Subject: strictly fyi: RIGHT WING WATCH
From: Ryan Schwartz <ryan@hummingbirdink.com>
Date: 3/21/2012 11:03 AM
To: NEWS@safeschoolscoalition.org

Dear Safe Schools Coalition Members and Friends:

1. Montgomery School Board reconsiders policy after PFOX Controversy
2. 
Gretchen Carlson says sex-ed just a vehicle for teaching transgender issues
3. 
New Russian law stirs anti-LGBT fears
4. 
TN Don't Say Gay bill is probably dead; backers shift focus to abstinence
5. 
Utah passes new abstinence / don't say gay bill
6. 
Hate-Group Frontman invited to perform at Dunkerton, Iowa School; principal resigns
7. 
GLAAD announces new Commentator Accountability Project
8. 
Conservative group accused of killing Arizona anti-bullying bill

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1. 
Montgomery School Board reconsiders policy after PFOX Controversy
Parents & Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays sparked outrage at a district policy after it sent students at Einstein High School in Rockville, MD home with fliers saying same-sex attraction can be changed. Check out the flier and comments from concerned parents here.  Now the Montgomery School Board is reconsidering its entire approach to sending students home with fliers from community groups, threatening to remove the ability of all area non-profits from reaching students. The head of the DC area's PFLAG chapter went head-to-head with the director of PFOX to discuss the matter on a local TV program. PFOX has taken the opportunity to question what factors lead to someone's sexual orientation identity

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2. Gretchen Carlson says sex-ed just a vehicle for teaching transgender issues
After reporting about changes to the Muskegon MI sex ed program, Gretchen Carlson of Fox & Friends presented inaccurate, fear-raising commentary about sex ed, including the idea that this is part of a political agenda that parents won't be able to opt out of. Featuring Kyle Olson, author of Indoctrination: How 'Useful Idiots' Are Using Our Schools to Subvert American Exceptionalism, the segment glossed over the details of the changes to focus on inclusion of lessons about LGBT people. Watch the video at the bottom of this page: http://www.newshounds.us/20120228_gretchen_carlson_s_guest_mi_sex_ed_is_gov_t_plot_to_impose_transgender_tolerance

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3. New Russian law stirs anti-LGBT fears
The legislature of St. Petersburg, Russia has passed a new law eliminating what its backers called €śpropaganda€ť of homosexuality among minors, prompting fears among gay rights groups of an impending crackdown on their activities as other cities vowed to look into adopting similar measures. Vitaly V. Milonov, the law€™s principal drafter and an outspoken proponent of Russia€™s Orthodox Church, who has referred to gay people as €śperverts,€ť has accused gay rights activists of waging an aggressive campaign of conversion among Russia€™s children with the backing of Western governments. Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/world/asia/anti-gay-law-stirs-fears-in-russia.html?_r=1

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4. 
TN Don't Say Gay bill is probably dead; backers shift focus to abstinence
Tennessee lawmakers backed away from controversial legislation that would have further restricted discussions about homosexuality before high school, presumably ending the two-year battle over how much schoolchildren should be told. Backers said they would instead shift their focus to an abstinence education measure that is favored by social conservatives. Read more at: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/NEWS/303130068/Lawmakers-back-away-from-Don-t-Say-Gay-bill?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

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5. Utah passes new abstinence / don't say gay bill
An abstinence-only sex education bill that also bans discussion of homosexuality has passed the Utah legislature with little debate. The bill defines sex education in Utah as abstinence-only and bans instruction in sexual intercourse, homosexuality, contraceptive methods and sexual activity outside of marriage. Read more at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865551672/Senate-joins-House-in-passing-abstinence-only-bill.html?pg=1

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6. Hate-Group Frontman invited to perform at Dunkerton, Iowa School; principal resigns
Bradlee Dean's ministry is recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, but his Junkyard Prophets band allows him to sneak into schools. The band promises school presentations full of positive messaging that are an effective anti-drug and alcohol program. But when one Iowa school invited them to speak, the presentation turned into an anti-gay, anti-abortion, religious lectureThe principal of the school has since resigned.

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7. 
GLAAD announces new Commentator Accountability Project
GLAAD has announced a new project to track right-wing commentators and put critical information about frequent anti-gay interviewees into the hands of newsrooms, editors, hosts and reporters. The project tracks the misinformation spread by talking heads such as Tony Perkins, Candi Cushman, and Peter LaBarbera. Learn more at: http://www.glaad.org/cap.

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8. 
Conservative group accused of killing Arizona anti-bullying bill
A Democratic state lawmaker is accusing a conservative group of killing a Senate bill that he says would have protected kids from being bullied at school. The lobbyist for the Center for Arizona Policy presented the bill as a 'gay' bill, even though it did not specifically mention sexual orientation or gender identity. Read more at: http://ktar.com/6/1514658/State-Sen-Center-for-Arizona-Policy-killed-bullying-bill

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