Subj : Clarification [2/3] To : TODD HENSON From : Curtis Johnson Date : Wed Nov 01 2000 11:53 pm >>> Part 2 of 3... paraphernalia. The Sidney Borum Community Health Center, for example, was handing out "Pocket Sex" kits, which included two condoms, two antiseptic moist towelettes and six bandages. According to the teen who was handing out the sex kits, the bandages were for "when the sex got really rough." Sounds just like the type of joke a teen would make. In the workshop for teachers, Margot Abels reportedly told the audience that "sex is central to every single one of us, and particularly queer youth." Abels works on the Gay/Straight Alliance HIV Education Project -- an effort of the Massachusetts Department of Education. "GSAs" are being established in public schools throughout Massachusetts and the nation. Whiteman says the conference also included workshops entitled: * Ask the Transsexuals * Early Childhood Educators: How to Decide Whether to Come Out or Not * Lesbian Avengers: How to Promote Queer-Friendly Activism in Your Schools and in Your Lives * Diesel Dykes and Lipstick Lesbians: Defining and Exploring Butch/Femme Identity * The Religious Wrong: Dealing Effectively with Opposition in Your Community * Starting a Gay/Straight Alliance in Your School Most of these seem to be aimed specifically at educators and not teens. Indeed, I wonder whether the "For Youth Only" workshop might not have had as its purpose either training "peer counselors" or providing an example for educators who had to deal with questions homosexual teens might ask. Parents Rights Coalition fights back According to PRC's Camenker, "In the Boston press and elsewhere, GLSEN officials don't deny these things happened. They stand behind the conference. They're trying to say these kids were just asking questions and being told honest answers. This is a complete lie. The tapes prove that beyond a reasonable doubt." Interestingly, there is no indication from this story about whether they've let anyone else listen to Whiteman's tape. Indeed, it would seem we only have his word that such a tape even exists, much less that it indicates that this wasn't a Q&A. Camenker added, "If the rest of the country wants to know where the homosexual movement is going, all they have to do is look at Massachusetts. Homosexuals claim that Massachusetts is their model for the rest of the country. They're very proud of the fact that they've been able to make so much progress and use this thing about 'safety' [for homosexual teens] as their entree into schools. It's all bogus." On April 25, Whiteman attended a Massachusetts State Board of Education meeting and presented evidence of the instruction at the "Teach Out." According to Camenker, the board wasn't interested. Instead, it passed a statewide law forcing schools to accept a Gay/Straight Alliance if the state wants a school to have one. On April 18, the Parents Rights Coalition sent a letter of concern to the Middlesex District Attorney's office, asking for an investigation of the "Teach Out." In the PRC letter, Whiteman noted that the instructors at the "Teach Out" may have violated several state laws that criminalize the enticing of a person into prostitution or sexual intercourse; inducing a person under 18 to engage in sexual intercourse; and distributing materials harmful to minors. The PRC has not heard back from the district attorney, I'm not at all surprised. The first two laws sound pretty ridiculous (take a look at the percentages of teens who are no longer virgins by the time they graduate from high school--does PRC want half or more of the teens in Massachusetts dragged into the juvenile justice system?) and the article gave no evidence that any distributed materials were harmful to minors. and Camenker tells WorldNetDaily that no one wants to talk about the "Teach Out" or to take any action against what was taught. Education officials respond WorldNetDaily's repeated calls to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network for comment were not returned. Michael Gaucher referred WorldNetDaily to a public health department PR spokesman who in turn referred WND to a person who is on vacation. Julie Netherland said she is forbidden by department policy from speaking directly to the press and referred WND to Darrell Pressley, the director of media relations in the Massachusetts Department of Education. According to Pressley, the department is investigating what was said or not said at the "Teach Out" by Netherland, Gaucher and Abels. The Department of Education did not fund or sponsor the event, he said, and the HIV teachers volunteered their time for the "Teach Out." There you go, Todd. It was not, as you claimed to us, being taught in Massachusetts public high schools or even "a school." Pressley agreed that it would be a violation of policy for HIV teachers to tell children about fisting, ingesting body fluids and anal intercourse. He also noted, however, that the Department of Education does have programs that discuss "safety" in schools for homosexuals and health issues for gays and lesbians. And it is against official policy, to boot. WorldNetDaily also interviewed Alan Safran, deputy commissioner of education with the Massachusetts Department of Education. According to Safran, the department had no involvement in the "Teach Out," other than two employees presenting workshops. "We didn't sponsor the conference. We didn't host the conference. We didn't design the conference. We didn't recruit, advertise, organize, register people for the conference," said Safran. Again. He could not confirm what the presenters said in the workshops until he reviews the tape made by Whiteman. When asked if these presenters would be in violation of department policy for teaching about fisting or anal intercourse in a public school, Safran responded: "It wouldn't have happened in a public school setting. It's not what our people do in a public school setting. Sure, if this had been done by our people in a public school, it would have been outside of their parameters of what the job is." And again. Safran noted that "our people don't intend to have these workshops in the future." He said he wants to determine -- by listening to the tape -- what level of involvement his employees had in the conference. "Let's see what our people did and said and the context -- if they were asking the questions or if they were responding to questions." According to PRC's Camenker, the homosexual activist agenda is being promoted in the public schools through the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth and the Safe Schools Program -- two programs originated under former Republican Governor William Weld's administration. Weld's successor, current Republican Gov. Paul Celluci, has increased funding for the gay and lesbian youth commission. Frank York is a contributing reporter to WorldNetDaily. -!- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5 ! Origin: Get all your fido mail here: www.docsplace.org (1:18/140) IOW, the article directly contradicts your assertion that >>> Continued to next message... --- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR] * Origin: America's favorite whine - it's your fault! (1:261/1000) .