TheA PUBLICATION OF POLITICAL PublicEyeRESEARCH ASSOCIATES FALL 2002 • Volume XVI, No. 3 The Right Family Values The Christian Right’s “Defense of Marriage:” unpopular beliefs. Despite the First Amendment’s prohi- Democratic Rhetoric, Antidemocratic Politics bition against the establishment of religion by government, Christian conservatives By R. Claire Snyder cans oppose. While conservative Americans and their supporters often insist that Amer- are free to practice their beliefs and live their ica is really a “Christian nation.” They Introduction1 personal lives however they choose, the argue that the American founders believed government of the United States cannot he United States was founded as a that democratic political institutions would legitimately let those beliefs violate the “liberal democracy,” in which a secu- only work if grounded in religious mores T human rights of others in society. Similarly, lar government acts to protect the civil within civil society, emphasizing a comment it cannot generate public policy supporting rights and liberties of individuals rather made by John Adams: “Our Constitution a particular religious worldview or deny legal than imposing a particular vision of the was made only for a moral and religious peo- equality to certain groups of citizens. “good life” on its citizens. Equality before ple. It is wholly inadequate to the govern- the law constitutes one of the most funda- ment of any other.”9 William Bennett has mental principles of liberal democracy, as Liberal Democracy or Christian Nation? contributed greatly to this right-wing proj- does freedom from State-imposed religion. ect of revisionist historiography with the iberal political theory constitutes the These principles, enshrined in our found- publication of Our Sacred Honor: Words of ing documents, have become an almost Lmost important founding tradition of 5 Advice from the Founders, a volume that cat- universally accepted norm in U.S. society American democracy. Both social welfare 6 alogues stories, letters, poems, and speeches 2 Democrats and neoliberal Republicans today. Nevertheless, the Christian Right is that emphasize the religious beliefs that ani- (see sidebar page 4) endorse its basic prin- currently mobilizing its supporters across the mated many in the founding generation ciples—individual freedom, religious liberty, country to undermine these basic principles, (among other things).10 The Christian equal rights, constitutional government appealing to popular prejudice against an Right hopes that once the religious beliefs unpopular minority, lesbians, gays, bisex- and impartial laws—although they interpret 7 of the American Founders are established, 3 these concepts in different ways. Accord- uals, and transgender people. Moreover, in a theory of constitutional interpretation that ing to the liberal founding myth of “social a change from their previously virulent privileges “original intent” will authorize the contract,” self-interested individuals left homophobic language, right-wing forces are imposition of Christian moral precepts on the state of nature in order to better secure increasingly masking their antidemocratic U.S. society at large.11 their natural rights and liberties. Conse- and un-American agenda using democratic While the relationship between reli- quently, they established a constitutional rhetoric. While populist appeals constitute gion and democracy in the U.S. context is a mainstay of the Right,4 conservative government of impartial laws that would 8 thinkers have recently entered into ongoing protect all citizens equally. The Declaration “Defense of Marriage” continues on page 3 conversations about “civil society”—the of Independence states the basic values of realm in which citizens act together to liberal political theory—“all men are created IN THIS ISSUE achieve common goals—generated by both equal and . . . are endowed by their creator “democratic theorists” within academia with certain unalienable rights, among Guest Commentary ...... 2 them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi- and ordinary citizens concerned about civic Books Received ...... 20 life, pushing that agenda far to the right. ness”—while the U.S. Constitution created While the Christian Right claims to speak a secular government that would not dis- Eyes Right ...... 22 criminate against those who do not practice for the “moral majority” of U.S. citizens, they Eye Lashes ...... 22 actually support policies that most Ameri- the dominant religion or who espouse

THE PUBLIC EYE 1 FALL 2002 The Public Eye Guest Commentary ThePublicEye Editor By Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D. Nikhil Aziz, Ph.D. Design/layout In the United States, we have two parallel universes. One is the secular State estab- Hird Graphic Design Printing lished by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The other is religion, the Church, Red Sun Press and the thrust to make the United States a Christian nation. Mailing Walnut Street Center The Christian Right works on the front lines and behind the scenes to deny basic rights to women, LGBT people, and people of color. Their agenda is clear: to impose PRA POLITICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES their particular religious worldview on every U.S. citizen and to have that world- Board of Directors view codified into the law. Joseph Agne In their never-ending crusade against women, LGBT people, and people of color, Miguel Bustos Michael Chapman they are fundamentally and inextricably antidemocratic. They manipulate religious Jean Entine Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D. texts and distort secular texts to achieve their goals of patriarchal control of life, Michael Kozu liberty, and the pursuit of happiness according to their terms, their definitions, their Vivien Labaton Mohan Sikka proscriptions and their limitations. Faith Smith In his book, Stealing Jesus, author Bruce Bawer addresses the danger that the Paul Watanabe Loretta Williams, Ph.D. Christian Right poses to a democratic society: “In America right now, millions of Lucy A. Williams children are taught by their legalistic Christian parents to revere a God of wrath and Staff take a sanguine view of human suffering. They are taught to view their fellow Nikhil Aziz, Ph.D., Research Analyst Toby Beauchamp, Information Specialist Americans not as having been ‘created equal,’ as the Declaration of Independence Chip Berlet, Senior Research Analyst Stephanie Clark, Office Manager would have it, but as being saved or unsaved, children of God or creatures of Satan; Kate Cloud, Director they are taught not to respect those most different from themselves, but to regard Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D., President Richard Allen Jackson, Jr., them as the enemy, to resist their influence, and to seek to restrict their rights. This Director of Development & Communications is not only morally offensive, it’s socially dangerous—and it represents, for obvi- Palak Shah, Researcher ous reasons, a very real menace to democratic civil society.” Advisory Board Rita Arditti Skipp Porteous As progressive people of faith we actively oppose the manipulation of religion Ann Baker John Roberts Donna Bivens Mab Segrest to promote exclusion and inequality. Equal Partners in Faith daily challenges the Sara Diamond, Ph.D. Alice Senturia ‘very real menace’ to democracy and to our children posed by the Religious Right Fred Goff Holly Sklar Beni Ivey Barbara Simon that R. Claire Snyder and Sean Cahill elaborate in this issue of The Public Eye. Maya Miller Lucius Walker Suzanne Pharr Leah Wise

The Public Eye is published by Political Research Sylvia Rhue is director of Equal Partners in Faith, a multiracial national network of Associates. Subscriptions are $29.00 for individuals and non-profit organizations, $39.00 for other religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. organizations, $19.00 for students and low-income individuals. Outside U.S., Canada, and Mexico, add $9.00 for surface delivery or $14.00 for air mail. Please make checks payable to Political Research Associates, 1310 Broadway, Suite 201, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144-1731. 617.666.5300 fax: 617.666.6622

PRA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. © Political Research Associates, 2002. Website: www.publiceye.org All rights reserved. ISSN 0275-9322 ISSUE 41

THE PUBLIC EYE 2 FALL 2002 The Public Eye a complicated one, the fact remains that the institutional racism.14 guarantee that politically-appointed judges Founding generation intentionally took The struggle for genderblind law has also will rule in a principled way. Societal atti- the radical and far-reaching step of con- been largely successful. Although femi- tudes are changing. Fifty-eight percent of structing a secular government, constitu- nists lost the battle for the Equal Rights first year college students now “think gay tionally required to remain neutral toward Amendment (ERA) during the 1970s, and lesbian couples should have the right religion. As Isaac Kramnick and R. Lau- since that time the principle of legal equal- to ‘equal marital status,’ i.e., civil mar- rence Moore rightly stress, “God is nowhere ity for women has been largely imple- riage”—including “half” who identify as to be found in the Constitution, which also mented through the Courts,15 which are “middle-of-the-road” or “conservative”16 — has nothing to say about the social value of charged with following the logic of liber- and the Courts are slowly beginning to Christian belief or about the importance alism as they apply the principles of the recognize the underlying logic of liberal- of religion for a moral public life.”12 Indeed Constitution to new areas. While histori- ism as well.17 the fact that the U.S. constitution institu- cal custom and reactionary political agen- tionalized a secular State was quite con- The Right-wing Attack on troversial at the same time as it was Liberal Democracy revolutionary. While conservatives are While the relationship between espite the compelling logic of certainly correct in pointing out that Dphilosophical liberalism, the U.S. the Bill of Rights protected states’ rights Right has actively opposed the exten- not individual rights, leaving the states religion and democracy in the sion of legal equality in every instance. free to establish religion, in fact only five The Old Right was explicitly racist and states actually permitted the establish- U.S. context is a complicated one, violently fought to stop the extension ment of religion.13 Thus, the conserva- of civil rights to African Americans. By tive attempt to redefine America as a the fact remains that the Founding 1965, however, Gallup polls “showed Christian nation completely ignores that 52 percent of Americans identi- the fact that this country was remark- generation intentionally took the fied civil rights as the ‘most important able precisely for its intentionally problem’ confronting the nation, and secular Constitution. radical and far-reaching step an astonishing 75 percent of respon- dents favored federal voting rights leg- Lesbian/Gay Civil Rights of constructing a secular islation.”18 With explicit racism on the and the Logic of Liberalism decline, right-wing leaders began n principle, the Bill of Rights has government, constitutionally developing a more marketable mes- Iprotected individual rights from the sage, “mainstreaming the ideological tyranny of state governments and required to remain neutral positions of the Old Right and majoritarianism ever since ratification developing winnable policies” that of the Fourteenth Amendment after toward religion. “highlighted a protest theme” against the Civil War. This important amend- a wide range of cultural changes inau- ment extended the liberal principle of gurated by the new social movements legal equality by mandating “equal protec- das have resulted in some unfortunate of the 1960s.19 This “New Right” success- tion” of the laws for all U.S. citizens. While constitutional rulings, overall the level of fully created a coalition between cultural never fully actualized in practice, the prin- legal equality within U.S. society has conservatives, including Christian funda- ciple of legal equality has been successfully increased over time. mentalists, and antigovernment, fiscal con- used to justify progressive change. African A consistent application of the philo- servatives (aka neoliberals). Americans utilized this principle during the sophical principles of liberalism justifies Opposition to women’s equality was Civil Rights Movement in their struggle to same-sex marriage: A secular State com- one of the causes the New Right needed to end segregation. While the Right violently mitted to legal equality cannot legitimately consolidate its base. Anti-feminism “pro- opposed legal equality at the time, con- deny civil marriage with all its benefits to vided a link with fundamentalist churches,” temporary conservatives have largely particular citizens on the basis of gender or focused “the reaction against the changes accepted the principle of colorblind law. sexual orientation. To do so would be to vio- in child rearing, sexual behavior, divorce, However, colorblindness in law under- late the basic principles of the United and the use of drugs that had taken place scores the New Right’s “new racism,” States as a liberal democracy. While I would in the 1960s and 1970s,” and “mobilized wherein dejure legal equality is used to argue that the Christian Right is losing its a group, traditional homemakers, that had challenge affirmative action and other battle to prevent the extension of civil lost status over the two previous decades remedial measures that seek to address rights to lesbians and gay men, there is no and was feeling the psychological effects of

