January 23, 2012

Issues

1.) Is Your Child’s School Participating In This?

2.)  President Obama’s Statement on the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade -Click here.

Details

1.)  This is “No Name Calling Week” (NNCW)   in our nation’s schools!  Sounds good until you realize it is the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) who is behind it.  GLSEN’s ultimate goal is to normalize the homosexual lifestyle – telling kids that ‘It’s okay to be gay.’  Last week they released a 68-page elementary toolkit called “Ready, Set, Respect

Here are some statements from that publication’s introduction:

[E]lementary school children are bombarded every day with messages about different groups of people in our society, many of which portray these groups in a negative, socially undesirable way. Those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) are often among these groups. In addition to influencing attitudes, the messages children receive about these people also influences (sic) how they will make sense of gender and inform how they think about their own identity… without intentional guidance, the messages children receive about groups of people, as well as various identities and gender roles can complicate this process and contribute to bullying, prejudice and bias.

While most elementary educators have embraced this work and construct and conduct lessons focused on diversity, recent research suggests that intentional efforts to include explicit lessons that foster respect for differences in gender identity or gender expression or that include families with LGBT parents/caregiver, siblings, or other individuals significant in our student’s lives, are less frequent. As a result, many students go through their elementary school years without positive mentions of families that include LGBT persons or friends or people who may be gender non-conforming.

The elementary school years offer a wonderful and important opportunity to instill and/or nurture positive attitudes and respect for individual, family and cultural differences, including diversity related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

More specific instructions include the following:

• Make sure the analogies you use when teaching don’t rely on hetero-normative or gender-normative images or viewpoints. A hetero-normative viewpoint is one that expresses heterosexuality as a given instead of being one of many possibilities. Such a viewpoint can translate into the development of all kinds of images that reinforce the view. The assumption (reinforced by imagery and practice) that a boy will grow up and marry a woman is based on such a viewpoint. A gender-normative image, on the other hand is one that delimits the possibilities for children of either gender by reinforcing stereotyped expectations.
• Find ways of grouping and lining up students other than “boys here, girls there” or “boys do this, girls do that.” While some students may enjoy these ways of separating the class, they can isolate other students who may feel uncomfortable conforming to gender-based stereotypes.
• Monitor choice activity time to ensure that students are not segregating themselves by gender.
• Become more aware of the ways that you support gender stereotypes in your expectations of students and their work and intervene when you hear students making genderbased assumptions.
• Write math problems with contexts that include a variety of family structures and gender-expressions. For example, “Rosa and her dads were at the store and wanted to buy three boxes of pasta. If each costs $.75, how much will all three boxes cost?”(emphasis added)

Now you see where GLSEN is coming from and such thinking will be reflected in this week’s NNCW lessons.

Action Steps

1.)  Call your child’s school and see if they are participating in ‘No Name Calling Week.”

2.)  Share this information with others who are concerned with what is going on in our schools.

Pennsylvania Makes Great Pro-Life Decisions This Week

(Harrisburg) –The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) commends the Pennsylvania legislature for taking steps this week to protect the most vulnerable of Pennsylvanians — the unborn.

• On Monday HB 1977  passed in the House.   This bill prohibits coverage for abortions in state health plans, unless the abortion is performed to prevent the death of the mother or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.  These exchanges are required if Obamacare takes effect in 2014.  It now goes to the Senate

• A similar bill SB 3  passed in the Senate on September 21st,  went to the House, passed on first consideration and was “Laid on the Table” on October 17th and is awaiting further action.
•  Yesterday the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 732  with the House amendments by a vote of 32-18.  This bill requires abortion clinics to follow the same regulations as ambulatory surgical facilities.   One day earlier it overwhelmingly passed in the House.  The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

“Opponents of SB 732 argued that the bill would greatly increase costs for abortions at the 20 abortion clinics statewide.  The opponents have apparently forgotten about the babies and women killed in Kermit Gosnell’s Philadelphia House of Horrors.   That is the case that exposed the flaws in Pennsylvania’s law and led to these bills being introduced.  Instead Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters and legislators like Dan Frankel and Babette Josephs are concerned about ‘taking away a woman’s right to choose.’   What about the baby’s right to life,” remarked Diane Gramley, President of the AFA of PA.

