I am so sick of this.  She gets e-mails like this all the time as she works at a state university.  Apparently, all of this speech is protected (first amendment) because it is considered a government entity.  However, she cannot disagree with it (in an e-mail) because that is religious.  So…only one side gets to promote their agenda.

I am seriously thinking of starting a “watchdog” non-profit organization called FAIR that raises money, etc. to sue to stop this.  Here is what I have written so far….

“FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources, support, and guidance for those working in educational institutions, government agencies and the media who have been subjected to harassment, exclusion, and discrimination based on the perception of how their private and/or personal beliefs may differ from the accepted norm within said entity.”

Suggestions welcome.



Email:

Something for us to aware of as it impacts our field's ongoing debate regarding the use of conversion therapy. Heather > Subject: Task Force Policy Institute report reveals ex-gay movement's > new tactic of targeting youth > > ************************************************************** > NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE > Press Release > > MEDIA CONTACT: > Roberta Sklar, 646.358.1465 (office), 917.704.6358 > (cell) > > ************************************************************** > > Youth in the Crosshairs: The Third Wave of Ex-Gay Activism - Task > Force Policy Institute report reveals ex-gay movement's new tactic of > targeting youth > > "This report exposes the extent to which these zealots will go, > including reformulating their ex-gay snake oil at the expense of > vulnerable children and young adults." - Matt Foreman, executive > director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force > > MIAMI, March 2 - A report released today by the National Gay and > Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute reveals the ex-gay movement's new > tactic of targeting lesbian, gay and bisexual youth for > "conversion-therapy" and "preventive" > measures. The > report, Youth in the Crosshairs: The Third Wave of Ex-Gay Activism, > reveals how groups such as Exodus International and Focus on the > Family promote widely discredited theories on the root of > homosexuality and now recommend "prevention" > and > conversion therapy treatments despite the growing body of research > that shows these treatments to be ineffective and even harmful for > many participants. > > "It is morally repugnant and downright dangerous the way these > extremists demonize young people and prey on the fears of parents > through their so-called ex-gay programs," > said Matt > Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task > Force. "This report exposes the extent to which these zealots will go, > including reformulating their ex-gay snake oil at the expense of > vulnerable children and young adults." > > He added, "These programs and conferences are often established in > states that are fertile ground for right-wing organizing efforts, > notably in states that are considering anti-same-sex marriage ballot > measures. It is no wonder that their organizers are viewed as > politically motivated." > > Florida is among the states facing the threat of an anti-same-sex > marriage constitutional amendment on the ballot in the next two years. > It is also home to Exodus International, one of the nation's largest > ex-gay organizations, and will be the site of Focus on the Family's > ex-gay conference, Love Won Out, in Fort Lauderdale on May 6. The > report was released today at a press conference in Miami in > conjunction with the Winter Party Festival. Among the speakers at the > press conference was Florida resident Justin Flippen, a survivor of an > ex-gay program. > > "Jesus tells us the truth is what sets us free," > said Flippen. > "The truth that we are made in God's image, male and female, gay and > straight, must be given bold testimony, particularly when affronted by > the falsehood of misguided theology. > So-called > Christian reparative therapy is repugnant to the intended purpose of > God's creation. The psychological damage such misguided therapy > inflicts upon others shamefully thwarts untold numbers of Christians > from fully sharing in the community of faith we call the church." > > In an effort to demonize and block lesbian, gay, bisexual and > transgender people from attaining basic rights, extremist groups have > long promoted the notion that homosexuality is a disorder that can be > cured through psychotherapy and/or religion. Over the past few years, > however, the ex-gay movement has taken a new approach - targeting > lesbian, gay and bisexual youth with both "preventive" measures and > conversion. The report places this "third wave" of ex-gay activism in > the historical context of the first and second waves of ex-gay > activism, starting in 1973. > > A key finding of the report shows that, in this third wave of ex-gay > activism, ex-gay programs and their evangelical Christian right allies > are focusing less on "curing" adults of homosexuality and more on > preventing its development by targeting parents, children and > adolescents. Whether through ex-gay teen programs or traveling ex-gay > conferences like Focus on the Family's Love Won Out ex-gay programs > are recommending that parents commit their children to treatment of > "prehomosexuality" even if it is against their children's wishes. > Heterosexual youth