Homosexuality Is Key to Some College Scholarships

CNSNews.com ^ | January 21, 2002 | Michael L. Betsch

[tdadams]

(CNSNews.com) - Need money for college tuition? A group of employees from telecommunications giant AT&T will help pay the bills of students who identify themselves as homosexuals.

Grades and extra-curricular activities don't count as much as sexual orientation for this type of financial help.

The scholarship comes from the AT&T Foundation's LEAGUE, which is an acronym for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay & Transgendered United Employees.

LEAGUE is one of seven "Business Resource Groups" at AT&T, serving as a homosexual advocacy resource for the telecommunications giant, its customers, shareholders, colleagues, families and the global community.

For the past six years, LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation has awarded a handful of $1,500 academic scholarships to self-identified homosexual youth. LEAGUE Foundation spokesperson Charles Eader noted that applications have doubled every year since the fund was launched.

And for those homosexual students who have demonstrated leadership in promoting diversity and understanding in the community, the LEAGUE Foundation offers a $2,500 scholarship dedicated to the memory of Matthew Sheppard, whom it considers a model of courage.

Sheppard, who was homosexual, was tortured and beaten to death by two men on Dec. 28, 1998 in Wyoming. He was 21 at the time.

LEAGUE Foundation said it hopes Shepherd's memory will inspire lesbian, bisexual, gay & transgendered applicants and recipients of scholarships to persevere against anti-homosexual intimidation both in and out of the classroom.

According to Eader, applicants must be high school graduates; identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered; have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; be actively and substantially involved in community service; live in the United States; and have been accepted to attend an accredited college or university in the United States.

But conservatives are outraged by the notion that homosexuality is being rewarded by corporations such as AT&T.

"It's sad that teenagers are being deceived about sexuality and recruited into a lifestyle that is unhealthy and immoral," said the Family Research Council's Kristin Hansen. "It's definitely evidence that homosexual activists are organized at many facets of society -- in the corporate world, in schools and in the media."

Eader noted that LEAGUE Foundation is funded wholly by donations and does not receive any financial support from the AT&T corporation. AT&T allows LEAGUE Foundation to conduct its communication and planning activities -- including phone calls, faxes, and emails -- on corporate premises. However, Eader noted that LEAGUE and LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation "are 2 different and distinct, even though related, organizations."

Membership in the AT&T Business Resource Group LEAGUE is reserved solely for AT&T employees. According to Eader, any homosexual advocacy group or its members may become part of the 501(c)3 LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation charity . This charity also "welcomes financial support from the larger LGBT community and its allies," according to the group's Web site, which is hosted by AT&T.

"The level of organization is not a surprise," Hansen said of LEAGUE's wide-open membership requirements and financial practices.

Eader said homosexual scholarship recipients who have been outspoken in their communities are encouraged to continue such activism when they get to college, but he said they have no obligation to do so. Eader added that the names of scholarship recipients remain anonymous, no matter what path they choose to follow.

But scholarship recipients are not discouraged from performing acts of "community service." In fact, Eader said LEAGUE and its supporters would benefit from having a fresh voice on campus promoting the homosexual issues and diversity.

Hansen said LEAGUE's scholarship offering is just another example of incentives encouraging behavior. "And if there's money available," she added, "it legitimizes a behavior."

[OWK]

Those in the picture were merely the wrong type of Homo. The Nazi Party was filled with Homos and any persecution (which was very small in proportion to the total killed) was merely because of political differences.

Feel free to rationalize and revise as you see fit, in order to accomodate your fantasies.

[OWK]

I clarified this in a previous post, their activities are already illegal, I don't want that changed. I don't want them jailed, that was a mistake from a previous post...

The fact that the glaring contradiction in these statements is not obvious to you, makes me wonder about your ability to discern even the simplest of points.

[breakem]

I suggest you lobby for some more moral laws. Perhaps start with jail for adulterers, those who dishonor their parents, and those who worship false gods.

[justshutupandtakeit]

I wouldn't dream of horning in on your territory. Just the facts, ma'am just the facts.

[Hagrid]

If it's a private scholarship not given by the school, I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

Should we be against conservative organizations giving scholarships?

[conservative cat]

Ever see the movie Soul Man?

LOL! I thought the same thing!

[Future Snake Eater]

Actually, one of my best friends on campus is on the wrestling team. He gets a pass on academics when he needs it and he knows it. I don't deny they have killer schedules, but so do I.

[Future Snake Eater]

The scholarships are for $1500. Not exactly a free ride.

Depends on the school they go to. That would pay for the vast majority of my tuition every semester.

[jethropalerobber]

well what are you waiting for then?

[NittanyLion]

I'd be interested to know what campus. While I don't deny certain schools give their athletes a pass, I suspect the vast majority of schools do not. I know for certain athletes at my alma mater worked every bit as hard as the student body.

[jethropalerobber]

...there are existing laws in every State against homosexual acts.

actually, only 5 states have sodomy laws that apply only to same sex partners.
another 11 states have laws which apply to heterosexuals as well.

[BikerNYC]

Is it only that many? I thought it would have been more.

[jethropalerobber]

in 1960, every state had some form of the law.
since then they have been rapidly repealed or struck down.

[ArGee]

And for those homosexual students who have demonstrated leadership in promoting diversity and understanding in the community, the LEAGUE Foundation offers a $2,500 scholarship dedicated to the memory of Matthew Sheppard, whom it considers a model of courage.

I once propositioned a girl at a bar, and she slapped me. Would LEAGUE consider me a model of courage also? </sarcasm>

I do have a serious question. When your mind gets that twisted, does it hurt to think? Does anybody here know?

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Anonymous benefactors have endowed university scholarships in the past. But I can't think of a single scholarship that has ever been granted to anonymous recipients.

So, let me get this straight. I fill out a form claiming to suffer from same-sex attraction disorder (SAD is a much more appropriate term than gay) and they give me $1500 for it, and I don't actually have to be SAD because nobody will ever know I claimed to be?

Sounds like a gravy train to me.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

I don't think it's the government's business what someone does in their own house, given that they are a consenting adult.

If they're doing it in their own house, how does the gub'mint or anybody else know?

If everyone knows, they aren't doing it in their own house. It is then a matter for public policy.

I don't advocate locking anyone up. I advocate telling the truth, that Same-sex Attraction Disorder (SAD) can be treated.

Shalom.

[Darksheare]

Dullard.

I see that you're speaking for yourself again, as is usual for you. No OWK, your tactics are well documented, remember? You arrogantly state something off base, people respond. You then insinuate that they are gay. You purposefully bait people. You staunchly defend everything gay. And it makes one wonder, what's in it for you? The point is, the article gives new meaning to "open door policy" in schools. That, and it is discriminatory against those of us who are straight.

Now, get real. Meanwhile, here.. take this compass and this magnet and navigate those woods over there. Don't stop till you find the wiseman.

[ArGee]

My guess would be that the "courage" of Matthew Sheppard was his living his life openly. He was no angel, he was flawed like everyone else. But he was true to himself, even in the face of adversity.

Homosexual attraction is, by definition, not being true to oneself. He might have shown real courage if he had sought help. He also might have found it.

Shalom.