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Gay fairy tale sparks civil rights debate
By Jason Szep
The crown prince rejects a bevy of beautiful princesses, rebuffing each suitor until falling in love with a prince. The two marry, sealing the union with a kiss, and live happily ever after.
That fairy tale about gay marriage has sparked a civil rights debate in Massachusetts, the only U.S. state where gays and lesbians can legally wed, after a teacher read the story to a classroom of seven year olds without warning parents first.
A parents' rights group said on Monday it may sue the public school in the affluent suburb of Lexington, about 12 miles west of Boston, where a teacher used the book "King & King" in a lesson about different types of weddings.
"It's just so heinous and objectionable that they would do this," said Brian Camenker, president of the Parents Rights Coalition, a conservative Massachusetts-based advocacy group.
Camenker said he believes the school, Joseph Estabrook Elementary, broke a 1996 Massachusetts law requiring schools to notify parents of sex-education lessons. "There is no question in my mind that the law is being abused here," he said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of weeks there was some kind of (legal) action taken," he said.
Lexington Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash said the school was under no legal obligation to inform parents the book would be read to the classroom of about 20 children.
"This district is committed to teaching children about the world they live in. Seven-year-olds see gay people. They see them in the schools. They see them with their kids," he said.
"I see this as a civil rights issue. People who are gay have a right to be treated equally," he said.
"If it were North Carolina, this would be a whole different story. But the law in Massachusetts is that gay marriage is legal. We have lots of gay families in Lexington."
The issue erupted in Lexington when parent Robin Wirthlin complained to the school's principle after her 7-year-old son told her about the reading last month. She then turned to the Parents Rights Coalition, which released a statement on the issue to Boston media last week.
Since then, Ash has been swamped by e-mails on the issue from across the country, some in support but many written in anger including one from a North Carolina man who threatened "to beat his head into the ground," he said. "I handed that one to the police," said Ash.
CULTURAL DIVIDE
The issue underscores a growing cultural divide over the issue of gay rights at a time when legal challenges seeking permission for gays and lesbians to marry are pending in 10 states. Two U.S. states have legalized civil unions.
It also comes as California considers introducing school textbooks highlighting the role of gays in its history.
Some legal scholars said the depth of emotion on the issue nationwide means educators should include parents in the debate on exactly when to start educating children on homosexuality.
"There is a difference between what is required and what is the right thing to do," said Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, which produces guidelines for schools and teachers on issues such as same-sex marriage.
"Some people believe that we are moving toward a kind of normalization of homosexuality as part of the fabric of our life. Others believe we are going in the other direction. Because we are now in a fork in the road where we are debating this, public schools are not the place to settle it," he said.
"King & King" was ranked eighth among the top 10 books people wanted removed from libraries in 2004, according to the American Library Association. Its Berkeley, California publisher, Tricycle Press, said complaints over the 32-page book first surfaced in 2004 in North Carolina.
An Oklahoma legislator last year cited the book as reason to impose new restrictions on library collections.
Written by two Dutch women, the book has sold about 15,000 copies in the United States since it was translated and published in 2002. A sequel, "King, King and Family," about a royal same-sex family written by the same authors, was published two years later.
"We believe all children deserve to see themselves in books and these books were published for the children in gay families and for their friends" said Tricycle publisher, Nicole Geiger.
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Lexington school superintendent Paul Ash is getting an avalanche of hate-mail, and these unfortunately include threats to his life. I think he could do with some positive support. His email is pash@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us.
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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... as it's so obvious to all but the most brain-dead, but I'll say it all the same.
>Camenker said he believes the school, Joseph Estabrook Elementary, broke a 1996 Massachusetts law requiring schools to notify parents of sex-education lessons.
If a fairy tale is a sex education lesson, then all stories in which two characters fall in love or get married, or even are already married, should be banned unless express permission is received from the parents.
Otherwise it would look suspiciously like double standards, wouldn't it?
This is worse than section 28 -- worse, because I don't see any potential for the situation to ease itself off in a few years, as it did in the UK. If anything, many parts of America are becoming more homophobic as they see gay people as a bigger threat now than they ever used to.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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The political and religous right's platform is built on a series of double standards.
Of course they see GLBT peoples as a threat.... We afterall are maintaining a position that is diametricaly opposed to what they believe in.
Given this and the impetus of preachers bound and determined to collect personal fortunes for themselves by inciting their flocks into a check writing hate mongering frothing frenzy I do not see any relief anytime in the near future.