# # #

Casey Again Proves That “Pro-Life” is Not a Label He Deserves

(Harrisburg) — Today the United States Senate unsuccessfully voted on cloture for the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, considered the second highest court in the land.   Even though both of Pennsylvania’s US Senators claim to be pro-life, only one voted to reflect that label.  The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) is appalled that once again Senator Bob Casey, Jr., who campaigned and continues to label himself as pro-life, voted to confirm pro-abortion Caitlin Halligan.

“Senator Casey’s pro-life mantel has become simply a very tarnished veneer he continues to try to hide behind.   It is apparent that Senator Casey did not do his homework on this nominee very well .  One example of how radical Halligan is –  as New York Solicitor General,  she targeted pro-life groups by arguing that protestors should face extortion and racketeering charges under a wild interpretation of the Hobbs Act,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

Senator Casey should have also noted that the National Rifle Association opposed her nomination — only the second time in the NRA’s history that they opposed the nomination of a circuit court judge!  Their opposition centered around Halligan’s efforts to sue gun manufacturers for crimes committed with guns.   If Senator Casey missed the gun issue, he should have caught her radical position on same-sex marriage.   As New York Solicitor General  Halligan had argued for same-sex marriage, even though the state’s domestic law required that marriage licenses only be issued to opposite sex couples.  Then there’s the War on Terror where Halligan, as a member of a bar committee, joined other members in issuing a report claiming it is unconstitutional for the United States to detain enemy combatants.  The DC Court of Appeals is too important a court for someone as radical as Caitlin Halligan.  The court plays a critical role in national security matters, has considerable regulatory review authority, and is frequently a springboard for judges that are later nominated to the Supreme Court.

“Pro-family, pro-life and pro-Second Amendment Americans are very glad the US Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed on the cloture vote for Caitlin Halligan for the DC Court of Appeals.  However, as Pennsylvanians, we are very disturbed that the 54 votes for cloture included our so-called ‘pro-life’ Senator Bob Casey, Jr.  It’s time he packed away his pro-life label because his voting record since he’s been in office does not reflect it,” Gramley concluded.

# # #

December 5, 2011

Issues

Another Troubling Obama Nominee

Details

The Nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals amounts to extraordinary circumstances, given her extreme positions on a variety of issues.

A cloture vote on her nomination is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday (12/6). Halligan has expressed very liberal opinions on a wide variety of issues including:

- The death penalty (even filing an amicus brief in Roper v. Simmons)

- Individual rights under the Second Amendment

- Same Sex ‘Marriage’

- The War on Terror (approving a NYC Bar Association report she now attempts to disown)

- Abortion

- Affirmative Action

- Immigration

For more information read this American Spectator article of November 16, 2011.

Nominees to the DC District Court are typically subjected to a high degree of scrutiny, one that Caitlin Halligan does not even begin to satisfy.  As such, she should be opposed on any vote taken by the Senate, including the cloture vote scheduled for Tuesday.

Action Steps

Contact Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and Senator Pat Toomey and ask them to “Vote ‘no’ on cloture for Caitlin Halligan to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.”   Click here for contact information.   Please email them and call their district office nearest you.

November 22, 2011

Issue

SB 732 Update

Details

The delay in House action on SB 732  has been to attempt to make some reasonable accommodation of the State Senate’s position on the bill.  House Floor Leader Mike Turzai said the House was attempting to make such an accommodation to avoid delaying SB 732 even further.  Because when passed in the House and sent to the Senate they could amend SB 732 and thereby send it to a conference committee with even more delays than what have been occurring.

