'Focus on the Family' calls GLSEN 'Orwellian'

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is sponsoring Ally Week.  The event, launched Monday, is designed to get straight students to be allied with gay students against what GLSEN calls "anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender language, bullying and harassment in America's schools."

Students celebrating the event are being encouraged by GLSEN to download tools to help students participate, including a sign up sheet where kids can write down their e-mail addresses.  Students are encouraged to send GLSEN the list.

 "This is really dangerous for schools to open their doors to gay activist groups that will then be emailing students' information pushing radical homosexual activism," said Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action, "all without their parents' knowledge."

GLSEN has suggested student activities to educators for Ally Week.  They include a group exercise in which students fill out a survey about their attitudes toward their gay-identified peers.  After the surveys are redistrubuted, students are asked to stand if the survey they have accepts homosexuality as normal and healthy. 

"The students are supposed to look around and see how many of their peers are standing up," Cushman said.  "Then the teacher is told to say, 'Now that you have more accurate information about your peer's attitudes toward LGBT people, how might this affect your behavior?'  Answer:  'I will behave as an ally.'  I don't think we could get more Orwellian."

Paul Coughlin, founder of The Protectors, a group that offers a faith-based solution to adolescent bullying, said all children should be protected.

"As believers," he said, "we should be involved in a solution to the problem for all children."

Everett Rice, legislative coordinator for the California Family Council, said parental involvement is essential.

"Every parent has a right and a duty to speak up for their child in their schools," he said.  "They have a right to stand against these agendas being pushed on their student."

The Ally Week information packet points participants to the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262).  The bill calls would require many public schools to include pro-gay categories like "gender identity" or "sexual orientation" which make it easier to push through curriculum promoting homosexuality. 

The man who would oversee the law's implementation is Kevin Jennings, President Barack Obama's "safe-schools czar" and founder of GLSEN.  Jennings has come under fire for his lifetime commitment to promoting the homosexual agenda in the public school system. 

Cushman said events like Ally Week play directly into the activist's plans.

"GLSEN is using this so-called anti-bullying event to transform students into lobbyists for its adult agenda," she said, "for things like pro-gay legislation currently proposed in the U.S. House."