THE PUBLIC EYE 3 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

the loss.”20 The conservative mobilization Neoliberalism: Two Views. against feminism helped solidify the New Right during the 1970s and played a “very “Neo-liberalism is a set of economic policies Around the world, neo-liberalism has been that have become widespread during the last imposed by powerful financial institutions important” role in its success, the election 25 years or so. Although the word is rarely like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), of Ronald Reagan in 1980, and the right- heard in the United States, you can clearly see the World Bank and the Inter-American ward shift in U.S. politics.21 the effects of neo-liberalism here as the rich Development Bank. The first clear example of Feminism and the lesbian/gay civil grow richer and the poor grow poorer. neo-liberalism at work came in Chile (with rights movement are linked theoretically thanks to University of Chicago economist ‘Liberalism’ can refer to political, economic, through the political philosophy of liber- Milton Friedman), after the CIA-supported or even religious ideas. In the U.S. political coup against the popularly elected Allende alism and politically through common liberalism has been a strategy to prevent social regime in 1973. Other countries followed, struggle. While unprincipled liberals some- conflict. It is presented to poor and working with some of the worst effects in Mexico people as progressive compared to conserva- times try to deny this connection out of where wages declined 40 to 50% in the first tive or Rightwing. Economic liberalism is dif- political expediency, the Right quickly year of NAFTA while the cost of living rose ferent. Conservative politicians who say they recognized the logic of liberalism that by 80%. Over 20,000 small and medium hate ‘liberals’—meaning the political type— businesses have failed and more than 1,000 provided the potential for unity between have no real problem with economic liberal- state-owned enterprises have been privatized women and LGBT individuals, and used ism, including neo-liberalism. in Mexico. As one scholar said, ‘Neoliberalism it to their advantage. For example, Phyllis ‘Neo’ means we are talking about a new kind means the neo-colonization of Latin America.’ Schlafly’s Eagle Forum argued, “militant of liberalism. So what was the old kind? The In the United States neo-liberalism is destroy- homosexuals from all over America have liberal school of economics became famous in ing welfare programs; attacking the rights of made the ERA issue a hot priority. Why? Europe when Adam Smith, an English econo- labor (including all immigrant workers); and mist, published a book in 1776 called THE To be able finally to get homosexual cutbacking social programs. The Republican WEALTH OF NATIONS. He and others marriage licenses, to adopt children and ‘Contract’ on America is pure neo-liberalism. advocated the abolition of government inter- raise them to emulate their homosexual Its supporters are working hard to deny pro- vention in economic matters. No restrictions tection to children, youth, women, the planet ‘parents,’ and to obtain pension and med- on manufacturing, no barriers to commerce, itself—and trying to trick us into acceptance by ical benefits for odd-couple ‘spouses.’. . . no tariffs, he said; free trade was the best way saying this will ‘get government off my back.’ Vote NO on 6! The Pro-Gay E.R.A.”22 for a nation’s economy to develop. Such ideas The beneficiaries of neo-liberalism are a minor- were ‘liberal’ in the sense of no controls. This In its rise to power, the New Right suc- ity of the world’s people. For the vast majority it application of individualism encouraged ‘free’ cessfully manipulated homophobia to brings even more suffering than before: suf- enterprise, ‘free’ competition—which came to increase opposition to gender equality as fering without the small, hard-won gains of mean, free for the capitalists to make huge the last 60 years, suffering without end.” well as explicitly condemning all attempts profits as they wished. to accord lesbians and gay men the equal Source: “What is Neoliberalism? A Brief Definition for Economic liberalism prevailed in the United protection of the law. Activists.” By Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, States through the 1800s and early 1900s. National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Then the Great Depression of the 1930s led See http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?arti- Religious Particularism and the an economist named John Maynard Keynes cleid=376 Attack on the First Amendment to a theory that challenged liberalism as the best policy for capitalists. He said, in essence, hristian Right organizations claim to that full employment is necessary for capital- Cbe speaking for the American people ism to grow and it can be achieved only if when they oppose legal equality for lesbians “Neoliberalism is a philosophy in which the governments and central banks intervene to existence and operation of a market are valued and gay men, but they are actually trying increase employment. These ideas had much in themselves, separately from any previous to impose their own particular religious influence on President Roosevelt’s New Deal relationship with the production of goods and worldview on U.S. society in direct viola- —which did improve life for many people. services, and without any attempt to justify The belief that government should advance tion of the separation of Church and State. them in terms of their effect on the produc- the common good became widely accepted. Despite their use of democratic rhetoric, the tion of goods and services; and where the opposition of right-wing Christians to But the capitalist crisis over the last 25 years, operation of a market or market-like structure with its shrinking profit rates, inspired the is seen as an ethic in itself, capable of acting as same-sex marriage is contingent upon their corporate elite to revive economic liberalism. a guide for all human action, and substituting particular religious worldview, which defines That’s what makes it ‘neo’ or new. Now, with for all previously existing ethical beliefs.” marriage as a sacred religious institution and the rapid globalization of the capitalist econ- Source: “Neoliberalism: what it’s not.” By Paul Treanor. homosexuality as a sin. According to the omy, we are seeing neo-liberalism on a global See http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/neoliberal- Family Research Council (FRC) marriage scale. ism.html is “the work of heaven and every major religion and culture throughout world history.”23 Concerned Women for America

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(CWA) proclaims marriage “a covenant that the city was destroyed for the sin of such as eating pork, touching a football established by God wherein one man and one inhospitality.30 Right-wing Christians stress made of pigskin (Lev. 11:7-8), wearing woman, united for life, are licensed by the the sentences in Leviticus that proclaim “do cotton/poly blends (Lev. 19:19), and state for the purpose of founding and main- not lie with a male as one lies with a trimming the hair on the side of the face taining a family.”24 For Focus on the Fam- woman; it is an abhorrence” (Leviticus (Lev. 19:27).31 For example, “exgay” ily (FOF), “marriage is a sacred union, 18:22) and “if a man lies with a male as one Stephen Bennett stresses the use of the term ordained by God to be a life-long, sexually “abomination” in Leviticus 18:22.32 He asks: exclusive relationship between one man What does God think about and one woman.”25 Indeed because of this homosexuality? The verse says, “It is religious worldview, all three groups have Feminism and the an abomination!” This means that made opposition to same-sex marriage a it is detestable, loathsome, repulsive centerpiece of their political agenda.26 lesbian/gay civil rights and heinous. It is one of the strongest The Christian Right’s vision of hetero- words to describe God’s hatred of sexual marriage directly relates to its under- movement are linked something. It is a stench in God’s nos- standing of gender difference, which it trils like the smell of vomit! It is bases on its particular interpretation of theoretically through the something that is disgusting, nause- the Bible. To justify male dominance, the ating, revolting and sickening to Christian Right privileges the second ver- political philosophy of God. The reason it is an abomination sion of the creation story in Genesis, in is that it is so contrary to what God which God created Eve out of Adam’s rib liberalism and politically has designed and established for the to be his “helper” and declared that the man good of mankind.33 and his wife would become “one flesh” through common strug- What Bennett fails to mention is that the (Genesis 2: 18-24), rather than on the Bible also refers to eating shellfish as an original story in which “God created man gle. While unprincipled “abomination” (Lev. 11:10).34 in His image, in the image of God He cre- Not all religious people share the Chris- ated him; male and female He created them” liberals sometimes try to tian Right’s controversial interpretations of (Genesis 1:26-27, emphasis added).27 the above passages or its definition of mar- Additionally, instead of reading the origi- deny this connection out riage. For example, Reform Judaism not nal version as establishing gender equality only supports civil marriage for gays and at the source, the Christian Right interprets of political expediency, the lesbians but also allows for religious it to mean “God’s purpose for man was that unions.35 For some Muslims and orthodox there should be two sexes, male and female. Right quickly recognized Mormons polygamy is within the norms Every person is either a ‘he’ or a ‘she.’ God of marriage. Even within Christianity, no did not divide mankind into three or four the logic of liberalism that consensus exists on the question of same- or five sexes.”28 Right-wing Christians bol- sex marriage. In fact, many denomina- ster their selective reading of the “Old Tes- provided the potential for tions are currently divided. The Episcopal tament” with a smattering of “New Church has recently addressed their own Testament” verses, such as “man was not unity between women and division by voting “to allow local churches made from woman, but woman from man” to make their own determination about (1 Cor. 11:8), woman is the “weaker ves- LGBT individuals, and whether to offer services to sanctify gay and sel” (1 Peter 3:7), the “husband is the head lesbian marriages, partnerships, or of the wife” (1Cor. 11:4; Eph. 5:23), and used it to their advantage. unions.”36 man is “joined to his wife, and the two Nevertheless, despite the diversity of become one flesh” (Eph. 5:31-32).29 beliefs within a religiously pluralistic The Christian Right’s selectively liter- lies with a woman, the two of them have society such as the United States, the Chris- alist interpretation of the Bible not only done an abhorrent thing; they shall be put tian Right group Alliance for Marriage emphasizes the subordination of women to death” (Leviticus 20:13), completely has introduced a Federal Marriage Amend- to men but also condemns homosexual- ignoring the fact that the Ten Com- ment that declares, “Marriage in the United ity as a sin. They interpret God’s destruc- mandments did not include a prohibition States shall consist only of the union of tion of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis on homosexuality. a man and a woman.”37 Clearly this 18:16 – 19:29) as punishment for homo- They also disregard the wide array of Amendment asks the federal government sexuality. Other religious scholars argue other practices prohibited in Leviticus, to establish one particular religious defini-

THE PUBLIC EYE 5 FALL 2002 The Public Eye tion of marriage as the law of the land, thus While Dobson and the burgeoning undermined by feminism, the Right sees violating the separation of Church and “fatherhood movement” stress the harm the the specter of same-sex marriage as threat- State.38 In a liberal society, conservative feminist and the lesbian/gay movements ening to render women completely useless. Christian churches certainly have the reli- have supposedly done to men and boys, the According to Alliance for Marriage sup- gious liberty to define marriage for their Right also insists that these movements for porter William Mattox and his wife— parishioners in any way they see fit. How- gender equality harm women as well.43 who “sympathize with homosexuals” and ever, when the Christian Right asks the U.S. CWA, which claims to be the largest “are not ‘gay-bashers’”—“in the same way government and the governments of the women’s group in the country, blames that polygamy teaches that women are states to restrict the right to civil marriage feminism—in particular its support for inferior to men, [male] ‘gay marriage’ because of their particular interpretation legal equality, reproductive freedom, sex- implicitly teaches that women are super- of revealed religion, they violate the ual liberation, and no-fault divorce—for fluous to men, that women make no unique separation of Church and State man- and irreplaceable contribution to fam- dated by the First Amendment. ily life. Indeed, [male] ‘gay marriage’ teaches that the most basic unit of Same-Sex Marriage: An Christian Right “movement human society—marriage—does not Attack on Women? need a woman to be complete.”44 he Christian Right seeks to recon- propaganda often portrayed gay In fact, conservatives often seem to Tsolidate male dominance and fear that if given the option, men might reestablish the patriarchal family as the men, like feminists, as a wealthy, choose not to engage in heterosexual- dominant family form in the United ity at all. According to antigay activist States. When they make the obviously privileged elite misusing their power Dr. Paul Cameron, “the evidence is that illogical claim that allowing lesbians and men do a better job on men, and gays to marry would “undermine mar- to impose their immoral agenda on women on women, if all you are look- riage” and destroy the family,39 they really ing for is orgasm.” If you want “the mean that same-sex marriage would society.” Even though “contrary to most satisfying orgasm you can get,” undermine the traditional patriarchal he tells people, “then homosexuality institution of marriage and myth, gay men actually earned seems too powerful to resist. . . . It’s pure family that they want to impose on the sexuality. It’s almost like pure heroin. American people. Because no evidence between 10 and 26 percent less It’s such a rush.” In opposition, “mar- exists that same-sex couples are less func- ital sex tends toward the boring” and tional than heterosexual ones, or that their income than did heterosexual men.” generally “doesn’t deliver the kind of children suffer any negative conse- sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual quences, allowing same-sex couples to And lesbians and other sexual sex does.”45 Although the American marry and have children would clearly Psychological Association expelled undermine the myth that the patriarchal minorities often earn Cameron for ethics violations in 1983, heterosexual family is the superior fam- he is still touted as an “expert” on ily form.40 Consequently, Christian Right far less as a group. homosexuality by the Right.46 In light activists repeatedly assert that children of comments such as Cameron’s, it need both a traditionally masculine father would be understandable if right-wing and a traditionally feminine mother in eroding the “protections” supposedly pro- women feel anxious about their position in order to develop properly. As James Dob- vided women by traditional marriage and this male-dominated society. son puts it, “any uncertainty, any ambigu- family law, making it easier for men to Nevertheless, despite rhetoric to the ity in [sex-role] assignment must be seen as renounce their familial responsibilities, contrary, same-sex marriage does not damaging not only to our sons and daugh- and causing the feminization of poverty. undermine the position of women. In fact, ters but also to the long-term stability of In their view the LGBT Movement con- according to records in Vermont, two- society itself.”41 Thus, conservatives must tinues these allegedly destructive trends by thirds of the applicants for civil unions were reject the “unisex” idea advocated by “the further undermining traditional gender women.47 Rather than undermining right- feminists and homosexual activists.”42 In roles, advocating diverse family forms, wing arguments, however, this empirical this perspective, the mother cannot ade- and reinforcing the disconnection between counter-evidence simply fuels hyperbolic quately fulfill the role of the father (or vice sexual pleasure and reproduction. claims that men are becoming irrelevant.48 versa), and so same-sex parenting cannot With the important role played by work successfully. women in the traditional family already

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Right-wing Populism immoral agenda on society.” Even though ports the Amendment to protect the peo- ssuming a populist pose, the Christian “contrary to myth, gay men actually earned ple from the “liberal activist courts [that] ARight claims to speak for the interests between 10 and 26 percent less income than are the real problem.” While the Amend- of ordinary people who are supposedly did heterosexual men.”51 And lesbians and ment ensures that “no legislature may being attacked by an elite “homosexual other sexual minorities often earn far less as confer the name of marriage on same-sex lobby.” This rhetorical strategy worked a group. unions,” it leaves “the question of arrange- well during the 1970s when opponents of Although advancing an extremist ments less than marriage. . . where it should the ERA portrayed feminism as advancing agenda not supported by the majority of be, to the determination of the people through the interests of elite career women at the the American people, the Christian Right the democratic process.”54 expense of housewives and working-class frames its antidemocratic opposition to But while the Christian Right uses the women.49 That is to say, as opposed to fem- legal equality in populist terms.52 For rhetoric of “states’ rights” to justify their inist women who wanted the right to com- example, the Alliance for Marriage claims attack on the constitutional authority of the pete equally with men, many antifeminist “the Federal Marriage Amendment is Courts, they stand opposed to federalism women did not have the educational level designed to protect both marriage and whenever it advances the “homosexual or job skills that would allow them to pur- democracy in the United States by preserv- agenda.” For example, Dick Cheney has sue satisfying careers if forced to work out- ing the legal status of marriage from court been lambasted for his consistent support side the home.50 Today, the Right attempts redefinition. By returning the debate over for state sovereignty during the 2000 Vice to condemn the LGBT Movement for civil marriage to the American people, the Fed- Presidential debates. That is to say, when rights as elitist. As Chip Berlet and Matthew eral Marriage Amendment will allow Amer- news correspondent Bernard Shaw asked Lyons have argued, Christian Right “move- icans to pass on to their children and him about same-sex marriage, Cheney ment propaganda often portrayed gay men, grandchildren the legal road map for mar- responded as follows: like feminists, as a wealthy, privileged elite riage and the family.”53 Likewise, Robert This is a tough one, Bernie. The misusing their power to impose their Bork, a vocal advocate of states’ rights, sup- fact of the matter is we live in a free Reprinted with the kind permission of the artist.

