Linda Harvey Says Passage of Anti-Bullying Laws Indoctrinate Kids to Accept Homosexuality

Nov8

The title of this post is enough to make you shake your head, I’m sure. I just love it when a radio host makes a ridiculous statement (or in this case multiple ridiculous statements. Linda Harvey, of Mission America, opposes the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Nondiscrimination Act. Here’s what she had to say:

“As we’ve found out time and again, so-called conservative, pro-life politicians are sometimes wrongly persuaded that homosexuality is a worthy lifestyle and cause. This amounts to promotion of these lifestyle’s to kids brought into schools in the Trojan Horse of anti-bullying programs. We already have these programs in many schools, but federal involvement adds a troubling new dimension. If these amendments pass, they do nothing to protect kids that isn’t already available at the local level. The only thing they will do is threaten local school districts with a cutoff of federal funds if the schools aren’t turned into indoctrination camps where conservative viewpoints are systematically silenced all to fulfill the fondest wishes of those who want traditional morality to disappear.”

There’s more, if you care to read it.

Read Linda Harvey Opposes Anti-Bullying Laws, Says They Indoctrinate Kids To Accept Homosexuality

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Disclaimer: The information, comments and links posted on the blog do not constitute legal advice. I will not respond to any specific legal questions in the comments section of this blog. Read my entire disclaimer.

The Color Purple for Spirit Day

Oct20

Today is Spirit Day. In support of LGBT youth and in a strong stance against anti-gay bullying, millions of people will wear purple. I hope you will be one of them.

GLAAD has graciously provided users of social media with tools to display the Spirit Day badge and the color purple on your various pages. Click here to show your support of LGBT youth.

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Follow (and be sure to LIKE) Connecticut Lesbian and Gay Law blog on Facebook for all blog posts and other stories and links of interest to the LGBT community.

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Lady Gaga Performs Tribute to Jamey Rodemeyer

Sep26

Jamey Rodemeyer, age 14, was yet another victim of gay bullying driven to suicide. His story has been on every news station nationwide. The following is a tribute to the teen performed on Saturday night by Lady Gaga.

For more information about Jamey and his tragic death, read:

Teenager struggled with bullying before taking his life

Teen Suicide Victim Jamey Rodemeyer Funeral Attracts 500 Supporters (Video)

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Baltimore Orioles Release Video for ‘It Gets Better Project’

Jul28

The Baltimore Orioles released a video for the It gets Better Project, joining the Giants, Cubs and Red Sox in supporting the effort. The Phillies, Twins and Mariners have all announced that they will be releasing videos as well.

View the Orioles Video:

View the Giants video:

View the Cubs’ video:

View the Red Sox video:

Kudos to these sports teams for supporting LGBT youth.

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The Cubs and CBS Have Released ‘It Gets Better’ Videos

Jun23

On Monday, two major contributors were added to the ‘It Gets Better’ Project’s collection on online videos.

CBS can now count itself among the ranks of some 10,000 online videos in the collection. The ‘It Gets Better’ Project is a collective effort to stop the bullying of gay teens or teens who are bullied due to their perceived sexual orientation.

The Chicago Cubs became the second major league sports team to join the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign. Kudos to the Cubs.

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People Against Gay Bullying on Facebook

Jun16

There is a Facebook page called People Against Gay Bullying. According to the group:

“Our mission is to spread awareness of Bullying and Gay hate as a crime, to the world. Awareness of how to make a difference. Our mission is to make this world a better place, a place of love, a planet of unity.”

Go to People Against Gay Bullying on Facebook here.

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What’s New In the LGBT World?

Jun1

Now that the Memorial Day weekend festivities are behind me and I’ve managed to sort through everything that came into the office while I was off enjoying some R and R, I thought I’d do a quick recap of some of the newsworthy happenings in the LGBT world in recent days.

The San Francisco Giants have joined the It Gets Better Project, aimed at helping LGBT youth. Kudos to the team!

The White House has launched its new web portal with the noble goal of “winning the future” for the LGBT citizenry. President Obama signed a proclamation in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month that you can read here. Happy Pride Month everyone!

Minnesota is gearing up to legislate discrimination against lesbian and gay couples in the form of a ban on same-sex marriage. The legislature approved the ballot measure on May 21st. To combat the outright lies that the opposition is known to spread during such campaigns, proponents of same-sex marriage have released the following video:

Illinois civil unions for same-sex couples began today! Congratulations and much happiness to those who stood in long lines to obtained a license. Read: Gay couples line up for licenses as Illinois’ civil union law takes effect [Chicago Sun Times]

A giant BOO HISS to the Rockford, Ill., Catholic Diocese which announced last week (in advance of the Illinois civil union law going into effect) that it would discontinue adoption and foster care programs rather than be forced to serve same-sex or unmarried opposite-sex couples under the new civil unions law. Let’s all hate in the name of religion. Works for me. Here’s a scary quote from Bob Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois:

“We’re not bluffing. This is a serious issue. No diocese is going to willingly put a child in a same-sex household.”

