TIA Leads Out in Defense of

Homosexuality in Public Schools

In a November 1999 press release, The Interfaith Alliance announced the release of a publication entitled, “Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth:  A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel.”  According to the press release, TIA “participated in the development and production of ‘Just the Facts,’” the work of ten organizations including the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Association of School Administrators, the National Association of Social Workers and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  (The National Education Association is also one of the 68 participating organizations in the pro-homosexual How to Win political training manual.)  

According to the TIA press release, the 12 page pro-homosexual publication was sent to 15,000 public school districts.[i]  On the introduction page of the “Just the Facts” publication, it states:   

“Controversies in our society about homosexuality are increasingly involving schools.  As principles, educators, and school personnel, you need good information that will help guide you through these controversies.  This factsheet has been developed by a group of education, health, mental health, and religious organizations that all share a concern for the health and education of all students in schools, including lesbian, gay and bisexual students.”[ii]  (emphasis ours)

The introduction page further notes:  “Since mid-1998, a number of organizations have invested significant resources in the promotion of ‘reparative therapy’ and ‘transformational ministry’ in the press, in conferences targeting educators, and in television and newspaper ads.  This factsheet provides information from physicians, counselors, social workers, psychologists, legal experts, and educators who are knowledgeable about the development of sexual orientation in youth and the issues raised by ‘reparative therapy’ and ‘transformational ministry.’”[iii]

Arguing for the “normality” of homosexuality, the “Just the Facts” publication states: 

…the idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder or that the emergence of same-gender sexual desires among some adolescents is in any way abnormal or mentally unhealthy has no support among health and mental health professional organizations.  Despite the unanimity of the health and mental health professions on the normality of homosexuality, the idea of ‘reparative therapy’ has been adopted by conservative organizations and aggressively promoted in the media.[iv]  (emphasis ours)  

This attitude toward homosexuality parallels that of an AIDS Resource packet for churches published by the CBF in 1994, which states: 

The purpose of this section is to discuss ways our presuppositions about what is normal enter into how we, as the Church, treat others outside our own sexual norms.  The Church needs to be a place where sexual identity and orientation can be discussed, developed, and fostered.  We need to minister to our children, adolescents and our young adults in the church.[v] 

The CBF AIDS Resource packet further states: “…sexuality is a gift from God…  We have a responsibility to enhance and educate our children and young people about sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual orientation.”[vi] 

Highly critical of the “ex-gay” movement, and quoting Exodus International, the leading “ex-gay” organization, the “Just the Facts” publication states: 

‘Transformational ministry’ is a term used to describe the use of religion to eliminate homosexual desires.  While ‘reparative therapy’ relies on secular approaches, ‘transformational ministry’ takes the approach that ‘freedom from homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.’  While there is some diversity within the movement, most ‘transformational ministries’ adhere to a belief that ‘upholds heterosexuality as God’s creative intent for humanity, and subsequently views homosexual expression as outside God’s will.’  The ‘transformational ministry’ movement, which began in the early 1970’s, has gained more visibility in the media recently through the efforts of Christian publishers and conservative political organizations.[vii] 

The “Just the Facts” publication continues:  “The most important fact about ‘transformational ministry’ is that its view of homosexuality is not representative of the views of all people of faith.  Many deeply religious people and a number of religious congregations and denominations are supportive and accepting of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people…”[viii] 

This also parallels the CBF AIDS Resource packet which states:  “In speaking of homosexual behavior there are only a few biblical references available, perhaps seven at most.  There is no evidence in the scriptures of Jesus teaching or being concerned with this subject.”[ix]  The CBF packet further states: “As noted earlier, Jesus and the Bible are silent on sexual orientation, but what the Bible does say is that every person has worth and value.”[x] 

Under the heading “Relevant Legal Principles,” the “Just the Facts” publication states: 

As targets of pressure to include information about ‘reparative therapy’ and ‘transformational ministry’ in their schools, public school officials should be aware of general legal principles concerning the rights of their lesbian, gay and bisexual students.  This awareness is important both because of the risk that these ‘treatments’ may cause harm to young people and because of the potential legal liability for school officials.[xi]

It is also most important to note that this TIA supported document, sent to 15,000 public school districts, includes in its list of protected behaviors, bisexuality, which by definition is sexually promiscuous.  However, sexual promiscuity doesn’t seem to be a problem for TIA.  According to the “Just the Facts” publication, Adolescence “is a time for [sexual] experimentation – a hallmark of this developmental period.”  It further notes:  “Sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime – different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.”[xii]

This attitude is also reflected in the CBF’s AIDS Resource packet, which states:  “But the question arises:  Do we choose our orientation?  Most persons answer that question with a resounding ‘NO!’  This supports the scientific research.  We do not choose our sexual orientation, but rather we ‘awaken’ to it.”[xiii]  (emphasis ours) 

Pointing to the U.S. Constitution and “the separation of church and state” as a legal mandate for silence on the part of those opposed to the “normalization” of homosexuality, the “Just the Facts” publication argues that “a guidance counselor in a public school context may not attempt to persuade a gay, lesbian or bisexual student of the religious belief of some that homosexuality is a sin, or otherwise seek to impose a negative religious view of being gay, lesbian or bisexual on the student.”[xiv] 

In a stern warning against anything short of full acceptance and full accommodation of gay, lesbian and bisexual behavior, the “Just the Facts” publication states: 

The legal mandate of equality for gay and non-gay students alike is not limited to circumstances of harassment; it applies to all decisions a public school official might make that would treat lesbian, gay, and bisexual students differently.  School officials should follow the law by ensuring that… sexual orientation does not result in a decision that treats these students as less than equal to other students on the basis of sexual orientation.  For example, students around  the country are increasingly forming ‘Gay-Straight Alliances’ in schools.  The legal mandate of equality is reflected…in school officials’ decisions to treat ‘Gay-Straight Alliances’ on an equal footing with other student groups.”[xv]  (emphasis ours)     

TIA Gives Award to Gay Activist

In 1999, The Interfaith Alliance gave its Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award to Ms. Donna Red Wing for leading “an initiative to unite the faith community with the gay and lesbian community in challenging anti-gay intolerance from the religious right.”[xvi]  According to Troy Perry, president of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, the largest homosexual church organization in the United States:

Donna Red Wing has a long and illustrious history of working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered equality.  Donna joined the Human Rights Campaign as national field director in 1996 and heads a program to build the GLBT movement through grassroots activism.  She coordinates a network of more than 150 local and regional HRC activists.  Before joining HRC, Red Wing was a senior consultant to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation where she created a grassroots network of GLAAD outposts to monitor and respond to media representations of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered community.  She is also GLAAD’s former field director and community affairs director.  Red Wing helped create and manage GLAAD’s media training programs as well as projects dealing with violence against gay men and lesbians and organizing against anti-gay initiatives.  Only this week, Donna has been awarded the prestigious Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award.  The award is given annually by the Interfaith Alliance…[xvii]

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