Damn Activist Judges!

CNN.com reports that in Greenbelt, Marlyand a federal judge has blocked a school district from teaching a new sexual education program because of the way the program deals with homosexual issues. He instituted a 10-day restraining order on the program and will hear further arguments to see if the order should be extended. If you only read the headline and sub-headline, it would lead you to believe this was purely because of the discussion of homosexuals. Thank you CNN for some wonderfully misleading headlines. As you progress down the article the real legal issue is discussed: Williams[the judge] said the curriculum juxtaposes faiths such as Quakers that support full rights for gays and lesbians with groups such as Baptists, who are painted as "intolerant and Biblically misguided." This made me think of something I was reading today about a Baptist church kicking all Democarats out. In the CNN article they also mention this group, called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX). They were one of the groups that brought the suit. If you read the web page linked above you find such interesting tidbits as: What is PFOX and who are ex-gays? Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) is a national organization that supports families touched by homosexuality, advocates for the ex-gay community, and educates the public on sexual orientation. PFOX's statement of principles is found at www.pathinfo.org PFOX promotes an inclusive environment for the ex-gay community, and works to eliminate negative perceptions and discrimination against former homosexuals and lesbians. PFOX conducts public education and community-building activities to further compassion and respect for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation. PFOX envisions communities characterized by more stable families and a tolerant understanding of sexual orientation. Each year, thousands of men and women with same sex attractions make the personal decision to leave homosexuality through gender affirming programs, including secular therapy and/or faith based ministries. Their choice is one only they can make. According to Dr. Raymond Fowler, CEO of the American Psychological Association (APA), gender affirming therapy should be made available to anyone who wishes to explore developing heterosexual feelings or behavior as part of every client's right to self-determination. Indeed, Dr. Robert Spitzer, the scientist who led the APA to remove homosexuality as a mental illness from the psychiatric diagnostic manual in 1973, recently completed a Columbia University study of former homosexuals and documented that same sex attractions may be overcome. And this: Why must questioning youth have access to sexual reorientation information? Teenagers’ same sex attractions do not automatically mean that they are homosexual. Many teens go through temporary episodes of idealization of same sex peers and should not be urged to prematurely label themselves as homosexual. For those teens who do actually show gender-identity confusion, PFOX supports the availability of information on sexual reorientation. Most parents hope to maximize the likelihood of their child growing up to be heterosexual and comfortable in affirming his or her own masculine or feminine nature. Teens themselves need to have all the facts presented to them. Schools that address the issue of sexual orientation must present all of the facts in a fair and balanced manner instead of encouraging confused and impressionable youth to immediately label themselves as “gay” and thus ensure a future homosexual outcome when it may be unnecessary. (It would seem whoever started this group needs some reality reorientation) And this: Do I have to dislike ex-gays if I have gay friends or family? No! You can have friends who are gay and other friends who are ex-gay. Befriending the ex-gay community does not mean that you are being disloyal to the gay people you know and love. Just like you have everstraight[What the hell is everstraight?] friends, you can also have ex-gay friends. And it goes on and on, with this type of gobbly-gook. This group seems a little ridiculous but it does lead me to a good idea, maybe the homosexual movement should start labeling itself as the Ex-Heterosexual Movement, and maybe conservatives will endorse marriages between Ex-Heterosexuals. I guess it is all about how you frame it.