Date: Sat, 16 Dec 1995 17:12:57 -0800 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Latest CWA Attack Against NEA and History Month The latest attack letter from the fundie group "Concerned Women For America, appears below in this message. [Note from The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project: 1. Please write your local newspaper with your views on this matter. 2. Please cc your letter to your state education association presidents to encourage them not to bow to pressure from the right wing regarding civil rights for lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Many state associations are being targeted with hate mail because of the National Education Associations support for the celebration of a Lesbian and Gay History Month as _one option_ for schools that choose to eliminate homophobia and sexual orientation stereotyping. TO FIND OUT HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, CONTACT THE NEA. ITS HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS PHONE NUMBER IS 202-822-7700. Please note NEA's long standing record on human and civil rights including lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in your letters. 3. Please also copy your letter to Keith Geiger, President National Education Association 1201 16th St. N.W. Washington, DC 20036-3290 Fax= 202-822-7974] 4. Write your member of Congress to support the NEA and to support public education programs which provide fair and accurate information about sexual orientation and about LGBT people. A quick and easy way to write your members of Congress is to use the HRC automated system located on the HRC Web page. It is set up so all you do is put in your zip code and up pop your members of Congress, their voting records, and click-buttons to send them email. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Web page is at http://www.hrcusa.org 5. Note also that Concerned Women for America (National Office located at 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, #800, Washington, DC 20024) has many local affiliates with similar names (e.g. in southeastern California, "Concerned Women of the Desert"). CWA follows an anti-LGBT, anti-abortion, "pro-family" agenda via grassroots organizing and Congressional lobbying. It pressures elected officials via local groups ("prayer chains") 600,000 members, 800 U.S. Chapters. CWA is the nation's largest women's organization. 6. Forbes' call for attacks on the NEA in particular and unions in general bodes ill for the future of unions (and nonprofits which engage in "lobbying.") We should all be concerned. Those interested in contacting Forbes about its cover story, back in February 13 1995, cited extensively below by CWA, can use this info to do so: FORBES, 60 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10011-8802 phone= 212.620.2200; fax= 212.620.2417 ===================begin CWA letter================= CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA *CALL 1-800-955-2120* Concerned Women for America, P.O. Box 65453, Washington, DC 20035-5453. November 1995 Militant homosexuals within the NEA are trying to force their lifestyle on our children. We must stand united against their agenda. Dear CWA Member, In September, I alerted you to the National Education Association's resolution calling for the "celebration" of a Lesbian and Gay History Month in our public schools. Almost immediately, NEA union bosses went into damage-control as a firestorm of parental concern erupted across the country. Newspapers from coast-to-coast reported on the NEA's unprecedented stand promoting the homosexual agenda in our public schools. CWA offices, local public schools, and NEA chapters nationwide were flooded with phone calls and letters from irate parents and even stunned NEA members themselves. In response to CWA's national news break the NEA retaliated with blatantly untrue attacks on CWA. Incredibly, NEA union bosses denied the importance of their resolution. In desperation, they labeled CWA "right-wing extremists" and "hate-mongers." Just a few weeks ago, I sent you a copy of the NEA's resolution so you could see for yourself what this powerful and extremely rich education union was advocating. Unfortunately, the NEA is continuing to spread untruths about CWA. And that's why I feel I must send you even more facts about the NEA and the sexual orientation education resolution they adopted in July. The NEA is saying that CWA is putting out misinformation and lies. I will let the facts speak for themselves. Included with my letter is a very important fact sheet. Also enclosed for you is a copy of the newspaper ad CWA ran in dozens of newspapers in major U.S. cities. Please use this information to respond to the distortions and (over, please) innuendoes the NEA is making about CWA. They are trying to deflect attention away from their pro-homosexual resolution by attacking us. Now, let me tell you where we stand on this NEA issue. CWA is not going to be intimidated by the tactics of NEA union bosses. We are going to keep the truth before the American people. Every parent in America has the right to know how pro-homosexual factions within the NEA want to promote the radical gay and lesbian agenda in public schools. And CWA must push forward with our efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure that the integrity and pro-family character of our local schools are maintained. [****emphasis below added by The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project] ****That's why, even as I write you today, CWA is meeting with members of ****Congress to make certain no public tax dollars are spent on public education ****programs designed to support homosexuality. ***** And we are working with Representatives in the U.S. House to cut off all *****federal tax support the NEA receives--either directly or Indirectly. The enclosed fact sheet lists several of the tax incentives the NEA enjoys. None of our tax dollars must go to support "sensitivity training" programs designed to promote the homosexual lifestyle among our children. And none of our tax dollars must go to "celebrate" Lesbian and Gay History Months in our public schools. No matter how much the NEA tries to deny what their resolution is about . . . No matter how desperately NEA union bosses try to deflect your attention away from the real issue . . . . . CWA is going to stand our ground and continue giving parents the information they need to protect their children. And in this matter, the truth is that CWA is not attacking teachers, public education, or homosexuals themselves. What we are standing against is the blatant implementation of a radical political agenda that millions of parents believe is harmful and destructive for children. A small minority of militant homosexuals want to force their lifestyle into our schools. We must stand united against their agenda. No issue in my recent memory has generated such a wide scale attack against CWA. We are devoting massive amounts of man-hours to stopping this advance of the homosexual agenda in our school. (next page, please) Literally, on