Same-sex marriage foes warn of kindergarten lessons on gay matrimony

[romantico]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 4:53pm

Backers of a November initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California plan to tell voters in the state ballot pamphlet that the constitutional amendment would protect children as young as kindergarten age from being taught in school about the virtues of gay and lesbian matrimony.

"If the gay marriage ruling is not overturned, teachers will be required to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage," supporters of Proposition 8 said in ballot arguments that went on public display this week at the secretary of state's office.

It's all nonsense and scare tactics, opponents of the measure said Thursday. Steve Smith, strategist for the No on 8 campaign, said opponents of the measure will decide by next week whether to sue, which is the only way a ballot argument can be changed before the election.

The argument represents an attempt by opponents of same-sex marriage to open a new front in the Prop. 8 campaign, although the interplay between gay rights and educational standards in California has surfaced before. Religious conservatives have sued in federal court to overturn a state law that took effect this year prohibiting public schools from discriminating because of sexual orientation or identity.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/24/BA5511V2DO.DTL&tsp=1

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 4:54pm

I think I wasted all my outrage on the Justin Caster thread.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:01pm

They're right, though. When I think of kindergarten all I think about is all frickin' marriage talk!

[tazber]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:11pm

when i think of kindergarten I think of Catholic priests.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:14pm

I think that anything pertaining to marraige and family should be dealt with at home by the parents

[DG]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 9:24pm

My partner is a retired kindergarten teacher. His students got a 'lesson' in gay marriage every time I was present in the classroom - which included open-house nights, and interaction with their parents.

Not ONE of them EVER had a problem with any of it - as it should be.

These people beating the drums of fear should all have their children taken away from them. Actually, they never should have had them in the first place.

I just keep repeating: "Every day another old bigot dies."

[AngryDeer]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 10:42pm

Don't they have to teach them about sex, first?

[Chance]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 11:20pm

Umm duh, don't you remember, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. there is no sex.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 11:42pm

I would have appreciated positive portrayals of same sex unions when I was in kindergarten.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/25/08 at 11:46pm

"These people beating the drums of fear should all have their children taken away from them. Actually, they never should have had them in the first place."

DG, sweetie, you know I love you with all my heart, but isn't this a tad extreme?

Oh, and BTW, you don't have to teach your children about sex to teach them tolerance, acceptance, respect and love. My kids are with gay couples all the time. My son's godfathers are a gay couple. My sister-in-law shares a house with her partner, and so on. The kids see them living under the same roof, doing all the same things that other families do: going to work, preparing meals, cleaning up, shopping, watching TV, laughing, hugging, supporting each other (and, on occasion, BICKERING. Right, Uncle Elphie? )

We have NEVER said anything like, "Let's explain why Uncle Bill and Uncle Yoshi are a couple." Nor have we ever said, "The difference between Uncle Bill and Uncle Yoshi versus Mommy and Daddy is...." If and when they ask, we'll answer their questions, but right now, all they see and all they know are wonderful human beings who are together because they have fallen in love and chosen one another. My kids also see them as grown-ups who treat them like their own children...and give them lots of love. (In fact, Uncle Bill and Uncle Yoshi have said, "If, god forbid, anything happens to you two, we'll take the kids.")

When I was growing up, my parents had friends of all ethnicities, religions and sexual orientation. They never "pointed out" differences, even obvious ones like the color of someone's skin. I didn't even know there was a "difference" between "Black" people and "White" people until I went to school where some kid made a "joke" about Black people, which really upset me because I thought they were talking specifically about someone I loved. Even though I was only 6, I knew it was wrong. I went home crying and asked my mother why anyone would say such a thing about "Aunt Lee." My mother made the discussion about "differences," but not between races...between ignorance and compassion.

In reality, the debate about same-sex marriage has little to do with "sex."

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 1:23am

"isn't this a tad extreme?"

I don't know - is it?

I'm sick of living in a world with people driven by hate - and raising yet ANOTHER generation to do the same.

I haven't been the same since I saw BETRAYED. Watching the children be trained to use a gun by shooting at cutouts of Jews and Blacks.

I don't know WHAT the long term solution is, but I do know I'm SICK of dealing with the current reality. So much hate.

So if I react with thoughts that could be considered 'extreme', that's where it's coming from.

I'm ALL FOR allowance - but I'm tired of allowing the propogation of thoughts and feelings that keep me from experiencing the fullness of life I'm entitiled to.

And just for the record, I love you, too

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 1:44am

Sweetie, I thought this was one of those moments you referred to recently when you use hyperbole to make a point...a perfectly valid and compelling literary device, by the way! If that is the case, I agree with you!

But if you're being literal, that's another story.

And you've every right to be pissed off about this crap. It pisses me off, too. I'm just thinking it's impractical to remove all those children from all those homes. Where are they going to go? Your house, perhaps? (Look out for that roller skate, DG!!!!! *thud*)

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 1:55am

I suppose it was hyperbole - I've been known to dabble.

But I really do wish they just wouldn't have procreated in the first place!

And what's REALLY sad to me is, in MANY cases, it's not like they really wanted them in the first place. It just sort of 'happened'!

And for the record - despite the reputation I've developed - I'd be a magnificent father. If I could avoid my own hospitalization or incarceration, that is

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:08am

After spending six years running an organization that dealt with issues of abused and neglected children, I'd be lying if I said I believed that all children should stay with their "parents." Some people should NEVER become parents, but nobody ever listens to me, goddammit!

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:14am

See? This is what I'm saying - and why I actually believe in tyranical dictatorships.

With me and mine as the ruling class, of course

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:20am

I hope I'M one of yours! A Tyranical Dictatorship sounds like good, clean fun to me.

(Well, maybe it's not always "clean." I've heard rumors that tyranny can be messy.)

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:24am

'Fun' can also be messy - but I say, that's the price you pay!

And, OF COURSE you're in

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:35am

YAY! I'm gonna be a dictator! I'm gonna be a dictator!

The first person I would have tortured and executed would be my third grade teacher Mrs. Hipkins, but I'm sure she's dead by now. I only hope it was a protracted, agonizing and humiliating death.

Ooops. Did I just let that out? Well, slap my face. No, wait, that's what Mrs. Hipkins did! I hope the maggots are all obese and kickin' back in their barcaloungers.

[shira467]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:42am

We're getting a DG and Miss P tyrannical order? Marvelous. Sign me up. As long as I'm part of the ruling class. Me, a serf? I don't think so.

As for the stupid people who argue against same sex marriage because god forbid their children should grow up tolerant - forced sterilization seems fine by me.

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:49am

"I hope the maggots are all obese and kickin' back in their barcaloungers."

This is a prime reason I continue to read this board

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:53am

THIS is your prime reason to continue on the board, DG? I thought it was to touch the hem of Namo's garment. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! )

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 2:56am

I said A prime reason!

Bitch

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 3:00am

Oh, whew. For a minute there I thought you were using hyperbole again! (LOL!)

That's the first time you ever called me "Bitch"! (To my face, I mean.)


(For the record, I love the hem of Namo's garment, and he knows it.)

[shira467]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 3:04am

Such profanity! I'd say "behave", but what fun is that?

[DG]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 3:08am

You KNOW that's not MY version of profanity!

And MissP, there's a first time for everything. You're no longer a virgin!

*cough*