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society, and freedom means freedom captured, almost without opposi- noted scholar from this camp, who for everybody. We don’t get to choose, tion, by those who hold a gay and stated emphatically, “What we don’t and shouldn’t be able to choose and lesbian philosophy and by a gover- need is moral character, but civic say, “You get to live free, but you nor—Gray Davis—who has signed character. Our aim is democratic don’t.” And I think that means that into law a host of pro-homosexual citizens; not the moral man.” Barber people should be free to enter into bills revolutionizing that state . . . The added, “A society does not need any kind of relationship they want to result is a tsunami, a tidal wave, of moral truths; we need to live enter into. It’s really no one else’s anti-family and immoral legislation together.”61 business in terms of trying to regu- that is rapidly forcing the citizens of Notice that he sought to equate late or prohibit behavior in that California to accept and live by an alien moral truths with an implied threat regard. system of values that would never be of intolerance or moral majoritari- The next step, then, of course, is approved if put to the voters.”57 anism. Barber’s remarks are some- the question you ask of whether or Despite the pseudo-democratic rheto- thing of a bellwether of the not there ought to be some kind of ric, the American people do not actually philosophical impoverishment that official sanction, if you will, of the support the extremist antiliberal agenda of still guides this debate in many quar- relationship, or if these relationships the Christian Right. In fact, a June 2002 ters. . . . What is sufficient for a should be treated the same way a national study showed that, “a clear major- democracy, they say, is civic charac- conventional marriage is. That’s a ity of Americans surveyed . . . expressed sup- ter, or, in other words, a quickness to tougher problem. That’s not a slam- port for basic partnership rights for join. This is essentially civic secular- dunk. I think the fact of the matter, same-sex couples, including joint property ism, and it largely misses the point. of course, is that matter is regulated rights [60%], estate inheritance laws [59%], According to Eberly, “if the public today by the states. I think different states emergency health care authority [66%] and has any preference for the basis of a reeval- are likely to come to different con- hospital visitation rights [71%].”58 In addi- uation of American society, it points decid- clusions, and that’s appropriate. I tion, “a plurality of individuals surveyed edly in the direction of moral values.”62 don’t think there should necessarily (48%) also supports Social Security sur- To justify this claim, Eberly draws on a be a federal policy in this area. vivor benefits for same-sex couples, with study by Daniel Yankelovich (a member of While Cheney clearly reasoned from the 34% opposed and 18% undecided.”59 the conservative Council on Civil Society) philosophical principles that underlie the that reports that 87% of the public believes neoliberal wing of the Republican Party, “Seedbeds of Virtue”: that “something is fundamentally wrong Christian Right extremists portray Cheney’s The Role of the Family in with America’s moral condition,” 67% response as unprincipled. For example, Renewing America think that America is undergoing a long- CWA spokesmen argue “Cheney’s answer ost insidiously of all, Christian Right term moral decline, and 59% (versus 27%) troubled family advocates, but drew little Msympathizers have recently joined the believe that “lack of morality” is a bigger opposition from Republicans, who were wide array of voices from across the polit- problem than “lack of economic desperate to end Democratic control of the ical spectrum calling for the renewal of opportunity.” Eberly adds that “at no White House and feared exposing Cheney’s American democracy. Claiming to speak point has a national poll softness on the homosexual issue.”55 More for ordinary people, Don Eberly, a founder identified deep public worries over a ludicrously, they claim his answer reveals of the National Fatherhood Initiative, insists phenomenon one might term ‘civic dis- that the Bush Administration is really that what U.S. citizens want differs engagement.’” Again sounding the populist advancing a prohomosexual agenda!56 markedly from what scholars in the civic note, he then tells an anecdote about When in fact, allowing the states to indi- renewal movement say they want. That is, “plain people” and “local folks” like him vidually determine such laws, as Cheney while academics like Benjamin R. Barber who would “hoot at the thought that we suggests, is more likely to result in dis- advocate civic renewal, what ordinary peo- Americans lack civic commitment. What crimination against LGBT people. ple really want, according to Eberly, is really leaves them speechless is the sense of The Christian Right spokespeople moral renewal, as articulated by conserva- powerlessness they feel as they watch the emphasize the sovereignty of state legisla- tive politicians like William Bennett.60 bottom fall out of our nation’s moral life”— tures only when it serves their interests. As Eberly argues, which Eberly repeatedly illustrates with Otherwise they oppose the decisions of the Civil society intellectuals . . . fre- references to “unmarried mothers” and people’s elected representatives—often in quently go overboard in attempting “family collapse.”63 the name of the people. For example, to narrow the boundaries of debate If moral renewal is the problem, then Dobson argues that: around civic issues. I recently shared religion is the solution. According to Eberly, the California Legislature has been a platform with Benjamin Barber, a religion needs to play a key role in civil

THE PUBLIC EYE 8 FALL 2002 The Public Eye society as “both a legitimate wellspring of liberal democracy. In the introduction to stable family. personal values and as perhaps the richest Seedbeds of Virtue: Sources of Competence, But if stable families play such an impor- source of renewed social capital [social Character, and Citizenship in American tant role in democratic society, one has to trust] in communities.”64 While some like Society,74 Harvard University law professor wonder why Glendon and her collabora- to blame “governmental malfeasance and Mary Ann Glendon argues that U.S. tors vehemently oppose same-sex mar- feckless politicians” for the decline of social democracy riage, which some conservatives advocate trust, Eberly believes that “a more likely requires (as the authors of The precisely because it would act as a stabiliz- source of our cynicism is the rupture of our Federalist Papers put it) a higher ing influence on gay men.76 While she primary relationships within the family, or degree of virtue in its citizens than any does not mention the issue in Seedbeds of our marriages, and our fellowship with our other form of government. . . . The Virtue, the fact of the matter is that Glen- fathers.”65 Appealing to the same narrow American version of the democratic don so strongly opposes same-sex unions stereotypes about gender invoked by the experiment leaves it primarily up to that she worked with Robert Bork to draft Christian Right, Eberly claims that “it is families, local governments, schools, the Federal Marriage Amendment, which fathers who cultivate a spirit of reason- religious and workplace associations, would make it constitutional to violate the ableness and compromise, a capacity to and a host of other voluntary groups principle of legal equality and discriminate trust and be trustworthy, a willingness to against an unpopular minority.77 How can be helpful and empathetic, and a capacity someone who invokes the importance of to act with self-restraint and respect toward The Christian Right civic virtues, such as “deliberation, com- others.”66 Mothers merely play a “biolog- promise, consensus-building, civility, rea- ically determined role.”67 “Fathering, unlike spokespeople emphasize son-giving” and “tolerance” justify this?78 mothering, . . . is heavily influenced by the Why does democracy require only het- wider culture.”68 Thus, he concludes, “there the sovereignty of state erosexual families? can be no healthy democracy without Jean Bethke Elshtain, a well-known dads.”69 Here his argument for civil soci- legislatures only when it “democratic theorist” at the University of ety dovetails with his advocacy of neopa- Chicago, concurs with Glendon’s political triarchy within the fatherhood movement.70 serves their interests. prescriptions. Elshtain pointedly embraces Clearly supportive of the New Right “a normative vision of the family—moth- coalition, Eberly links his version of civil Otherwise they oppose ers, fathers, and children” and claims that society not only to male dominance, but this particular family form “is not only not also to the neoliberal opposition to gov- the decisions of the at odds with democratic civil society but ernment. That is, Eberly sees moral renewal is in fact, now more than ever, a prerequi- within civil society as a panacea that will people’s elected represen- site for that society to function.”79 Elshtain eliminate the need for government: “Most will chaired the committee that published “A rejoice to know that a vast majority of tatives—often in the Call to Civil Society: Why Democracy Americans now acknowledge that gov- Needs Moral Truths,” which says the num- ernment, and especially the central gov- name of the people. ber one priority for American democracy ernment, may never again be embraced as should be “to increase the likelihood that the engine that drives American progress.”71 more children will grow up with their two While there may be a role for the State in to teach and transmit republican married parents.”80 And since she opposes the area of “crime and safety,” the govern- virtues and skills from one generation same-sex marriage, this leaves no place for ment cannot do anything positive to “elim- to the next. lesbians or gay men within democratic inate poverty, reduce unemployment, [or] Like others on the Christian Right, Glen- society.81 Like Glendon and others, Elsh- achieve racial justice.”72 Thus, unlike pro- don sees the family as the most important tain never adequately explains why a fully gressive advocates of civil society, Eberly institution in society: “First and foremost functioning democracy requires hetero- hopes that “civic recovery” will not “tem- among these ‘seedbeds of virtue’ is the sexual-only marriage. Indeed, these authors, per the public’s recent repudiation of gov- family. Thus, impairment of the family’s like many others, simply assert the con- ernment activism by splicing in an capacity to develop in its members the nection between traditional families and emphasis on civic localism.”73 qualities of self-restraint, respect for oth- democratic self-government—and the Eberly’s argument finds support in a ers, and sturdy independence of mind can- causal relationship between “the break- growing groundswell of conservative schol- not help but impair the prospects for a down of the family” and the decline of civil arly voices emphasizing the importance of regime of ordered liberty.”75 Thus, demo- society82—without actually arguing it.83 the family as a “seedbed of virtue” within cratic self-government depends upon a What is it about the traditional family

