Focus on the Family complained tonight that “Alabama schools are now required to write stricter anti-bullying policies, thanks to language in a bill that opens the door to the gay agenda.”
But Focus political writer Josh Montez (pictured) doesn’t seem to know the difference between a bill and a law; he uses the two terms interchangeably.
He may be referring to the Student Harassment Prevention Act, which goes into effect Oct. 1. (PDF copy of the Act.) The legislation empowers the state department of education to develop a model policy for local districts to receive reports of harassment and to punish perpetrators. In particular, the law directs the department to develop “a procedure for the development of a nonexhaustive list of the specific personal characteristics of a student which may often lead to harassment. Based upon experience, a local board of education may add, but not remove, characteristics from the list.”
In other words, the state might specify race and religion for statewide protection; a local district might add sexual orientation to its local policy.
According to the Times Daily of Florence, Ala.:
Until now, there haven’t been any legal repercussions from bullying and it’s an issue the state has long needed to address, said longtime educator Lisa Moses, of Florence, who said bullying is one area addressed in another new piece of legislation known as Taylor’s Law. Under that law, a student’s behavior at school, including bullying, can delay the student from acquiring a driver’s license.
“Bullying has too long been ignored on the school level and has somewhat been accepted with a ‘boys will be boys’ attitude,” Moses said. “Kids need to be able to report these things anonymously, but they don’t trust that it will be kept quiet and they’re scared.” …
The issue came to a head in April when 11-year-old Jaheem Herrera committed suicide at his Atlanta-area home after his parents say he was repeatedly tormented in school. District officials denied it, and an independent review found bullying wasn’t a factor, a conclusion his family rejects.
Until now, Alabama children have been completely unprotected:
Alabama’s law covers grades pre-kindergarten through 12th. The sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Betty Carol Graham, D-Alexander City, said the new Alabama law was three years in the making and grew out of the rise in suicides among youth in the state and nation.
Focus on the Family objects to the law’s attention to “the motivations and ‘characteristics’ of victims, rather than on the wrong actions of the bullies.”
In other words, Focus believes that bullying is not really bullying in the case of certain types of victims. Focus believes that the distinction between “bullying” and physical action to correct homosexual youths should be decided not by the community or police, but by individual bullies and antigay faculty members.
Focus offers applause to Betty Peters, a member of the Alabama education board, who (Focus claims) said gay activists are “encouraging like-minded individuals to sign up for local committees that will be responsible for writing similar policies. She encouraged parents who oppose the gay agenda to do the same.”
Focus warns:
Parents should watch out for attempts to mandate special protections for “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”— which can pave the way for pro-gay curriculum and mandatory “diversity” training.
Focus believes other characteristics of students may be protected from bullying — but not gender identity or sexual orientation.
Josh Montez, Focus’ staff writer, fails to inform readers that Peters is a member of the American Family Association, Alabama Republican Assembly, Eagle Forum, and Christian Coalition. Peters wants creationism to be taught in schools. She was the lone no-vote on state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton’s recommendation that Alabama participate in a state-led initiative to develop common core standards for English and mathematics. Peters also opposed President Obama’s speech to school children.
Peters’ Eagle Forum membership is worth remembering — we shall revisit this momentarily.
Montez also failed to tell readers about the experiences of bullied students and faculty. According to radio station WBHM-FM in Birmingham:
…Critics say that merely implying that gay students are protected is not enough. The result, they say, is that no one is safe, even those who are just perceived gay.
Experts say that these days children are hearing more anti-gay language in school. Carly Friedman is a Samford University psychology professor and research consultant for the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition. Friedman is surveying Alabama students to gauge how often they hear gay slurs in school.
“We are seeing an increase in things like, Oh that’s so gay, You’re such a fag. These words that we are hearing more often I think that really can have an effect on young people.”
She’s found that they don’t concentrate as well, they skip class, and they have higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts. Friedman adds that gay slurs affect all youth. …
But people like Eunie Smith, president of Eagle Forum of Alabama, a conservative activist group, say homosexuality shouldn’t be talked about in schools, much less tolerated.”Well, young people are highly impressionable. And for the schools to provide some special status for those who would perceive themselves to be homosexual…would be to legitimize and therefore to encourage these unhealthy lifestyles.”
