Maine 'Civil Rights Team' Students Reject Real 'Diversity'     4/16/2003
By Peter LaBarbera

Transgender activist featured at forum in state capital

AUGUSTA, Maine—Pro-family pastors attempted to give critical information about homosexuality to about 2,000 students attending a 'diversity' conference in Maine's capital, but most young people--guided by their adult advisors—refused to even accept the information.

The April 15 conference – attended by elementary-, middle- and high school students who were bused from across the state – included only "gay"-affirming messages, including a testimony presented by a female "transgender" activist who is now taking male testosterone hormones in her quest to be the "man" she feels she is.

Teachers and advisors told the students attending the all-day Statewide Civil Rights Team (CRT) Project conference at the Augusta Civic Center that they did not need to accept the alternative information, which included a written testimony from Christian ex-homosexual Stephen Bennett and a report on "Homosexuality and Children" by the Family Research Council.

As students filed into the Civic Center—many with their arms at their sides—pro-family volunteers urged them to "think for yourself" and accept the information in the name of true "diversity." By their hostile expressions, many appeared to have been coached against taking the information (see below). A few, about one in five, did accept the literature.

The Maine Civil Rights Team Project is a taxpayer-funded program operated out of the Attorney General's Office in which student volunteers form school-based "Civil Rights Teams" to affirm minorities--including homosexuals and the "transgendered." The program grew out of the state's "hate crimes" law, which includes "sexual orientation."

Based on CRT Project materials acquired by the Culture & Family Report, the program excludes the pro-family perspective critical of homosexuality and "transgenderism" and apparently has always done so. This was the fifth annual statewide CRT conference.

Heath offers alternative view

Mike Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, learned of the conference and informed Maine's Attorney General, G. Steven Rowe, that he would ask several concerned pastors to observe the event. Heath said they would pass out information on homosexuality to the incoming students.

In a letter to the Civic League, Rowe responded that the CRT conference is "not open to attendance by the general public" but that Heath could take two observers to each workshop. He also said Heath and his group could pass out literature to the incoming students, but could not record workshops—saying that would have a "chilling effect" on the students' discussions.

The "chilling effect" statement was ironic because Heath and other critics of the Civil Rights Team Project say that CRT student-activists—who report incidents of hateful speech to authorities—have a politically correct "chilling effect" on the speech of other students. For example, one target of the CRT Project is the popular phrase, "That's so gay," which many kids say to mean "That's so dumb." Pro-"gay" education activists believe the phrase fosters hate and bigotry against homosexuals and favor taking active or educational or even disciplinary steps against students who use it.

In a follow-up letter to Rowe, Heath said observers should be able to record the events, since parents have a right to know what transpires at Civil Rights Team Project seminars. But Rowe said the non-taping policy protects "the privacy of students and their families," and the League would not be allowed to tape. He also criticized Heath for calling the "gay" oriented sessions "homosexual indoctrination."

Heath responded:

It is a mistake to forbid recording of this conference. It creates the impression that you are trying to hide something. If I come out of a workshop on transgenderism with a handwritten note about something that the adults said to the 13 year olds, many people won't believe me. Many parents find it hard to believe me when I tell them that you allow a workshop to discuss such a thing. I'm sure that my notes are going to be no more persuasive.

Heath said the careful controlling of information provided to students merits the "indoctrination" label for the CRT Project.

Behind the scenes activism

The day before the conference, Heath obtained an email that revealed the behind-the-scenes activism of CRT officials and a pro-"gay" presenter. Thomas Harnett, an aide to Attorney General Rowe who runs the CRT Project, wrote the following urgent memo warning CRT leaders of Heaths' activities:

"After a great deal of internal discussion about the request of the Christian Civic League to leaflet outside of the Augusta Civic Center and to attend parts of the conference, the Attorney General has attempted (unsuccessfully) to meet with Michael Heath. He has instead written him a letter outlining an offer to allow him to observe parts of the day. The League's requests to videotape, audiotape and set up a table to distribute materials were rejected. I have attached a memo to all regional coordinators, faculty advisors, community advisors and presenters dealing with these issues. We have mailed hard copies to all schools but would appreciate any help you can give in disseminating this information electronically to your team and advisor contacts as quickly as possible. I realize that you may have questions about these developments. Feel free to call me at 626-8897 or to email me any questions or concerns. Thanks – Thom"

The email also contained a message attacking the Family Research Council as a "right-wing action action group that has a reputation for disseminating bogus 'research.'" It was written by Peter Rees, who was scheduled to present a workshop at the Statewide CRT Conference on the "Psychology of Prejudice." Rees is a pro-homosexual activist who last year was a featured speaker at a Metropolitan Community Church seminar. The MCC is a

denomination for homosexuals that teaches homosexual "orientation" is a "gift from God."

