Families ask court to shield kids from homosexual indoctrination

by Jim Brown
February 16, 2007

(OneNewsNow.com) - - Two Massachusetts couples are waging a federal court battle for the right to opt their elementary school children out of classroom discussions on homosexuality. U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf will soon decide whether Lexington school officials must stand trial in connection with a federal civil lawsuit brought by the Parker and Wirthlin families.

The two Bay State couples claim Lexington school officials violated their parental rights by refusing to notify them when homosexuality was discussed favorably in their children's classrooms. David Parker says his five-year-old son was even sent home with a "diversity book bag" that included a book about a homosexual family.

Attorneys for the Lexington School District claim introducing homosexuality to children five years old and up is a "legitimate state interest." But Parker says there is 'an undue burden on parents when teachers continuously are affirming and celebrating homosexual relationships and gay marriage behind their backs.'

The Massachusetts parent says his family's religious beliefs and those of the Wirthlins were violated when their children received favorable teaching on homosexuality. 'Teachers are exploiting the trusting innocence of really tiny children to imprint what are considered secular values in direct contravention to our faith,' he says.

What the families want, Parker explains, is simple "openness and transparency" on the part of school administrators. They could provide that, he says, by giving 'explicit and timely parental notification when they're going to be doing indoctrination sessions with regard to gay marriage and homosexual relationships -- and even transgenderism -- and have the parents have the option to opt their children out of these indoctrination sessions."

Attorneys for the Lexington School District have filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the civil suit brought by the Parker and Wirthlin families. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign have filed an amicus brief in support of the Lexington officials' motion to dismiss.