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Wayne Besen
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There is an effort to find common ground between thinking people and fundamentalists in public school debates on homosexuality. While I applaud this noble effort, there is one problem that can't be so easily resolved: Our side stands for inclusion, and the right wing stands for exclusion. The two goals are not compatible.
In USA Today, an op-ed appeared by Charles C. Haynes, the co-author of Finding Common Ground: A Guide to Religious Liberty in Public Schools. It is worth reading to get a handle on what is going on.
I do think he misses the point that there is not a true culture war. You have one side that wants children to be respected and not bullied or discriminated against. And, on the other side, you have Neo-Puritans who have unilaterally declared war on these innocent, well-meaning people. Portraying both sides as morally equivalent is flat out wrong and does a disservice to the many brave young men and women who have stood up and demanded an education free of intimidation and violence.
6 Comments:
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posted by Anonymous, at
3/20/2006 11:33 AM
In 100 years, there will be no search for "common ground" when it comes to people who would discriminate against gay people. Should black people seek "common ground" with racists? Should the KKK be allowed to make a presentation during Black History Month?
Must Jews be compelled to seek "common ground" with anti-semites? If a high school were to teach a class on the Holocaust, should the school be forced to allow "Holocaust Denialists" to speak? This is a battle between gay people and bigoted religious zealots who use faith as a cover for their lower middle-class bigotry. Homophobia is wrong. Homophobia in the name of God is just disgusting.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/20/2006 12:15 PM
I thought these 'hills have eyes' families usually home-schooled their mutant children?
posted by Anonymous, at
3/20/2006 2:14 PM
How on earth can we compromise with these Deliverence hicks?
GLSEN should be ashamed in participating in this joke.
