Subject: strictly fyi: RIGHT WING WATCH
From: Ryan Schwartz <ryan@hummingbirdink.com>
Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 14:18:19 -0700
To: NEWS@safeschoolscoalition.org

Dear Safe Schools Coalition members and friends:

RIGHT WING WATCH  

(1) New NOM ad focuses on schools
(2) 
Right-wing commissions, flaunts biased poll on LGBT-inclusive schools
(3) "We recruit" blog post puts conservatives in a tizzy
(4) 
Oakland lessons on gender in animals make national news

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(1) 
New NOM ad focuses on schools
A new ad by the National Organization for Marriage is fighting against marriage equality in New York by arguing that it will lead to LGBT-inclusive school lessons. Siting 'examples' from Massachusetts and California, the ad says "legalizing gay marriage has consequences for kids." Uploaded on youtube, it has 60 'likes' and over '600' dislikes. View the ad at: 
 
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(2) 
Right-wing commissions, flaunts biased poll on LGBT-inclusive schools
Among news of nationally-resepcted polls finding a majority in support of LGBT equality, conservative organizations commissioned a heavily biased poll on parental approval of LGBT-inclusive lessons. The 'poll' has been touted by all right-wing groups the past few weeks for showing that an overwhelming majority object to "teaching elementary school children that homosexuality is a ;normal alternative lifestyle.'" Check out the poll here: http://www.wenzelstrategies.com/blog/polls/wndwenzel-poll-vast-majority-want-gay-lessons-banned/, and then read a critique of the poll's validity on Bilerico: 

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(3) 
"We recruit" blog post puts conservatives in a tizzy
Every right-wing group sent out emails the past few weeks linking to a queerty post titled, "Can we please just start admitting that we do actually want to indoctrinate kids?" The article makes the point that a goal of many activists is to get positive portrayals of LGBT people into school curriculum. Its extreme sarcasm made it an object of scorn from both sides of the political spectrum. Take a look, and weigh in in the comments: 

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(4) Oakland lessons on gender in animals make national news
Family Research Council's President, Tony Perkins, was on Fox News this week, trying to stir up a controversy where none exists. Elementary students in Oakland, CA took an hour long course on gender that taught everyone has a different way to express their gender. The lessons also taught about gender in the animal kingdom, such as fish that change their gender during their life. Right-wing spokespeople were quick to label the lessons transgender indoctrination. Read more about the lessons: http://sfist.com/2011/05/24/transgender_clownfish_raises_a_stin.php and take a look at Perkins teaming up with Fox News to mislead viewers on the nature and intention of the lessons: 

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Ryan Schwartz
Hummingbird INK