a daily basis, we are handling an avalanche of calls from concerned parents. And we are responding to scores of requests for information and interviews from news reporters. At the same time, we are continuing to broadcast special segments of "Beverly LaHaye Live" in an effort to reach as many people as possible with this vital information. And CWA Prayer/Action Chapters across the nation are advising parents what they can do in their local communities to stop this maneuver by the NEA to promote the lesbian/gay lifestyle and history. As you can imagine, there is absolutely no way CWA can match the more than $785 MILLION in revenue which Forbes magazine has reported the NEA has at its disposal. But as always, what we don't have in terms of dollars, CWA makes up with sheer dedication, resolve, and effectiveness. And that's why I am asking you to pray. As God leads you, please continue your support by sending an extra special gift today. I truly need you and every CWA member to stand with me in this enormous battle. We are up against the number-one giant of labor unions. The NEA has incredible power and money. But with your help, I believe we will prevail. Again, please pray! And please send your gift as soon as you can. We are moving swiftly forward on all fronts right now. Your prayers and financial support are essential. Sincerely, Beverly LaHaye President P.S. As you detach the fact sheet and return your reply with your gift of $25 ****or more, please be sure to request your copy of The Grab for Power. This is ****an extremely important booklet exposing the raw power and radical agenda of ****the NEA. {note from The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project: just call their 800 number and request it} It is must reading for everyone who wants to know why America's public schools are in shambles. Thank you for your gift. And God bless you for your faithfulness. NEA union bosses are spreading blatantly untrue statements meant to discerned CWA and prevent the full truth from being known about the NEA's program promoting the homosexual agenda. You need the facts about the NEA's tactics. Please share this vital information with the principal and teachers of your school. NEA DECEPTION FACT NEA officials are saying that NEA resolutions are simple expressions of opinion and are not binding on NEA members. The NEA's own handbook states: "Resolutions are formal expressions of opinions, intents, beliefs, or positions of the Association. They shall set forth general concepts...state the positions of the Association and shall be consistent with the goals of the Association..." NEA president Keith Geiger states: "NEA resolutions B-9 (Sexual Orientation Education) is a resolution against intolerance, not a resolution that advocates any lifestyle." Resolution B-9 was introduced by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network, a pro-homosexual faction of the NEA. This group included Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher who declared his homosexuality to his students as part of a history lesson. Of Resolution B-9, Wilson says: "This is such an important milestone. The NEA represents 2.2 million teachers throughout the United States and is a leader in educating our society about sexual orientation." Grainger Ledbetter, president of the Arkansas Education Association, deflects attention from the resolution by attacking CWA. Ledbetter stated: "This is nothing less than an irresponsible smear campaign on the part of concerned Women for America, who are using hate-mongering and fear to raise money. Of CWA's 600,000 members nationwide, 15 percent work in education. All our members rely on CWA to track public policy issues like the NEA's support for a Lesbian and Gay History Month and to report regularly on such issues. Bringing the NEA's open advancement of the homosexual agenda to the public's attention is part of the ongoing educational and public awareness efforts of CWA. CWA uses facts, not hate-mongering or fear, to keep parents and grandparents informed. Washington NEA spokesperson Teresa Moore has emphatically stated that the resolution is simple a philosophical statement that has no effect on what state and local NEA chapters and members do. The Kansas City Star newspaper reports that the NEA's proposal for a Lesbian and Gay History Month is being observed this year with events organized by gay and lesbian communities nationwide. These events are being led by Rodney Wilson, the gay teacher who "came out" to this students as part of a history lesson. The Kansas City Star also reports that local public libraries are being asked to note the month with special displays of gay and lesbian theme books. NEA spokesman Charles Erickson is calling CWA's efforts to get the truth out about the NEA's resolution "a big lie." The Pottstown Pennsylvania Mercury newspaper asked Mr. Erickson to explain the section of the NEA's resolution that states "...support for the celebration of a Lesbian and Gay History Month." His response, "It does get a little convoluted." In a letter to the Rockdale Citizen newspaper in Conyers, Georgia, NEA member Jimmie Jenkins, President of the Rockdale County Association of Education, wrote: "In addition, the NEA is a private, nonprofit organization...and no public tax dollars go to support the NEA or any of their programs." In its cover story of February 13, 1995 Forbes magazine reported that the NEA is America's largest and richest "brass-knuckled labor" union, with 2.2 million members and an estimated $785 million in revenues. ****Forbes concluded its expose on the NEA by calling for: ****(1) An end to NEA headquarters property-tax exemption. (Estimated cost to taxpayers = $2 million annually.) ****(2) An end to taxpayer funding of the union-sponsored National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (Forbes reported: "The federal government has already coughed up $20 million, and several states have also kicked in.") ****(3) An end to taxpayer funding of retirement benefits for union staff. (Forbes reported: "Judging by Indiana's example, this could be worth as much as $4.65 million annually to the teacher union. Rhode Island General Treasurer Nancy J. Mayer says such legislation last year saved here state $13 million.") ****(4) An end to release time with pay for teachers to conduct union business. (the amount of taxpayer money used to pay teachers while they engage in NEA union activities is yet to be determined. However, this could amount to multiple millions of dollars. Forbes reported: "Currently bargained into (NEA) union contacts far in excess of private-sector equivalents, this could be restricted at the state level.") *CALL 1-800-955-2120* Concerned Women for America, P.O. Box 65453, Washington, DC 20035-5453. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project*; ph/fax: 510-601-8883, 586 62nd St. Oakland, CA 94609-1245 Gopher to "gopher.outright.com" Web sites: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts. *Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally. "There is no hierarchy of oppressions." Audre Lorde