An article in yesterday’s Washington Post reveals that, due to a ruling which requires schools to distribute materials from any non-profit organization, Regina Griggs has decided to abuse high school kids directly with fliers from PFOX:
The fliers, from the group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, were distributed Thursday alongside report cards by teachers at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac. The group says it delivered them to about half the county’s high schools this week and plans to do the same at the remaining high schools at the end of the school year.
(…)
School officials said that while they aren’t always happy with everything that goes home with students, their hands are tied by the results of the litigation.
“These fliers are probably counter to what is available in our health curriculum, but that curriculum focuses on respect, and we respect freedom of speech,” said Patricia O’Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase), president of the Montgomery County Board of Education.
The flier, printed on one side of a sheet of paper, says that “every year thousands of people with unwanted same-sex attractions make the personal decision to leave a gay identity.” At the bottom, it includes a disclaimer that the content is not sponsored by the Montgomery County Board of Education, the school or the superintendent.
(…)
“We believe that people have the right to seek change if they’re unhappy,” said Regina Griggs, the organization’s director. “No one’s telling anybody that they have to support our position.”
Uh, Regina? If they’re unhappy, it’s because of people like you. Also? Lying to children is wrong, Regina. NO credible medical or psychological or child welfare organization supports anything you teach. None of them!
And might I also add, Regina, this is a particularly disturbing way you’ve chosen to abuse your gay son by proxy. But then again, it doesn’t leave a visible bruise, does it?
Way to fly under the radar, champ.
Mike Airhart has a lot more to say on this story here.
(h/t John Aravosis)
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So if the schools are required to distribute any fliers from non-profits then perhaps someone should send out fliers from the Freedom From Religion Foundation or American Atheists. When the school’s phones start ringing off the hook that ridiculous requirement will be changed post haste.
Comment by Buffy — February 6, 2010 @ 11:02 pm
Buffy’s idea is excellent (I shall speak to Annie Laurie Gaylor myself about this nonsense tomorrow; it’s also worth involving the Rational Responders Squad too). That is actually the best way to deal with these people.
Still, the point is, that children need protection from bad ideas, at school.
Would a young earth creationist group be allowed to distribute fliers around the school telling kids to ignore the teachers because evolution is false? Would a group of homeopaths be able to send fliers arounnd school telling them to ditch their medicine and take their magic potions instead? Neither is hate speech. But the latter is potentially life threatening. the information is false to start with.
The PFOX flier is mis-leading in the extreme, it promotes prejudice and it is a disgrace that such obnoxious homophobic nonsense should be passed as serious information in school.
Comment by adrianT — February 7, 2010 @ 6:01 am
Hate groups should not be allowed to recruit and indoctrinate our nation’s children into the immoral, evil, anti-gay lifestyle.
And someone needs to remind the strident, anti-gay advocacy group, PFOX, that the Bible warns in more than one place that revilers are going to hell. Why are they deliberately ignoring God’s Word?
“…nor revilers…will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:10)
Comment by Michael — February 7, 2010 @ 6:09 am
If you want to know the facts behind this, one only needs to look at Peter Sprigg and his PFOX lawsuit against Montgomery County and their sex education curriculum. and check out this website: http://www.teachthefacts.org/2010/02/mcps-propagating-anti-gay-message-to.html
It tells the whole story behind why those fliers were sent out. FIGHT SPRIGG AND HIS PFOX organization tooth and nail. Put these liars out of business.
Comment by Mykelb — February 7, 2010 @ 11:41 pm