The Senate is insisting on language that would grant special treatment to abortion facilities if they requested a waiver from ASF regulations.  The House and the Governor’s office oppose such special treatment language. A future pro-abortion Governor would likely use such language to render the ASF requirements for abortion facilities in PA to be meaningless.

Chief Counsel for the Senate, Donna Malpezzi, Esq., is the one overseeing the Senate negotiations.  She has a history of attempting to dilute pro-life legislation.  She reports to Senator Dominic Pileggi; however there’s no indication he knows of her tactics.  Senator Pileggi is the Senate Majority Leader and the Chairman of the Rules Committee which is where SB 732 will go when passed in the House.

Representative Turzai has said he will run SB 732 in the House even if the Senate negotiator does not change her stance.  Leading pro-life Senators support the House’s position.

Action Steps

1.)  Please contact your State Representative and ask him or her to support SB 732. Click here for contact information.    If you don’t know who your Rep is, you can find out by clicking “address” or “county” in the upper right hand corner of this linked page.

2.) Contact Senator Pileggi and this is the message, “Please support the PA House’s position on SB 732 regarding waiver requests from ASF requirements.  Please oppose any special treatment for abortion facilities”.  The Senate is not back in session until December 5th, so contact his district office in Glen Mills today.  That number is (610) 358-5183 or email at dpileggi@pasen.gov

October 31, 2011

Issue

SB 732 — Abortion Clinic Licensing Bill Vote Today!

Details

SB 732,  the bill that would require abortion clinics to operate under the same regulations as an outpatient surgical facility, is on the State House Calendar  for a vote this afternoon.

Action Steps

1.)   Call or email your State Representative and ask him or her to vote ‘Yes’ on SB 732. Click here for the contact information.    If you don’t know who your State Rep is, click here to find out by entering your address or county.

September 8, 2011

Issues  (check corresponding number in ‘Details’ and ‘Action’ Sections)

1.)  Congress Back in Session

2.)  HHS Conscience Rules

3.) Ask Your Congressman to Support Our Military

Details

1.) Our US Senators and Congressmen are now back in session.  They are facing a myriad of issues that will affect all Americans in one way or another.

2.) Under Obamacare the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was given enormous powers to implement the universal health care plan.  Under those powers, HHS convened the Institute of Medicine (IOM)  to make recommendations for what “preventive services for women” should be mandatory for ALL private health insurance.  In July the IOM, which had no pro-life representative, recommended that free coverage of all contraceptives and sterilization services be mandatory.  On August 3rd HHS issued a regulation accepting these recommendations, meaning all private health insurance plans in the individual and group market will be required to cover these services with no co-pay for the patient.  Thus the federal government is mandating that all private health insurance plans cover contraceptives and sterilization services free of charge.  The mandate includes drugs deemed “contraceptives” by the FDA even if they can cause abortions like Plan B and Ella. (RU-486 is not included since the FDA approved it as an “abortifacient”.

Organizations which provide insurance to their employees will be forced to cover such “services.”   The HHS regulation contains an exemption only for certain group plans, not insurance in the individual market. Moreover, the exemption is unacceptably narrow for churches, but would not include religious businesses or other organizations that have moral or religious objections to such coverage.

Click here for the HHS news release and here for a table of the various ‘services’ covered free of charge by Obamacare.  Note how nice and neatly “Contraceptive Methods and Counseling” is sandwiched in between counseling for STDs and breastfeeding!

The question is should employers and people who object to these drugs be forced to pay higher premiums in order to bear the costs for free abortions.  This is clearly a violation of the conscience of millions of Americans, and additionally goes against the current conscience protections in law to stop government discrimination.

