Dissent Stirs Among National PTA Ranks Over Group's Pro-Homosexual Stance
by Jim Brown
June 28, 2005
(AgapePress) - Members of the National Parents and Teachers Association are being challenged to pressure the organization over its support for homosexual-affirming policies and curricula in public schools.
On Monday (June 27), the PTA wrapped up its national convention in Columbus, Ohio, but not without controversy. The organization barred from its convention an "ex-homosexual" group called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), but meanwhile hosted a workshop by the group Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), which urged the establishment of more Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and homosexual-affirming diversity training in public schools.
A major emphasis of the National PTA conference was addressing the problems of bullying and school safety. One of the presenters at the PFLAG workshop told PTA members that most homosexual, bisexual and transgender students do not feel safe in public schools, so they are often truant. However, some educators question whether creating an environment that calls attention to homosexual and transgender students or singles them out as a victimized group represents a real solution to the problem.
Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a mental health counselor who has done extensive research on sexual orientation and youth, says not all PTA members are on board with the national organization's agenda. "I had several PTA state officials come to me and say that if this continues in the PTA, they expect membership to continue to drop," he notes.
Throckmorton, who is also a psychology professor at Grove City College, says some members of the National PTA are silently voicing their displeasure with the organization's promotion of homosexual-affirming curricula in schools. In fact, he adds, several PTA state leaders have indicated to him that they may organize a protest of the 2006 convention because of the PTA's one-sided approach to the issue of sexuality.
"One [PTA] state president even said if PFLAG comes back next year with the same kind of program and there's no balance provided, they will consider not sending their delegation to the convention next year," the psychologist says.
Throckmorton says the challenge for members of the National PTA who disagree with their leadership's homosexual-affirming stance is to make their dissenting voice heard. "For PTA members who want balance, who want fairness in viewpoint presentation," he insists, "they need to let their leaders know how they feel about this and do it en masse."
Both the Grove City College professor and members of PFOX were denied exhibit space at the 2005 national PTA gathering in Columbus. However, both the group and the psychologist participated in a counter-conference nearby, where they were able to present information that included pro-family and ex-homosexual perspectives.
In addition to a roster of pro-family speakers, the Ohio PFOX conference featured two showings of Dr. Throckmorton's documentary, Is Change Possible?, a film that looks at the lives of five former homosexuals.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
