Subject: strictly fyi: RIGHT WING WATCH
From: Ryan Schwartz <ryan@hummingbirdink.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:59:15 -0700
To: NEWS@safeschoolscoalition.org

Dear Safe Schools Coalition members and friends:

RIGHT WING WATCH  

(1) People For the American Way exposes right-wing efforts to derail anti-LGBT bullying prevention
(2) 
A right-wing reminder to delete spam on social networking sites
(3) TN teacher censorship bill advances
(4) Malaysian authorities sends 66 boys to anti-gay counseling
(5) Eagle Forum hosts free training conference for college students
(6) And Tango Makes Three is most challenged book of 2010

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(1) 
People For the American Way exposes right-wing efforts to derail anti-LGBT bullying prevention

People For the American Way has released a report detailing the major strategies and misleading talking points of right wing groups working to derail comprehensive efforts to address anti-LGBT bullying. The four big "anti-anti-bullying strategies" identified are: referring to bullying prevention as indoctrination; arguing that specifically addressing anti-gay harassment amounts to a "special right;" playing the victim; and blaming the victims of bullying. 
 
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(2) 
A right-wing reminder to delete spam on social networking sites
Right wing groups went wild when they discovered spam for an online gay dating site posted as an image on a facebook page for Gay Straight Alliances. Peter LaBarbera lived up to his "Porno Pete" nickname and wasted no time signing up for the site and finding the most lude profiles, which he quickly tried to associate with national safe school advocacy groups. This latest approach shows right-wing groups will stop at nothing to manipulate their readers, and offers a strong reminder to delete spam from your social network sites. 
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(3) 
TN teacher censorship bill advances
As Ed Week reports, a
 state bill that prohibits elementary and middle school teachers from even mentioning LGBT people has advanced out of committee in the state senate. 
The bill was also amended to instruct the state Board of Education to investigate if teachers were discussing LGBT issues in grades K-8. 
The bill's sponsor has introduced the bill for the past six years, but sees new hope for it now that Republicans control both state houses and the governorship. Read more at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/apr/21/dont-say-gay-bill-clears-senate-panel/.  See the ACLU of TN's response here.

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(4) Malaysian authorities sends 66 boys to anti-gay counseling
An education department in one Malaysian state is sending effeminate boys to a boot camp to change their behavior. The boys were selected from schools throughout the state and now face religious, physical and behavior instruction.  Advocates around the globe are speaking out against the move. 

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(5) Eagle Forum hosts free training conference for college students
The conservative 'Eagle Forum' is hosting their annual free conference for college students June 2 - June 3 in Washington, DC at the Heritage Foundation. The 2010 summit held workshops with titles such as 'How Evil Works,' 'College Campus Activism' and 'Using New Media to Shape the Narrative on Your Campus.' More information about this year's summit can be found at http://www.efcollegians.org/.
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(6) 
And Tango Makes Three is most challenged book of 2010
The American Library Association has once again named And Tango Makes Three as the most challenged book in 2010. They have tracked dozens of attempts by school and library officials to remove the book from shelves. 
"People only challenge a book when they fear it has the power to influence thought and create change. The fact that our little book has been seen as transformative by so many for so long makes us very proud," said the book's authors. 

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Ryan Schwartz
Hummingbird INK