Thirty miles south of the site of the third largest annual celebration of GLBT pride in the country, a few parents protested an anti-bullying event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. It's not that these Farmington, Minnesota parents are in favor of bullies, no sirree ("We understand that's a problem," says parent Michael Keifer). What they're against is the association with homosexuality, however indirect and vague. Because even thirty miles south of one of the gay-friendliest cities in the nation, there are still people who think that good information is tainted if it comes from a source with different values.
No Name-Calling Week is a week-long program GLSEN developed with publishing company Simon & Schuster, which helps schools open dialogue with students about bullying of all types. The parents in Farmington who oppose the program claim that their opposition is completely due to GLSEN's involvement. "We believe that the needs of the students would be better served by
the ... program being conducted independent of involvement with an
agenda-specific group such as GLSEN", as Justine Jacobsen puts it. GLSEN's "agenda", for what it's worth, is to strive "to assure that each member of every school community is valued
and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender
identity/expression". Why, I am just shocked and appalled not seeing the problem here.
To their credit, Farmington administrators responded to the homophobic parents with surprise and a bit of eyerolling. "We're not sure why it matters who came up with the good idea," said principal Barbara Duffrin. The program continued as scheduled.