We can bitch about it....
We can moan about it....
The reality is that the more we are heard and seen in the public eye the stronger their arguement becomes and the greater their numbers grow....
Only by beating them at the polls can we have a chance of any sort of improvement in our situation.... But that would mean that GLBT people would need to get off their collective asses and go to register to vote and then finally voting when the time arrives to do so.
We need to flood politicians mail boxes with our reasonable demands for equal rights and recognition under the law.... And not just once or twice.... but every day....
The voice of the people can be a whimper or it can become a scream is there enough voices together....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Marc wrote:
But that would mean that GLBT people would need to get off their collective asses and go to register to vote
Excuse a foreigner's ignorance, but what does "registering to vote" mean and what does it entail?
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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In the USA you have to register befor time to vote. Im assuming it is to keep you from cheating, so you dont vote twice in different places.
I believe in Karma....what you give is what you get returned........
Affirmation........Savage Garden
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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For what it is worth I have sent him a note encouraging him to ignore the hate mail
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Over here I get two voting slips: one at home and one at university. I'm not convinced I couldn't vote at both places if I wanted to. It is, of course, illegal, and I assume that it could quite easily be picked up afterwards, if anyone actually cared.
I, personally, prefer the assumption that I do want to have some influence over my country's future than that, by default, I'm not interested.
Then again, most people don't vote, except at the general elections. And, to be honest, I might as well not bother (though I will bother), as the irritating "first past the post" system in this country means my vote makes no difference to the number of MPs of each party elected to parliament -- and hence doesn't make any difference to which party wins. Our MP is always Tory. Always, always, always. All my vote does is increase or decrease his majority.
If I wanted to make a difference (even the very, very tiny one afforded by being a British citizen), I'd need to move to another constituency. So much for democracy.
Sorry; I'm off-topic again.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Somewhat on the mark.......
Here, one registeres within the congressional district in which he/she lives. Each registrant is issued a voters card and when entering the polls he/she verifies his/her card, crosschecked with a picture ID and then marked in the voting roll book by the registrar of voters.
This way, one vote can be verified against one voter and crossed verified in the big book.
Theoreticaly, it is a good system, but it is not without it's faults...
Some some districts in the past.... In order to thwart one politician or another would actually stoop to registering people listed in cemetary rolls.
The political machines of some areas will go to any length to maintain their power base.
I won't mention any names.... Just look at a picture of GW & family and whistle...
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Or do you have to register before each election?
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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David, there is no perfect electoral system. Each democratic system has its benefits and its detriments. You have described very well the problematica of the first-past-the-post system used in Britain. Apparently, you would prefer a proportional system. But a proportional system has enormous drawbacks. In my country we have what is probably the most liberal system of proportional voting that exists in the world. There were elections on March 28th last. Twelve parties were elected (and 18 more parties failed to reach the 2% threshold!) Nearly one month later we still do not have a new government: a coalition agreement will probably be reached within the next couple of days, and once again the small coalition partners can shamelessly bargain with the major party in the coalition. Never in the post-war history of Britain has there ever been an election in which a government was not apparent within hours of the closing of the polls.
A personal note: the last few years I lived in Britain I lived in a solidly Tory constituency: it seemed that the moon would have to turn red before that could change. In the last few elections that constituency has returned a Lib-Dem member, so things can and do change.
Another side note: I mentioned our "academiya' for the Hebrew language. Last week, for the first time in nearly 60 years we no longer have the creation of a 'co'alitziya' after an election: we now have a true-blue semitic term for a coalition government. Ah, progress!
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I do it before every national election every 4 years.....
I am not sure if it is required to do so..... I do it to make sure I am able to vote.....
I do know you have to reregister when you move into a new congressional district.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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JFR,
Well, I'm not a student of political systems -- or even terribly interested in the subject, most of the time -- so if I seem naive it's probably because I am being naive.
Proportional representation does seem to me to be fairer than first-past-the-post. Though I was not advocating its use: only grumbling about the system as it is at the moment.
As things stand, the winning party often gets a majority in parliament (and hence a foothold on the entire political system) vastly out of proportion to the number of people who voted for it. And it's possible for the party that eventually wins an election to be a "compromise party" that most people never wanted to win -- or, even worse, a party the majority of people wanted to oust -- if the majority of those opposing a party split themselves between two or more other parties. The vast majority of the voters in the 2005 General Election in the UK did not vote Labour (63%, in fact).