3.)  Speaking of conscience:  Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) will be introducing a bill to protect the right of conscience of those members of the military who believe engaging in homosexual acts is wrong and believe lifting the ban on homosexuals serving in the military is also wrong.  The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” repeal goes into effect on September 20th, but already the Congressman and others are fielding complaints from active duty personnel about the Pentagon’s progressive training materials.   They say the Defense Department is pushing the line in its implementation of the new rules.  The Pentagon is currently working on “disciplinary policies for people who don’t agree with this decision.”  Essentially, Hunter’s legislation would ensure that “members of the Armed Forces are not pressured to approve of another person’s sexual conduct if that sexual conduct is contrary to the personal principles of that member.”  Our troops have pledged to follow legal orders, but they have not vowed to surrender their principles.

Action Steps

1.)  We need to let our voices be heard in the halls of Congress on issues that are important to us, but we need to also daily pray for the decision makers in not only Washington, DC, but also Harrisburg and those on the local level.

2.)  We are asking you to speak up on behalf of life and conscience protections for all groups or individuals that have conscience objections to any contraceptives as well as those that can cause abortion. HHS is currently receiving public comment on the definition of “religious employer” which they have defined as only including churches, but no businesses or other groups.   Is a religious employer only a church or is it the local Christian bookstore, Christian adoption or relief agency such as Samaritan’s Purse?  These businesses will be forced to cover contraception and abortion, if these rules stand.  Send your comments to womensguidelines@hrsa.gov include this in the Subject line:  ” Comment:  RIN 1210-AB44.”  Please note that any comments left are part of the public record.

3.)  Contact your Congressman and ask him or her to sign on as a co-sponsor of Representative Duncan Hunter’s bill protecting our military service members’ freedom of speech.  Click here for contact info   This bill will be introduced before the September 20th lifting of the ban on homosexuals in the military, so contact your Congressman ASAP.

White House Honors GLSEN for Promoting Homosexuality in Schools

(Harrisburg) — Recently the White House named the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as one of its Champions of Change in Week 20: Suicide Prevention.  This move again cements the Obama Administration to the promotion of homosexuality which goes hand in hand with the June 17th announcement that the Department of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the Centers for Disease Control had given a five-year annually renewable grant to GLSEN to “identify and maintain ‘safe spaces’ for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth” in our nation’s schools.    The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group advocating for the well-being of children, notes that one of those school districts is in Philadelphia.

Today the AFA of PA sought some clarification on the role GLSEN will play in the district.  In an email to Judih Peterson, Coordinator of the district’s HIV prevention education program, we asked three questions:

1.) Since the School District of Philadelphia is a DASH-funded district, what will this partnership with GLSEN mean to the district?

2.) Will such a partnership distract from the real purpose of the school ” to provide a high-quality education that prepares, ensures, and empowers all students to achieve their full intellectual and social potential in order to become lifelong learners and productive members of society”?

3.)  Have parents been informed of this new partnership?

“GLSEN continues to follow their former Executive Director Kevin Jennings game plan by couching their arguments around the safe schools mantra  trying to disguise their true agenda which is the indoctrination of the nation’s school children with a ‘gay is okay’ message.   Most parents when they learn the true mission of GLSEN loudly oppose this indoctrination.  Additionally, taxpayers do not appreciate their tax dollars being used to promote homosexuality in the schools or elsewhere,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

It is quite evident the School District of Philadelphia is already ignoring the facts about HIV/AIDS  and is into social engineering which does not lend to an effective learning environment.   This new partnership with GLSEN will only decrease the time students should be learning academics and further discourage them in their studies of the basics needed to get a good job or go onto college.

“The CDC should not be partnering with an organization which promotes the very lifestyle which causes the majority of HIV/AIDS cases.  Their own statistics show that among 13-19 year old adolescents nearly 2/3 of all new HIV infections are male to male sexual contact.  And from 2005 to 2008 13-24 year olds had the greatest percentage increase in diagnosed HIV cases of all age groups.     Clearly their tactics are not working and dumping more money into failed programs will not help,” Gramley further

# # #