Focus on the Family leads Christian Right charge against anti-bullying booklet

[ck4829]

"As Steve noted in his round-up, Focus on the Family has taken aim at a program from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network called "Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth" which is being provided to public schools around the country in an effort to stop bullying and promote tolerance of LGBT youth, so that incidents like the Lawrence King murder don't happen.

Focus on the Family is again raising objections to the booklet, although it is supported by a coalition, formed in 1998, of medical, education, and mental health groups, and has been published for several years.

"Focus on the Family education expert Candi Cushman told The Denver Post in Saturday's editions that the Christian group supports bullying prevention but that the issue "is being hijacked by activists." "We feel more and more that activists are being deceptive in using anti-bullying rhetoric to introduce their viewpoints, while the viewpoint of Christian students and parents are increasingly belittled," Cushman said. The Colorado Springs-based group said conservative Christians are portrayed as bigots for their opposing viewpoints, while public schools increasingly teach students that homosexuality should be accepted...Focus on the Family took aim at a 24-page GLSEN booklet titled, 'Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth.' It will be delivered to public school superintendents around the country, Focus on the Family said. 'The theme: Schools are only allowed to provide one message about homosexuality—that it's normal and should be embraced,' Focus on the Family said. Byard said the idea for the booklet came from GLSEN but that it was authored by a coalition of medical, mental-health and education organizations."

The Coalition producing the booklet consists of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, American School Counselor Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Social Workers, National Education Association, and School Social Work Association of America."

http://www.towleroad.com/2010/08/bullying.html

"Focus on the Family said. 'The theme: Schools are only allowed to provide one message about homosexuality—that it's normal and should be embraced,'"

Yeah, here's the thing about that, Focus. Nobody, especially kids at school, should be tormented, bullied, pressured, threatened, terrorized, attacked, or even killed because of their perceived or actual sexuality. Period. There is no "other side" to that.

(BTW, the booklet can be found on the page. Read it, it's not some booklet telling kids to become gay or anything. It's quite informative, actually.)

[davidinalameda]

1. Jesus himself could have written this and they'd still not like it

[RKP5637]

3. These people would have crucified him again as not up to "their" standards. They don't

F'en get it that he was against what they are for... They have invented their own religion to serve their bigoted feel-good desires.

[RKP5637]

2. I wish these people would go off and have their rapture, float into the sky, disappear or

whatever and leave the rest of us the F alone. Groups like this have turned me completely against religion in my lifetime.

[CoffeeCat]

4. How EVIL can a "religious" organization be?

These people are disgusting and so myopic.

Yes, we hear you. Your opinion is that homosexuality is wrong. Ok, we get that. You don't have
to embrace it. Enjoy your bigotry, hatred and small mindedness.

No one is asking you or kids in school to "embrace" anything. This anti-bullying booklet is merely
suggesting that people who are gay not be assaulted or killed--because they are gay.

And you oppose that.

There's not one damn word in that booklet about forcing people to change their bigotry. You guys
can go on hating all you want.

This booklet puts restrictions on harassing, emotionally abusing and physically harming gay people.

The fact that a religious organization has a problem with protecting children from emotional
damage and physical assaults speaks volumes about the level of sick, distorted evil in that
organization.

When it comes to protecting children from psychological damage and even murder--these people think
that bigotry is more important.

Just how sick is that?

[RKP5637]

5. What also really irks me is how this self-inflated self-chosen self-appointed bigoted flock puts

themselves up on a pedestal to speak for America. They are nothing short of the bigoted asshole persecutors in biblical times. They use religion as a cloak to pursue their hatred.

I am not a religious person, but this reminds me of my church days when said... something to the effect... the devil comes in many forms and disguises. These people represent evil in one of its most pure vile forms.

[ProleDragon]

7. Can I rec a post?

This is spot-the-hell-on;

"No one is asking you or kids in school to "embrace" anything. This anti-bullying booklet is merely
suggesting that people who are gay not be assaulted or killed--because they are gay.

And you oppose that."

Cutting to the heart of the truth like a lightsaber.

I'm sure these FotF folks quietly believe that bullies were put on Earth to 'beat teh gay' out of our kids.

[FreeState]

6. These people are absolutely vile n/t

[RetiredTrotskyite]

8. K&R

The bottom line is that these creeps don't want ALL kids protected from bullying...only those of whom they approve and GLBT kids are NOT on the list.

[ToppleTheTeaParty]

9. Columbine didn't teach people something?

Considering how bullying some of these so-called Christians are to their own congregations & family, I would never have put something like this past them. Hatemongers to the core. But of course, if a black student hit a white student all Hell would break loose. But a potential gay student being hit by a straight? No problem to them! Double standard, hell yeah.

[Evasporque]

10. It is not bullying when obnoxious bible bangers beat up a gay kid...nt

[Hugabear]

11. These people are modern day Pharisees and Saducees

Quite frankly, if Jesus were alive today, he'd be disgusted by people like this who preach hatred in his name. Fundies like this seem to be stuck in the Old Testament, they sure as hell don't follow Jesus' teachings "judge not lest ye be judged" or "love thy neighbor as thyself". I guess they glossed over the part where Jesus broke bread and communed with sinners - more accurately, people who the Pharisees considered to be sinners.