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Taxpayer-Funded Anti-Bullying Conference Bullies Conservatives, Christians

Rat — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:12:20 +0000

Should taxpayer money be used to fund an “anti-bullying” conference – which some claim, bullies the “bullies”? A group of nearly two dozen Republican lawmakers in Iowa doesn’t think so – and is threatening to pull funding from a Des Moines college as a result.

The 8th annual Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth, founded by Iowa Safe Schools, is scheduled to be held in Des Moines next week. It sounds harmless enough on the surface:

All students deserve a safe and supportive place in which to learn, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ). For many LGBTQ youth, school can be a terrifying place – due to bullying, harassment and discrimination.

In order to eliminate bullying in Iowa schools and to create leadership opportunities for LGBTQ youth, Iowa Safe Schools founded the Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth.

Fair enough, right? Again, on the surface, I might even support it. But – a closer look at the agenda reveals why the lawmakers are concerned. Here are three representative sessions:

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Right Wing?

Learn messages and methods to fight back against propaganda from the extreme right-wing; from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh to Bob Vander Plaats and Jan Mickelson. Discover resources to get the most up-to-date information available and work toward a more progressive Iowa.

For the Bible Tells Me So

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? For The Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity, and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

Exploring the Intersections Between Bisexual and Transgender Identities and Organizing

Bisexual Organizing Project

This workshop will invite participants to actively engage with the edges of intersections between transgender and bisexual identities and organizing. (Huh?) The presenters will offer working definitions of the terminology used, but this is not a 101 workshop. Participants are expected to have some knowledge/experience of transgender and bisexual identities and communities.

Fifteen state legislators signed a statement threatening to halt DMACC’s funding if the college refuses to pull its sponsorship from the conference, saying the program’s objective is the advancement of the LGBT lifestyle (vs. one of protecting kids), and an affront to conservatives and Christians alike:

Based on our desire and commitment to be faithful stewards of our tax dollars, we cannot in good conscience vote to give taxpayer dollars to people or groups who pervert the Bible, teach our youth to engage in dangerous behavior, and target individuals like Jan Mickelson (a popular Des Moines-area talk radio host) for hatred and bullying.

We have proof that the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Diversity Commission is using tuition and taxpayer monies to sponsor the Governor’s LGBTQ Youth Conference, as a result of information obtained by the DMACC Young Americans for Freedom chapter through a Freedom of information Act (FOIA) request.

Therefore, we Representatives of the people of Iowa, will vote against appropriations for DMACC unless it withholds taxpayers’ dollars from the Governor’s LGBTQ Youth Conference.

Let’s be clear: no bullying of any kind should be tolerated by – or against - anyone. That is far from the point here. Whether one agrees with the Iowa Republicans, or not, failure to see the concerted effort underway by the “progressive” left to subvert conservative values, morality and Christianity in America’s youth through the public school system is either naive, disingenuous or both.

In just the last week alone on Rats’ Right!:

College Suspends Student For Refusing To Stomp On ‘Jesus’ (03/22/13)

Oregon Teacher Escorted Out By Police; Set To Be Fired For Opposing Planned Parenthood In The Classroom (03/25/13)

Have You Seen The Video That Teaches Fifth-Graders That America Caused 9/11? (03/26/13)

See a pattern here? Coincidental? Think about it.

O’s America.

FRESH off the PRESS - YES! Campaign Conference Report 2011

youthsayyes — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:48:54 +0000

The YES! Campaign Conference Report 2011

After months of hard work, we finally have it! We spent weeks organizing all of the ideas YES! participants gave us about creating safe and inclusive schools. Then spent days upon days working with a super cool graphic designer from New York to figure out how best to represent the contagious energy that was everywhere on October 23, 2011! We had a day long party to ask our YES! Leaders what they would like to see in the report – this was really just an excuse to hang out. We did some work though, really! Then, we finally put it all together ensuring that the whole report reflected the energy, passion, conversation, and learnings we all had that day.

As you read through the report, be sure to read all the post-its, the quotes, see the pictures, and start to think about what you can take away from it. We think the report has a ton of useful information for youth, teachers, youth-workers, and school administrators. This document is just the preview of what’s to come. Later this year, NCCJ will be using the ideas that we summarized in this report to create an actual curriculum of activities and strategies that youth and adults can use to create safe and inclusive environments in their schools. Until then, enjoy the report and contact us for more information about anything.

Happy Readings!

Click –> YES! Conference Report 2011

JUST 16 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!

youthsayyes — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:29:46 +0000

Are you excited for the YES! Conference?

NCCJ Presents at the 3rd Annual Conference on Bullying & Safe Schools

youthsayyes — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:24:56 +0000

Last week, the staff and youth of NCCJ were asked to present about their anti-bullying work in schools, and the new YES! Campaign, at the 3rd annual New Hampshire Conference on Bullying & Safe Schools. This year’s conference focused on new research and practice strategies to improve teaching about issues of safe space and inclusion within public schools. Among the many presenters at the conference, the NCCJ youth stood out as brillant, strong, and empowered. They captivated their audience with skits, fishbowls, and open discussion about the values of the YES! Campaign. Check out this video of their presentation!