THE PUBLIC EYE 9 FALL 2002 The Public Eye that plays such an important role in social- mask its antidemocratic agenda. While 6 Neoliberal refers to those who subscribe to the ideology izing children? Is it the message of con- right-wing Christians appeal to the religious of neoliberalism. See sidebar p.4. 7 formity communicated in a society that assumptions, historical customs, social See Sandel, Democracy’s Discontent, op. cit. 8 John Locke, Second Treatise on Government, ed., C.B. allows no diversity of family forms? Is it the anxieties, and unexamined prejudices of MacPherson (Hackett Publishing Company Inc., 1990). lesson in female subordination taught by the many Americans, their overarching agenda 9 Cited in William Bennett, Our Sacred Honor: Words of wife’s gracious submission to her husband’s actually undermines our democracy’s most Advice from the Founders (Nashville, TN: Broadman and authority as the head of the household? precious political principles, including the Holman, 1997), p. 3. 10 Wade Horn, president of the National separation of Church and State, legal Ibid. 11 See for example Robert Bork, The Tempting of America: Fatherhood Initiative (and assistant secre- equality, and personal liberty. While liberal The Political Seduction of the Law (New York: Simon & tary for family support in the Department democracy has its limitations, its virtue is Schuster, 1990). of Health and Human Services in the that it maximizes the freedom of all by 12 Isaac Kramnick & R. Laurence Moore, The Godless George W. Bush Administration), empha- allowing individuals to organize their Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1997), p. 28. sizes the importance of obedience, which, personal lives as they see fit. While the 13 Ibid., p.35. like conformity and subordination, is not government may respond to the will of its 14 See Amy Ansell, New Right, New Racism (New York: New usually considered a central virtue of the citizens by providing a default set of legal York University Press, 1997), and Kimberlé Crenshaw, democratic citizen: “Well socialized chil- entanglements that make it easier for indi- Neil Gotanda, Gary Peller, and Kendall Thomas, eds., Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the dren have learned to listen to and obey the viduals to establish families (i.e., civil mar- Movement (New York: The New Press, 1995). directions of legitimate authority figures, riage), it may not legitimately deny equal 15 Jane Mansbridge, Why We Lost the ERA (Chicago: such as parents and teachers; under-social- protection of the laws to unpopular minori- Chicago University Press, 1986), p. 91. ized children have not.”84 ties or enshrine a particular religious defi- 16 According to a recent survey of first-year college students by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), James Dobson couldn’t agree more. In nition of marriage as the law of the land. “a record high 58 percent “think gay and lesbian couples The New Dare To Discipline he stresses Consequently, the State should ensure should have the right to ‘equal marital status,’ i.e., civil marriage. . . . [S]ince only 30 percent of the students say that respect for authority must be instilled equal access to civil marriage and leave they are either ‘liberal’ (27 percent) or ‘far left’ in young children in order to avoid teenage religious marriage where it belongs—in (3 percent), that means half of the support for gay civil rebellion and ensure respect for traditional the synagogues, churches, and mosques. marriage comes from students who say they are ‘middle- of-the-road’ or even ‘conservative.’ In other words, religious values. This message is best com- support for gay civil marriage is becoming the ‘middle municated, he believes, by spanking chil- R. Claire Snyder is Assistant Professor of of the road’ position, perhaps even picking up some small Government & Politics in the Department support among ‘conservative’ students who grasp the dren with a switch or a paddle any time they social benefits of stabilized relationships.” Paul Varnell, show defiance or willfully disobey their par- of Public & International Affairs at George “College Freshmen Support Gay Marriage,” Chicago Mason University. Her primary area of spe- Free Press, January 30, 2002. http://www.indegayfo- ents. As he puts it, “a controlling but rum.org/articles/varnell85.html retrieved April 17, 2002. cialization is democratic theory. She is cur- patient hand will eventually succeed in 17 See Baehr v. Lewin, 852 P.2d 44 (Hawaii 1993) and Stan settling the little anarchist, but probably rently working on a book manuscript, Baker, et al. v. State of Vermont, et al., 744 A.2d 864 not until he is between three and four.”85 tentatively titled Same-Sex Marriage and (Vermont 1999). Democracy, which is under contract with 18 Maurice Isserman & Michael Kazin, America Divided: Dobson stresses that a spanking must be The Civil War of the 1960s (Oxford: Oxford University severe enough to make the child cry gen- Rowman & Littlefield. Press, 2000), p. 138. uinely from pain rather than simply from 19 Jean V. Hardisty, Mobilizing Resentment: Conservative anger or humiliation. While ostensibly Resurgence From the John Birch Society to the Promise Notes Keepers (Boston: Beacon Press, 1999), p. 38. condemning child abuse, Dobson praises 1 Portions of this article were adapted from R. Claire Sny- 20 Mansbridge, Why We Lost the ERA, op. cit., pp. 5-6. the childrearing practices of his wife, who der, “Neo-Patriarchy and the Anti-Homosexual Agenda,” 21 Hardisty, Mobilizing Resentment, op. cit., p. 72. once “stung” their fifteen-month old in Cynthia Burack and Jyl J. Josephson, eds., Fundamental Differences: Feminists Talk Back to Social Conservatives 22 Mansbridge, Why We Lost the ERA, op. cit., p. 137. daughter’s “little legs” with a “switch” for (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003), forthcoming. 23 Fund-raising ad in favor of DOMA, paid for by the Fam- disobeying an “order.”86 He also notes 2 Michael J. Sandel, Democracy’s Discontent: America in ily Research Council, included in FRC information Search of a Public Philosophy (Cambridge: The Belknap packet, emphasis added. “there are those in the Western world who Press of Harvard University Press, 1996). will not rest until the government interferes 24 Concerned Women for America, “Lawfully Wedded?” 3 See Sean Cahill and Kenneth T. Jones, Leaving Our Chil- Family Voice (April 1996), emphasis added. with parent-child relationships with all dren Behind: Welfare Reform and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisex- http://www.cwfa.org/library/family/1996-04_fv_mar- the force of law. It has already happened in ual, and Transgender Community (New York: National Gay riage-gay.shtml retrieved November 14, 2000. and Lesbian Task Force, 2001). See particularly sections 87 25 Sweden.” on marriage, fatherhood, and abstinence initiatives. “Focus on the Family Position Statement on Same-Sex “Marriage” and Civil Unions,” Citizen Link, October 4, 4 Chip Berlet and Matthew N. Lyons, Right-wing Populism 2000, emphasis added. http://www.family.org/cfo- Conclusion in America: Too Close for Comfort (New York: The Guil- rum/research/papers/a0013151.html retrieved July 22, ford Press, 2000). 2002. n their fight against legal equality for les- 5 See Louis Hartz, The Liberal Tradition in America (San 26 Hardisty, Mobilizing Resentment, op. cit., p. 98. bians and gay men, the Christian Right Diego, New York, and London: Harcourt Brace I 27 Jovanovich, Publishers, 1955). All “Old Testament” quotations are taken from increasingly deploys democratic rhetoric to TANAKH: A New Translation of The Holy Scriptures,

THE PUBLIC EYE 10 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

According to the Traditional Hebrew Text (Philadelphia: 47 Associated Press, “Women In Vermont Form More Civil 64 Ibid., p. 5. The Jewish Publication Society, 1985), currently con- Unions,” April 7, 2002. http://www.telegram.com/news/ 65 Don Eberly, “Restoring Civil Society Through sidered the most accurate translation available. However, inside/vtlesbians.html retrieved April 7, 2002. Fatherhood,” in Don Eberly, ed., The Faith Factor in all quotations in this JPS translation are essentially the 48 See David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Fatherhood (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 1999), pp. same as in the Revised Standard Version of the Christ- Our Most Urgent Social Problem (New York: Basic Books, 251-263, 256. ian Bible (unless otherwise noted). 1995). 66 Ibid., p. 255, emphasis added. For a remarkably similar, 28 Stephen Bennett, “Homosexuality and the Bible: What 49 Phyllis Schlafly, Power of the Positive Woman (Berkeley explicitly Christian Right view of fatherhood, see Dob- Does God Say?” (Stephen Bennett Ministries, Publishing Group, 1982). son, Bringing Up Boys, op. cit. Huntington, CT, n.d.), p. 3. For an alternative view see Anne Fausto-Sterling, Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and 50 Mansbridge, Why We Lost the ERA, op. cit., pp. 105–107. 67 Eberly, “Restoring Civil Society,” op. cit., p. 260. the Construction of Sexuality (New York: Basic Books, 51 Berlet and Lyons, Right-wing Populism, op. cit., pp. 68 Eberly, America’s Promise, op. cit., p. 55. 2000). 236-237. 69 Eberly, “Restoring Civil Society,” op. cit., p. 253. 29 Unless otherwise indicated, all “New Testament” quo- 52 Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive® 70 I discuss this in “Neo-Patriarchy and the Anti-Homo- tations are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of study, available at www.witeckcombs.com the Christian Bible. sexual Agenda,” op. cit. 53 Press release by Alliance for Marriage, May 15, 2002, 71 30 Eberly, “Civic Renewal or Moral Renewal,” op. cit., p. 7. See John J. McNeill, The Church and the Homosexual emphasis added. Likewise, they argue that, “The Federal (New York: Beacon Press, 1993), pp. 42-50. Marriage Amendment is a reasonable response to the cri- 72 Eberly, America’s Promise, op. cit., p. 41. 31 For a very funny letter that inspired this line of argument, sis for our democratic society created by those who would 73 Eberly, “Civic Renewal or Moral Renewal,” op. cit., p. see J. Kent Ashcraft, “an open letter to Dr. Laura,” May use the courts to overcome public opinion with respect to 3. 2000, originally posted on the Internet by anonymous. marriage. Gays and lesbians have a right to live as they 74 http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm choose. But they don’t have a right to redefine marriage Mary Ann Glendon and David Blankenhorn, eds., retrieved July 22, 2002. for our entire society.” From Alliance for Marriage web- Seedbeds of Virtue: Sources of Competence, Character, and page, emphasis added. http://www.allianceformar- Citizenship in American Society (Lanham, MD: Madison 32 While the RSV translation uses the term “abomination” riage.org/reports/fma/fma.htm retrieved July 16, 2002. Books, 1995). in this passage, the JPS translation uses the term “abhor- 75 rence.” While it is beyond my expertise at this time to 54 Robert Bork, “Stop Courts From Imposing Gay Mar- Glendon, “Introduction,” in Seedbeds of Virtue, op. cit., determine whether “abhorrence” differs significantly riage: Why we need a constitutional amendment,” Wall pp. 1-2. from “abomination,” it should be investigated. Street Journal, August 7, 2001, emphasis added. 76 For examples, see Jonathan Rauch, “Leave Gay Marriage http://www.wsj.com retrieved August 8, 2001. 33 Bennett, “Homosexuality and the Bible,” op. cit., pp. 14- to the States,” Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2001 and 15, emphasis in the original. 55 Quote from Robert Knight, Peter LaBarbera and Andrew Sullivan, “Unveiled,” The New Republic, August Kenneth Ervin, II, “The Bush Administration’s 13, 2001. 34 Both the JPS and the RSV translations use the term Republican Homosexual Agenda: The First 100 Days,” 77 “abomination” in reference to shellfish. The Glendon-Bork alliance is documented in a fundrais- May 31, 2001. http://cultureandfamily.org/library/ ing letter authored by Pete Knight in 2002. 35 Gustav Niebuhr, “Reform Rabbis Back Blessing Gay papers/22pb000.shtml retrieved July 16, 2002. See also 78 Unions,” New York Times, March 30, 2000, p. 1A. C&F Report Staff, “Ashcroft’s Second in Command Glendon, “Introduction,” op. cit., p. 4. Speaks at Justice Dept. Gay Pride Celebration,” Culture 79 36 Doug Ebeling, “Religions Mixed on GLBT Inclusion,” Jean Bethke Elshtain, “The Family and Civic Life,” in Mountain Pride Media. http://www.mountainpride- & Family Report, June 19, 2002. http://cultureandfam- David Blankenhorn, Steven Bayme, and Jean Bethke media.org/sep2000/news07_religion.htm retrieved July ily.org/report/2002-06-19/n_doj.shtml? print retrieved Elshtain, eds., Rebuilding the Nest: A New Commitment 22, 2002. July 18, 2002. to the American Family (Milwaukee, WI: Family Service 56 Knight, et al., op. cit. America, 1990), p. 122. For an in-depth discussion of 37 David Crary, “Coalition Wants Marriage Amendment,” Elshtain’s view on this topic, see Jill Locke, “Hiding Associated Press, July 10, 2001. marriage-owner@ 57 “Dr. James C. Dobson Speaks Out Against Gay Marriage for Whom? Obscurity, Dignity, and the Politics of abacus.oxy.edu retrieved July 7, 2001. Bill,” January 14, 2002. http://www.family.org/wel- Truth,” Theory &Event, vol. 3, no. 3 (Fall 1999). See come/press/a0019239.cfm retrieved July 16, 2002. 38 Didi Herman argues that “anti-gay measures in the http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/theory_&_event/toc/archi United States are, at their heart, orthodox Christian 58 Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive® ve.html#3.3 measures. Arguably, when they become legislation, the press release, “National Survey Shows Growing Support 80 “A Call to Civil Society,” op. cit., p. 18, emphasis added. establishment clause is violated.” Didi Herman, The for Same Sex Partner Rights,” July 11, 2002. Retrieved 81 Antigay Agenda: Orthodox Vision and the Christian Right from [email protected] on July 12, 2002. Elshtain, “Against Gay Marriage – II: Accepting Limits,” (Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1997), p. 168. Commonweal, vol. CXVIII, no. 20, November 22, 1991, 59 Ibid. pp. 685-86. 39 CWA, “History: 1978-2001.” http://cwfa.org/about/his 60 Don Eberly, “Civic Renewal or Moral Renewal,” Policy 82 Glendon, “Introduction,” op. cit., p. 5. retrieved April 2, 2002. Review (September-October 1998), p. 5. http://www.pol- 83 40 See Judith Stacey and Timothy J. Biblarz, “(How) Does icyreview.com/sept98/renewal.html retrieved May 15, See, for example, Elshtain, “Family and Civic Life,” op. the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?” American Soci- 2001. All pages refer to online version. Eberly, served as cit. For a critique of this line of argument, see my ological Review, vol. 66, no. 2 (April 2001), pp. 159-183. deputy director for the Office of Public Liaison during “Neo-Patriarchy and the Anti-Homosexual Agenda,” the Reagan Administration, and more recently was op. cit. 41 James Dobson, Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and named deputy director in George Bush’s Office of Faith. 84 Encouragement For Those Shaping the Next Generation of Cited in Eberly, America’s Promise, op. cit., p. 54. Eberly He is a proponent of a form of “civil society,” that Men (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., praises Horn’s recognition that “the differences between reduces government by turning over the social safety net 2000), pp. 16-17. the parenting styles of fathers and mothers indicate that to faith-based organizations, corporate and commu- fathers are essential to developing impulse control in the 42 Ibid. nity groups, and philanthropists. Eberly has written young.” p. 55. 43 several books on the subject including, America’s Promise: For my views on the fatherhood movement, see Snyder, 85 Civil Society and the Renewal of American Culture James Dobson, The New Dare To Discipline (Wheaton, “Neo-Patriarchy and the Anti-Homosexual Agenda,” op. IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992), p. 27. cit. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1998). 86 61 Ibid., pp. 35-36. Many studies have documented the 44 William Mattox Jr., “Gay Marriage Devalues Women,” Here Barber refers to “A Call to Civil Society: Why Democracy Needs Moral Truths” (New York: Institute detrimental impact of corporal punishment on children. USA Today, August 21, 2001. http://www.alliancefor- See Phillip Greven, Spare the Child: The Religious Roots marriage.org/reports/fma/usatoday.htm retrieved July 15, for American Values, 1998), a report of the Council on Civil Society, chaired by Jean Bethke Elshtain. of Punishment and the Psychological Impact of Physical Abuse 2002. (New York: Vintage Books, 1992), and Murray Strauss 62 45 Quoted in Robert Dreyfuss, “The Holy War On Gays,” Eberly, “Civic Renewal or Moral Renewal,” op. cit., pp. with Denise A. Donnelly, Beating the Devil Out of Them: Rolling Stone, March 18, 1999, p. 41. 3-4. Corporal Punishment in American Families (New York: 63 Lexington Books, 1994). 46 Hardisty, Mobilizing Resentment, op. cit., p. 102. Ibid., pp. 4-5. 87 Dobson, New Dare To Discipline, op. cit., p. 63.

