Attempted Drive-By, Number Two
The CRC's appeal document is HERE. I flipped through it, it's mostly the same old stuff. Let me mention a couple of things.
The intent of this document is to exploit a law that says the State Superintendent of Schools has five days from today (the day the complaint was filed) to "order a stay ... of any action taken by any local board..." The CRC, PFOX, and some other group called "Family Leader Network" want the state to overrule the Montgomery County school district's decision to implement the new sex-ed curriculum.
To that end, they have assembled 55 pages of lies, misdirections, misconstruals, and rightwing cliches, plus there appear to be dozens of attachments (not included in the pdf).
This is a variation on the trick they used in the previous lawsuit. They have submitted so much stuff that it will take the state officials five days just to wade through it all. Meanwhile, there is no time for the local school district to respond to this junk -- it would take a week to list out the errors in this document. They're hoping they can shock the state board and superintendent with all this stuff about anal sex and ex-gays and ... I mean, this is bizarre.
Plus, they've got petitions online again, and they're flooding the Internet with emails soliciting people to work at the computer and help them out.
Because, look, if this doesn't work, they're done.
It's interesting that they have attached an affadavit from Richard Cohen, former president of PFOX, now pretty much persona non grata, even in the "ex-gay" community. Kicked out of the American Counseling Association for life, drummed out of PFOX... But he's just what the CRC needs.
And I see there's another by Susan Jamison. I was so surprised last year to discover that her organization was backed by America's Nazi Party; I wasn't looking for it, but there it was. And now, she's filing papers in support of the anti-MCPS suers.
And there is something in here about us. They say "Teach the Facts compared PFOX's representation of the ex-gay community to the Klan and child molesters, despite PFOX's mission of tolerance for both ex-gays and gays." I don't usually talk this way on the blog, but ... this pissed me off.
I have said before that the argument that you should "teach both sides of a controversy" is absurd, because -- here's a typical quote:
I have used that example before, and I think it's legitimate. It is way out of line to depict this as comparing PFOX in any way with the Klan, especially in a way that makes the concept of "tolerance" relevant. The fact is, the "ex-gay" movement is a cruel hoax that preys on people's hopes and uncertainties, and it does not belong in a classroom along side real medicine and science. I don't need the Klan to make that point.
The "child molester" part appears to be a complete fabrication. The word "molester" or its variant "molestor" has never been used on this blog, except perhaps by someone in the comments. At least Google can't find it. What do you call it when somebody lies in court documents? This statement references a footnote that says, "See excerpts from Teach the Facts blog and Plaintiffs' letter, written by Dr. Ruth Jacobs, M.D., advising MCPS of harassment of CAC members at Exhibit O," but I don't know what Exhibit O is, of course. I would be fascinated to see what they included to support these statements.
I consider this assertion to be a very serious kind of offense, a public accusation with no substance.
By the way, can you believe it? They also said in this document that "... they [that's me] labeled the ex-gay community a 'cruel hoax.'" Why ... I never. Oh, er, I did? OK, I did.
Well, it is. I'm not obligated by law to believe every piece of bull-oney somebody tries to convince me of. I don't apologize. I've looked into it, I've conferred with the experts, I've read the research, and I've concluded, like just about everybody else, that it's a cruel hoax. They get gay people to think they can become straight, and they can't.
(Somebody emailed me: "how'd you know so soon?" Like Scooter, I learn about things from reporters...)
The intent of this document is to exploit a law that says the State Superintendent of Schools has five days from today (the day the complaint was filed) to "order a stay ... of any action taken by any local board..." The CRC, PFOX, and some other group called "Family Leader Network" want the state to overrule the Montgomery County school district's decision to implement the new sex-ed curriculum.
To that end, they have assembled 55 pages of lies, misdirections, misconstruals, and rightwing cliches, plus there appear to be dozens of attachments (not included in the pdf).
