Background on bill #1641 - and what you can do
This is a dangerous bill that would force a broad range of sexuality and
homosexuality subjects on kids as a requirement for graduation from
Massachusetts public schools. The public hearing is on Tuesday, Jan. 31., at
the State House (see details below).
1. Why it got here.
2, What it says
3. Who's behind it
4. What you can do
1. Why it got here.
Originally, "health" was part of the required curriculum. But back in
1998 we got the State Board of Education to remove it. Now the
sex-ed lobby wants to do an end-run around the (relatively sane) Board of
Education -- where this decision would normally reside -- and ram this
through the (more gay-friendly) Legislature. They must be stopped.
Here's how that happened: Bill #1641 - undoing the
work we did back in 1998 to REMOVE it from the required curriculum!
2. What it says.
The language of the bill is deceptively simple. It adds another
requirement for graduation from Massachusetts public schools:
Section 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000
Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “foreign
language,” in line 6, the words:— health education, as defined by the
Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Education Framework.
Sounds innocuous enough -- until you look under the hood. The
Massachusetts
Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks is a 111-page document
that covers a wide range of "health" topics (including, for example,
health of the environment!) and appears to be written by the usual far-left
academic we-know-better-than-you crowd.
Here are just a few of the highlights. Think of who is teaching
your children, what that person's training is and political motivations, and
who makes the decisions about values:
By the end of grade 5:
* Define sexual orientation using the correct terminology (such as
heterosexual, and gay and lesbian)
* Describe different types of families, addressing membership and social
influences, and the functions of family members.
* Identify whom to talk with about family problems and successes.
By the end of grade 8:
* Describe behaviors and methods for pregnancy prevention, including
abstinence.
* Identify sexual discrimination and harassment - students use current
events or media portrayal to discuss the consequences of discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
By the end of grade 12:
* Explain confidentiality laws and individuals' rights to seek medical
treatment.
* Identify possible determinants of sexual orientation and analyze the
weight of each in light of available research.
*Describe the effectiveness and consequences of various pregnancy, HIV,
and STI prevention methods, including abstinence.
* Identify resources available for treatment of reproductive health
problems.
* Describe the influence of gender on identity and self-concept -
Students have a class discussion on the influence of group stereotypes about
gender roles on identity and self-concept.
Also in the frameworks are references to AIDS education, which invariably
involve politically correct "facts" which do not instill in kids the truth
about how AIDS is principally caused (homosexual behavior and drug use) and
that by avoiding these our society could drastically cut down the incidence
of AIDS.
A few of their "Resources for Health Education":
- "Gay Straight Alliances" Guide, published by the Mass. DOE.
- "A Staff Development Manual for Anti-Homophobia Education in the
Secondary School", by the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
- Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
(SIECUS). (A leading advocate for abortion and childhood sexual freedom.)
- "Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-12th
grade" - published by SIECUS.
How would it affect the parental notification law?
This is clearly their answer to the current opt-out law and the proposed
opt-in law. It appears to put parents in a bind: if you take your child out,
and flunks "health" as a result, he possibly cannot graduate. And the
pressure from both teachers and other kids will now be on the child
like never before.
3. Who's behind it.
Take
a look at the
bill and
it's co-sponsors on the state website. Led by Alice Wolf, it
has 36 co-sponsors! Most of them are a who's-who of the pro-homosexual
/ Planned Parenthood / Teachers Union lobby in the State House. They're
certainly not people who generally think that parents know better than
left-wing bureaucrats about what's best for their kids.
But what's really disturbing are the alleged "pro-family" reps also on
this list: Mark Carron and Richard Moore, for instance. We'll
need to get to the bottom of that. Obviously, there's some heavy lobbying
going on. [NOTE: Rep. Paul Loscocco is listed as a co-sponsor, but his
office has informed us that's a mistake; he's definitely not in favor of
H1641.]
This bill clearly has the fingerprints of Planned Parenthood and the rest
of the sex lobby on it. And they're the ones who get quoted in the paper
supporting it.
4. What you can do.
You can bet your life that Planned Parenthood and the gay lobby will be
up and down those State House halls, and at the Public Hearing. There's more
of us than there are of them. But the reps won't know if unless you make
your voice heard.
1. Testify! If you can go to the public hearing on Tuesday,
Jan. 31:
If you can make it, it's very important for people to come and give
personal testimony. So many of these politicians are so disconnected
from regular people that it's good for them to see and hear real people.
They see and hear the gay lobby every day. Now is your turn!
It's at the State House at 1:00 pm in room B-2. It's a good idea
to get there at least 15 minutes early. The best place to park is the Boston
Common underground garage; it's (relatively) cheap and there's lots of room.
Room B-2 is one of their regular hearing rooms. It's in the basement and a
bit confusing to find, but once you're in the State House just ask someone.
But if a lot of people come, it's possible they may move it to a larger room
at the last minute.
As soon as you get there, sign the sheet for bill #1641. They are hearing
testimony for a lot of bills in that session, so it's possible that you may
have to wait quite a while to speak. It could be a few hours or more, or it
could be very quick. Unless they move it, it will be a packed room!
Be prepared to speak for no longer than 3 minutes. You can really say a
lot in that amount of time. Don't be afraid to be blunt, or direct with
them. They need to know this is important, not trivial Speak in a
style you're comfortable with. But they don't like you to just read a script;
it's better to talk with notes. It's also a good idea to bring a written
copy of something to give them for their records. (If you do that, be sure
and get a copy to us also!)
Also -- you'll hear a lot of pure nonsense, twisted facts, and scare
tactics from the Planned Parenthood lobby and their allies, and homosexual
activists testifying. That's why it's so necessary that YOU be there!
2. Contact the Education Committee -- Everyone can do this!.
Here is the
List of the
Education Committee. We'll be honest: this Education Committee
is pretty left-wing, although in general not hard-core. That's why they need
to hear from you. Experience has shown a few people won't phase them much,
but they'll often bow to pressure from a lot of regular people. We've
seen it before. Call them, write them, email them, or
even visit them. It any of them are your own rep or senator, make sure
they know that, and try to talk to them personally (of course, they'll want
to pawn you off on an aide.)
Tell them that you absolutely, positively do not want H1641 to be
sent to the sent to the full Legislature. Tell them how you are outraged
that these mandates on homosexuality and sexuality are being pushed on kids
and parents, and you won't stand for it. And it takes away the rights of
parents, and makes life miserable for kids who don't want it.
Don't be intimidated by arrogant staff who want to brush you off. You pay
their salary.
3. Contact your own Rep and Senator.
If your own rep and senator aren't on the Education Committee, make sure
you call, email, or visit them and let them know you don't want H1641 to
become law. A visit or personal phone call is particularly good, but a
letter makes a difference also. Let them know you're a constituent and want
an answer.
Find your Mass. Senators and Representatives here:
By your Town or City
By your home address
Get out and fight!
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