THE PUBLIC EYE 11 FALL 2002 The Public Eye Scared Chaste, Scared Straight: approach. Similarly, the value of these programs for adolescents who Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage have initiated sexual activity is not yet understood. More research is clearly Education in U.S. Schools needed. By Sean Cahill where comprehensive sex education is the Programs that typically emphasize abstinence, but also cover condoms he welfare reform law of 1996, norm. and other methods of contracep- premised on the unproven claim that A report released by U.S. Surgeon- T tion, have a larger body of evaluation poor women’s failure to marry is the cause General David Satcher in early 2001 also evidence that indicates either no of high rates of family poverty in the United questioned the effectiveness of abstinence- effect on initiation of sexual activity States, promoted an abstinence-only-until- only education. Satcher noted that there has or, in some cases, a delay in the ini- marriage policy that teaches that sex out- been little research to demonstrate the tiation of sexual activity. This evi- side the context of marriage is intrinsically effectiveness of this particular type of dence gives strong support to the dangerous, both physically and psycho- instruction. More comprehensive educa- conclusion that providing informa- logically.1 Relying on scientifically inaccu- tion programs that also provide informa- tion about contraception does not rate information and notions of shame, this tion on condom use have proven effective increase adolescent sexual activity, policy poses a threat to all youth. But it poses in stemming disease transmission and either by hastening the onset of a particular threat to lesbian, gay, bisexual sexual intercourse, increasing the and transgender (LGBT) youth, who are frequency of sexual intercourse, or already subject to widespread harassment A report released by U.S. increasing the number of sexual part- and violence in the nation’s schools. ners. In addition, some of these eval- As of 1999 nearly one third of the Surgeon-General David uated programs increased condom nation’s high schools were promoting absti- use or contraceptive use more gen- nence only, while excluding information Satcher in early 2001 also erally for adolescents who were about contraception and safer sex educa- sexually active.7 tion.2 A study of 43 states plus Puerto questioned the effectiveness Rico and the District of Columbia found Abstinence-Only and Preven- that more than 10 percent of the absti- of abstinence-only tion Efforts to Stop Sexual nence-only funds had been granted to Diseases and Teen Pregnancy 3 “faith-based entities” in 22 states. A fur- education. Satcher noted everal states and municipalities have ther 40 percent of the funds were spent Srejected or stopped applying for federal through other private, but nonreligious, that there has been little disease prevention funds out of a mistaken 4 entities. Twenty-eight of the 42 state and belief that accepting abstinence-only funds territorial jurisdictions sampled prohibited research to demonstrate precludes them from accessing federal funds organizations providing abstinence-based for sex education. Nebraska decided not to education from providing information on the effectiveness of this reapply for HIV prevention grants from the contraception and sexually transmitted Centers for Disease Control (CDC) because diseases (STDs) if asked by a student or particular type of HIV prevention has traditionally com- other client. A further five jurisdictions pro- bined abstinence promotion with safer sex 5 vided no guidance one-way or the other. instruction. education. Since 1997 Nebraska has Research has shown that sex education limited all state-sponsored sex education to that promotes the delay of first intercourse an abstinence-only-until-marriage mes- but simultaneously teaches safer sex prac- sage. Following lobbying from the National pregnancy among already sexually active tices is more effective than abstinence- Abstinence Clearinghouse, Nebraska’s youth. Yet safer sex education has not been only education. A World Health Education Commissioner decided not to shown to increase or hasten sexual activity Organization review of 35 sex education reapply for CDC funds.8 among youth. According to Satcher: programs around the world documented In 1998, Ohio state legislators passed a To date, there are only a few pub- the relative ineffectiveness of abstinence- law preventing the state’s Department of lished evaluations of abstinence-only only education in stemming the spread of Education from spending CDC funds 6 programs. Due to this limited num- STDs. Youth in the United States have awarded to it until it agreed they would only ber of studies it is too early to draw higher rates of unwanted pregnancy and be used to teach abstinence. More than two STDs than their counterparts in Europe, definite conclusions about this

THE PUBLIC EYE 12 FALL 2002 The Public Eye years passed and an agreement between the services at health clinics and redirect the tives; presents rarely occurring, worst-case department and the legislature was not funds into abstinence-only-until-marriage scenarios as routine and common; stigma- worked out. Language that would have programs. Florida already has 35 absti- tizes and evokes hostility toward people with required programs to “emphasize” absti- nence-only education programs funded AIDS; and largely ignores homosexuality nence, but not limit their approach only to by Temporary Assistance for Needy Fam- except as a context for HIV transmission.14 abstinence education, was rejected by hard- ilies (TANF) funds and run by private At least two curricula, however, are explic- liners. As a result, $1 million was forfeited, organizations.12 While Arkansas has long itly hostile toward lesbians and gay men.15 although only 10 percent of those CDC limited state-funded “sex education” to “[T]here is no such thing as ‘safe’ or funds were earmarked for HIV prevention; an abstinence-only-until-marriage ‘safer’ premarital sex,” warns FACTS, one the rest were for other health initiatives, approach, a bill that would further restrict such curriculum. “There are always risks including tobacco use prevention, dia- sex education was introduced last year.13 associated with it, even dangerous, life- betes, and cancer prevention.9 threatening ones.”16 Echoing Pat The Northern Kentucky Independent Scared Chaste: Abstinence- Buchanan’s claim that AIDS is “nature’s District Health Department also voted in Only’s Reliance on Fear, retribution” on “the poor homosexuals” 2001 to limit sex education efforts paid for Shame, and Misinformation who “have declared war on nature,”17 Sex with state dollars to the abstinence-only- bstinence-only-until-marriage Respect, another abstinence-only curricu- until-marriage approach.10 The New Jersey Aapproaches to sex education are lum, teaches the following: and Maine legislatures considered bills, counterproductive, dangerous, and even Is this [AIDS and other STDs] which would mandate abstinence-only harmful to the youth who are subject to their nature’s punishment for sex outside education in those states’ public schools.11 messages. Premarital sex is presented as of marriage? No, not at all. These are Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced in intrinsically harmful. Relying on shame and natural consequences. For example, March 2001 that he wanted to take $1 fear, abstinence-only spreads inaccurate if you eat spoiled food, you will get million in state funds for family planning information about STDs and contracep- sick. If you jump from a tall build- Reprinted with the kind permission of the artist.

THE PUBLIC EYE 13 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

ing, you will be hurt or killed…If you Scared Straight: Heterosexism, explicitly, stigmatized. For example, Sex have sex outside of marriage, there are Sexism, and Antigay Bias in Respect teaches students that “[R]esearch consequences for you, your partner, Abstinence-Only Curricula and common sense tell us the best ways to and society.18 eterosexist gender stereotypes about avoid AIDS are: Remain a virgin until The Sexuality Information and Educa- Hboys and girls are widespread in absti- marriage…Avoid homosexual behavior.”27 tion Council of the United States nence-only curricula. Boys are presented as When homosexual sexual practices are (SIECUS) documents numerous ways in sex-crazed, and girls as less interested in sex noted in this context, they are portrayed as which the incidence and effects of several than they are in finding love. Girls are “unnatural behavior.”28 STDs are misrepresented in abstinence- warned about “the way you dress sending At least two abstinence-only curricula only-until-marriage curricula.19 SIECUS messages.” Sex Respect warns, “Watch what are overtly hostile toward lesbians and gay warns that these scare tactics can discour- you wear. If you don’t aim to please, don’t men. Clue 2000 engages in the standard age students from seeking treatment for aim to tease.” Feminism is blamed for right-wing tactic of conflating homosex- STDs, such as chlamydia, which are eas- promiscuity: “the liberation movement has uality with pedophilia and incest when it ily curable if treated early on.20 produced some aggressive girls today, and notes that “[a]mong Kinsey’s most outra- Condoms are presented as a dan- geous and damaging claims are the gerous and ineffective form of birth beliefs that pedophilia, homosexual- control: “Relying on condoms is like ity, incest, and adult-child sex are playing Russian roulette,” declares In reaction to a growth in sex normal.”29 Facing Reality assures teach- Me, My World, My Future.21 Condom ers and parents that presenting homo- failure rates are overstated; and the education and antihomophobia sexuality as intrinsically dangerous is failure of users to properly use con- actually in the best interests of stu- doms is inaccurately translated into initiatives in the early 1990s, dents, and is not homophobic. It also an intrinsic defect in the product.22 repeats the outdated notion of AIDS FACTS warns that even if condoms conservatives pushed “parents’ as a gay disease: are properly used, they may still allow Many homosexual activists are “the transmission of HIV/AIDS.” rights” laws and parental frustrated and desperate over their This flies in the face of CDC and own situation and those of loved other scientific research, which finds notification laws in states across ones. Many are dying, in part, due condoms highly effective in stop- to ignorance. Educators who strug- ping the spread of STDs when used the United States, requiring teachers gle to overcome ignorance and properly.23 instill self-mastery in their stu- Skewed information about to provide advance written warning dents will inevitably lead them to HIV/AIDS is common in absti- recognize that some people with nence-only-until-marriage curric- to parents prior to addressing AIDS are now suffering because of ula. Sex Respect devotes three the choices they made…Teachers, paragraphs to the possibility of con- issues of homosexuality in class. in order to preserve an atmosphere tracting HIV through “French kiss- of intellectual freedom, should feel ing.” This is based on a single case confident that when examining investigated by the CDC in 1987, which one of the tough challenges for guys who health issues and moral implications may have involved transmission due to say no will be the questioning of their man- of homosexual behaviors, they are not bleeding, open-mouth sores. However, liness.”25 Girls are portrayed as primarily engaging in an assault on a particu- kissing is generally not a risk factor for HIV responsible for rejecting the sexual advances lar person or group.30 transmission. People with AIDS are also of boys.26 The irony of that last sentence is par- stigmatized as dangerous bearers of death. Programs that focus on abstinence- ticularly rich: Abstinence-only-until-mar- Sex Respect warns, “How can you tell if only-until-marriage are detrimental to riage education is by definition a someone has AIDS? There is no way for you LGBT youth, those youth questioning suppression of alternative points of view, to predict. Anyone can be carrying your their sexual orientation, the children of and involves the supplanting of a method death warrant.”24 LGBT parents, and LGBT teachers and scientifically proven to be effective in administrators in the nation’s schools. decreasing the spread of STDs with Homosexuality is largely ignored except as another, unproven method. Yet this a context for HIV transmission. But homo- approach is constructed as “preserv[ing] an sexuality is implicitly, and sometimes atmosphere of intellectual freedom.”

