Gay Rights Battlefields Spread to Public Schools ("emboldened pol. right")

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:
Gay Rights Battlefields Spread to Public Schools
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: June 9, 2005


Emboldened by the political right's growing influence on public policy, opponents of school activities aimed at educating students about homosexuality or promoting acceptance of gay people are mounting challenges to such programs, at individual schools, at statehouses and in Congress.

Chief among the targets are sex education programs that include discussions of homosexuality, and after-school clubs that bring gay and straight students together, two initiatives that gained assent in numerous schools over the last decade.

In many cases, the opponents have been successful. In Montgomery County, Md., for example, parents went to court to block a health education course that offered a discussion of homosexuality, while in Cleveland, Ga., gay and lesbian students were barred from forming a high school club of gay and straight youths.

Leading figures on both sides of the fight say they have never seen passions about public school activities run so high. They agree that much of the reason is conservative groups' eagerness to meet their adversaries with a forcefulness more common to modern-day election campaigns....

***

The growing conflicts are centering on three issues: whether classrooms are an appropriate venue to explore issues of homosexuality, whether schools should lend sanction to extracurricular activities in which gay culture is a focus and whether textbooks that acknowledge homosexual relationships are suitable for younger children....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/education/09clash.html?hp&ex=1118376000&en=8587651664969b12&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Ariana Celeste]

1. When I was in Jr high and high school...

Which wasnt long ago, I'm 20... at each school I went to, there was an after school prayer group. If prayer groups are allowed to get together, after class, on school property, there is absolutely NO reason not to have a gay/straight alliance group.

For a lot of kids, schools are the only place they are allowed to be themselves and be with people who understand them, for many, schools are their haven.

Fuck these fascist fundy bastards for taking that away from them!!! :mad:

[Newsjock]

2. Political asylum for gays

It's my broken record... all of these stories are mounting evidence that some gay couple should use as a test case to be granted asylum in a country where we are welcomed and respected.

From Rick Perry's disgusting, amoral request that we all just leave to stories like this, it's clear that I'm no longer welcomed as an American. I pray that some nation on this planet wants me.

[Red_Viking]

3. I'm not gay, but I also feel unwelcome

Sad, isn't it?

Teaching intolerance is insanity. I can't make any sense out of this. I do know that I wouldn't want to spend one minute in their hate-filled skin. Being that frightened must be a full-time job. Ugh.

I have hope in my daughter's generation. She's 14 and feels very strongly about equality and tolerance for everyone. Seems the kids her age are more accepting and open-minded. Maybe one of these days we'll recognize our country again. Until then, I'm ready to bail myself. Seriously considering taking everyone overseas once my daughter gets out of high school.

No way do I want to live in their fundamentalist, puritanical nightmare.


Peace,

RV

[DeepModem Mom]

4. I share your hopes for your daughter's generation --

I think studies have shown they tend to be blind to race, sexual preference, etc.

[Rockerdem]

6. Straights have a hard time getting past gay male sex act

I wish that I had your optimism about the future generation. But the disconnect between the collapse of resistance to, say, interracial marriage and GLBT rights, is glaring. Criminy, the same people can be tolerant in one area and Neanderthal in the other, go figure.

A progressive friend tried to explain it to me not long ago. His opinion was that most straight people are repelled by the image of one man mounting another, and whereas they have no problem with one person of a different race on top of another. He was pessimistic, and felt that no amount of passing time would change such a gut feeling. That's the mindset that we are trying to combat.

[lawladyprof]

7. I heartily agree with your progressive friend

I've tried to separate out in my mind (not very successfully) whether the distaste is for the act(s) itself/themselves (think RW hysteria over Bill and Monica) or the fact that they are engaged in with same sex partners.

[youspeakmylanguage]

5. I'm not gay, but I'll be following you...

...the fundies don't realize that their bigotry is causing the best and the brightest among us to consider leaving for more tolerant pastures.

[central scrutinizer]

8. culture of life?

Every time these self-righteous bigots start their rants and political actions, we can be sure of two things: more teenagers will commit suicide and there will be more hate crimes ala Matthew Shepard as the real wackos feel emboldened.

[BiggJawn]

9. So they should do like they did 40 years ago?

Show the kids "Boys BEWARE!" without discussion or comment, thus confusing the shit MORE out of already confused kids struggling with Puberty...

Bring back "Ozzie and Harriet" instead of "Ozzie and Sharon", and "Leave it to Beaver", and make membership in PromiseKeepers madatory while they're at it....