The following is the complete text of Rees' email:

"Dear CRT advisors,

I am including below the text of a message from Michael Heath of the 'Christian Civic League' for your information. The opinion I am expressing first is my own and is not necessarily the position of the AG's office. You might want to prepare your kids for whatever Heath plans to do by suggesting that they consider him as any missionary type who comes to the door to sell you on the idea that their belief system is preferable to yours. We can ignore if we wish or listen if we wish, or take what they hand us if we wish. It is best not to get into a discussion, as we can be sure that their views are set in stone. No need to be intimidated by them, and we can feel entirely free to decline what they have to tell us or give us. We will be in Augusta for a different purpose and need not be distracted from it by Heath. I note that he will be offering a piece from the 'Family Research Council', a right-wing action group that has a reputation for disseminating bogus 'research' that fails to meet the most basic standards of scientific research. – Peter

Rees' email was forward to other CRT leaders by Darylen Cote, Regional Coordinator for the Civil Rights Team Project. Cote wrote that "Peter's advice, particularly to students, hits the mark quite well."

What students heard

Given that students were warned with rhetoric like the above, it is no wonder that many viewed the literature presented by Heath and his group, including Paul Madore of Maine Grassroots Coalition, with suspicion. This writer was with Heath, and passed out Stephen Bennett's ex-"gay" testimony to students. A few took it gladly, while most did not. Many were openly hostile to those passing out the information, with some holding their arms tightly to their side. One student told me that I was going to hell.

Inside the Civic Center, each room hosting a Civil Rights Team workshop had a sign posted outside the door stating that audio recording devices were not allowed inside – an obvious reaction to Heath's inquiries.

I attended a session on GLBTQ [Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning] youth. The workshop was not open to elementary school children.

The GLBTQ session was led by a young woman who identified herself as a "transgender guy" and who went by the initials "KP." I came in after the introduction and did not hear her actual name. KP said she was "born female" but had "lived male in all parts of my life." She said she is a paid staffer with Outright, a homosexual youth organization based in Portland that advertises itself as "supporting GLBTQ youth ages 22 and under."

KP, who appeared to be in her early twenties, said her transgender identity "is not as weird as it sounds."

She told of how she "came out" as a lesbian, but was still "really uncomfortable with my body." Ultimately, she "came out" again, this time as a "transgendered" man. KP said she asked her friends to start calling her by her initials (KP) instead of her (feminine) name, and to start referring to her "using the male gender."

KP said her mother told her, "I don't understand why you'd want to change such a large part of yourself because you're such a good person."

She said her parents are getting more comfortable with her "transgender" identity, but she has not yet told them that she is now taking testosterone hormones to begin the "physical" change to masculinity. She said she began taking them last month "and that's why my voice is a little bit deeper."

KP said she plans to tell her parents about taking testosterone in a few days when she visits them for Easter.

KP said her nephew asks her, "Auntie, are you a boy or a girl?"

Several adult advisors to various school Civil Rights Teams attended the GLBTQ workshop, but none -- and no students -- asked a question that could be considered remotely critical. One adult female advisor asked what "medical support" could be offered to people "who want to pursue this."

Printer Friendly Version

Recent Articles

Homosexuals Say They’ll Ignore No-Protest Order in Jerusalem

The Top Ten Da Vinci Code Distortions

Baseball’s Latest Scandal: Going After the Church

'A Superhero for Choice'

ACLU Seeks Mandatory Homosexual Sensitivity Training

Virgins Not Allowed!

Christian Activist Marcavage to Appeal Rejection of Lawsuit against Temple University

CWA’s Knight to Speak on Suburban Washington Sex-Ed Curriculum

New Genetics Study Undermines Gay Gene Theory

Apology Not Enough for ABC’s ‘Monday Nude Football’ Skit