Read: Illinois Catholic diocese ends adoptions, foster service over objections to new gay rights law.

Folks, that’s a lot of LGBT news!

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Ladies Home Journal Publishes Article on Gay Teen Bullying

Nov22

Ladies Home Journal, one of America’s top-ranked magazines, published an insightful article on the topic of gay teen bullying. Available online (8 pages), the piece includes a “Zero Tolerance” plan for parents:

The Zero-Tolerance Plan

“We asked experts what parents can do to stop antigay bullying.

Check yourself. Take a look at your own prejudices, stereotypes, and language, and educate yourself about diversity issues.

Discuss values. Tell your child that even when you disagree with people, it’s important to treat them with respect.

Have a plan. Encourage your child to stand up for bullied classmates and to tell an adult when bullying occurs.

Demand respect. If your kid’s the bully, make it clear his behavior is unacceptable and there will be consequences.

Push for a policy. Find out if your school district specifically forbids antigay bullying. If it doesn’t, file a complaint.

For resources on gay teens and bullying, go to lhj.com/bullies.”

Kudos to LHJ for stepping up to the plate to raise awareness of this horrible epidemic.

Read the entire article: “Gay Teens Bullied to the Point of Suicide”

Note: you may see an advertisement when you click on the links to LHJ, however there is a button at the top of the ad page to continue to the article.

Arkansas School Board Member Encourages Gays to Kill Themselves

Oct26

Just when you think it can’t get more narrow minded, mean-spirited and down right shameful, along comes Clint McCance, a board member in the Midland school district in western Arkansas. This guy is one very sick piece of work.

He was asked to wear purple last Wednesday in support of gay teens. The following response was posted to his Facebook page:

“Seriously they want me to wear purplebecause five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”

Is “thereselves” a word? This guy sits on the Board of Ed? We have reason to be frightened.

The rest of the country is responding to the recent suicides of 5 gay teens by demanding action, tolerance and education to stop gay bullying. McCance chooses to spread hate (and obvious ignorance) instead.

The Human Rights Campaign is demanding his resignation, as well they should. This type of hate-spewing should not be allowed by anyone who sets policies for school children. I can just imagine the kind of curriculum McCance would propose.

By the way, a new Facebook page has sprung up in response: Fire Clint McCance

Read: School Official Wants Gays Dead

Read the posts that appeared on the Midland High School Principal’s school web page after the incident by clicking here.

Contact information for officials of the Midland School District can be found here. Intelligent and fair-minded e-mails or telephone calls are recommended.

Stop Gay Bullying NOW!

Oct12

In the wake of the recent tragic deaths of multiple teens who ended their lives as the result of gay bullying, it seems the entire country is waking up to this horrible epidemic. It’s not that this is a new phenomenon. Hardly. The simple fact is that suicides by teens who have been bullied for being gay — or perceived as being gay — has increased at an alarming rate.

Whether you are gay or straight, you have a moral obligation to end this craziness. No person should be bullied to the point of suicide. That is unconscionable no matter what your beliefs. It’s time to stop gay bullying. Now.

Ellen DeGeneres is taking a strong stand against bullying in response to the recent suicides of teens who had been bullied or teased and she’s not alone.

Recent news items on the issue of gay bullying:

Coming Out Day Marked by More Gay Teen Suicides

Anderson Cooper Takes On Vince Vaughn Movie’s Use Of ‘So Gay’ (VIDEO) [Huffington Post]

NJ Senator Calls For Anti-Bully Law After Rutgers Suicide [Huffington Post]

Make It Better Project

It Gets Better Project

This was an interesting piece:

Gay Bullying Deaths and Religion: Are Believers the Problem or the Solution? [Politics Daily]

‘The View’: What Causes Gay Bullying?

The Torture of Anti-Gay Bullying

<a href=”“>LKL – Celebrities Speak Out On Gay Bullying – Pt. 1/4

In the wake of the recent teen suicides, a Mormon leader still saw fit to broadcast a strong anti-gay message in his sermon. Boyd K. Packer, the second-highest Mormon leader, said same-sex attraction is “impure and unnatural” and can be overcome, and that same-sex unions are morally wrong and “against God’s law and nature.”

This is plain scary, not to mention offensive: