American Fork - now curing gays (updated)
March 27, 2008 — JaredThe Desert Morning News, a backwater Utah newspaper that tailors to Mormons, reported today that the PTA of American Fork High School will be holding a forum titled “Protecting Our Youth From Serious Social Problems,” which will discuss such serious social problems as pornography and same-gender attraction.
Belinda Jensen, local yokel and PTA president, said “I think sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS are an important reason to look at this, I also believe that it is a lifestyle that is not conducive to families.” Obvious point on the latter half - Mormon’s overwhelming voted yes on Amendment 3, which banned same-sex marriage in Utah. A gay lifestyle can’t be conducive to families if you make it illegal for two consenting adults to marry. But STDs and AIDS? Last I checked pornography gave you neither, and AIDS has become a heterosexual disease more so than a homosexual one.
Jensen’s concern is over the homosexual agenda - which includes such equal rights as offering gay and lesbian youths school clubs. The forum also aims to help kids “avoid and overcome” same-gender attraction. Avoid and overcome? What, exactly, does that entail? Electroconvulsive shock therapy of yesteryear? Avoiding and overcoming will simply result in anxiety and closeting - how likely would it be for a gay youth in the area to come out after such a conference is held?
American Fork’s view of homosexuals, or any such ‘other’, is indicative of many prevailing attitudes of religious zealots and uninformed bigots, both inside and outside of Utah. The fact that Utah is so cloistered doesn’t excuse it from infringing on human rights. I’m a proponent of free speech of any kind, but if these people want to host their Klan meetings then they should do so outside of publicly-funded PTA meetings.
UPDATE: After seeing the agenda, Principal Carolyn Merrill canceled the forum, saying the entire board hadn’t agreed to include the issue of same-gender attraction. Standard of Liberty co-founder Stephen Graham circulated an email blaming it on “someone from the homosexual activist group.”
March 27, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Yeah - I’m pretty disgusted that these red-neck fucks are using public money, facilities, and institutions to perpetuate they’re back-assed ideas and to brainwash children into accepting their values when families are supposed to be the ones raising children… Utah county is hopeless
March 27, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Hi, Jared! Just surfing around and came upon this excellent post. Stop by some time!
While I certainly agree with you in every way, I don’t think we can kick them out of PTA meetings unless their rhetoric is explicitly religious — unfortunately, the nut-job right has learned this and hides behind the “family values” label instead of showing their true colors. ((Which aren’t as pretty as the rainbow, clearly.))
March 27, 2008 at 10:48 PM
The anti-gay rhetoric is akin to the anti-black rhetoric of yesteryear. I don’t think that groups should be using taxpayer money to preach messages of hate, regardless of what colors they hide behind.
March 27, 2008 at 11:49 PM
I mis-spoke. I think we should stop their abuse of public funds for such vile purposes, but we have no legal standing to do so, as they’re protected by the First Amendment until they threaten someone with violence or otherwise break the law. Unfortunately there’s no law against being disgustingly repulsive.
March 29, 2008 at 1:28 AM
Brilliantly written.
March 30, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Why don’t they just move their meeting to the local Dunkin’ Donuts?
April 2, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Why are you allowed to spout such angry rhetoric, but if anyone who dares say something slightly contrary to what you believe (especially when trying to help people), they are automatically shut down and ridiculed? Sounds pretty bigoted and hateful to me.
Jared’s Response:
Firstly no one is trying to help anyone - because being gay is not something that needs to be helped. Secondly my rhetoric is angry because I think that these groups of people are so incredibly bigoted against anyone who is unlike themselves. As I said I’m all for free speech which includes groups doing what they like, but when they try to mobilize an entire community to go on a gay lynching spree then I feel like that’s stepping out of bounds.
April 3, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Yea…I never heard of homosexuality till I was in high school — not by any means my parents’ fault or plan — but I always knew I found myself “strangely” attracted to women, as well as men. Stick that into you conserves.
April 22, 2008 at 10:51 AM
this is stupid, despicable and just plain unintelligent. You cannot help being gay or straight, you are what you are. There is nothing wrong with being gay and you cant “cure” it, nor is it something you need to be cured of. These people need to educate themselves and open up a book besides the bible.