are also being recruited in schools and churches to > spread the message that homosexuality is a treatable mental illness. > > "One of the most disturbing accounts in this report is a case > involving a 5-year-old boy who was subjected to conversion therapy to > address 'prehomosexuality.' The case involves a psychologist who > claims that his theories and treatments are scientific," said study > co-author Jason Cianciotto, the Policy Institute's research director. > "To the contrary, conversion therapy is opposed by nearly every > medical and mental health professional association, including the > American Academy of Pediatrics." > > He added, "Studies cited by ex-gay leaders to support their claims > suffer from fatal methodological flaws, and are contradicted by > respected, peer-reviewed academic research. > Tragically, ex-gay and evangelical Christian right leaders are using > bogus theories and discredited research to frighten parents into doing > something more likely to harm than help their children." > > Among other key report findings: > > * Not only does ex-gay therapy not work; there is a growing body of > research documenting the harm it causes and the ethical violations it > embodies, especially when applied to children against their will. > > * Ex-gay programs and conversion therapy practitioners could be shut > down and even held liable for the harm they cause to clients based on > malpractice, consumer fraud, false advertising, or under contract or > child abuse and neglect laws, particularly for minors forced to attend > an ex-gay program. > > * For decades, anti-gay leaders have portrayed homosexuality as a > malign choice to support their "special rights" > argument. > However, that message is contradicted by theories posited by ex-gay > leaders and evangelical Christian right leaders, who claim that > "pre-homosexuality" develops as the result of dysfunctional > relationships between parents and children, as well as child sexual > abuse. These claims are based on flawed research, most of which would > not withstand the scrutiny required to be published in respected, > peer-reviewed academic journals. > > * A study of 202 former conversion therapy clients published in > 2002 reported that 176 participants experienced significant harm, > including depression, social isolation, low self-esteem, internalized > homophobia and even attempted suicide. > The study > also found ethical concerns and violations, including the use of false > and prejudicial information disguised as science to convince clients > that they needed treatment. > > * Perhaps because of the growing number of ex-gay leaders who have > publicly "fallen off the wagon," ex-gay programs have confusing and > conflicting definitions of what it means to "change" as the result of > their programs. For example, Exodus International claims that "change > is possible," but John Smid, director of Love In Action, has said, > "There is no cure for homosexuality." Ex-gay leaders also cite wildly > varying and conflicting numbers of people who have "changed" as the > result of their programs, ranging from "hundreds" to "hundreds of > thousands." > > A copy of the full report can be obtained at www.theTaskForce.org . > > -30- > > *************************************************************** > > Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation > (the Task Force) was the first national lesbian, gay, bisexual and > transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy organization and remains > the movement's leading voice for freedom, justice and equality. We > work to build the grassroots political strength of our community by > training state and local activists and leaders, working to strengthen > the infrastructure of state and local allies, and organizing > broad-based campaigns to build public support for complete equality > for LGBT people. > Our Policy Institute, the community's premier think tank, provides > research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete > equality. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to > create a world that respects and makes visible the diversity of human > expression and identity where all people may fully participate in > society. > Headquartered in > Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, > Cambridge, Mass., and Miami. The Task Force is a > 501(c)(3) corporation incorporated in Washington, D.C. > Contributions to the Task Force are tax deductible to the full extent > allowed by law. > > Copyright 2006 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change > (TM) is a trademark of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. All > other trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. > The Task Force Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Tax > ID #52-1624852. > -------------------------------------------------- > > Tell your friends about this message from the National Gay and Lesbian > Task Force.

Spam filter or just dont use her email. If you have an email youll get spam. fact of internet.

Quoted: Spam filter or just dont use her email. If you have an email youll get spam. fact of internet.

She gets this from coworkers and bosses...not just from random people.

Quoted: Quoted: Spam filter or just dont use her email. If you have an email youll get spam. fact of internet. She gets this from coworkers and bosses...not just from random people.

Block those senders or dont use the email. Im sure theres an HR department if there bothering her.