Difference between revisions of "NEA Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus"
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Revision as of 11:24, July 21, 2017
| View that is not malicious to personal freedom |
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| We affirmed the right of people to make those choices but said, “We are here to stand for the right of individuals with unwanted same gender attraction to pursue other avenues besides embracing a homosexual identity and way of life. We are not here to coerce anyone to make changes they don’t want to make. ...By placing ourselves in the pathway of people who have opposing views, we are showing that we are real people representing a view that is not malicious to personal freedom but rather dignifies individual choice.” |
NEA Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus is an authentic recognized National Education Association (NEA) caucus[2] merely working within the NEA organization[note 1] in order to educate the NEA concerning the existence of former homosexuals.[4] The caucus believes that in same-sex attraction, the feelings truly are real and that the choice comes in what a person does with those feelings. Instead of saying that if you have same-sex attraction, you are destined for that pathway and there is nothing you can do about it, caucus mission is to say that if you have the feelings, but you’re looking down that pathway and you don’t like where it’s taking you, there’s hope. Thousands of people have changed, each with their own different/personal story of how they came away from homosexuality.
Contents
Core beliefs
The caucus is not saying that every gay person needs to change, but that:
- 1. People deserve to hear all the facts so they can make their own decisions.
- 2. For those who truly want change, change is possible.[5]
The caucus wants school children and other teachers to know that promoting gay, lesbian or bisexual identification in middle or high school is not the role of the school. If students are presented with information concerning gay identification, they also should be presented with models of those who have left homosexuality as well.
Founder and Chair
The Founder of the NEA Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus is Jeralee Smith. Susan Halvorson is the Chair.
Topics of materials
The caucus' materials address bullying in schools; children being raised in same sex homes; health concerns of homosexuals; results of research studies; and other related issues.
Definition of Ex-gay
The caucus defines an ‘exgay’ as “a person with unwanted same gender attractions who does not want to embrace a homosexual identity. They provide the personal stories and research which support thier viewpoint. [1]
Discrimination against ex-gays
Susan Halvorson and David Pickup were interviewed by Dr. Brown about discrimination they received at a gathering of the National Education Association, for representing the reality that people can come out of same-sex attraction and homosexuality. After LGBT delegate activist at 2017 NEA convention said to David Pickup "I don't care about tolerance," NEA Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus', according to Susan Halvorson "the most hated causcus," was scheduled to be boothed out. Halvorson maintains that the reason is that the existence of the causcus represents evidence agaist LGBT narrative that people are 'born gay' and that 'there is nothing you can do about it.' Pickup adds that LGBT activists go hysteric and suffer from group hostile mentality because they are projecting their own psychological issues onto other people. Because the existence of the ex-gay caucus does not fit their narrative, they are trying to control their narrative and "they're telling us it's about love and acceptance but their behavior does not match that."[6]
Notes
- ↑ According to NEA procedures, caucuses are approved for the purpose of influencing NEA policy. They are groups of people who share similar concerns and by joining, signal their interest in achieving caucus objectives.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeralee Smith (24 Jul 2014). Ex-Gay Educators Caucus Report from the 2014 NEA Annual Conference. Voice of the Voiceless. Retrieved on 17 Jul 2017.
- ↑ NEA recognized caucuses 2014-15. NEA. Retrieved on 19 Jul 2017.
