"Ex-Gay" Fliers Distributed At Maryland High Schools

Soon · 02-06-2010, 04:21 PM

Potomac students get fliers saying therapy turns gays straight

By Michael Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 5, 2010; B03

Some Montgomery County high schools passed out fliers this week from an organization that contends gays can become heterosexual through therapy, and the schools say they cannot prevent the use of their distribution system by such groups.

The fliers, from the group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, were distributed Thursday alongside report cards by teachers at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac. The group says it delivered them to about half the county's high schools this week and plans to do the same at the remaining high schools at the end of the school year.

The schools are required to distribute literature that isn't deemed hate speech from any registered nonprofit organization four times a year, the result of a 2006 lawsuit, said Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Public Schools.

School officials said that while they aren't always happy with everything that goes home with students, their hands are tied by the results of the litigation.

"These fliers are probably counter to what is available in our health curriculum, but that curriculum focuses on respect, and we respect freedom of speech," said Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase), president of the Montgomery County Board of Education.

The flier, printed on one side of a sheet of paper, says that "every year thousands of people with unwanted same-sex attractions make the personal decision to leave a gay identity." At the bottom, it includes a disclaimer that the content is not sponsored by the Montgomery County Board of Education, the school or the superintendent.

The head of the group said that the effort is simply a way to distribute information.

"We believe that people have the right to seek change if they're unhappy," said Regina Griggs, the organization's director. "No one's telling anybody that they have to support our position."

She said the group had distributed the fliers in Montgomery schools in past years, though it wasn't done last year.

Semantics · 02-06-2010, 04:49 PM

I'm really disappointed to hear about this.

The fact that a public school is distributing information on and promoting a therapy that frowned upon by mainstream medical and psychological associations is infuriating.

Quote:

The schools are required to distribute literature that isn't deemed hate speech from any registered nonprofit organization four times a year, the result of a 2006 lawsuit, said Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Public Schools.

I'm going to look for more info on that, because the words required and any sound like BS.

SuperFemme · 02-06-2010, 04:53 PM

I think the fliers fall under the hate speech clause. Just saying.

Soon · 02-06-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semantics

I'm really disappointed to hear about this.

The fact that a public school is distributing information on and promoting a therapy that frowned upon by mainstream medical and psychological associations is infuriating.

I'm going to look for more info on that, because the words required and any sound like BS.

I really don't fully understand HOW this can happen--don't they have a choice as to WHICH non-profit literature is handout out ?? --with their report cards even, ffs!!

The religious right are always talking about bringing the gay *lifestyle* into the school system, but, then, this is allowed?

Thanks for looking more into it, Semantics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

I think the fliers fall under the hate speech clause. Just saying.

I completely agree that this is hate literature.

What a destructive message to send to students! To those who are bigoted, it will just reinforce their notions that there is something wrong that needs to be cured with their fellow queer classmates.

For those queer students, well, we all know the stats on depression, bullying and rates of suicide.

I'm just beside myself with anger at this story.

suebee · 02-06-2010, 05:07 PM

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRhVcJsypg&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Mom Spanked the Gay Out of Me![/ame]

Soon · 02-06-2010, 05:10 PM

I don't care if me being queer is a choice or not.

Sending reparative (bogus) therapy literature home with students and their report cards has NO place in the schools.

SuperFemme · 02-06-2010, 05:28 PM

Did we not just enact Federal Law that prevents this kind of shit?

I say we all write to the Trevor Project and have them insert fliers in the next set of report cards. Because I promise you the suicide rate is going to go up in this school.

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/home2.aspx

Hudson · 02-06-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersuebee

YouTube- Mom Spanked the Gay Out of Me!

by the sound of him, i think she missed some gay.

otherwise, hot story.

Andrew, Jr. · 02-06-2010, 06:54 PM

How sad. I hope it gets pulled asap.

Andrew

02-06-2010, 04:21 PM	#1
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,118 Times in 3,391 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	"Ex-Gay" Fliers Distributed At Maryland High Schools Potomac students get fliers saying therapy turns gays straight By Michael Birnbaum Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, February 5, 2010; B03 Some Montgomery County high schools passed out fliers this week from an organization that contends gays can become heterosexual through therapy, and the schools say they cannot prevent the use of their distribution system by such groups. The fliers, from the group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, were distributed Thursday alongside report cards by teachers at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac. The group says it delivered them to about half the county's high schools this week and plans to do the same at the remaining high schools at the end of the school year. The schools are required to distribute literature that isn't deemed hate speech from any registered nonprofit organization four times a year, the result of a 2006 lawsuit, said Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Public Schools. School officials said that while they aren't always happy with everything that goes home with students, their hands are tied by the results of the litigation. "These fliers are probably counter to what is available in our health curriculum, but that curriculum focuses on respect, and we respect freedom of speech," said Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase), president of the Montgomery County Board of Education. The flier, printed on one side of a sheet of paper, says that "every year thousands of people with unwanted same-sex attractions make the personal decision to leave a gay identity." At the bottom, it includes a disclaimer that the content is not sponsored by the Montgomery County Board of Education, the school or the superintendent. The head of the group said that the effort is simply a way to distribute information. "We believe that people have the right to seek change if they're unhappy," said Regina Griggs, the organization's director. "No one's telling anybody that they have to support our position." She said the group had distributed the fliers in Montgomery schools in past years, though it wasn't done last year.

02-06-2010, 05:07 PM	#5
suebee Member How Do You Identify?: TOWANDA! Preferred Pronoun?: Queen Bee Relationship Status: Good 'n married. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eastern Canada. But if I make a wrong turn at the lights I get stopped by a border guard. Posts: 1,499 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,355 Thanked 2,759 Times in 820 Posts Rep Power: 16450091	Do they REALLY think it's a "lifestyle choice"? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRhVcJsypg&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Mom Spanked the Gay Out of Me![/ame] __________________ "Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." -Albert Schweitzer

02-06-2010, 04:53 PM	#3
SuperFemme Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 10/24/2010 Preferred Pronoun?: She. Relationship Status: Married (one of 18,000) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 4,933 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,309 Thanked 7,109 Times in 2,327 Posts Rep Power: 0	I think the fliers fall under the hate speech clause. Just saying.

02-06-2010, 05:10 PM	#6
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,118 Times in 3,391 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	I don't care if me being queer is a choice or not. Sending reparative (bogus) therapy literature home with students and their report cards has NO place in the schools.

02-06-2010, 05:28 PM	#7
SuperFemme Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 10/24/2010 Preferred Pronoun?: She. Relationship Status: Married (one of 18,000) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 4,933 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,309 Thanked 7,109 Times in 2,327 Posts Rep Power: 0	Did we not just enact Federal Law that prevents this kind of shit? I say we all write to the Trevor Project and have them insert fliers in the next set of report cards. Because I promise you the suicide rate is going to go up in this school. http://www.thetrevorproject.org/home2.aspx

02-06-2010, 06:54 PM	#9
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	How sad. I hope it gets pulled asap. Andrew