As I see it, it's very unlikely that the system will change, because as soon as a party becomes popular enough to start winning a lot of seats (and potentially to win), it's in its best interests to maintain the system as it is. It's only small parties that have trouble with it -- and they aren't running the country.
On the other hand, the first-past-the-post system does prevent parties like the BNP from getting an easy parliamentary foothold. I suppose that's a small mercy.
How about a system whereby it becomes a contest between the top two parties who win by a proportional ballot? Then everyone votes again and can switch vote if necessary. Then there wouldn't be such a fuss over coalitions. Has anyone tried something like that?
David
P.S. Why do we call our political systems "democracies"? Virtually all so-called "democracies" are elected oligopolies. Or even elected dictatorships.
Grumble, grumble.
Blackadder: After the chaos of a general election, we can return to normal.
Mrs Miggins: Oh, has there been a general election then, Mr Blackadder?
Blackadder: Indeed there has, Mrs Miggins.
Mrs Miggins: Oh, I've never heard about it!
Blackadder: Well, of course you didn't, you're not eligible to vote!
Mrs Miggins: Why not?
Blackadder: Because virtually no one is. Women, peasants, [gestures to Baldrick] chimpanzees, lunatics, lords...
Baldrick: That's not true, Lord Nelson's got a vote!
Blackadder: He's got a boat, Baldrick. A marvellous thing, democracy! Look at Manchester. Population 60 000, electoral roll three.
Blackadder the Third, episode 'Dish and Dishonesty'
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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Just a couple of info-bytes!
First, by way of explanation to those outside the UK, our system involves annual registration, administered by the local council. This covers all local or national elections or referendums in the following year The names of eligible voters are recorded in the 'electoral roll', which anyone can inspect at the council offices. Each year in September the council sends a form to each residential property in its area. It includes details from the previous year. The form can either be returned confirming that there have been no changes, or amended to show additions or deletions. There is also provision for registering details of those who are within eighteen months of their eighteenth birthday, so that they become eligible to vote in elections as soon as they reach that age. The council even pays for return postage. Couldn't be easier! The downside is that the system isn't sufficiently rigorous, so that names are quite often left on the register even if the registration form is not returned. There is also the problem of devious and dishonest political manipulators like Deeej, who register at their University address but fail to ensure that they are de-registered at their home address! In this day and age, it would I think be better to remove every name for whom there is not a current registration but, as with any system, perfection costs money and I suppose it's a question of balance. It's certainly not too difficult to arrange a fake registration, but it WOULD be difficult to do this in sufficient numbers to have a significant effect upon the outcome of an election.
On the issue of proportional representation, I'm with JFR. Allocating seats in proportion to overall votes cast will almost inevitably lead to coalitions in which fringe parties can exert disproportionate influence. There is a blunter form of proportional registration - the single transferable vote. In this system, voters number candidates in order of preference. If there are, say, four candidates, then after the first count the candidate in fourth place is eliminated, and his votes are reallocated to the candidate of second choice. The process is repeated with the candidate now in third place, and whichever of the two remaining candidates has most votes (including those reallocated from the eliminated candidates) is declared the winner. Voters are not obliged to choose more than one candidate, but if the only candidate for whom they vote is eliminated, their vote will be lost. The trouble is, in a state such as the UK, with two major political parties - Labour and Tory, and one 'significant other', the Liberal Democrats, in the middle, the LibDems would inevitably rake in so many second-choice votes that the result would again be a coalition. Not an easy problem to solve!
All of which is a long way from the original topic of the thread, because here we already have civil unions and anti-discrimination legislation; we haven't yet solved all of our problems, but good progress is being made. Actually, whilst I wholeheartedly agree with Marc about the crass way in which the homophobe lobby applies double standards, and I also agree that an up-front and visible campaigning presence is very important, I suspect that the battle is as likely to be won on the courtroom floor as in the ballot box. Is the Massachusetts legal system good enough to cut through the double-standard advocacy and uphold the integrity of the law?
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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The Governor here just passed a law requiring a photo ID in order to vote. Up until now the poll workers would just take your word that you were who you claimed to be.
Many are claiming that the new law is racist.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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How could it possibly be racist?
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There are some who think the law will keep minorities from voting since the ID cards cost money.
The law states that an ID card will be provided for free if the individual cannot afford to pay.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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Is there a particular type of government-sponsored ID card? Or will a driving license/passport etc. do instead?
