'Pro-Homosexual Curriculum' Causes an Uproar in Maryland

The Family Research Council has issued one of their infamous action alerts pertaining to the Montgomery County School Board in Maryland and their meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The subject of this particular action alert...a vote that would approve a new sex education curriculum for middle and high school students. Here's a little of what FRC had to say...

"The Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools apparently remain determined to
spread pro-homosexual propaganda throughout the school system--ASAP. The
Montgomery County Board of Education has scheduled a vote on the final approval
of new pro-homosexual sex education curriculum for next Tuesday, June 12. The
new curriculum replaces one that was thrown out by a federal judge in 2005, but
exhibits a number of the same grave flaws, including:

Unlawful "viewpoint discrimination" which excludes all mention of the
harms of homosexual behavior and the fact that most Americans disapprove of
it;
Omission of important data concerning the health risks of specific sexual
acts--even though a petition of 270 physicians urged it be included;
The
false assertion that homosexual orientation is "innate and
Discriminatory
exclusion of "ex-gays."

My, my...where to begin? First, I had to suppress a chuckle at the use of the phrase, "grave flaws," because it's just a ridiculous overstatement...but I digress. But let's take a look at their specific gripes.

"Unlawful "viewpoint discrimination" which excludes all mention of the
harms of homosexual behavior and the fact that most Americans disapprove of
it"

Notice, firstly, that their is no mention to any polls or studies to back up their contention that most Americans are wallowing in disapproval. Aside from that, with all the discussion about the Chimperor's nominee for Surgeon General and his assertion that homosexual behavior is harmful, I find it convenient for FRC to mention this as a reason for opposing the district's curriculum. Further, there are many heterosexual behaviors that are harmful...yet I don't hear anyone from the various fundie camps screaming about that.

"Omission of important data concerning the health risks of specific sexual
acts--even though a petition of 270 physicians urged it be included"

How many physicians do you think there are in this country? A petition garnering the endorsement of 270 doctors is laughable. Aside from that, what business is it of anyone what goes on in a private citizen's bedroom? This point of theirs is absurd.

"The false assertion that homosexual orientation is "innate
and
Discriminatory exclusion of "ex-gays."

Again with the whole "false assertion" nonsense, I see. A person's sexual orientation is innate and, more than that, a part of their identity. The entire "ex-gay" movement is another issue entirely that would need another post, but I'll say that if you look into what these people are preaching...you'll come to the conclusion that it boils down to people choosing to ignore their identity and nothing more.

So, the FRC doesn't want middle and high school kids to have this basic understanding about homosexuality, nor do they want them to feel safe enough to discuss their own sexuality. They've issued this alert, and I think it's only appropriate to issue one myself. Here's the email address provided by the FRC...

boe@mcpsmd.org

Send in your own message, telling them that this curriculum is not only necessary, but it's also not the portrait of doom that the FRC would like for everyone to believe it is. Kids have to understand the truth about homosexuals to avoid the types of hate crimes and ostracization that occurs in schools today. It's as simple as that, and I applaud the Montgomery County school board for having the guts attempt to go forward with implementing this curriculum.

**If you'd like another, more detailed, look at the proposed curriculum (albeit from a rather negative standpoint), take a look at this site.