonomy and self-determination."
Schools should let their students know that the differences between the homosexual and heterosexual cultures are many and profound, contrary to assertions by homosexual advocacy groups who seek to portray homosexuality as something innate and essentially without risk, a leading psychological group said...
The mailing "seeks to correct the misinformation that is being promoted by these homosexual advocacy groups that have an incredible influence on the public education system," said Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, president of NARTH and a proponent of reparative therapy for homosexuals who want to change.
"What we're trying to say to school supervisors is, 'don't just rely on pro-gay information sources to make your decisions.' All our stuff is well grounded scientifically," he said. NARTH is a non-religious scientific organization whose 1,000 members include psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists...
The mailing goes out to the same school officials who were targeted in 1999 with a pamphlet entitled "Just the Facts," written by a coalition that included the American Psychological Association (APA).
The APA pamphlet encouraged schools not to inform students that therapy exists to diminish homosexuality and not to refer such students to counselors who will reflect their own family's deeply held values.
"NARTH was so incensed by the misinformation and untruths provided in the APA pamphlet that it immediately took on the task of raising the necessary funds required to compile, print and distribute" the mailing, Nicolosi said.
"Homosexual advocacy groups have been masterful in their ability to reframe what is essentially a health issue to a human rights issue, and when you talk human rights, everyone gets paranoid," he said.
"When you introduce the possibility of change, you introduce the possibility of freedom to choose, and when you do that, you undermine the foundation of the gay agenda," he added...
Pink triangles in classrooms. Grade school studies of "gay" history. Transvestite speakers. School-wide events to celebrate homosexuality. Student activists spreading propaganda through school publications. Legislation mandating homosexual indoctrination.
This was the school year 2000-2001. What will our neighborhood schools be doing this fall to support the relentless agenda of homosexual activists?
In the Massachusetts town of Newton, home of homosexual congressman Barney Frank, a high school history teacher taught that Alexander the Great was a "gay" man. Other teachers in Massachusetts are building lessons around the Stonewall Inn riots in Greenwich Village in 1969, an event credited by homosexual activists with kicking off the "gay rights" movement.1 In a third grade music class in a Massachusetts town, the male teacher told the children Tchiakovsky was a homosexual, and that society's "homophobia" prompted his suicide.
Newton North High School sponsored a special "To Be Gay" day, complete with inaccurate brochures heavily promoting transgendered behaviors (cross-dressing, having surgery to alter one's biological sex, etc.).2
All of this is taking place in a state where 156 schools host homosexual clubs, called "gay-straight alliances" by advocates.3 Such clubs are provided seed money by a state program to "support" students practicing homosexual behavior. Nationally, GLSEN has said there are over 800 such clubs. GLSEN, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, was founded in Massachusetts in the early 1990s by a male teacher engaged in homosexual activity...
There are, meanwhile, at schools throughout the country, student activists co-opting school publications to disseminate the myths of homosexual advocacy. They use the budding journalist's pen to claim it's an issue of "enlightenment and education" and a civil rights matter rather than well-documented unsafe behavior. At Upper Arlington High School in Columbus in April, students devoted ten pages of a slick magazine to an inaccurate and one-sided promotion of homosexuality. The advocacy was laced with the usual claims of "prejudice and ignorance" by conservatives. It also inaccurately portrayed the work of the ex-gay ministry Exodus International. (For more detail, see the May-June-July 2001 issue of Choice 4 Truth.)
An entire column also promoted a Columbus community "support" group for "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered" youth under 21. This group meets in a homosexual church, and even young teens can attend without parental notification or consent. Such groups exist throughout the country in most metropolitan areas, posing a high risk to children who can interact, socialize and be lured into sexual episodes by the older teens and adults who operate such groups...
Sexual Anarchy, Not Homosexuality, Is the Reality
An ethic of sexual anarchy with homosexuality as its lead issue is being deliberately sold to our youth under the guise of "safety" and "tolerance." Meanwhile, young people's lives and emotional stability are endangered if they make a decision in these tender years to engage in homosexual activity -- or are seduced into such acts by a teacher, coach, or older peer. As we have repeatedly said, there is no evidence of a genetic connection for homosexual desires, and a wealth of evidence that such feelings arise from emotional instability, often fueled by the confused legacy of sexual abuse. The thousands of ex-homosexuals testify to the fact that homosexual feelings can be changed, and it is a betrayal of our children not to let them know about this hope. Yet many schools now are being told by activist groups, including the ACLU and teacher organizations, that they must not encourage heterosexuality instead of homosexuality when counseling troubled or questioning kids.