I understand that these cost money to obtain.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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A pictur ID such as a drivers license does the job here in Ohio.... But if you do not drive, you can obtain a picture ID at the local health department office for about $7.00.... The problematic issues here begin if one does not have $7.00 to spare for that ID....
Issuance of a free ID in order to let poor people excersize their constitutional right to vote should be national policy.
Unfortunately, the political machines that control areas in this country are not poor and use the poor as tools to furthur their agenda. They do this by manipulating the rules to prevent them from voting.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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I see.
I am very surprised that most people have no picture ID of any sort.
Perhaps I'm naive, or a snob, or both, but there cannot be that many people who can't afford $7? If there are, then the first thing the state should be doing is trying to sort out their social situation, not arguing whether or not to charge them $7 for ID is racist.
I've just applied for a new British passport, and it costs anyone who wants one over £50 ($90).
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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There are alot of what we call...... The working poor.....
people that have been displaced in their jobs and forced to take low paying positions. These peoples numbers are growing as the gap between the wealthy and poor widen with the middle class becoming a social position of the past.
There are many that have to vie between shoes for the kids or putting food on the table. These are the people that have no free cash to buy an ID.
Hell, with Kevin's and my present business situation we are at the poor side of the poor scale....
But never fear..... If anything we are resilliant and we will perservere.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Were I live everyone has to carry an ID card and they are provided free of charge from the Ministry of the Interior (i.e. Home Office). They contain basic information about your (birthdate, place of birth, name of father) and a mug shot. The most important thing about the ID is that each one has a number and everybody knows their ID number off by heart. (The last digit in the series is a 'control' digit to prevent easy cheating.)
The moment youngsters reach the age of 18 they go to collect their ID card - and a great fuss is made about this with their peers. If you are a citizen, once you have an ID card you are automatically on the voting register and no further registration is required. Before each election you get a card through the post reminding you of where you must register your vote.
Saben (if you see this post): could you enlighten us about the efficacy of compulsory voting in Australia?
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Since I stopped work, I acually don't have a photo ID card of any description! My passport expired some time ago ... I will be renewing it May 2006 as part of the organised protest against the UK process of issuing compulsory Identity Cards to UK subjects - see http://www.renewforfreedom.org/ .
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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Parents File Federal Suit Over Gay Book
by Michael J. Meade, 365Gay.com Boston Bureau
(Boston, Massachusetts) Two Lexington, Massachusetts families filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging that their civil rights were violated when a gay-themed book was read to their children in school.
A teacher read the book King and King to second-graders at the Estabrook elementary school earlier this month as part of a lesson about weddings.
Following the reading the teacher noted that same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and some children have two mommies and others have two daddies.
King and King is aimed at elementary school children and helps teach diversity. The book, by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland, tells the story of Prince Bertie who searches for love through a bevy of eligible princesses before falling for Prince Lee.
Parents David and Tonia Parker and Joseph and Robin Wirthlin say the school is attempting to indoctrinate their children about an "immoral lifestyle".
Their suit, filed in federal court in Boston, says that school officials bypassed their parental rights to raise their children how they wish and in doing so violated their civil rights.
After the book was read to students Robin Wirthlin complained to the school board that her seven-year-old son should not be exposed to discussions of such at such an early age.
School superintendent Paul Ash said that Lexington schools are committed to "teaching children about the world they live in."
Not satisfied the Wirthlins and the Parkers decided to sue.
Boston LGBT rights group Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders condemned the lawsuit as an attack on the community’s gay & lesbian families.
“Loving, stable gay and lesbian families send their kids to school all over this state. Those families and kids need to be acknowledged and respected by their teachers and school systems, in order for the kids to have a safe, supportive learning environment,” said Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director.
“This lawsuit is nothing less than an attempt to intimidate school officials by people who refuse to acknowledge that loving, stable gay families exist, and who wish that their kids didn’t have to go to school with the kids of gay parents,” Swislow said.
Both parents involved in the suit are members of an organization pressing for an amendment to the Massachusetts constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.
Last year Parker was charged with trespassing when he refused to leave the school where he was protesting against a different children's book with gay characters.
Parker became enraged when he discovered his six-year old son had brought home the book "Who's in a Family.'
The book by Robert Skutch, and illustrated by Laura Nienhaus is aimed at children between three and seven. It catalogues a variety of multicultural contemporary family units, including those with single parents, lesbian and gay parents, mixed-race couples, grandparents and divorced parents.
©365Gay.com 2006
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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