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Parents Action League

Logo of the Parents Action League
Founded	2010 (2010)
Type	Citizens Organization
Location	Champlin, Minnesota
Website	www.parentsactionleague.org

Parents Action League is an organization started in 2010 to protest proposed changes in the Anoka-Hennepin (Minnesota) School District 11 policy which had limited discussions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues in district classrooms. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the organization as an anti-gay hate group because it spread damaging propaganda about LGBT people.

Background

Between 2009 and 2011, nine students in Anoka-Hennepin committed suicide; the area is designated by state health officials as a "suicide contagion area." At least four of these students identified as gay or were perceived by their classmates to be gay, leading to bullying. The district is the subject of a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education over the climate of anti-gay harassment and discrimination based on sex, including peer-on-peer harassment based on not conforming to gender stereotypes.

The district received criticism for its Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy (Feb. 2009) because it stated that teachers should be neutral when addressing issues of sexual orientation in their classrooms. Critics said this "neutrality policy" prevented acceptance and open discussion of GLBT people and issues in schools, and was essentially a "gag order" on teachers. The "neutrality policy" as it was called, allows teachers to address LBGT issues in the classroom but forbids them from staking out positions on such issues. The policy was characterized as contributing to the harassment and bullying of LGBT students. Advocates for the students charged that several student suicides in the district have been linked to such harassment, and they want the policy repealed. The controversy escalated into lawsuits and a federal investigation. District administration attempted to clarify the policy by explaining its anti-bullying and harassment policies specifically name sexual orientation as a protected class of people. The Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy stated teachers can address issues of sexual orientation in their classes provided the discussion is age-appropriate, fact-based and connected to the curriculum.

History

One Parents Action League member, Barb Anderson, had been a key figure in the 1995 adoption of the policy, particularly with its requirement that "homosexuality not be taught as a 'normal, valid lifestyle'." In 2011, the Parents Action League circulated an online petition supporting the Anoka-Hennepin school district's sexual orientation curriculum policy, which has been challenged by advocates for LGBT students. The School district has disclaimed connection with the outside group.

As part of their list of demands to the school district, members of PAL included "incorporating ex-gay (conversion therapy) into the school resources."

On February 13, 2012, the policy was repealed and replaced by a vote of 5-1 with a new Respectful Learning Environment Policy. The old policy was repealed because the US Department of Justice "agreed with the crux of the lawsuit -- that the neutrality policy and the policies that preceded contributed to harassment of gay kids" including six bullied gay students (including one who committed suicide). The new policy requires teachers to discuss contentious issues in a way that "shall affirm the dignity of all students."

Hate group designation

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated the Parents Action League as an anti-gay hate group. SPLC's Heidi Beirich said "the Parents Action League was included on their hate list for 'damaging propaganda about the gay community,' including calling gays and lesbians 'promiscuous, dysfunctional, unhealthy'." The SPLC noted for groups including PAL, "viewing homosexuality as unbiblical does not qualify organizations for listing as hate groups." PAL leader Laurie Thompson, in email, did not respond to Star Tribune's questions about the SPLC accusations but according to them did "pose pointed questions", "How does being pro family/pro parental rights constitute a group as a hate group?" and, "How does being an advocate for parental rights to raise their children come off as being hatred?"

See also

• List of organizations designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups
• Suicide among LGBT youth

References

1. Parents Action League. "Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved July 10, 2012.
2. ^ Birkey, Andy (22 August 2011). "Parents Action League warns of 'radical homosexual agenda' in Anoka-Hennepin schools". The Minnesota Independent. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
3. ^ Southern Poverty Law Center. "SPLC". Retrieved July 8, 2012.
4. ^ Louwagie, Pam (12 August 2012). "Trying to track hate, in Minnesota and around the country". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved 8 September 2012. In the case of groups the center considers anti-gay, including the Anoka-Hennepin district's Parents Action League, the center says listings are based on "propagation of known falsehoods -- claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities -- and repeated, groundless name-calling. Viewing homosexuality as unbiblical does not qualify organizations for listing as hate groups." The center's Heidi Beirich said the Parents Action League was included on their hate list for "damaging propaganda about the gay community," including calling gays and lesbians "promiscuous, dysfunctional, unhealthy."
5. Baca, Maria Elena (11 December 2011). "Rifts still evident at hearing on embattled GLBT policy". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
6. Mencimer, Stephanie (July 25, 2011). "The Teen Suicide Epidemic in Michele Bachmann's District". Mother Jones.
7. Harlow, Poppy and Probst, Emily. (July 20, 2011). "Minnesota school district investigated after civil rights complaint". CNN.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. Birkey, Andy. MinnesotaIndependent.com 29 Sept. 2010 "Following suicides, Anoka-Hennepin community presses school board for change" http://minnesotaindependent.com/71475/following-suicides-anoka-hennepin-community-presses-school-board-for-change
9. Draper, Norman (18 August 2011). "Petition supports Anoka-Hennepin GLBT policy". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
10. Carlson, Dennis. StarTribune.com 10 Aug. 2011 "Superintendent: GLBT neutrality policy is best for Anoka-Hennepin schools" http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/127490178.html
11. Jessica Lussenhop. "Parents Action League listed as a hate group". CityPages. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
12. Birkey, Andy (January 13, 2012). "Conservative Christian parents fight for right to discriminate against LGBT students at Anoka Hennepin". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
13. Baca, Maria Elena (13 February 2012). "Anoka-Hennepin school district votes to replace neutrality policy". StarTribune. Minneapolis: StarTribune. Retrieved 13 February 2012. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
14. Jessica Lussenhop. "Anoka-Hennepin settles lawsuit with bullied students". CityPages. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
15. Anoka-Hennepin District No. 11. "RESPECTFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT – CURRICULUM POLICY". Retrieved July 10, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
16. Horner, Sarah (13 March 2013). "Anoka group makes rights center's hate list - Parents Action League earns designation for stands on gay". St. Paul Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

• Organizations based in Minnesota
• Ex-gay organizations
• Organizations established in 2010
• Hennepin County, Minnesota