Don’t Protect Children – This Isn’t a Fairy Tale

One may think that if you’re going to take a stand against equality, you may want to get creative in your rhetoric as to why LGBT citizens should not be covered under the same protections historically provided to other minorities. You may want to come up with solid disputes as to why it’s detrimental to society as a whole to prevent LGBT people being equal.

Now, when it comes to children, one may think regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, weight, height, learning or physical ability, that because they are children…they should always be protected…right?

The way I see it, this country owes it to our children to do everything we can to make sure that discrimination is eliminated from our schools, but, just as during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, children unfortunately are not off limits to hate and bigotry.

According to a post on the Unfair and Unbalanced FOX Faux News:

A bill in Congress that would prohibit discrimination in public schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity could stifle free speech and even lead to “homosexual indoctrination” in the nation’s classrooms.

The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), or H.R. 4530, was introduced late last month by Colorado Rep. Jared Polis, with 60 co-sponsors. Polis, the first openly gay man elected to the House as a nonincumbent, said the legislation will put lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students on “equal footing” with their peers, much as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did for minorities and Title IX did for women.

But some critics say the bill, if passed, could lead to murky definitions of harassment and provide a universal approach to the nation’s public schools despite regional differences on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.

“The real danger is how this will be interpreted,” said Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, a Washington-based libertarian think tank. “The definition of harassment could be broadly interpreted that anybody who expressed a totally legitimate opinion about homosexual behavior could be made illegal.”

So Mr. McCluskey, exactly what is a “totally legitimate opinion?  Key word…OPINION!  Opinion is not fact.  What would be a “legitimate opinion about homosexual behavior”? Is telling a child they are an abomination legit? Is telling a child they’re going to burn in hell for being gay legit? Is beating a child for being gay legit? Is murdering a man, woman or child OK as long as you have a “legitimate opinion”? According to your version of the Bible it is…but Mr. McCluskey, you are not everyone, and not everyone bases their religious ideology around hate, and if you were uncertain Mr. McCluskey, let me reassure you that not all children, or their parents, subscribe to your chosen religion. So, why should you be able to use your religion against children who don’t choose their sexual orientation? Mr. McCluskey, I would remind you that federal civil rights statutes explicitly address discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability and national origin. Yes RELIGION Mr. McCluskey. That means that if you tell someone you think fags are going to hell because that’s what your religion tells you, then you are protected. That means if someone beats the living hell out of your for carrying a bible, they are going to be punished…yet a gay child shouldn’t receive that protection…because your Bible and your beliefs think being gay is wrong? Mr. McCluskey, why are you better than anyone else? What gives you the right to determine who should or should not be bullied? Are you advocating for bullying against LGBT youth Mr. McCluskey? It certainly sounds that way to me!

And he continues:

“That’s a violation of those kids who want to express opposition to LGBT opinions or behavior. People have a legitimate reason to be concerned about this — not because they’re ‘haters’ but because you’re now trying to balance different rights.”

So, Mr. McClusky, the white children who wanted to express opposition to allowing children of color from attending their all white schools in Alabama and Mississippi back in the 1960’s were justified in doing so? The white children who bullied, beat and even murdered children of color in the South prior to and during the Civil Rights Movement were justified in doing so because their white Baptist preacher was telling them segregation was God’s command and used the Bible as the base of their bigotry? So those white people who abused people of color weren’t ‘haters’? Weren’t the white people simply “expressing opposition” to desegregation?

And still worried about being able to say he hates fags, Mr. McCluskey adds:

“If this is passed,it’s going to almost certainly in some places be interpreted far too broadly, and free-speech rights will be trampled.”

You’re right Mr. McCluskey…this bill most certainly changes the U.S. Constitution and eliminates the First Amendment. You will no longer be able to say anything…to anyone…ever! Mr. McCluskey, I’m having a difficult time believing you’re really that stupid!

Of course, then we have those who believe were all out to recruit…and make the whole world gay.

