The Homosexual Agenda - Conservapedia

Right Wing Watch has a piece on the far right Christianists' effort to challenge the popular Wikipedia. The concept was the brain child of teacher, Andy Schlafly—son of the famous anti-gay culture warrior Phyllis Schlafly (who herself has a gay child) - because of Wikipedia's alleged bias against America and Christianity. In contrast, Concervapedia is obsessed with right-wing politics, evolution, and homosexuality. In spite of the ridicule, Schlafly and his minions are still at it today. Eagle Forum just released a video promoting Conservapedia as an affirming alternative to the Wikipedia world (and the real world that most of us with more than moronic intelligence live in). I cannot even imagine living in the delusional world of these un-Christian people. Here's highlights of what Conservapedia says about the "Homosexual Agenda"

*

The homosexual agenda, or homosexual ideology, consists of a set of beliefs and objectives. The ideology and goals, as explained further below, include restricting free speech, obtaining special treatment, distorting science, and interfering with freedom of association. It is an agenda that gay rights activists set in the late 1980s, in a book called After the Ball, where they laid out a six-point plan for how they could transform the beliefs of ordinary Americans with regard to homosexual behavior — in a decade-long time frame: "The agenda of homosexual activists is basically to change America from what they perceive as looking down on homosexual behavior, to the affirmation of and societal acceptance of homosexual behavior." [1]

*

In terms of the "choice myth" being an important underpinning to the Christianist effort to deny equal civil legal rights treatment to gays and why Exodus and "ex-gay ministries" are essential, Conservapedia says in parts as follows (note: while making the false statement that sexual orientation is a choice, many additional derrogatory statements are made about gays, including more than 50 year old studies on homosexuality in other cultures):

*

In respect to the issue of homosexuality and choice, given the existence of ex-homosexuals and given the existence of human cultures where homosexuality has apparently not existed, the position that homosexuality is ultimately a choice in individuals or at the very least can be a choice in individuals has strong evidential support. In addition, given that the homosexual population has significantly higher rates of many diseases and the homosexual population also has significantly lower rates of various measures of mental health it can be strongly argued that engaging in homosexual acts is a bad choice for individuals. Another other factor that makes engaging in homosexual acts a bad choice for individuals is the significantly higher rates of domestic violence in homosexual couples. In addition, according to experts homosexual murders are relatively or quite common and often homosexual murders are very brutal. Also, the homosexual population has a greater propensity to engage in illegal drug use.

*

As I have said before, it is important to know one's enemies and their false propaganda in order to refute their lies.

Wingnut High School Principal Resigns Over Gay-Straight Alliance

WISTV-10 in Columbia, South Carolina is reporting that Eddie Walker, Principal of Irmo High School (pictured at left), has resigned effective June 30, 2008, because the school district is allowing a Gay-Straight Alliance to form at Irmo High School. Frankly, if Mr. Walker is such a fanatical Christianist that the mere existence of a GSA put him over the edge, both the high school and the school district will be better off without him. Perhaps he can convert to Islam and move to Iran where such closed mindedness and religious based bigotry are accepted. His intolerance towards others surely is not the type of example that should be presented to high school students who need to be learning how to live in a multicultural and religiously diverse nation and larger world.

*

It is precisely bigots like Eddie Walker that create atmospheres where LGBT youths come to believe that suicide is their best option. It is also an atmosphere that progressive businesses and emplyers avoid. Last time I checked, South Carolina is not exactly an economic powerhouse. Bigotry and intolerance have a clear economic price. May God judge Mr. Walker as he judges others. I would also note that, not surprisingly, Walker is not the only bigot in the school district as evidenced by the remarks of parent, Brenda Enoch (who hopefully will be blessed with gay grandchildren). Here are some story highlights:

*
IRMO, SC (WIS) - The Irmo High School Principal's announced resignation over a controversial student group is already drawing national attention. Principal Eddie Walker told WIS News 10 his resignation won't take effect until June, 2009 - the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Walker says it comes after he was asked to allow the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the school.

*

Tuesday Lexington School District Five issued a statement through Director of Community Services Buddy Price. It says, "The federal law known as the Equal Access Act does not permit the school to discriminate against a club based on the club's purpose and viewpoint by not allowing it to form unless the purpose of the club is unlawful." Wednesday, the district followed up with a statement from spokesperson Michelle Foster. "Attorneys have advised the school district that prohibiting the formation of this club would most certainly result in a costly lawsuit ... The only other recourse the school district would have would be to eliminate all non-curricular clubs all together."

*

"We are not putting them like, 'ugh. You know you're lepers.' But we have to stand for what our foundation of our nation was about," says parent Brenda Enoch. Enoch supports Walker's decision to resign. She feels the formation of the Gay/Straight Alliance club would lower values in schools that parents have fought hard to achieve.

