Editor’s Note: NSFW: “Not Safe for Work” indicates a post contains graphic or offensive subject matter that would not be appropriate in certain settings (i.e. anywhere other than locked in your basement with the doors and windows shuttered). Now you know.
-Your friendly neighborhood Editors
As I sit in the airport waiting to catch my flight home, half of my sophomore year of college done and behind me, I finally have the opportunity to look into the biggest story no one is covering: Kevin Jennings’ reading habits.
Much has been written in the blogosphere over the past few days about ‘Safe School’s Czar’ Kevin Jennings–an individual whom I covered extensively a few months back. While the previous scandal has been since laid to rest, the newest round of craziness from GLSEN founder is just as insane-–if not more so.
Recently GatewayPundit ran a story about Kevin Jennings’ organization GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and the books that the organization recommends that young children read. The list is broken up into three different categories–books for kids grade K-6, 7-12, and teachers. The list of books contains literature that covers many and varied genres, from non-fiction to poetry. Supposedly the books are meant to support the stated mission of GLSEN, reproduced below.
From GLSEN’s website:
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities.
GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.
That’s all well and good, except some of the books GLSEN recommends are pornographic. The book list is intended to [sic] “furthers our (GLSEN’s) mission to ensure safe schools for all students.”; ostensibly implying that children who identify themselves as homosexual should read these books as a way to empower themselves, and straight children and teachers should also read the books to come to a deeper understanding and develop a respect for their homosexual peers. On its face that is a responsible, well-intentioned goal. However, if one examines even a small sampling of the books on the list, the real goal of the suggested readings become readily apparent. GLESN is not trying to empower anyone, or raise awareness, rather they are using the facade of awareness and concern to promote their twisted hypersexualized agenda, what I can only assume is a twisted aberration of the goals that reasonable that gay men and women aspire to. As an aside, I do not think, nor am I implying that the poison that GLESN is peddling is representative of the entire gay community, rather this is a reflection on Kevin Jennings and the fanatics that staff his loony organization.
The books and the list can be accessed though a portal on their site called “BookLink“, which provides an all-in-one system for parusing and even purchasing in bulk books that teachers are encouraged to make mandatory classroom reading.
Just a few of the books on the list:
Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian
Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth
Thus far I have been slightly obtuse in my explanation of exactly what the books contain, after the jump there will be an excerpt from one of the selected books, Queer 13. WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Read–BigGovernment
Read–GatewayPundit
Read–GLESN