The post continues:

Other critics, meanwhile, say the bill will be used to push what they say is a homosexual agenda in public schools.

“It seems pretty consistent with Kevin Jennings being appointed in the Obama administration,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm, referring to the controversial founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network who now serves as the assistant deputy secretary for the Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

“When [Jennings] founded GLSEN, his idea of a safe school was one that pushed a radical homosexual agenda by even encouraging first and second-graders to engage in homosexual activity,” Staver said. “So I think that’s the impetus behind this bill. We have an administration that wants to push a radical social agenda.”

Yes Mr. Starver…you’re right! Gay people are lurking outside of every second grade classroom just waiting for the right time to tell the students to have same-sex relationships and even provide them with “how-to” pamphlets. And yes Mr. Starver, you’ve finally figured it out…the “radical social agenda” of the gay community is to turn the world gay…it has nothing to do with equality. Mr. Starver…we are out to turn you gay! Be careful where you roam Mr. Starver…we’re watching you…lying in wait…ready to sprinkle that fairy dust on your head so you magically wake up gay tomorrow!

But wait, there’s more!

Staver, of the Liberty Council, said the legislation is intolerant of any “opposing or traditional” views and called on Congress to be more focused on the country’s economic woes, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism. “Those are serious matter that I think American people are concerned with,” he said. He said he doesn’t think the bill, which has bipartisan support, will pass, saying it’s “completely contrary” to American values.

Mr. Starver. Fact: over 85% of LGBT children experience harassment at school due to their sexual orientation. Is that an “American Value”? Is protecting our children…who are our future…not just as important as bombing Iraq and Afghanistan? I have an idea Mr. Starver, perhaps we should lift the ban on gays serving in the military, reduce the age for those who enlist in the military to 5 years of age if the child is gay, then send those gay children to Iraq and Afghanistan to kill those children. Just think, no more Gay, Iraqi or Afghanistani Children. They’re all dead. We could rid of the world of the anti-Christian plague, and all would be perfect.

So there you have it. The ultimate plan to eradicate the problem of protecting gay children, and insure your right to say you hate people different than you. Now THAT, is a new song and dance…but pardon me if I sit this one out.

Of course, this isn’t the only story about our youth I bring to you today.  It looks as though yet another Bible beating lawmaker, this time from Virginia, has something to say about our youth…but perhaps not gay youth, that is unless perhaps you consider being gay a disability.

According to a post on Seattle PI:

Disabled children are the Lord’s punishment for women who “abort the first born,” a Republican state legislator from Virginia has argued in calling on state officials to eliminate state money going to Planned Parenthood.

State Delegate Bob Marshall, from the Washington, D.C., suburb of Manassas, told Planned Parenthood foes:

The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.

In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.

The News-Leader newspaper reported that about 20 people, “mostly Christian pastors and clergy” heard Marshall’s remarks at the General Assembly Building in Richmond.

And this…is an elected government official that decides what is, or is not, law!

Sean Hannity’s Dating Website

That Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, even has a dating section of his website Hannity.com is ripe for punchlines. That he calls it Hannidate? Even better. But for a guy so concerned with attacking homosexuals and protecting America from rabid homosexuality, it’s a little curious that he’s also making a few bucks off connecting two dudes who want to get it on.

Back in 2006, Joel Stein found 21 gay profiles on Hannidate, “a full 11 of which I thought were real (though I’d like to believe that the guy called ‘Seeking Fellow Cowboy Fans,’ who wants to get ‘back to my favorite mountain’ and needs ‘help herding sheep,’ is totally legit).” Back then, Stein reported “Hannity, it turns out, is against same-sex marriage but is pretty libertarian on gay relationships, often standing up to gay bashers on his show and putting gay former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey’s book on his book club list.” So much changes with time, eh?

But what gay American is actually counting on Sean Hannity to help them find love? Find out at: Queerty!

Expanding or Jumping Over the Fence?