*

Ashlei Tate, who graduated from a high school in Glorida with a Gay/Straight Alliance club, compares banning groups like the GSA to racial segregation of the past. "Everyone has equal rights. We shouldn't discriminate from what they need to do," says Ashlei Tate. "People used to make fun of and beat up gay people, just because they were different. This is actually a program to make everyone feel that they belong."

*

The following are highlights from Walker's resignation letter submitted to the school division:

*

On May 14, 2008, I was instructed by email to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High School. On May 15, 2008 I told Ms. Ann Pilat to allow the formation of this club for the 2008-2009 school year. Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions.

*

The formation of this club conflicts with my professional beliefs in that we do not have other clubs at Irmo High school based on sexual orientation, sexual preference, or sexual activity. In fact our sex education curriculum is abstinence based. I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes.

*

Both Faith in America and South Carolina Equality released statements in response to Walker's resignation and the ensuing publicity. Here is a portion of Faith in America's statement:

*

"It is a shame that the principal at Irmo High School in South Carolina decided to place religion-based bigotry and discrimination over his former commitment to his students and staff," said Faith In America Executive Director Brent Childers."We truly believe it is unfortunate that this principal cannot see the immense harm that is caused when a social climate of rejection, condemnation and violence is justified with misguided religious belief. To make such a choice over simply allowing gay youth a forum to meet and talk, alludes to the apparent deep-seated prejudice that must exist in the religious mindset of this person.

*

This is a highlight from South Carolina Equality's statement:

*

"It's unfortunate that this principal is so grossly misinformed about the intent of a GSA group. This group is forming to provide support for gay, lesbian, and straight students-a reprieve from the often hostile environment in our schools. Drew continued, "Statistics on harassment and violence for gay students are astounding. Gay students face more verbal harassment and physical violence than any group of students. In fact the conditions are often tortuous. We would never allow these conditions for any other group of students in our schools." Drew said, "Four out of five gay students report that they don't know one supportive adult at school. Principal Walker further alienates these students and causes them greater harm."

Principal Outs Gay Student Couple

In yet another example of a public school administrator who needs to be fired, 365gay.com is reporting that the principal at Hollis F. Price Middle College High in Memphis, Tennessee outed one or more gay couples in her quest to impose her religious beliefs on all students (contact information is set out below). Previously, the principal had stated that she wanted the names of all student couples, “hetero and homo,” because she wanted to monitor them personally to prevent students from engaging in public displays of affection. These are not deadbeat students. In fact, on it's web site, Hollis F. Price Middle College High states "We believe that every member of our learning community has value and worth and has the right to be respected" (apparently unless you are gay) and describes itself as follows:

*

Hollis F. Price Middle College High is for students who may be underrepresented in a traditional setting, but have the academic potential and are willing to accept the challenges of a rigorous high school and college curriculum. Students will have full academic schedules consisting of high school and college courses. It is a “school of opportunities” for students who would like to take advantage of a dual enrollment program in a small nurturing academic environment. Financial and other barriers to college are removed.

*

Here are highlights from 365gay.com's coverage:

*

(Memphis, Tennessee) A public high school principal who posted the names of two boys on a list of students believed to be couples, revealing their relationship to their parents as well as other students and teachers, violated the students’ constitutional right to freedom of association, the American Civil Liberties Union charged Tuesday.

*

The two students now represented by the ACLU, Andrew and Nicholas (who have asked that their last names not be revealed), were two A students who had been seeing each other for a short time and were attempting to keep their relationship quiet and private. Although the boys had never been observed by any school staff engaging in any sort of display of affection, the principal called Nicholas’s mother Nichole. According to Nichole, the principal said things like “Did you know your son is gay?” repeatedly and went on to say that she didn’t like gay people and wouldn’t tolerate homosexuality at her school. Both students say they’ve had to deal with verbal harassment from both teachers and students since word got out around the school about their principal’s actions.

*

“We never bothered anyone or did a single thing at school that broke any of the rules,” said Nicholas, a junior and honor student. “Every day I feel like they’re still punishing me, and I’m worried that this is going to hurt my chances to get into a good college.”*

*
“The principal’s outing of these two students to their families, classmates, and teachers is unacceptable. Its only purpose was to intimidate not only these students but all gay students at Hollis Price,” said Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director at the ACLU of Tennessee. “Educators should be focused on educating their students and not on harassing them because of their sexual orientation or the people with whom they associate.”

*

For those readers inclined to let the principal what they think of her bigotry, contact information is as follows: Phone: 901.435.1765; Fax: 901.435.1779; e-mail: beasleyd@mcsk12.net

*

The Interim Superintendant for the Memphis School syaytem can be reached here: Dan Ward 2597 Avery, Room 214, Memphis, TN 38112; Phone: (901) 416-5300; Fax: (901) 416-5578; e-mail: superintendentward@mcsk12.net