THE PUBLIC EYE 14 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

Studies have shown that LGBT youth who receive gay-sensitive HIV instruc- tion in school tend to engage in risky sex- ual behavior less frequently than similar People continue to get infected with HIV youth that do not receive such instruction. In a random sample of high school students unnecessarily because some public health professionals and HIV education instructors in Massa- chusetts, among sexually active hetero- and many elected officials have abdicated their sexual and homosexual youth, gay youth reported more sexual partners, more fre- responsibility to deal with HIV/AIDS as a public quent use of substances before engaging in sex, and higher rates of pregnancy. How- health issue. Instead, too many impose their narrow ever, those gay youth that received gay-sen- sitive HIV instruction reported fewer vision of morality on the rest of the population and sexual partners and less frequent substance use before sex.31 promote policies which have failed to prevent the

Impact of Abstinence-Only continued spread of this disease. Thus abstinence-only- and “Parent’s Rights Laws” on Safe Schools Initiatives until-marriage education may in fact contribute he often explicitly antigay and stig- Tmatizing language of abstinence cur- to the transmission of HIV and other STDs. ricula can have a chilling effect on discussion of homosexuality in the schools, including attempts to deal with incidents of antigay Silber ordered academy head- those who are gay or from gay families. harassment of LGBT students and the master James Tracy to disband the children of LGBT parents. In reaction to school’s two-year old GSA last week, The Connection with State “No Promo Homo” Laws a growth in sex education and antihomo- saying it didn’t belong there because phobia initiatives in the early 1990s, con- it encouraged teen sex. “We’re not outh Carolina bans discussion of “alter- servatives pushed “parents’ rights” laws and running a program in sex educa- Snative sexual lifestyles from heterosex- parental notification laws in states across the tion,” Silber told the Sept. 7 Boston ual relationships including, but not limited United States, requiring teachers to provide Globe. “If they want that kind of to, homosexual relationships except in the advance written warning to parents prior to program, they can go to Newton context of instruction concerning sexually 34 addressing issues of homosexuality in class. High School. They can go to public transmitted disease.” Arizona law pro- It also followed by a few years the “no school and learn how to put a con- hibits “instruction which: 1) Promotes a promo homo” laws enacted by many states dom over a banana.” According to a homosexual life-style. 2) Portrays homo- in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which Sept. 6 Globe story, Silber threat- sexuality as a positive alternative life-style. restrict any neutral or positive mention of ened to cut funding to the school if 3) Suggests that some methods of sex are safe 35 homosexuality.32 When taken together, the GSA wasn’t shut down. methods of homosexual sex.” Alabama these policies create a context that may Efforts to silence and stigmatize homo- requires that any mention of homosexual- have a chilling effect on open conversations sexuality can have devastating effects on ity stress “that homosexuality is not a about issues facing LGBT students and the LGBT youth. A recent NIH-funded study lifestyle acceptable to the general public and children of LGBT parents, including issues of Latino gay and bisexual men found a cor- that homosexual conduct is a criminal 36 of verbal and physical harassment. relation between experiences of homo- offense under the laws of the state.” And The link between sex education, absti- phobia and increased likelihood to engage Texas law is almost identical to Alabama’s 37 nence promotion, and LGBT youth was in HIV risk behaviors. It also found that statute. vividly displayed in recent comments by family acceptance and the presence of an How do these restrictions play out? Kay Boston University president John Silber, openly gay role model while growing up Coburn, an administrator with the Tem- who called for the disbanding of a gay- correlated with lower incidence of HIV risk ple, Texas Independent School District, 33 straight alliance at a university-run high behaviors. The promotion of homopho- told Human Rights Watch that there is “no school. Boston’s gay newspaper Bay Win- bia and ignorance about AIDS and other discussion of homosexuality,” nor “any dows reported September 12, 2002: STDs hurts all students, but especially message in the curriculum about how

THE PUBLIC EYE 15 FALL 2002 The Public Eye homosexuals might protect themselves The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) announces the from HIV. Abstinence is the only message. release of a new two-part report Innovative Approaches to Increase Parent-Child Communication about The traditional family is where you have Sexuality: Their Impact and Examples from the Field. sex. The curriculum doesn’t address sex out- According to SIECUS, “Many parents, caregivers, and young people want to talk with each other 38 side this structure.” about sexuality-related issues. With this in mind, SIECUS decided to examine what the research said Cheryl Cox, a health teacher and mem- about the effectiveness of programs designed to increase communication about sexuality between par- ber of her Robinson (TX) High School ents and other primary caregivers and their children and to complement those findings with examples of innovative approaches to such communication. health education advisory council, noted that coverage of homosexuality and other Funded by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, SIECUS compiled this information into the publica- “lifestyle options” was “not needed or nec- tion. Intended to guide parents and caregivers, policymakers, public agencies, and educators in their quest for high-quality programs and information, the publication consists of two parts. essary…I can’t see it ever being acceptable to discuss homosexuality, as it’s a very con- Part 1: The Impact of Interventions Designed to Promote Parent-Child Communication about Sexuality is written by Doug Kirby Ph.D., senior research scientist at ETR Associates, and provides scientific servative community. It’s a topic that I’m analysis of the available research on the effectiveness of programs designed to increase parent-child not supposed to be talking about because communication about sexuality. of the standards set forth by the commu- 39 Part 2: Innovative Approaches that Encourage Parent-Child Communication about Sexuality, compiled nity and by the health advisory board.” by SIECUS, includes ten innovative approaches and 45 examples from the field that have been used Terry Cruz, an abstinence educator in to increase parent-child communication about sexuality-related issues.” Laredo, TX, told Human Rights Watch For more information check out www.siecus.org or email [email protected] or: that “probably the only time I touch on the SIECUS, 130 West 42nd Street, Suite 350, subject [of homosexuality] is with HIV, New York, NY 10036-7802 referring to how HIV originally started.”40 Tel: 212/819-9770 or Fax: 212/819-9776 SIECUS, 1706 "R" Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 Abstinence Efforts Likely to Tel: 202/265-2405 or Fax: 202/462-2340 Dominate in Near Future eople continue to get infected with 46 HIV unnecessarily because some pub- Black and Latino individuals, most of want. One of the strongest disparities P 42 lic health professionals and many elected them men who have sex with men. exists for homosexuality. Seventy-six per- th officials have abdicated their responsibility Federal incentives favoring abstinence- cent of parents of 7-12 graders felt that sex to deal with HIV/AIDS as a public health only education are likely to become more education should cover homosexuality, issue. Instead, too many impose their nar- entrenched under President George W. while only 41 percent of students reported row vision of morality on the rest of the pop- Bush. As governor, Bush opposed sex edu- the topic was actually covered. ulation and promote policies which have cation and HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. failed to prevent the continued spread of this Bush told the Washington Times in July Policy Recommendations disease. Thus abstinence-only-until-mar- 1999 that he supports abstinence-only ge-appropriate, publicly funded sex riage education may in fact contribute to education, arguing that teaching safer sex Aeducation programs should be offered the transmission of HIV and other STDs. and abstinence together “sends a contra- nation-wide which provide comprehen- Although HIV and AIDS has dispro- dictory message that tends to undermine sive, factual information about sexuality. 43 portionately affected gay and bisexual the message of abstinence.” Bush told These can promote abstinence but must also men, increasingly those living with HIV or young people that they should avoid sex provide information on safer-sex tech- AIDS are heterosexual, female, and African until they are in “a biblical marriage rela- niques that significantly reduce the risk 44 American and Latina/o women and chil- tionship.” Bush also supports educational for transmission of STDs and pregnancy. dren. Within the gay and bisexual male grants for churches and faith-based groups They should avoid gender stereotypes and 45 community, men of color, particularly to promote abstinence-until-marriage. the stigmatization of homosexuality. They younger men of color, are at greater risk for Abstinence-only sex education, while should not be allowed to contribute to the HIV/AIDS. For example, in New York City strongly supported by President Bush and widespread harassment and violence against one recent study found that four percent a conservative Congress, does not enjoy LGBT youth in the nation’s schools. of White homosexually active 15- to 22- widespread support among the U.S. pub- Sean Cahill is director of the Policy Institute year-old men are HIV-positive, while 10 lic. According to a national study con- of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. percent of Latino men and 22 percent of ducted by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, there exists a strong disparity African American men in this age bracket Notes 41 between what is actually taught in sex edu- are HIV-positive. From 1999 to 2000, 69 1 Each year since 1996, nearly $100 million in government percent of new HIV infections were among cation programs and what parents actually funds have been spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage education, ostensibly aimed at preventing teen preg-

THE PUBLIC EYE 16 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

nancy and out-of-wedlock births. The Bush Adminis- 26 Kempler, “State-level,” p. 54. 35 See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. 15-1716. Cited in Ibid., p. 35. tration has sought a substantial increase in abstinence-only- 27 Ibid. 36 See Ala. Code 16-40A-2. Cited in Ibid., p. 35. until-marriage funds during the welfare reauthorization of 2002. 28 Sex Respect describes anal intercourse as “unnatural 37 See Texas Health and Safety Code 163.002(8). Cited in

2 behavior.” Of course, anal intercourse is a behavior Ibid., p. 35. Sharon Lerner, “An Orgy of Abstinence: Federal Fund- practiced by both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Ibid., 38 Interview cited in Ibid., p. 36. ing Pushes No-Sex Education Into the Mainstream,” p. 29. Village Voice, August 1-7, 2001. Available at http://www. 39 Interview cited in Ibid., pp. 36-37. villagevoice.com/issues/0131/lerner.php. Abstinence 29 Ibid., pp. 46-47. 40 Interview cited in Ibid., p. 37. activists are so extreme that they advocate against mas- 30 Ibid., p. 47. turbation, a nearly universal human activity. The National 41 31 Richard Elovich, “Beyond Condoms…How to Create Abstinence Clearinghouse’s “Abstinence Survival Kit” Susan M. Blake, et al., “Preventing Sexual Risk Behav- a Gay Men’s Culture of Sexual Health,” POZ (June 1999). warns that “sexual self-stimulation” may “eventually iors Among Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Adolescents: The 42 leave the person unable to respond sexually to a real per- Benefits of Gay-Sensitive HIV Instruction in Schools,” National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, “With CDC HIV son.” “It’s the first sign of sexual addiction,” warns Leslee American Journal of Public Health, vol. 91, no. 6 (2001), Infection Rates on the Rise, New NGLTF Report Exam- Unruh, the Clearinghouse’s president. pp. 940-946. ines Direct Impact of Discrimination on Latino Gay Men,” (Washington, DC: NGLTF, July 12, 2001). 3 32 As a result of such a law, teachers in Merrimack, NH, Adam Sonfield and Rachel B. Gold, “States' Implemen- Available at http://www.ngltf.org/news/release.cfm?relea- declined to teach Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night because tation of the Section 510 Abstinence Education Program, seID=404 FY 1999,”Family Planning Perspectives, vol. 33, no. 4 a female character disguises herself as a man, and declined 43 (July/August 2001), pp. 166-172. Available at to show a video about Walt Whitman that mentioned AIDS Action Council, “Election 2000 Presidential Can- http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/journals/3316601.html that he loved men. See Mary Bonauto, Background didate Report,” (August 1999). Available at Information on “No Promo Homo” Policies (Washington, http://www.thebody.com/aac/candidates.html; Cyn- 4 Ibid. DC: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educators’ Network, Sep- thia Dailard, “Fueled by Campaign Promises, Drive 5 Ibid, pp. 168-169. tember 16, 2002). Available at http://www.glsen.org/tem- Intensifies to Boost Abstinence-Only Education Funds,” The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, vol. 3, no. 2 (April 6 plates/resources/record.html?section=14&record=42 Mariella Baldo, et al., “Does Sex Education Lead to Ear- 2000). Available at http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/jour- 33 Rafael Diaz and George Ayala, Social Discrimination and lier or Increased Sexual Activity in Youth?” Paper presented nals/gr030201.html. at the IXth Annual International Conference on AIDS Health: The Case of Latino Gay Men and HIV Risk Berlin, (Geneva: World Health Organization), June 6-10, (New York: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 44 David Broder, “Bush Defends Gun Record, Pushes Teen 1993. Policy Institute, 2001). Available at Abstinence,” Washington Post, June 22, 1999, p. A4. http://www.ngltf.org/library/index.cfm 45 7 David Satcher, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Pro- “Bush Promotes Abstinence for Teenagers,” Associated mote Sexual Health and Responsible Behavior (Washing- 34 See South Carolina Code Ann. 59-32-30(A)(5). Cited Press, June 22, 1999. ton, DC: Office of the United States Surgeon General, in Human Rights Watch, Ignorance Only: HIV/AIDS, 46 Tina Hoff and Liberty Greene, Sex Education in Amer- 2001), p. 11. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/ Human Rights and Federally Funded Abstinence-Only ica: A Series of National Surveys of Students, Parents, library/sexualhealth/ Programs in the United States; Texas: A Case Study, vol. 14, Teachers, and Principals (Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. no. 5 (September 2002), p. 35. 8 Martha Kempner, “Controversy Over CDC’s Research Kaiser Family Foundation, 2000). Available at to Classroom Project,” SIECUS Report, vol. 29, no. 6 http://www.kff.org/content/2000/3048/SexED.pdf. (2001), pp. 4-5. 9 Ibid., p. 9. 10 Ibid., p. 5. 11 Ibid., pp. 5-6. Packaging Xenophobia in Liberal Garb: 12 Martha Kempner, “State-Level Debates Over Absti- nence-Only-Until-Marriage,” SIECUS Report, vol. 29, Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Woman no. 6 (2001), p. 7. 13 Kemper, “Controversy,” p. 13. “Environmentalism”