This is a variation on the trick they used in the previous lawsuit. They have submitted so much stuff that it will take the state officials five days just to wade through it all. Meanwhile, there is no time for the local school district to respond to this junk -- it would take a week to list out the errors in this document. They're hoping they can shock the state board and superintendent with all this stuff about anal sex and ex-gays and ... I mean, this is bizarre.
Plus, they've got petitions online again, and they're flooding the Internet with emails soliciting people to work at the computer and help them out.
Because, look, if this doesn't work, they're done.
It's interesting that they have attached an affadavit from Richard Cohen, former president of PFOX, now pretty much persona non grata, even in the "ex-gay" community. Kicked out of the American Counseling Association for life, drummed out of PFOX... But he's just what the CRC needs.
And I see there's another by Susan Jamison. I was so surprised last year to discover that her organization was backed by America's Nazi Party; I wasn't looking for it, but there it was. And now, she's filing papers in support of the anti-MCPS suers.
And there is something in here about us. They say "Teach the Facts compared PFOX's representation of the ex-gay community to the Klan and child molesters, despite PFOX's mission of tolerance for both ex-gays and gays." I don't usually talk this way on the blog, but ... this pissed me off.
I have said before that the argument that you should "teach both sides of a controversy" is absurd, because -- here's a typical quote:
This stuff that they're saying, about a school not promoting one viewpoint over the other, is very dangerous. That would mean you can't mention the NAACP without bringing in the Klan -- I mean, c'mon, anybody can see the insanity of this... can't they?
I have used that example before, and I think it's legitimate. It is way out of line to depict this as comparing PFOX in any way with the Klan, especially in a way that makes the concept of "tolerance" relevant. The fact is, the "ex-gay" movement is a cruel hoax that preys on people's hopes and uncertainties, and it does not belong in a classroom along side real medicine and science. I don't need the Klan to make that point.
The "child molester" part appears to be a complete fabrication. The word "molester" or its variant "molestor" has never been used on this blog, except perhaps by someone in the comments. At least Google can't find it. What do you call it when somebody lies in court documents? This statement references a footnote that says, "See excerpts from Teach the Facts blog and Plaintiffs' letter, written by Dr. Ruth Jacobs, M.D., advising MCPS of harassment of CAC members at Exhibit O," but I don't know what Exhibit O is, of course. I would be fascinated to see what they included to support these statements.
I consider this assertion to be a very serious kind of offense, a public accusation with no substance.
By the way, can you believe it? They also said in this document that "... they [that's me] labeled the ex-gay community a 'cruel hoax.'" Why ... I never. Oh, er, I did? OK, I did.
Well, it is. I'm not obligated by law to believe every piece of bull-oney somebody tries to convince me of. I don't apologize. I've looked into it, I've conferred with the experts, I've read the research, and I've concluded, like just about everybody else, that it's a cruel hoax. They get gay people to think they can become straight, and they can't.
(Somebody emailed me: "how'd you know so soon?" Like Scooter, I learn about things from reporters...)
posted by JimK at 5:01 PM
18 Comments:
What TTF said and when they said it is a matter to be ruled on by high-level state officals.
MWA-ha-HA-ha-HA!
Anon's evil laugh is just that - evil.
From my quick research of previous State BOE appeals, I have discovered a couple of things:
The failure to raise an issue before the local board constitutes a waiver of the right to raise the issue before the state board. MCPS can argue that this "Family Network" did not properly raise this issue before the MCPS BOE because nobody has ever said, "Hey I'm Mr. Garza from Family Network and I object to the sex ed curriculum..." Various groups like PFOX and the CRC raised the issue, although I am not sure they raised it enough to satisfy the legal requirement.
In the ADC Baltimore case, I have adapted the ruling to our situation: As long as a viewpoint was “seriously considered” in committee, as long as students have an accepted alternative to participating (not opting-in to the new curriculum, in our case), and as long as there is a secular purpose (safety, health, and welfare of students, in our case), the local board did not act illegally.
The MCPS BOE said they would fight this. Let's see if they can walk the talk.
