How to Win:  Defenders of Abortion, Homosexuality,

Pornography and Offensive “Art”

In 1994, a coalition of liberal organizations calling itself the Radical Right Task Force, published a 252-page political training manual entitled How to Win:  A Practical Guide for Defeating the Radical Right in Your Community.

The How to Win manual is the work of a coalition of over 60 liberal organizations ranging from the BJCPA and Penthouse International to the National Abortion Federation and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  The “Directory of Contributing Organizations” in the back of the manual list 68 organizations with phone numbers and contact persons. (pg. 248)

But the most significant aspect of the training manual is the massive amount of space devoted to advocating the gay and lesbian agenda.  Included in the How to Win coalition are such homosexual groups as the Human Rights Campaign Fund; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund; and Parent, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. (For more information see "defense" section IX)

BJCPA – A How to Win Leader

At the front of the manual on a page entitled “Acknowledgments,” BJCPA General Counsel Brent Walker and 10 others are given “special thanks” for their “hard work” which “made this manual a reality.”  Other organizations given “special thanks” for their leadership roles in the making of the manual includes:  Americans United for Separation of Church and State; People for the American Way; Planned Parenthood; SIECUS; B’nai Brith; and the National Jewish Democratic Council. (For more information see "defense" section IX)

Extreme Pro-Homosexuality

The How to Win manual consists of 43 short articles and seven “directories.”  The 43 articles are divided into seven categories:  How to Win; At the Ballot Box; Religion; Public Education; Censorship; Gay and Lesbian Rights; Choice (abortion); and Environment (dealing with population control).  While the Gay and Lesbian Rights category contains only three articles, nearly half of the 43 total articles deal with the gay/lesbian issue.

Also included in the manual are three “directories” devoted to organizing and networking with gay and lesbian groups.  The first directory is titled, “PFLAG:  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays – Celebrating Real Family Values.”  The subtitle states, “PFLAG Allies in the field, State by State Summary.”  This directory lists 100 groups in 31 states and Canada for networking on gay and lesbian issues.

The second directory is titled “Contracting Politically Active Gays and Lesbians,” with a subtitle “Gay and Lesbian Political Clubs.”  This directory is also a state by state listing of over 140 gay and lesbian groups.

The third directory is titled “Openly gay and lesbian officials,” providing a list of 147 “Openly gay and lesbian elected and appointed officials.”  This directory notes that these government officials “are wonderful resources to any community threatened with Radical Right encroachment.” (For more information see "defense" section IX)

PAW President – A Board Member of the BJCPA

A fourth directory, compiled by People for the American Way, entitled “Directory of Local Resource Organizations,” lists 116 organizations in 34 states.  The directory, “intended for networking purposes,” identifies the issues that each organization is involved in.  Of the 116 organizations, 46 specifically lists “gay rights” as their issue.  Among the other issues listed are:  abortion rights, censorship, education and the arts.  (PAW president Carole Shields served on the board of the BJCPA from 1995 to 1998) (For more information see "defense" section IX)

Enemies of Freedom:  The Standard List

On page 183 of the manual, a list entitled “Most Influential Christian Right Groups,” identifies those organizations whose “un-American agenda” would “impose sectarian and extremist standards on all citizens.”  (pg. iii)  Among those listed are:  Don Wildmon’s American Family Association; Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition; Beverly LaHaye’s Concerned Women for America; Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum; Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family; Robert Simonds’ National Association of Christian Educators/Citizens for Excellence in Education; John Whitehead’s Rutherford Institute; and Lou Sheldon’s Traditional Values Coalition.

Listed on page 184 of the manual are “Key Groups Promoting Scapegoating of Gays and Lesbians,” where each of the aforementioned “Christian Right” groups are again listed.  (For more information see "defense" section IX)

Gay and Lesbian Issues

“The lesbian and gay community is well-organized, motivated and educated.  You need their help, their expertise and their resources.  The battle for equality for gay and lesbian Americans will eventually be won, and it will be won by this strong, cohesive community.  You cannot successfully battle right wing forces without gay and lesbian participation.”  (emphasis ours)  (pg. 120)

Join a Gay Church

“If none of these avenues appeal to you, go to church.  The gay church.  There is a rich and diverse gay and lesbian spiritual community that is very welcoming.  Attend a service or become a member of a congregation.  The following are most prominent:  Metropolitan Community Church (non-Denominational, largest and best organized); Dignity (Catholic); Integrity (Episcopal); More Light Churches (Presbyterian); Bet Mishpachah (Jewish); Lutherans Concerned.  Again, all these congregations have national governing bodies listed in The Gayellow Pages.  The church is a strong force in the lesbian and gay community.  Use it, and build bridges to your own congregations, if possible.  Consider creating a coalition of gay and non-gay church leaders to oppose Radical Right religious arguments.” (emphasis ours) (pg. 121)

 Using Religion to Oppose Biblical Values

The How To Win manual notes that the best way to "oppose the agenda of the religious right [is] from a religious viewpoint. Representatives of such viewpoints clearly illustrate that your side also has moral and value-based arguments it can marshal. Inclusion of such individuals or faith groups indicates clearly that religious people believe the separation of church and state to be good for religion, that religious people support gay and lesbian rights, and that religious people - in fact most mainstream religious denominations - support a woman's right to chose [an abortion] for reasons rooted in their faith. With religious support for your cause, you will have come one giant step closer to defeating the religious right." (bold print emphasis ours) (pg. 50)

Abortion

“…’pro-lifers’ use the bible to argue that personhood begins at the moment of conception and consequently that abortion is murder and must be outlawed.  But as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (RCAR) points out, that position is theological belief, not biological fact, and the moment of personhood has been disputed by theologians for centuries.  RCAR, comprised of 35 national Protestant, Jewish and other denominations and faith groups, asserts that reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion, is intrinsically tied to religious liberty:  ‘We oppose any attempt to place into secular law one theory of when life begins.’”  (emphasis ours)  (pg. 145)

“If you are a lawyer, and you don’t belong to the American Bar Association, join!  Be sure to tell them that one of the reasons you are joining is because the ABA has readopted its official pro-choice position.”  (pg. 138)

“If you’re a physician and have not been trained in abortion practice, find out if a local facility offers a training rotation.”  (pg. 139)

Sex Education in the Schools

“Majority support exist for teaching a comprehensive approach [to sexuality education] including subjects which are sometimes viewed as controversial such as contraception, sexual orientation, abortion and masturbation…  In a pluralistic society, it is critical that we respect all people’s values when it comes to the myriad issues related to sexuality.”  (emphasis ours)  (pg. 78)

Teaching Abstinence:  “Fear Based” Education

“These fear-based education programs are inappropriate and damaging, distorting medical information, displaying sexist, homophobic and racist biases and relying on fear and shame to promote abstinence.”  (emphasis ours)  (pg. 74)

Pornography

“In fact, anti-pornography campaigns can have dangerous impacts.  For example, the Supreme Court of Canada adopted an argument…allowing expression to be banned if it denigrated women.  The first target of the censors?  Lesbian expression.”  (emphasis ours)  (pg. 113)

“Some arguments are also made that [pornography] must be banned to protect children.  But even if everything some people deemed pornographic was banned, young people would continue to be exposed to sexual images in all kinds of media.  The best way to help protect our children from images we believe inappropriate is through education.  Education about sexuality and expression is the best defense.”  (pg. 113) (For more information see "defense" section IX)

[ Back ] [ Contents ] [ Next ]