Citizen of the World

Kevin Jennings is the ground breaker who founded GLSEN in 1990 and was appointed by Obama as the "Education Czar" in 2009. The Right Wing HATES this guy because he's not a Christian and he's battling (uphill in the snow both ways) to make sure that schools have anti-bullying standards. The Right Wing has launched a broadening smear campaign against Kevin Jennings. I think Jennings' work is commendable. He's gay, he's forward-thinking, he's against gay bashing, and he's scaring the crap out of Republicans. YAY!

My father forwarded me a note yesterday that contained references to Kevin Jennings and Mr. Jennings' efforts - spewing with overblown statements and misguided judgments. Part of me got perturbed about getting such an email - especially from my dad - but he's 85 and simply forwards sensationalistic things around, which he thinks will incite someone to do "something" - right or wrong. Whereas I don't believe 5/6ths of what the email says (and rightly so, because it is a lot of fear mongering - "The Sky Is Falling!"), the email got me to research and find out about Kevin Jennings, which is GREAT! He's an interesting guy.

As I looked him up online, I came across a myriad of ultra-conservative, Fox-News-loving websites that projected so much hatred toward the gay community because of "our agenda". "Our agenda" is equality. "Our agenda" pushes against all hatred and hopes for a world where little girls aren't ostracized because they like other little girls and boys aren't beaten up on the corner of the playground because they like other boys. "Our agenda" promotes understanding that we're not queer by choice; who would choose to be outcasts and hated?? People choose all the time to fight against who they really are, deep down inside (e.g. Larry Craig, Jim McGreevy, etc.) and live lives that destroy others' lives because they're not living honestly and following their souls' truth.

These uncovered sites include (be aware that there are a lot of lies and hatred on these sites; if you're not ready for it, don't read much on them. It's important to understand where the "other side of the issues" is coming from):
The American Thinker (headed up solely by men)
Liberty Action
Atlas Shrugs
Saving Common Sense (another unsubstantiated claim against Kevin Jennings)

Sadly, I even found a posting on an AARP site about the whole thing from this email already. When all the truth comes out about the reality behind the lies, I hope that these people have enough dignity and integrity to issue apologies. But, then again, the Right Wing never apologizes for hateful things they do or spreading biased lies and sensationalism.

Here's the email I received (sorry it's so long, but it's behind the cut for those who don't want to read it):

( Subject: Jennings calls for 'queering' elementary schools )

In order to be taken seriously by truly thinking folks, it would help the Right Wing's cause to find the reasons behind the things these folks do. Do an ounce of fact checking. People don't just get up out of bed and think, "Oh, I want to collect my friends ashes and spread them on the White House lawn today. I think they would have appreciated that!" Why did those folks do that? Because when no one listens to you speaking, your actions have to speak louder! "Actions speak louder than words" - so true!!!

Kevin Jennings (growing up in Winston-Salem, NC) must have been bullied in elementary school because he was "different" or "a fag", as I was. He must want other children not to have to face those kinds of ordeals and hope for safer schools for children, as I do. Schools where kids can attend classes without the fear of getting beaten up by kids whose parents foster homophobic fears. Homophobia, much like racism, is taught; it's not inborn. Kevin Jennings is combating that where others fear to do so.