According to a post on AlterNet:

As the populist influence of the religious right finds itself eclipsed by the vitriol of the Tea Party movement, religious right leaders are courting the Tea Partiers, seeking to introduce their notions of America as a “Godly nation” into the neo-libertarian ideology of the Tea Partiers.

I first saw the seeds of this phenomenon sown on the eve of the 9/11 march on Washington, when religious right co-founder Richard Viguerie offered a free organizing seminar to Tea Party activists. Just weeks later, at the Values Voter Summit hosted by the Family Research Council, Tea Party leaders were featured on the agenda, even as FRC tried to damage-control the newcomers’ racist image.

Now, reports Bill Berkowitz at BuzzFlash, Pastor Rick Scarborough, working through his S.T.O.P. Obama Tyranny National Coalition, Tea Partiers are being encouraged to sign a “Mandate to Save America,” a 10-point manifesto that begins with a demand to “Acknowledge the centrality of faith in America.” In fact, it’s not until you get to point no. 4, “Stop judicial tyranny,” that one gets to one of the priorities of the more secular Tea Partiers. (Points 2 and 3, respectively, decry abortion and same-sex marriage.)

Now as much as it makes sense the religious right would be courting the tea-baggers of the “Tea Party”, especially since the likes of Sarah “dumb as a rock and pray away the gay” Palin and Michele “bat shyt crazy and hide in the bushes at gay events” Bachmann are strongly tied to the movement, party, or what ever the hell they are, it makes me wonder, are they abandoning the GOP or are they simply expanding their horizons to glob onto the “Tea Party” and hi-jack it as they have the Republican party?

I would hope the religious right is looking to the “Tea Party” for a place to call home.  This already fringe and extreme group has somewhat become the laughing stock of politics, unless you like FOX News.  This may lend to more freedom of those GOPer’s who are stuck hating the gays because their voter base believes Jesus rode dinosaurs to work.  Perhaps if Republicans stop fearing their Bible beating constituency, they’ll slowly start to come around on equality.  Yes, let the tea-baggers have the religious right.  Hopefully they’ll both fall overboard when they’re dumping tea!

Maddow: I’m Not on a Gay Crusade

Being a lesbian is not what drives her high-profile coverage of issues like the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Media columnist Howard Kurtz profiles the MSNBC host with great attention to how her sexual orientation impacts her treatment of guests like Lt. Dan Choi, who came out on The Rachel Maddow Show last March.

“As one of the few openly gay television anchors, Maddow has kept the spotlight trained on the contentious issue of whether service members known to be homosexual should face discharge proceedings, as Choi did after that interview,” writes Kurtz. “But she doesn’t view herself as mounting a crusade.”

“We don’t really treat gay issues differently than other issues,” Maddow tells Kurtz. “The controversy, she says, is just ‘a great story.’”

Not that Maddow wants to hide her identity, either.

“I can’t do the show as a non-gay person,” she tells Kurtz. “I don’t have that option.”

More at: The Advocate!

DADT Suspended — During Gulf War

Over the past quarter-century, since 1985, America has had seven Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And five of the seven now support gays serving openly in the military.

Yet, despite evidence to the contrary — and there is evidence — the Republican and religious-right wing wind machines are still blowing hot and hard, suggesting repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be the end of the U.S. military. Or worse.

Colonel Oliver (convicted felon, Nicaragua gun smuggler, and – surprise! Fox News contributor) North last week suggested repealing DADT would invite the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) into our Armed Forces. (I’m not quite sure how that would work, as you can’t be a minor and serve in the military, but perhaps as he was running guns in Iran to help fight the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, North got a little too chummy with Noriega and what he was selling?)

The stories coming via the Beck-Hannity-O’Reilly-Palin-North Network are just jam-packed full of shock and awe. At this point, one would not be surprised to hear from them that if “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal were enacted, the sun would never rise again, and George Washington and Ronald Reagan would roll over in their graves.

More at: The New Civil Rights Movement!

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