14 Ibid., preface. By Mitra Rastegar and Federation for American Immigration 15 Ibid, pp. 46-47. Editorial Note: This article first appeared in Sojourner: Reform. They put out publications and 16 Ibid., p. 19. The Women’s Forum (Boston, April 2002), pp. 7, 16. sponsor television commercials, radio spots 17 Patrick Buchanan, Syndicated column, June 23, 1983, Reprinted with the kind permission of the publisher. and billboard campaigns to warn of the Cited in Sean Cahill and Erik Ludwig, Courting the Vote: re you worried about the destruction The 2000 Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Gay, supposed consequences of the immigra- Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues (New York: Aof parks and forests in this country? tion-induced “population explosion.” They National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, Do you fear rolling blackouts will become 1999), p. 21. speak before Congress and attempt to a norm in the future? Are you concerned 18 Kempner, “State-level,” p. 18. affect the positions of mainstream envi- about your child’s overcrowded deterio- 19 Ibid., pp. 25-28. ronmental organizations. rating school? Does the traffic congestion 20 Ibid., p. 26. Following a rich history of packaging and sprawl drive you crazy? Well, a num- 21 Ibid., p. 33. xenophobia in liberal garb, these organi- ber of organizations say they have discov- 22 Ibid., p. 32. zations seek to entice environmentalists and ered the single most important step to 23 See Questions and Answers on Condom Effectiveness, others to their anti-immigrant positions. CDC Update (Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control, countering these problems: restricting A closer look at their analysis shows that 1997), and Philip Kestelman, and James Trussell, “Effi- immigration. cacy of the Simultaneous Use of Condoms and Spermi- they are more interested in opposing immi- cide,” Family Planning Perspectives, vol. 23, no. 5 (1991), These groups go by names like gration than in protecting the environment. p. 227, both cited in Kempler, “State-level,” pp. 34-35. Population-Environment Balance, They consistently scapegoat immigrants for 24 Kempler, “State-level,” p. 31. NumbersUSA, Negative Population a whole range social, economic and envi- 25 Sex Respect, cited in Kempler, “State-level,” p. 44. Growth, Carrying Capacity Network, ronmental ills, often changing their focus

THE PUBLIC EYE 17 FALL 2002 The Public Eye depending on what issue is in the forefront resources are used to meet basic needs or immigrants will dilute a perceived Western of debates. They also exploit the general to fuel a consumerist economy of luxury culture and values, this environmental public’s racism and sexism by demonizing goods. In fact, the focus should not be only argument is a tactic to win over politically women of color and immigrant women in on how large the population is, but how moderate and liberal individuals and the order to promote their cause of restricting that population uses and/or protects the largely White environmental movement. immigration. resources of the earth. Liberals have historically expressed ambiva- These anti-immigrant groups also lence on the issue of immigration, often The Population Control ignore that environmental degradation is opposing it on economic grounds and the Framework a global issue affected by many factors need to “protect American jobs.” In the hese organizations argue for restricting other than mere population size. The 1990s, as the proportion of immigrant Timmigration based on the concept of United States, with about 5 percent of the women increased, liberals joined conser- “population stabilization.” They say that world population consumes 30 percent of vatives in voicing concerns about immi- most environmental and “quality of life” the world’s resources. Federation for Amer- grants coming to the United States to reap problems, such as water and power short- ican Immigration Reform (FAIR) responds the rewards of “generous” public benefits. ages, pollution, traffic, overcrowded schools to this fact by stating that it is more fair and In 1994, California’s Proposition 187 and suburban sprawl, are a direct result of effective to stop immigration thereby sta- played off these stereotypes and sought to U.S. population “explosion.” Through bilizing U.S. consumption rates, than to deny benefits and social services to all colorful poster graphs they illustrate that tackle the problem of unbridled overcon- undocumented immigrants. After a divi- most post-1970 population growth in the sumption in this country. In other words, sive campaign, a majority of voters passed United States is a result of immigrants the United States is justified in reaping the the ballot initiative, but a court overruled and their offspring. benefits of developing countries’ resources, most of its provisions. Nevertheless, the Why the seemingly arbitrary year of while inhabitants of those countries should proposition paved the way for the three 1970? Around this time, White fertility be content with living in poverty and dep- sweeping 1996 anti-immigrant laws, rates came down to replacement levels of rivation. A real environmentalist solution including the Personal Responsibility and about 2 children per couple. Also, just would seek to meet the needs of all people, Work Opportunity Act, or “Welfare five years earlier, Congress ended immi- rather than protect the extravagance and Reform.” Almost half of the expected gration quotas based on nationality, which exploitative behaviors of wealthy nations savings of Welfare Reform, or $24 billion, opened the doors to many immigrants of and corporations. came from cuts to immigrants’ benefits. color who had previously been barred Many liberals and, of course, the entry. Today 85 percent of immigrants are Wooing Liberals Clinton administration, enthusiastically people of color and by the year 2050 hile conservatives often oppose supported Welfare Reform. They accepted Whites are predicted to no longer be in the Wimmigration based on fears that the Right’s myths about women of color majority in this country. Population con- trol groups claim to be only concerned with “the numbers,” i.e. the size of the entire U.S. population. However their analysis con- Hope or Despair? sistently overlooks Whites’ responsibility in environment degradation, while leading Our friends in DC, the Center for Community Change, recently sent us a copy of to policies that restrict the movement and “False HOPE: A Critical Assessment of the HOPE VI Public Housing Redevelopment Program, reproductive rights of people of color. released in June 2002.” The report was prepared by: the National Housing Law Project The racism and sexism in this anti- (http://www.nhlp.org), the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (http://www.prrac.org), Everywhere and Now Public Housing Residents Organizing Nationally Together immigrant “environmentalist” position (ENPHRONT), and Sherwood Research Associates. The report’s publishers urge people comes through in their choice of focusing concerned with public housing and social justice to use “False HOPE” to “influence the debate on U.S. population growth as the central around the reauthorization of the HOPE VI program.” According to the foreword, “False cause of environmental degradation. They HOPE identifies—and to the extent possible, documents—serious shortcomings and inconsis- disregard much more significant factors tencies in the HOPE VI public housing redevelopment program. It proposes specific reforms to such as corporate exploitation and destruc- address these problems. This report is intended to support and to complement similar proposals tion of natural resources, along with law- for HOPE VI reform previously produced by ENPHRONT and the National Low Income makers’ reluctance to adopt and enforce Housing Coalition.” necessary environmental protections. For more details on how to obtain a copy of the report contact Focusing only on decreasing “the num- http://www.communitychange.org bers,” they ignore whether environmental

THE PUBLIC EYE 18 FALL 2002 The Public Eye and immigrant women being lazy, sinful, baby-producing machines that needed to A selected bibliographic resource on White Privilege be reined in. They also endorsed the new Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to law on the supposed economic grounds of See Correspondences through Work in Women’s Studies,” Working Paper Series, No. 189, protecting taxpayers’ money. (Wellesley, MA: Center for Research on Women, 1988)

Anti-immigrant, Antiwoman Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peace and Freedom, he anti-immigrant movement has July/August 1989. Talso sought to use the issue of the Mab Segrest, Memoirs of a Race Traitor (Boston: South End Press, 1994) environment to foment liberal opposition to immigration, in effect driving a wedge Sharon Martinas, “Shinin’ the Lite on White Privilege: Defining the Problem, Why Can’t between communities of color and We Just Get It Together?” 1998. See http://www.prisonactivist.org/cws/sharon.html Whites. It has promoted many of the same stereotypes used in favor of Welfare Tim Wise, in Paula Rothenburg, ed., White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism (New York: Worth Publishers, 2001). Reform in its analysis of environmental problems. Central to both these issues is Becky Thompson, A Promise and a Way of Life [White Antiracist Activism] (Minneapolis: the idea that women of color are repro- University of Minnesota Press, 2001). ducing undeserving populations that will exploit resources (whether economic or http://www.uwm.edu/~gjay/Whiteness/Whitenessbib.html environmental) that rightly belong to U.S. citizens. Although anti-immigrant groups rarely itly connected to what is a deeper concern Though often stated in race-neutral terms, speak directly about women, their focus on for many within the anti-immigrant it is clear how their primarily White fol- population stabilization implicitly is about movement. That is the changing racial and lowers will perceive this prospect: Whites controlling the sexuality of immigrant ethnic demographics of the country and will be in a battle with a growing popula- women and women of color. When ana- the fact that Whites are already a minor- tion of color over what Whites perceive as lyzing population growth, FAIR refers ity in California and in an increasing rightly theirs. obliquely to “immigration’s invisible mul- number of cities. tipliers.” This term refers to the higher fer- John Tanton, the founder and a current Since September 11, 2001 tility rates of immigrant women and the fact board member of FAIR, who over the ince September 11, the anti-immigrant that their children will also have children, years has held leadership positions within SRight has shifted its focus to national leading to supposedly uncontrollable pop- the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, Zero security, arguing that if its proposals for ulation growth. The implication is that Population Growth and U.S. English, in restricting immigration had been in place, immigrant women are sexually irrespon- 1986 authored a private study-group memo the attacks would have been avoided. sible, producing too many children, and spelling out these fears: Opportunistically, many of the regular that legal restrictions are necessary to con- Will the present majority peace- players in the anti-immigrant Right (includ- trol this hypersexuality. Similarly, the ably hand over its political power to ing FAIR, NumbersUSA, Negative Popu- Right’s image of pregnant undocumented a group that is simply more fertile? . lation Growth) have formed a new coalition women crossing the border in order to have . . Can homo contraceptivus compete organization, United to Secure America, U.S. citizen “anchor babies” was key to with homo progenitiva if borders which calls for increased border security restricting immigrants’ access to public aren’t controlled? . . . As Whites see measures and decreased legal immigration. benefits. their power and control over their However the population control framework Whether veiled as a concern about the lives declining, will they simply go has not been set aside completely. abuse of the economic safety net or about quietly into the night? Or will there Within weeks of the September 11 the supposed environmental consequences be an explosion? attacks, Project USA placed 40 posters on of overpopulation, the underlying message Though most spokespeople for immi- phone kiosks throughout Manhattan say- is the same: immigrant women are repro- gration restriction are not so direct, they ing, “Immigration will double U.S. pop- ducing at an excessively high rate that is often do raise the specter of racial and eth- ulation in our lifetimes,” and “U.S. dangerous to this nation. While some anti- nic conflict. Within the population growth population now growing at a faster rate than immigrant groups are careful not to raise framework, they argue that as natural China's.” Californians for Population Sta- the issue of demographics, concern about resources are depleted, ethnic conflict over bilization (CAPS) ran TV commercials in immigrant women’s fertility rate is implic- these resources will become inevitable. October linking the September 11 attacks Packaging Xenophobia continues on page 21 THE PUBLIC EYE 19 FALL 2002 The Public Eye Books Received Nancy Chang David C. Leege, et al. David I. Kertzer Silencing Political Dissent: How The Politics of Cultural Differences: The Popes Against the Jews: Post-September 11 Anti-Terrorism Social Change and Voter Mobiliza- The Vatican’s Role in the Rise of Measures Threaten Our Civil tion Strategies in the Post-New Modern Anti-Semitism Liberties Deal Period (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001). (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2002), (Princeton: Princeton University Press, pb, 168 pp, with reference notes. 2002), pb, 287 pp, with bibliography Lewis C. Daly and index. A Moment to Decide: The Crisis in Howard Zinn Mainstream Presbyterianism Terrorism and War R. Michael Alvarez and John Brehm (New York: Institute for Democracy (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2002), Hard Choices, Easy Answers: Values, Studies, 2000). pb, 159 pp, with appendix, reference Information, and American Public notes, suggested further reading, and Opinion Alfie Kohn, ed. index. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, Education, Inc.: Turning Learning 2002), pb, 247 pp, with bibliography into a Business Gore Vidal and index. (Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight, 1997). Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace: How We Got to Be So Hated Ann Coulter James Carroll (New York: Thunder’s Mouth Slander: Liberal Constantine’s Sword: The Church Press/Nation Books, 2002), pb, 160 pp. Lies about the and the Jews, A History American Right (Boston: Mariner/Houghton Mifflin, James X. Dempsey and David Cole (New York: Crown 2001). Terrorism & the Constitution: Sacri- Publishers, 2002), ficing Civil Liberties in the Name of hb, 256pp, with George M. Fredrickson National Security index. The Comparative Imagination: On (Washington, DC: First Amendment the History of Racism, Nationalism, Foundation, 2002 rev. ed.), pb, 231 pp, and Social Movements with appendix and reference notes. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000). Thom Hartmann Older Books Recently Acquired Unequal Noam Chomsky Robert L. Borosage and Roger Protection: The Hickey, eds. 9-11 Rise of Corporate The Next Agenda: Blueprint for a (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2001), Dominance and New Progressive Movement pb, 125 pp, with appendix and sug- the Theft of (Boulder, CO: Westview, 2001). Human Rights gested reading list. (Emmaus, PA: Ron Baiman, Heather Boushey, and Paul Apostolidis Rodale Inc., 2002), Dawn Saunders, eds. Stations of the Cross: Adorno and hb, pp. 360 pp, with Political Economy and Contempo- Christian Right Radio notes, resources, and index. rary Capitalism: Radical Perspectives (Durham: Duke University Press, 2000). on Economic Theory and Policy Robert H. Wiebe, (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000). Who We Are: A History of Popular Michael Tomasky Nationalism Left for Dead: The Life, Death, and (Princeton: Princeton University Press, Possible Resurrection of Progressive 2002), hb, 282 pp, with bibliographical Politics in America essay and index. (New York: Free Press, 1996).

