But the gay-rights movement -- the most pampered thugs on the political scene -- can get away with almost anything with nary a word of censure.
According to a July 2 posting on the website of GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educational Network), in the 2006-2007 academic year, there were 3,577 Gay Straight Alliances in high schools, middle schools and colleges across the (you should pardon the expression) fruited plain.
Theoretically, GSAs exist to combat vile discrimination, promote inclusion and inculcate an appreciation for sexual diversity. In reality, they are lifestyle cheerleaders and political cells.
One of the GSAs' principal projects is getting their schools to participate in a national campaign called "Day of Silence," where students and faculty are allowed to refrain from speaking for the entire day, supposedly to create awareness of the silencing of gays.
If the love-that-dares-not-speak-its-name would occasionally just shut-up, that would be refreshing.
Instead, mute protestors are allowed to wear stickers and distribute propaganda, like cards that read in part:
"... My deliberate silence echoes that silence which is caused by harassment, prejudice and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end their silence?"
Why, I'll push for same-sex marriage, taxpayer-funded sex-change operations, "transgendered"
restrooms, homosexuals serving openly in military and proms for cross-dressers -- not to mention Rosie O'Donnell's return to "The View" -- naturally.
In 2006, over 4,000 schools participated in Day of Silence. While these demonstrations are facilitated by politically correct administrators or those too craven to stand up to the threat of ACLU suits, counter protests are strictly verboten and often dealt with by the metaphysical equivalent of flogging.
This year, two students at the Neuqua Valley, Arizona High School weren't allowed to wear T-shirts with the slogan "Be Happy, Not Gay," on the day meant to protest the silencing of certain voices.
U.S. District Judge William T. Hart sided with the school, holding that Heidi Zamecnik and Alexander Nuxoll deserved to be gagged.
If anyone is likely to be subjected to bullying or intimidation on the subject of sexual diversity, it's Christian students and their parents.
During Diversity Week in March of 2002, the Gay Straight Alliance at Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School persuaded the school to have a panel discussion on homosexuality and religion, which included six religious leaders who were of the unanimous opinion that acts described by the Bible as an abomination were not in the least incompatible with Judeo-Christian religion. (When educating children on homosexuality, it's important to present only
one point of view.)
Elizabeth Hansen, a Catholic student, was not allowed to express her Church's disapproval of homosexual acts. Diversity is best
achieved in an echo
chamber.
In ruling that Hansen's civil rights had been violated, U.S. District Court Judge Gerald E. Rosen said the school's actions were "un-American" and reminded him of Nazi book-burning.
Sadly, in the federal courts, Rosen's views are in the minority.
In April, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf dismissed a lawsuit by outraged parents whose children attend the Lexington, Massachusetts elementary school, where 6-year-olds were subjected to a story (under the circumstances, one hesitates to call it a fairy tale) about a prince who falls in love with another prince, and they get married and live happily/gaily ever after.
In his decision, Judge Wolf wrote that public schools are "entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy."
Families don't even have a right to pull their kids from indoctrination sessions, because allowing parents to opt out "could send the message that gays, lesbians, and the children of same-sex parents are inferior and, therefore, have a damaging effect on those children," Wolf wrote.
In other words, teaching that homosexuality is healthy, natural and life-affirming helps prepare students "to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy."
Consider the
impressive contributions gay Americans are making to the common good.
In March, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control reported that between 2000 and 2004, there was an 81% rise in the rate of syphilis among men. The authors of the report casually noted that "the vast majority of the increase is attributable to a resurgence of syphilis among men who have sex with men."
In recognition of the connection between sodomy and the spread of HIV, in May, the Food and Drug Administration continued its lifetime prohibition on donating blood by men who've had sex with other men since 1977.
Public school students will not encounter this useful information in sex education classes, tolerance/diversity training, lifestyle celebrations or during the annual Day of Silence.
Nor will they hear the story of Michael Glatze.
A poster-boy for the movement, Glatze was the founding editor of Young Gay America magazine. He was a frequent media source on gay youth, who appeared on PBS and MSNBC and was quoted in a cover story in the October 10, 2006 issue of Time magazine ("The Battle Over Gay Teens").
Glatze even appeared with the mother of the martyred Matthew Shepard at a 2005 symposium at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Recently, Glatze came out of the closet -- as an ex-gay. In a column on WorldNetDaily, he declared that "coming out from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life." The young man, who says he first became aware of homosexual feelings at age 14, now calls homosexuality "a neurotic process rather than a normal one" and homosexual acts
"lust-based."
Fear not, the Gay Straight Alliances are out there fighting such crass bigotry and incitements to intimidation and bullying -- and doing so in some rather ingenuous ways.
In June, the Internet publication GSA Network News promoted a "Pleasure Physiology and Sex Toys" workshop at the San Francisco-based Center for Sex and Culture.
The News disclosed that this course "will encourage your personal sexual exploration in this fun, informative workshop. Join us for a discussion on pleasure physiology and sexual response, and learn how to choose and use sex toys safely." From safe sex to safe sex toys.
Participants had to be at least 14, and those under 18 needed permission from a parent/guardian. If current trends continue, they'll soon be teaching the physiology of pleasure and safe sex toys in health education courses in the public schools.
It will be mandatory for all ages -- as part of the process of helping students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.
Those denied access to such courses will have no alterative but to turn to shooting, stabbing, poisoning and other forms of retribution. Praise perversion or pass the ammunition?
Don Feder is a former Boston Herald writer who is now a
political/communications consultant. He also maintains his own
website, DonFeder.com.