Also, I should point out that these "high-level state officials" rarely reverse a local district decision. Mostly they realize the people appealing to them are nuts.
"Plus, they've got petitions online again, and they're flooding the Internet with emails soliciting people to work at the computer and help them out."
Jim, I am seriously confused. I thought you said CRC had pretty much disbanded a few months ago ...
How could they be flooding the internet now :-)
Anon, it just takes one person to flood the Internet with emails. People in our group were getting them, with no idea in the world why. They're sending this stuff to everybody. It's nothing to copy and paste and save a couple thousand email addresses and send junk mail out to them.
Or to set up an online petition, for that matter. It just takes one person.
JimK
Here with go with money being taken away from kids and wasted on attorneys again courtesy of CRC/PFOX and their ship of fools.
Wonder how many staff people the wasted money could have bought for schools that need extra staff?
Ted
The emails that have been "flooding the internet" were sent by "Theresa Rickman, CRC Secretary, Theresa.rickman@mcpscurriculum.com." You might *recall* that Theresa comments here sometimes. Her second email urged people to watch the news because CRC held a press conference yesterday. So I watched.
It was good to see Garza's hairplugs are filling in nicely since his "we love you" Public Comment at the BOE last year. I wonder how many new hairplugs last years' settlement money bought him.
Daisy
I wonder what these guys think about Texas becoming the first state to require HPV vaccinnation for 11-12 year-old girls? Texas!
"It just takes one person."
Well, five will do nicely too. Just ask TTF.
CRC has plenty of supporters. That's why they scare the MCPS Board so. Their events have been better attended than TTF's. Their petitions have drawn more signatures than TTF's.
Just ask your typical parent if they want their kids taught that some people pretend to be a different gender "by changing their clothes and some by changing their body."
Yeah, CRC's so popular here in Montgomery County that they put up how many successful candidates for BOE and other local offices last year?
Oh that's right. None!
PTA
Anonymous (whoever he/she is) said: "Just ask your typical parent if they want their kids taught that some people pretend to be a different gender "by changing their clothes and some by changing their body."
Anonymous...if you are, in fact, a parent I would consider you to be "atypical". A vast majority of educated, tolerant, open-minded parents would not throw the hissy-fits you throw because they don't have your sex-phobic delusions. They would simply teach their children that the world is a big place, peopled by people who are different from them and who, in fact, offer no threat to their well-being.
Bob
You are right, 1000's is correct Jim - but they aren't random email addresses, they are folks who contacted us or who asked to be on the list.
I must be hitting you folks since I pulled the message board email addresses because we have had so many new sign ups lately.
Sorry about that, you know how it works, just reply with unsubscribe and I will be more than happy to remove you....
Good luck with that, Theresa.
JimK
Theresa, I am sure these are all fine MC residents- or no probably not. Lots of right wing nuts out there all over the US-ones who believe the nonsense you guys posted to the State board. Cmon- you know a lot of it isn't true, don't you? Or maybe not- sad, if you think most of the stuff you guys submitted is true instead of just a lot of codswallop to try to pull one over on the State board. I am pretty sure they are smarter than your average CRC homophobe or your above average CRCer(not that I have found any)
You know, Theresa, I haven't met any parents who are in any way scared or intimidated by me. You must have a very limited circle of friends.
Warning - Facts ahead -
Andrear -
I see all of them, I know the zipcodes, and 95% are MC residents - as also demonstrated by the on-line petition, launched 18 hours ago with 230 signatures, already.
We sorted and only mailed to MC zipcodes for the signed petition, and we mailed 3500.
There were a total of about 4000 signatures, so again, most MC zipcodes.
So what you are stating is simply incorrect.
Don't argue with these morons, Theresa. They're just envious that they don't have as many supporters as CRC.
I guess all those "CRC supporters" stayed home on election day.
Or maybe all 5 of them were handing out fliers begging people to vote for the BOE candidates who lost, by a landslide.
Nice design of blog.
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