UPDATE - As you can see, NOM has changed the title of the video. For an update on this story, go here.
Last night, I posted an emergency item regarding a letter that National Organization for Marriage Brian Brown posted on NOM's blog. The letter was the typical "we have to do something before the homosexual agenda overcomes us" tripe that folks have come to expect from Brown.
The first item in the letter talked about a recent incident in Oakland, CA where students were taught lessons on gender identity:
But when this letter was first posted, Brown originally said:
Not only have the words in Brown's letter have changed, but the video, which was on NOM's blog, is now gone.
And why is that? Because it proves that Brown wasn't originally telling the truth:
At .42 seconds of the video, the announcer says "these fourth graders were told that in nature, things aren't always what they seem."
Now some folks may say "what difference does this make?" It should make a big difference because neither Brown nor NOM acknowledged that the original claim - that these children were kindergartners - was made in error.
Also, the title of the video - Public School Teaches Kindergarteners There Are Multiple Genders Without Parental Consent - has not been changed.
Lastly, that part in the title about the parents not giving consent seems to also be inaccurate.
At 1:45, the announcer said, "the school maintains most parents, teachers, and students had no problem with what was taught."
This statement calls into question the accusation that parents did not consent for their children to be taught these lessons.
A written Fox News story further calls into question that accusation. The article quoted Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint saying that parents were given prior notice and in fact, three families opted their children out of the lesson.
Either through sloppy work or intentional distortion, NOM exploited a very useful and legal lesson regarding respect and tolerance in an Oakland school to demonize the lgbt community. And now, when caught red-handed, the group is trying to slowly maneuver itself out of the potential hole it's in.
Now I ask you. Can anyone really trust this group to lead a civil and dignified debate on marriage equality in Minnesota or anywhere else for that matter?
Last night, I posted an emergency item regarding a letter that National Organization for Marriage Brian Brown posted on NOM's blog. The letter was the typical "we have to do something before the homosexual agenda overcomes us" tripe that folks have come to expect from Brown.
The first item in the letter talked about a recent incident in Oakland, CA where students were taught lessons on gender identity:
Just when you think it can't get any weirder or more disturbing, an Oakland public school decided to teach grade-school children about multiple genders, under the banner of preventing bullying.
Watch that video. Look at the children's faces. And then look at the activist from a group called "Gender Spectrum" who wants to embed in these children's minds the idea that we all have a right to make up our own gender(s).
But when this letter was first posted, Brown originally said:
Just when you think it can't get any weirder or more disturbing, an Oakland grade school decided to teach kindergartners about multiple genders, under the banner of preventing bullying.
Watch that video. Look at the children's faces. And then look at the activist from a group called "Gender Spectrum" who wants to embed in these children's minds the idea that we all have a right to make up our own gender(s).
Not only have the words in Brown's letter have changed, but the video, which was on NOM's blog, is now gone.
And why is that? Because it proves that Brown wasn't originally telling the truth:
At .42 seconds of the video, the announcer says "these fourth graders were told that in nature, things aren't always what they seem."
Now some folks may say "what difference does this make?" It should make a big difference because neither Brown nor NOM acknowledged that the original claim - that these children were kindergartners - was made in error.
Also, the title of the video - Public School Teaches Kindergarteners There Are Multiple Genders Without Parental Consent - has not been changed.
Lastly, that part in the title about the parents not giving consent seems to also be inaccurate.
At 1:45, the announcer said, "the school maintains most parents, teachers, and students had no problem with what was taught."
This statement calls into question the accusation that parents did not consent for their children to be taught these lessons.
A written Fox News story further calls into question that accusation. The article quoted Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint saying that parents were given prior notice and in fact, three families opted their children out of the lesson.
Either through sloppy work or intentional distortion, NOM exploited a very useful and legal lesson regarding respect and tolerance in an Oakland school to demonize the lgbt community. And now, when caught red-handed, the group is trying to slowly maneuver itself out of the potential hole it's in.
Now I ask you. Can anyone really trust this group to lead a civil and dignified debate on marriage equality in Minnesota or anywhere else for that matter?
You can be pretty certain that it was intentional distortion that accounts for the misrepresentations. NOM is famed for its lies.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is somewhat different than Sunday school teaching kids to hate "abominations".
ReplyDeleteI work with Kindergarteners and I could tell they weren't Kinder's without watching the video, they are WAY to big!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the very impressive work, Alvin! I see your commentary on the NOM blog threads and I'm really encouraged by your approach.
ReplyDeleteThis is NOM. Based on past behavior I think we can conclude intentional misrepresentation (which, back in the day, we used to call "lying") rather than sloppiness.
ReplyDeleteSin begets sin. Homophobia is a sin like lying, stealing and murder. Homophobia, lying, gluttony, other sins...they all feed off each other and we can expect to find further sins there as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteIf marriage equality loses in Minnesota, anti-gay pressure groups like NOM/MFC will teach school children that bullying, hate crimes and voting away the rights of those you disagee with are acceptable and "tradition." Is this what we want our school children to learn in school?
It is the default nature of NOM to lie. Even their name is an utter lie, even an oxymoron.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are correct, they lie in such a poor fashion that it is easy to debunk their ludicrous statements.