FRC’s unwitting admission: Prop 8’s public school fear-mongering was bunk nonsense
April 30, 2011
Cross-posted at Good As You
By Jeremy Hooper
With the following three lines, Family Research Council staffers intend to slight the recently-passed bill that will work to enshrine the historical contributions of LGBT Americans in state’s textbooks, as well as drum up fears that link marriage equality to inclusive teaching. But in reality, they discredit the Prop 8 proponents’ primary point:
Interestingly enough, this issue of how children are educated about sexuality is exactly what turned the tide in Proposition 8’s favor. Most parents wouldn’t dream of injecting these conversations into a public school setting. But they can expect more assaults like this one as homosexuals continue to advance their agenda in the military and other strongholds. [FRC]
Why do we say they discredit? Well because think about it: The Prop 8 fear-mongering to which this FRC writer refers revolved entirely around the argument that same-sex marriages would lead impressionable young students to learn about gay people (quelle horreur!). But groups like FRC succeeded (as it were) in stopping marriage equality in California, and yet inclusive school policies still go on. Legislation like Mark Leno’s FAIR Education Act still passes. Public schools still implement measures to encourage open minds and reduce harassment. Because as we always say when the anti-LGBT forces base their marriage campaigns around public school fears: That regardless of where one stands when it comes teaching children to understand and embrace the full spectrum of the world’s normalcy, the scary storm clouds that the “pro-family” forecasters predict are wholly independent of civil marriage recognition itself.
FRC is now all but admitting it: The school-based ads that we see around every marriage referendum are complete and utter hogwash. So next time one of these campaigns rolls around (and it most surely will), the opposition forces owe it to all of us, pro- and anti-equality, to stop with the crap propaganda and actually own the facts of their discrimination. The one and only way to stop inclusive public schooling is to stop LGBT people from existing. If the one and only way the “pro-family” crowd knows to stop gay people’s marriages is to resort to these asides that are so demonstrably disconnected, then that raises several questions about both their merits and their goals.
22 Comments
1.
Ed Cortes | April 29, 2011 at 11:23 pm
checkin' da box
2.
Ann S. | April 30, 2011 at 1:40 am
§
3.
JonT | April 30, 2011 at 2:07 am
☮
4.
Straight for Equalit | April 30, 2011 at 8:09 am
❀
5.
Kathleen | April 30, 2011 at 2:31 am
same.
6.
Alan E. | April 30, 2011 at 12:31 am
I,m in class all day. Will be a long one
7.
Joe | April 30, 2011 at 12:34 am
Sad, these people continue to say they follow a man who continually spoke about love and acceptance and they can't even bother to settle for tolerance.
8.
Ronnie | April 30, 2011 at 12:51 am
(sighs)…subscribing…. <3…Ronnie
9.
Alan E. | April 30, 2011 at 1:24 am
This article from The Onion reminded me of the world that anti-equality people perceive will come to fruition if "the gays" get equal rights.
"Man Raised by Parents Struggling to Adjust to Human Society" http://www.theonion.com/articles/man-raised-by-pa…
10.
Peterplumber | April 30, 2011 at 8:44 am
The subject of this story reminds me a lot of my partner. He was raised in a family, and still can't empty the dishwasher or clean the bathroom.
For anyone who remembers, my partner is a survivor of the Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville Fla. He still has a lot of issues but he grows more & more every day.
11.
StraightGrandmother | April 30, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Just reading the words "Dove Outreach Center" sent shivers down my spine.
12.
Sagesse | April 30, 2011 at 1:30 am
Twisted logic and semantic disconnect:
Marriage = family.
What children learn in school = what children are taught in school (curriculum)
Parents can protect their children from observing the world they live in and the people around them
All school teachers and administrators are straight
All the children who need to be protected are straight children
All the children have straight parents and are being raised in traditional families
Homosexual behaviour = homosexuality
13.
Linda | April 30, 2011 at 8:02 am
@Sagesse–I keep coming back to this, so I can read it again. Very well put!
14.
StraightGrandmother | April 30, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I did not get the last line,
Homosexual behaviour = homosexuality
I admit to being dense at times
15.
Linda | April 30, 2011 at 1:56 pm
@SG–I understood Sagesse to mean that the assumption is two-fold, 1. that anyone who does anything behavior-wise that is 'homosexual' they are automatically homosexual, and 2. that homosexuality is all about the sex act.
Just my reading of it… 🙂
16.
Marlene | April 30, 2011 at 1:39 am
This why I describe FRC thusly:
Their definition of "family" is limited and backward.
Their "research" has been discredited around the world.
Their "council" consists of religious fanatics who want to turn the USA into a totalitarian theocracy.
17.
Shannon | April 30, 2011 at 3:10 am
This is why, even though public opinion is inching our way, I have little faith in ballot initiatives righting all the wrongs that have occurred over the past decade. The courts are our only chance at a literal "fair hearing" of the facts where our rights can be determined objectively, without sensational claims or ridiculous fear tactics.
18.
Ed | April 30, 2011 at 3:43 am
I agree. Which is was really makes all these amendments a real waste of time and money. Indiana is moving towards their ban, and so is MN. I really really hope the courts get it right…..
19.
truthspew | April 30, 2011 at 3:48 am
I did some research on the money spent here in RI by NOM of all things. One thing stands out, NOM spent nearly $200,000 in a 3 month period while MERI, GLAD and HRC spent abut $60,000.
I'd love to know where the bigot/nazi's are getting all that money.
20.
Father Bill | April 30, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Follow the money! Making donations to organizations that seek to lobby for or against legislation should be transparent. Can states still enact legislation requiring public disclosure of NOM and other organizations or has SCOTUS in the Citizens United decision made that unconstitutional.. I suggest we hold their feet to the fire if we cn.
21.
StraightGrandmother | April 30, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Me too! I was hoping Louis could tell us. I hope the lawsuit in Main survives Appeal. Maybe then we will find out. I think it is one or rich Catholics.
22.
Rhie | April 30, 2011 at 4:51 am
Scribin