THE PUBLIC EYE 20 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

the Sierra Club’s neutral position on immi- Mary C. Brennan Manfred B. Steger gration to one of immigration restriction. Turning Right in the Sixties: The Gandhi’s Dilemma: Nonviolent Conservative Capture of the GOP Principles and Nationalist Power Conclusion (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000). hatever societal fear is making the Carolina Press, 1995). Wheadlines; the anti-immigrant Neil Baldwin movement has sought to promote its cause Robert McElvaine Henry Ford and the Jews: by creating a link between that issue and What’s Left? A New Democratic The Mass Production of Hate immigration. They have blamed immi- Vision for America (New York: Public Affairs, 2001). grants for crime, loss of jobs, high taxes, (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media, 1996). feelings of cultural disconnect, spread of James Arnt Aune diseases, multilingualism, national inse- Nicholas Fraser Selling the Free Market: curity, and of course, the deteriorating The Voice of Modern Hatred: The Rise of Economic Correctness environment. While some of these myths Tracing the Rise of Neo-Fascism (New York: Guilford Press, 2001). are based on stereotypes about young, in Europe single men of color, as female immigration (Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, Richard Abanes has increased so has the opportunity to 2000). Harry Potter and the Bible: demonize women of color based on their The Menace behind the Magick potential reproductive capabilities. We (Camp Hill, PA: Horizon Books/ need to respond to these destructive images Christian Publications, 2001). by presenting the real complexity of immigrant women’s lives and telling their stories of struggle in the face of corporate globalization, an increasing disparity Packaging Xenophobia continuedon from page 19 between the rich and the poor, and gender with immigration policy and calling on Sierra Club Board of Directors in order to and racial oppression. Congress to reduce immigration levels. make population control a central focus of Mitra Rastegar was formerly Researcher at More recently the Executive Director of the organization. This will be the newest Political Research Associates and coordi- CAPS, Ben Zuckerman, has announced round in an almost decade-long campaign nated PRA’s Activist Resource Kit project. that he is running for a position on the by the anti-immigrant movement to change

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THE PUBLIC EYE 21 FALL 2002 The Public Eye Eyes RIGHT

“BLUE IN THE FACE but it would lead to a world made immea- in Johannesburg, the Charter is a statement FOR FAMILY VALUES: surably safer for America and what it values.” about the interconnectedness of all people, ‘CONGRESSMEN SHOW And what exactly are those values, again? and a guide to working cooperatively toward THEIR ‘TRUE’ COLORS’” Source: National Review, 7/15/02 a sustainable global society. At least that’s how The Family Research Council had “a hum- the Charter’s authors see it. But according to bling and encouraging experience…as [it] NUKE THE DEMS? William Jasper in an article entitled The honored 110 men and women from both In an essay called “Why we hate them,” Ann New World Religion, the U.N. Earth Char- houses of Congress who voted consistently Coulter serves up her usual dose of vitriol, this ter is “actually a diabolical blueprint for with FRC's position” on family values. This time reflecting on Al Gore’s recent com- global government…it is also an outrageous included “protecting the funding for the ments about the direction of the president’s Boy Scouts of America” [safeguarding their foreign policy. Describing Gore as laying out constitutional right to discriminate against the Democrats’ “full traitorous case,” she gays]; “promoting school choice,” [sup- comments that “Gore also complained that porting the taxpayer funding of religious Bush has made the ‘rest of the world’ angry schools]; and “preventing abortions in mil- at us. Boo hoo hoo. He said foreigners are not EyeLASHES itary hospitals” [denying military women the worried about ‘what the terrorist networks right to control their own bodies]. Accord- are going to do, but about what we’re going ing to FRC “These ‘True Blue’ members have to do’…Good. They should be worried. stood on and for principle.” And the FRC cel- They hate us? We hate them. Americans don’t I always see two ebrates the congress members’ joining it to want to make Islamic fanatics love us. We Jewish“ communities “keep watch for families in the nation’s cap- want to make them die. There’s nothing like ital.” In turn Congressman Jim DeMint of horrendous physical pain to quell angry in America: one of South Carolina slapped FRC on the back, fanatics. So sorry they’re angry—wait until calling it “the conscience of Congress.” they see American anger. Japanese kamikaze deep intellect and Source: FRC email, 10/02/02. pilots hated us once too. A couple of well- aimed nuclear weapons, and now they are one of shallow, gentle little lambs. That got their attention.” WHEN CONTROLLING Coulter suggests that the Dems should superficial THE WORLD JUST ISN’T stop “obsessing over why angry primitives ENOUGH hate Americans.” She stops short of advo- intellect. National Review author John Miller writes cating an attack on the wimpy and traitor- –House Majority Leader” Dick Armey approvingly of Everett Dolman’s book Astro- ous Democrats with a few of those well-aimed politik, which proposes that the United States nuclear weapons, but you just know that’s (R-TX). seize “hegemonic control” of space. Dol- probably what she’d really like to do. man suggests that once U.S. control is estab- Source: TownHall.com, 9/26/02 I think lished, it can then impose “a police blockade of all current spaceports, monitoring and con- Muhammad“ was a GOD THE FATHER VS. trolling all traffic both in and out.” Accord- MOTHER EARTH ing to Miller, “(t)he goal would be to make terrorist… [He] was the heavens safe for capitalism and science The New American, published by American while also protecting the national security of Opinion Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned a—a violent man, the United States…This may sound like subsidiary of The John Birch Society, has 21st-century imperialism, which, in essence, issued a warning to its readers: Beware of the a man of war. it would be. But is that so bad? …Seizing con- U.N. Earth Charter. Presented at the recent Earth Summit II –Rev. Jerry” Falwell. trol of space would also would cost trillions,

THE PUBLIC EYE 22 FALL 2002 The Public Eye attempt to indoctrinate your children in the only churches and other houses of worship the good and the bad news” on the family that UN’s New Age paganism.” Jasper cautions (not other 501(c)(3) organizations) from policy makers, activists, and educators can concerned Christians that “(i)f the Earth restrictions on endorsing political candi- use. As part of the launch, FRC will “unveil Summiteers have their way, Johnny and dates and participating in election cam- The Family Portrait” at the National Press Suzie will not be able to pledge allegiance to paigns on a candidate’s behalf. That pesky Club in Washington DC, where a panel of ‘one nation, under God,’ but they will be able separation of Church and State clause keeps experts will ascertain why sometimes “Amer- to pledge to ‘One World, under Gaia’— getting in the way, or was this an attempt at icans' actions strongly conflict with their that is, Mother Earth.” “Faith-based” electoral politics? conservative views on marriage and fam- Source, The New American, 9/23/02 Source: Concerned Women for America, ily.” Hmmm. Maybe because, increasingly, http://www.cwfa.org/library/freedom/2002-10-03_jones- most Americans’ views of what makes a fam- bill.shtml ily are not in sync with conservative values? “WE’RE VAGUE, ETHEREAL, Source: FRC email, 09/12/02. IGNORANT, AND WE JUST “LESBIAN HEALTH & DON’T CARE” CITIZENS’ WEALTH” David Brooks, senior editor of the Weekly The Family Research Council is appreciative “WHY IS THERE Standard and a regular guest on public tele- that the Bush administration is finally tar- SUFFERING?” vision’s “News Hour,” has gone to the trou- geting LGBT communities for reduction Pat Robertson has probably been reading up ble of monitoring the “evasions, distractions and elimination of “so-called health care on Buddhist philosophy, which is perhaps and miasma of the anti-war left,” or as he calls programs that squander taxpayer dollars and what led him to ask the deep question, “Why it, “The Fog of Peace.” Characterizing a pro- promote radical agendas.” The immediate is there suffering?” Well, according to Pat, “To peace full-page ad in the New York Times as cause for celebration is the Department of say there is suffering because there is crime, a “picture perfect example of moral exhibi- Health and Human Services recent deci- or because there are auto accidents, is not tionism,” Brooks quotes a few of the ad’s sion to withdraw support for a conference on nearly enough. Our question goes far beneath “vague sentiments, ethereally removed from lesbian health because it “…did not fit the surface, where it hits at the very roots of the tensions before us today….” Sentiments with Secretary Thompson’s vision.” FRC human pain and anguish. There are many such as, “Nations have the right to determine welcomes “…the administration’s change causes of suffering, and the list could go on their own destiny, free from military coercion of heart and applaud[s] the concern to for pages. But our question is not concerned by great powers…” protect citizens’ hard-earned money from with causes. We are looking for the reasons Brooks uses a favorite conservative ploy, government waste.” for suffering.” Is there a difference? defining the terms of the debate: either we Source: Family Research Council daily email update, Lest we worry too much and really begin attack Iraq or we do nothing. Since the anti- 10/4/02. to reflect on the reason for suffering, Pat war Left opposes attacking Iraq, they must provides us the answer that, “[a]ll suffering be for—doing nothing. This “logic” allows “MADE IN OUR MO[U]LD” is temporary.” It will end with the second Brooks to describe such disparate thinkers as The Heritage Foundation has put together coming of Christ. But that still leaves one to Edward Said, Noam Chomsky, Frances a new series of policy statements addressing worry whether this is a pre-millennial or Fitzgerald, Barbara Ehrenreich, Susan Son- what should be done with Iraq after ousting post-millennial perspective. Will we be trou- tag, Tony Kushner, and even Tom Daschle Saddam Hussein. In the section, “The Road bled before being raptured or will we be as “playing culture war, and …disguising their to Economic Prosperity for a Post-Saddam raptured without being troubled? eruptions as position-taking on Iraq, a coun- Iraq” they boldly state, “The new post-Sad- Source: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyand try about which they haven’t even taken the dam federal government should develop a theology/Pat-Why_suffering.asp trouble to inform themselves…For most in modern legal system that recognizes property Compiled by Nikhil Aziz, Kate Cloud, and the peace camp, there is only the fog. The rights and is conducive to privatization…” Allen Jackson. debate is dominated by people who don’t ‘Nuff said. seem to know about Iraq and don’t care. Their Source: http://www.heritage.org/Research/MiddleEast/ positions are not influenced by the facts of iraqroom.cfm world affairs.” HAIKU Source: Weekly Standard, 9/30/02 “PRO-FAMILY PORTRAIT” Clever sucker punch The Family Research Council recently “FREE SPEECH FOR announced that it would release The Fam- uses democracy to CHURCHES?” ily Portrait, which is ostensibly a compilation On October 2, 2002, the Houses of Worship of data, research, and public opinion on undermine U.S. Political Speech Protection Act (H.R. 2357) marriage and the family. FRC hopes that this was defeated on the House floor by a vote of book would be a “one-stop shop” of “both Chip Berlet 178 to 239. The bill would have exempted

THE PUBLIC EYE 23 FALL 2002 The Public Eye

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