Smith and Peters — both of them, leaders within the Eagle Forum — object to safety for LGBT students despite those students’ safe and responsible lifestyles, and even when those students’ parents and churches accept them. In the view of Smith and Peters, antigay parents and students enjoy a “religious freedom” to slander and bully others: a freedom that supersedes the personal and religious freedom of LGBT students and their families.
But Focus’s Montez does not share any of this information with readers.
Focus says Montez obtained a bachelor’s degree in communication from Moody Bible Institute. One wonders what kind of communication is really taught at Moody.
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FOTF (particularly James Dobson) has their own unique view of “reality”. Consider how, after the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, Dobson sent out a newsletter claiming that HE (Dobson) was the TRUE victim in this crime:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/docstudy/newsletters/A000000225.cfm
Comment by David in Cambridge — September 29, 2009 @ 1:33 am
Groups like Eagle Forum and Focus on the Family should be exposed for the lunacy and homophobia that they represent.
By the way, Josh Montez looks very gay and he’s probably been a victim of gay bullying himself. You’d think that might give him a different perspective but I suppose conservative religious brainwashing can override personal experience.
Betty Peters looks just like “Church Lady” from Saturday Night Live. Is she for real or is that a costume…LOL?
It is time for Progressive Christian Churches to start confronting these people and let the country know that Christianity need not be “hijacked” by these relgious extremists.
The entire State of Alabama can’t be THAT stupid. There’s got to be some vocal GLBT people or allies out there that are pissed off enough not to take that crap any more.
Comment by Nicole H — September 29, 2009 @ 10:36 am
Glad to know that SOMEBODY reads my articles besides my mom!!! Rats! I knew I should have had my picture copyrighted when I had the chance – I could be famous!! (Is that coffee on my knee or did you add that later with PhotoShop??) Ya know, of these days I think I will grow up and be a billmaker … or is it lawmaker? :o)
Comment by Josh Montez — September 29, 2009 @ 10:45 am
To Josh Montez,
A petty remark. You have the luxury of laughing. I recently worked with a school counselor of Lawrence King. Have you forgotten him?
The California boy who was shot in the head execution style by his tormentor in school.
Jaheem Herrera, Carl Walker-Hoover, ring any bells?
How about BILLY CLAYTON? He committed suicide back in the 80’s after much bullying at school for being gay.
Ahmed Nastoh? He lived in Vancouver, so it’s not just an American thing. He drowned himself.
You have the luxury of laughing. Gays and lesbians act with a great deal of clear and present URGENCY.
Children are dying, brutally and unnecessarily, because there are adults like you more committed to complicating gay lives, than REALLY focusing on what matters. Like preventing the very sentiment that killed the children I mentioned.
You think God considers this as funny as you do?
Comment by Regan DuCasse — September 29, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
This statement pretty much sums up the kind of mentality that defines their unthinking thought:
”Well, young people are highly impressionable. And for the schools to provide some special status for those who would perceive themselves to be homosexual…would be to legitimize and therefore to encourage these unhealthy lifestyles.”
Someone please ask Smith what kind of “unhealthy” lifesyle a pre-kindergartener till a 12 year old could be living. I doubt most anyone straight or not has any lifestyle within that age. The only “unhealthy” lifestyle the LGBT kids are probably living in, is the “get bullied” lifestyle, almost wholy aggravated by these people with the even unhealthier lives of heaping misery upon our children by assisting bullies.
Comment by Yuki Choe — September 29, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
And Regan, that was well said. These people’s attempts to normalize consistent bullying of LGBT youth to the brink, is despicable and is certainly not funny at all.
Comment by Yuki Choe — September 29, 2009 @ 11:48 pm
[...] September 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment Because Focus on the Family recently said that Alabama’s Student Harassment Prevention Act — which goes into effect tomorrow — opens the door for the “gay agenda.” [...]