- ↑ Warren Throckmorton (13 February 2004). NEA Gay and Lesbian Shift?. The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College.. Retrieved on 21 Jul 2017. “A recent decision by The National Education Association (NEA) may signal a shift in the organization’s stance on gay and lesbian issues. Last week, the NEA quietly but officially recognized the formation of an Ex-Gay Educators’ Caucus thus acknowledging a group of educators who disagree with NEA publications that state homosexuality is a trait that cannot be changed. Over the last several years, the NEA has promoted within the schools the concept that homosexuality should be promoted as an alternative form of sexuality over the objections of many parents and religious groups. The teacher’s group has not been receptive to suggestions that some gays and lesbians have changed their sexual orientation to become former homosexuals, or “ex-gays.” The recognition of the Ex-Gay Educators’ Caucus may point to a willingness to consider the concerns of conservative educators and parents relating to sexual education materials in the schools. According to NEA procedures, caucuses are approved for the purpose of influencing NEA policy. They are groups of people who share similar concerns and by joining, signal their interest in achieving caucus objectives. One of the largest caucuses in the NEA is the Gay and Lesbian Issues Caucus. Through their influence, the NEA has moved in a decidedly leftward position on matters of sexual education and sexual orientation. Specifically, the NEA was party to the creation and dissemination of the “Just The Facts About Sexual Orientation” pamphlet. This document is sharply critical of programs that support sexual orientation change, thus even questioning the existence of ex-gays. According to Jeralee Smith, caucus chair, the Ex-Gay Educators’ Caucus is entitled to apply for exhibit space at this summer’s NEA convention in Washington, DC. Ms. Smith intends to apply but is cautious in predicting how much impact the group can have. According to Ms. Smith: “We can apply to exhibit but the materials we present must be approved in advance by the NEA.” And what does the caucus want school children and other teachers to know? For one thing, promoting gay, lesbian or bisexual identification in middle or high school is not the role of the school. If students are presented with information concerning gay identification, they also should be presented with models of those who have left homosexuality as well. Given the NEA’s cold reception to other groups with this message, it remains to be seen if the NEA’s recognition of the caucus signals a true willingness to give ex-gays freedom to express their message. Here’s a more cynical scenario. By recognizing the Ex-Gay Educators’ Caucus, the NEA is attempting to head off a public relations problem during its annual convention heading into the nation’s capital during an election year. How so? The NEA is still a party to a discrimination complaint brought by the Parents and Friends of Ex-gays (PFOX) group over the NEA’s refusal to allow PFOX to exhibit at last summer’s convention. The complaint was made in Washington, DC and given the pace of deliberations by the DC Human Rights Commission may not be decided until this summer, about the time of the annual convention. I really hope I am wrong. For the sake of teachers and school children, I hope the NEA leadership is going to be more open to the message of the Ex-Gay Educator‘s Caucus. So will the group fail the diversity test again? Or has the NEA gotten one right for a change?”
- ↑ Susan Jones (7 Jul 2008). Teachers' Union Recognizes 'Ex-Gay' Educators. CNSNews.com. Retrieved on 17 Jul 2017. “A group of "ex-gay" educators has officially registered with the nation's largest teachers union, thus ensuring that its views will be heard. The Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus has joined the many other "registered" caucuses that lobby the National Education Association to make policy changes. "We regard it as their right to lobby the NEA," said NEA spokesperson Kathleen Lyons in a press release confirming the registration of the Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus. Lyons added that official recognition of the Ex-Gay Educators does not mean that the National Education Association endorses the group's viewpoint. In fact, the NEA has promoted a booklet that argues against the possibility of changing one's sexual orientation. By registering the "ex-gay" group, the NEA settles a long-simmering dispute. As CNSNews.com reported last year, an "ex-gay" group (PFOX) accused the NEA of discrimination for denying PFOX space at the 2002 NEA convention in Dallas and then again at the 2003 NEA convention in New Orleans. At the time, PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays) said the NEA was trying to silence ex-gay schoolteachers - while allowing pro-homosexual groups to distribute literature and other information at the NEA conventions. PFOX even filed a complaint with the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights. Jeralee Smith, chair of the new Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus, said the group hopes to educate the NEA about the needs of ex-gay students and teachers. "We feel that this group can help educate the NEA concerning the existence of former homosexuals," Smith said. Smith said the caucus plans to apply for exhibit space at this summer's NEA convention in Washington, D.C. It has just set up a website, promising "more information to follow."”
- ↑ Susan Halvorson (24 Jul 2014). FAQ. Voice of the Voiceless. Retrieved on 17 Jul 2017.
- ↑ Ex-Gay Organization Infuriates LGBT Cohort At NEA Convention. ASKDrBrown, The Line of Fire with Dr.Michael Brown (11 Jul 2017). Retrieved on 19 Jul 2017. “Dr. Brown interviews Sue Halverson and David Pickup about discrimination they receive at a gathering of the National Education Association, for representing the reality that people can come out of same sex attraction and homosexuality.”