The "gay" -friendly educational system continues to open its doors to groups like GLSEN and PFLAG, who have been aided by substantial funding boosts in recent years. Many concerned parents are removing their children from the public schools. But others, equally concerned, either do not have the option because of family circumstances, or have no clear educational alternative for their children. And, should we abandon the schools anyway? (ed. note: Absolutely! The sooner the better.)
Turning our backs on the culture and retreating into conservative or religious enclaves is what got us into this mess to begin with. Let's contact our local schools, find out what's going on, and join with other concerned citizens to make some changes this next school year...
I would rather walk a mile barefoot on broken glass than endure a confrontation with homosexual zealots. However, that less painful path cannot be responsibly taken. What choice is there but to stand in opposition to homosexual activists with their in-your face arrogance, their malicious attacks on religion, family values and moral standards, and, in essence, their demand that American society be turned upside down and inside out to accommodate their sexual disorientations?
It is unconscionable that homosexual invectives and threats have effectively shut down most attempts to expose bogus research or address the cultural implications of the homosexual agenda. It should be, but apparently is not, a matter of serious concern, even shame, that so many of our politicians, our journalists and commentators, our scientists, our government schools teachers, our university professors and our clergy have either been seduced to advance the homosexual agenda, intimidated into passive assent, or cowed into silence.
It is one of the great ironies of modern-day America that it is liberals who are not only enabling but spearheading a vicious version of McCarthyism at its worse. Rarely in the history of our republic has there been such a successful effort to keep lies alive, suppress the truth, censor speech, and engage in blatant character assassination...
It is successful because, even now, a significant majority of Americans believe homosexuals are born that way and that a full 10 percent of the population is homosexual, even though the data and scientific evidence to support such beliefs simply do not exist.
While the homosexual lobbyists and radical activists are attacking on multiple fronts, one of the more underreported campaigns is taking place in government schools, the target being young children...
In the meanwhile, a 12-page booklet entitled, "Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation & Youth," has been mailed to the heads of all 14,700 public school districts in America. Its message has been endorsed by a number of mental health organizations, and has the blessings of The National Education Association, the largest teachers union in America.
This booklet of facts has many kind words to say about homosexuality, but leaves out facts about its high risks and dangers...
Gay/Straight Alliances
If "safe school" initiatives are successful strategies for activists to change policies and advocate in states and school districts, Gay/Straight Alliances (GSA) have proven one of the most effective avenues of activism in the school buildings themselves. Gay activists sell GSAs as student organized and led clubs in which students of all sexual persuasions can meet and discuss issues of sexuality, including homosexuality (Hopgood, 2000). In fact, GSAs commonly operate with tremendous support and organization from external community and national organizations, including GLSEN, a national organization with more than 85 local chapters in 35 states (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2001e; Kabbany, 2000), the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, 2001), the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, also a national organization with local chapters (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 2001), and numerous other state and local organizations.
Moreover, despite claims that GSA's are not seeking to affect change in schools (Hopgood, 2000), they are more than simply safe student clubs in which students meet and talk. GSAs actually act as springboards for activism. For example, Higgins (2000) reports on an Arizona school in which weekly GSA meetings focused on "com[ing] up with an idea where we're going to take this," according to the student leader. "Where we're going to take this" turned into a student produced video about homosexuality shown schoolwide and the GSA student leader attending a faculty meeting to discuss gay issues with teachers. Mike Pollack, coordinator for Queer Voice, a local gay rights organization, also attended and distributed handouts on dealing with discrimination. After the faculty meeting, teachers asked the student and Pollack to make presentations in their classrooms.
Other examples of GSA activism come from GLSEN's how-to manual on "jump starting" GSAs (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2001c), 20 ways GSAs can "rock the world" (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2001b), and tips for recruiting new members (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2001a). These documents provide students ideas for advocacy within schools, including organizing, performing a "school climate" survey, and creating an action plan. Students are given advertising and promotional tips and instructed on how to queer the curriculum and organize large school events, such as marches and movie nights.
While measuring the success of GSAs proves difficult, their growth may provide one indicator. In 1990, Massachusetts had the only two GSAs in the country. At the 2000 GSLEN conference, workshop leaders estimated more than 800 now operate nationwide.
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