Do You Want Your Kids Getting Ex-Gay Propaganda in School?

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-02-15 17:38:00 +0000
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Public schools aren't the place for religious indoctrination of students -- especially not homophobic, scientifically unsound, offensive propaganda. Yet the Montgomery County school district, just outside of Washington, D.C., allowed an ex-gay organization to distribute fliers falsely telling high school students that they can rid themselves or their friends of "unwanted same-sex attractions" through therapy.

Michael Jones reports on the Gay Rights blog that the as-ridiculous-as-it-is-offensive literature told kids that scientists haven't found any "gay center of the brain." Does Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) actually even know what science is?

The public college health professor who teaches that homosexuality is a sin was bad enough, but targeting high school students -- who are often just figuring out their sexuality -- with false information that treats a natural state like a mental disease just takes the cake.

The school district claims that the terms of a lawsuit force them to allow the distribution of any materials from a non-profit that don't consist of hate speech. First off, whose bright idea was that? Schools are a place for kids to get an education, not be indoctrinated by whatever organization that slapped on a non-profit label happens to offer up. I'm surprised there hasn't been more parental outrage about this decision to turn the school grounds into a recruiting ground or center for misinformation. As Jones asks, "So would you hand out a flier that says 2+2=67 too?"

Secondly, if the school didn't want to give the ex-gay movement a crack at their students, I think they could have said no on pretty good grounds. After all, if a kids says he's gay, and they say inaccurately and offensively that his sexual orientation is a mental disease that will ruin his life and that he needs therapy, seems like you might have some decent hate speech grounds. Moreover, the context of a school's mission as a learning institution and safe space makes this kind of speech particularly unsuitable to the location and student welfare. Let them peddle their wares elsewhere.

Photo credit: dave_mcmt

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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