Date: Sat, 7 Oct 1995 20:11:44 -0800 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Concerned Women of America / SIECUS sex ed materials The following excerpts from a right-wing letter attacking sex education were brought to you courtesy of Gary Klein. Please feel free to write to the very same folks the CWA urges its members to contact...with your own rather different message! Contact info at end of message. This attack is very real...when I (Jessea) was in DC two weeks ago, we met with a lobbyist for SIECUS, and they are very alarmed by this attack by CWA. By the way, sex ed or ed re LGBT people is the new "communism" as it is totally verboten to speak of or teach about these topics. We're in a McCarthy era, folks, although nobody's copping to it. ------ from Gary Klein: The following items were sent to me by Beverly LaHaye, President of CONCERNED WOMEN OF AMERICA "September 1995 "Your help is vital to stopping the destruction of America's children. Dear CWA Member: I am uncomfortable writing this letter to you today. In fact, it breaks my heart! But I think you will understand once you read what I have to say. Picture in your heart a child of 5 or 6 years old that you know and love. With the school year that's begun all across America, this child is in kindergarten or first grade. And chances are, this child is in a public school. While you may know some of his or her classmates, have met the teachers, and know the school principal . . . (Underlined:) Do you really know what is being taught to your children as "sex education," "health," or "family life"? When I learned, I was horrified and grossly offended. And I believe you will be, too. Again, this is extremely difficult for me to write, but I feel you must know. The very powerful and influential Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)--the main source of sex education materials adopted by the U.S. Department of Education--says 5 to 6-year-old children must be taught: (bold:) "Girls and boys have body parts tat feel good when touched." "Some men and women are homosexual." "Homosexuals are also known as gay men and lesbian women." "Sexual intercourse occurs when a man and woman place the penis inside the vagina." "Touching and rubbing one's own genitals is called masturbation." "Some couples who love each other live together in the same home without getting married." Imagine! Innocent children of 5 or 6 years of age being told homosexuality is normal--being told the intricate facts of sexual intercourse--introduced to masturbation--even being taught the God-ordained commitment of marriage is unimportant. Not only are young hearts and minds not ready for such information, but such blatantly graphic teaching strips children of their God-given innocence. THIS IS WRONG! And don't think for a moment that this is happening to children just in some ultraliberal school districts in New York or San Francisco. What I have learned and want you to know is this is being taught in schools across America, perhaps in _your_ child's school. (underlined:) You see, the Clinton Administration's Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services are both urging all school boards to adopt SIECUS-style sex ed programs. And with their approval, SIECUS is now distributing sexuality training information to state, local, and national policy makers. SIECUS has organized and is directing the "National Coalition to Support Sexuality Training"--a task force of over 30 extremely powerful and well-funded organizations, including . . . National School Boards Association U.S. Centers for Disease Control American Medical Association Planned Parenthood March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation National Education Association Make no mistake about it. The radical anti-parent and anti-family views of SIECUS touch the daily lives of children and teenagers everywherer. _Absolutely no community is safe._ Which is why I felt so compelled to write you such a difficult letter today. In fact, I've learned that New York University; New Jersey Medical School; St. Louis, Missouri, Public Schools; Indiana University; and many others serve on task forces to promote and encourage the adoption of SIECUS-designed sexuality education guidelines. Now you may be asking, "Who and what is behind SIECUS?" Let me tell you. Funded by government and foundation grants, SIECUS was set up in 1964 in New York City. The first director of SIECUS was a former medical director of Planned Parenthood. What's worse, other persons involved with SIECUS include people from the ACLU, homosexuals, lesbians, pedophiles, and pro-pornography proponents from _Playboy_ and _Nude Living_. (bold): These are the people who want to teach our children and grandchildren about sex, marriage, love and family! ... (it goes on for another 1.5 pages) - - - - - - - - (another item included in the packet): "CHILD PROTECTION CHECKLIST A Parent's Guide to Protect Child from SIECUS-type Sex Ed The Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) has tremendous power and influence over the sex education courses being taught in public schools across America. Use this handy guide to determine if children in your community's schools are being exposed and encouraged