As gay youth suicides increase, Focus on the Family attacks anti-bullying report

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Posted by alvinmcewen at 8:37 am
October 2, 2010

As gay youth suicides increase, Focus on the Family attacks anti-bullying report
Posted by alvinmcewen on @ 8:37 am


Candi Cushman of Focus on the Family just released a critique of GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)’s recent school climate report.

GLSEN’s report found that in 2009:

. . . 7,261 middle and high school students found that at school nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation. Nearly a third of LGBT students skipped at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns.

Naturally, Cushman and Focus on the Family disputes this. To make a long story short, Cushman is claiming that GLSEN’s report is inaccurate because it:

. . . lists four authors—all of whom are employed by GLSEN, including Emily A. Greytak, who became involved with a GLSEN chapter 12 years ago and has worked for the organization since 2006; Elizabeth M. Diaz, who, as a GLSEN employee since 2004, conducts workshops opposing abstinence education; and GLSEN employee Mark J. Bartkiewicz, whose “research interests include LGBT students’ access to comprehensive sexual health education and the effects of inclusive LGBT curricula.”

Hardly what you’d call an objective research team—and then there’s the little fact that they are paid by an organization that has openly acknowledged its goal of getting gay, lesbian and transgender themes “fully integrated into curricula across a variety of subject areas and grade levels.”

Cushman is pushing the same old lie that GLSEN is trying to “introduce homosexual themes” into schools in order to “indoctrinate” children.

It’s the standard lie she and Focus on the Family pushes and it’s nothing new. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/10/02/as-gay-youth-suicides-increase-focus-on-the-family-attacks-anti-bullying-report/

[Starry Messenger]

1. Speaking of bullies.

Fuck FOF. :grr:

[xfundy]

2. "Indoctrinating children"

That's THEIR job! How dare anyone try to get kids to think for themselves!

No wonder these a-holes are so against education. Thinking hurts (them).

[ProgRock8]

3. Where does bullying begin?

[csziggy]

9. Probably at home where the bullies are taught to hate themselves first

Before they go to spread their hate to others.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[CoffeeCat]

4. These are the same evil, repulsive, inhumane...

...assholes who argue vociferously to keep "sexual orientation" out of anti-bullying legislation
and school handbooks.

That's right folks. They WANT it to be legal and fine-and-dandy for gay and lesbian students to
be bullied, harassed and terrorized. They go out of their way to fight that gay and lesbian
minors remain vulnerable to abuse.

Anti-bullying legislation and school guidelines which specify that students cannot be bullied
because of their "sexual orientation"---do not require these bigots to accept homosexuality or
to change their ignorance or bigotry. That legislation/school guidelines merely ensures that
these kids are not subjected to terror and abuse at school. But these "Christian" people will
have none of that. Oh no, these kids deserve harassment, bullying and trauma--according to
these "Christians."

These people are SICK. Who gives a flippin damn what they think. They are SICK.

[RKP5637]

7. Yep, they're in the same category as the Phelps Family. n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

5. I'm going to start a new proposal for inclusion on the 2011 ballot

A 200% tax levy PER year until they fuck off and a kind request to the FotF to fuck off to Bikini Atoll where they can stay happy and do whatever the fuck they want.

I'll make it nice and legalese....

Hawkeye-X

[RKP5637]

6. Yep and listed as a Hate Group. These people would cast out Jesus. n/t

[Shallah Kali]

8. Youve Got To Be Carefully Taught

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwK8HyAbFZA

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

[bliss_eternal]

10. k and r.

:kick:

[donheld]

11. Focus On the Family is Chief among bullies

IMHO it's their tactics and policies that lead to the bullying.

[Initech]

12. And bigot groups like FOTF are responsible for a lot of it.