Pingback by Can someone define the “gay agenda?” « Dating Jesus — September 30, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Yuki points out this bizarre statement:
”Well, young people are highly impressionable. And for the schools to provide some special status for those who would perceive themselves to be homosexual…would be to legitimize and therefore to encourage these unhealthy lifestyles.”
So, now its “special status” to be protected from bullying like all the other kids? That’s messed up. Extremely.
Comment by Priya Lynn — September 30, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Hate groups like Focus and AFA and their ilk continue to spew bile because their anti-gay activities are how they make most of their living. When the day comes that Americans see how wrong they have been, the haters will find themselves without incomes! And they know that not only will they be without income, they will be reviled for their ignorant, hateful oppression of millions of fellow American citizens, and might have difficulty finding jobs because fewer and fewer will want to associate with them. They will do anything to stave this off for as long as possible, and opposing anti-bullying legislation is part of that.
Comment by DaveTheWave — September 30, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
No need to read anything into what I said in my comment earlier – I was just trying to show you that I’m a real person too and that I don’t take myself too seriously. I’m not even sure why I’m writing this, but since I started the whole thing, I’ll respond to a couple of things if you are interested:
1) I will be the first to admit that I’m not a very good reporter, but I love radio and I’m open to learning how to be a better reporter! I used to be an engineer geek, but I took the reporter job because it pays the bills (laws?). Focus only gave me about 40 seconds of air time to fit that Alabama story in. I honestly wish I had a lot more air time to fit in your stories because you have some good points to make. Tell ya what. When I get my own talk show, call me up and we’ll chat.
2) To Nicole H. I’m not gay. I may be a goof, but not gay. Wanna know how goofy I am? Last night at the dinner table I told my kids if they ate too much spaghetti it would start coming out of their ears! It really made them laugh. I know I’m not the sharpest bulb in the drawer, but I love my job, and behind the scenes, I love to make people laugh – especially my kids. I spent my whole growing up years being too serious, and that’s just stressful!
3) Do I know what bullying is like? Oh yeah. I was that loner walking home from school every day …
One time a big kid cornered me in an ally for no apparent reason. He called me a f—–n b—-h and then threw a fist-sized rock in my stomach–hard…I was five. That’s still one of the most painful memories I have growing up. I’m sure that’s nothing compared to what many others have been through … I’d love to hear some of your stories.
4) Is Focus a ‘hate group’? I won’t give you the company line – just my perspective. I pray for you regularly. I want to help you find peace in your heart. Where’s the ‘hate’ in that?
Comment by Josh Montez — September 30, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
Josh, you work to deprive vulnerable kids of the protection they need from bullies and then you want to claim you’re not hateful because you perform the utterly useless act of praying – it doesn’t come much dumber than that. You’re despicable. You try to excuse joking about this serious subject where children have died as a result of bullying by saying you don’t take yourself too seriously. You obviously don’t take the deaths of gay children and children perceived to be gay too seriously either. Your hate agenda comes first.
Comment by Priya Lynn — September 30, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
I was accused of being a lesbian from the time I was in the 7th grade on. I had been raped in the 7th grade (not related; the kid who raped me was not from the area), but, needless to say, after that I did not like boys. I started developing attractions to both women and men when I was in high school, but the only people I told I was bi was a few trusted teachers, and I did have a few boyfriends in 11th and 12th grade, but the rumors (and teasing) persisted. It was very difficult to live through.
Comment by Beth — September 30, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
How’s this for “wrong actions of bullies.” It’s *WRONG* for bullies to engage in *ACTIONS* such as using epithets like “faggot” and “dyke” or using the word “gay” pejoratively.
Oh, and did I mention that STRAIGHT children are just as likely to be bullied as gay ones? So in other words, any of Montez’s children could end up being targeted for being “gay,” even if they’re “straight” as their father says he is. And boy do I pity those children. What a shame it is to grow up in a fundamentalist household.
Comment by Emily K — September 30, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
[...] Truth Wins Out: Focus on the Family Seeks to Exempt Alabama Gays from Antibullying Protection. [...]
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