Christian Action League
In a March 4 opinion piece for NC Policy Watch, Ian Palmquist, executive director for Equality NC, a statewide lobbying organization for homosexual rights, complained bitterly against Republican Minority Leader, Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake), for his advocacy of an amendment to the State’s Constitution to protect marriage. He argues: “The 2009 legislative session has just begun and our state faces huge challenges – rising unemployment, a growing budget shortfall, crumbling infrastructure, and a broken mental health system to name a few.” The General Assembly he adds has a “big list of real threats to deal with, the economy certainly being the most urgent. Surely couples like Brad [that’s Palmquist’s same-sex partner] and I don’t belong on that list.”
Yet, Palmquist at the helm of Equality NC is vigorously pressing the North Carolina General Assembly this year to pass two bills that would promote the normalization of homosexuality in the public schools.
HB 548 and SB 526, The School Violence Protection Act (the Bullying Bill) would require local school boards to amend their existing bullying policies to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.” The measure would not only create a protected status in North Carolina’s public schools for homosexuality, bisexuality, cross dressing and other alternative sexual behaviors, but would also require schools to teach these behaviors are normal and acceptable.
Equality NC is also pushing hard for the passage of HB 88 – Healthy Youth Act. This measure would change the standard for sex education in North Carolina from Abstinence Until Marriage (AUM) to Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE). While the current standard, the AUM curriculum teaches “a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS,” CSE would teach “respect for marriage and committed relationships” and open the door to present unmarried heterosexual relationships as well as homosexual, bisexual and multi-partner relationships as equal with traditional marriage. Palmquist and Equality NC want this form of sex education to be the standard for North Carolina’s children.
Palmquist says the economy is the most urgent issue before the North Carolina General Assembly and not he and his partner. But that’s not the way he’s acting. It’s obvious that a culture where homosexuality is normal and acceptable is a top priority with him and his allies. In fact, they believe this is so important they are willing to use North Carolina’s children as a vehicle to build that society.
On Tuesday, March 24th Equality NC is planning a lobbying day in Raleigh, where they will train attendees, as well as lead them over to the General Assembly Building to vote for their legislative agenda this year.
Take Christian Action: Edmund Burke once said: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” It’s critical that you help counter Equality NC’s lobbying day by contacting your Representative and Senator and tell him/her of your opposition to these bills (The Healthy Youth Act and The Bullying Bill). And while you’re at it, tell them of your support for the SB 272 and HB 361 –The Defense of Marriage bills.
Lawmakers are already hearing from supporters of gay rights groups in large numbers. Now that the Christian Action League has Voter Voice, we’ve made it easy for your voice to counter them. To make your voice heard on these critical bills just click here