to indulge in blatantly anti-family and immoral sexual behaviors, attitudes, and practices. (two columns to a table, with check-off boxes in each column) Pro-Family Sex Instruction VS Anti-Family Sex Instruction -Emphasis on sex in marriage -"If it feels good, do it!" -Importance of family and children -Importance of self and desires -Teaches sanctity of human life -Advocates abortion and euthenasia -Respect for parents and -Experimentation and rebellion grandparents -Heterosexual sex between man -Homosexuality/bisexuality normal and woman -Pre-marital abstinence -Promiscuity -Values and morality based -Physical gratification and needs -Instructs on dangers like AIDS -Sex is "safe" with condoms -Explains sexually transmitted -Sexually active take precautions disease -Instills virtue, right, and wrong -Limitless choices and behaviors -Encourages openness with parents -Contempt for parents' views -Fosters dignity and self-respect -All options are equal in value -Parents are guides to children -Sex teachers know best -Promotes religious values and -Promotes man-based philosophy beliefs Concerned Women for America encourages parents and grandparents to take an active role in knowing exactly what type of sex education children are receiving at school. By asking the right questions when meeting with teachers and school administrators, you can know what your children are being taught. - - - - - - - - - - PETITION OF PROTEST TO: Ms. Debra Haffner Executive Director SIECUS 130 W. 42nd St., Suite 2500 New York, NY 10036 As a pro-family American, I am offended by the sex education agenda your organization wants to force on every child and school in America. I have asked my U.S. Representative in Congress to investigate if SIECUS receives any federal or state funds, either directly or indirectly. I do not want any of my tax dollars going to you. (underlined): _No child in public school should be made to participate in SIECUS-designed programs that blatantly promote promiscuity, homosexuality, masturbation, abortion, pedophila, and incest._ I support Concerned Women for America's national education campaign to help parents and grandparents protect their children from your insidious "open sex" philosophy. - - - - - - - - PETITION OF PROTEST To: The Hon. xxxxxx U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Because you are my representative in Congress, I am petitioning you today to investigate if the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) receives any federal or state funds, either directly or indirectly. I am outraged at the sex education agenda SIECUS wants to force on every child and school in America. I do not want any of my tax dollars gong to SIECUS. (underlined): _No child should be made to participate in SIECUS-designed programs that blatantly promote promiscuity, homosexuality, masturbation, abortion, incest, and pedophila._ Please let me know in writing what you will be doing in our district and in Congress to protect our children form SIECUS's influence. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (this is ME speaking now): IMHO, the Concerned Women o America and its president Beverly LaHaye, seem to have made various references in the past to recurring fears/tactics which I think need mentioning. -ASKING for Congressional inquiry into the the "possibility" that a group which CWA does not like, "might" have used some sort of governmental funding for ANY aspect of its operations. -TURNING to Congress, even if the source of funding was State or Local governmental agencies. -CALLING on Congress, like cry babies, whenever CWA disagrees with an organization, in effect, calling on Congress to do the lobbying work that CWA cannot accomplish on its own. If Congress was to hold a hearing for EVERY allegation made by an 501-c-3 organization, just for the asking, then Congress would be in even a bigger deficit than already!! -RAISING the rubric of "pedophila" and "incest", even if there is nothing specifically relating to them, and thereby INFERRING that the "offending" organization is teaching "innocent" students how to engage in those illegal activities. -GOING ballistic over the mere mention of homosexuality or bisexuality. Excuse me, but it is a lexicographical fact, that "homosexuals are also known as gay men and lesbian women!" Likewise, it is a statement of medical/scientific fact, that "Some men and women are homosexual!" SCARY BUNCH OF PEOPLE INDEED! - - - - - Gary M. Klein Toledo, OH (soon to be relocating to Salem OR) gklein@pobox.com *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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" Organizing Manual: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ (under construction) http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person Resources: http://emanate.com/glwa/proj21 (courtesy "Gay & Lesbian Web Alliance") Action Alerts and Organizing Manual: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ (courtesy Children's Animated Television) The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on all correspondence you send or receive regarding one of our action alerts. Thanks! *P.E.R.S.O.N. (copyrighted) stands for Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally.