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| '''MassResistance''' is a ] anti-gay group<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=26 |title=Active U.S. Hate Groups |accessdate=2008-10-30}}</ref><ref name=baywindows_shocker/> that promotes ] primarily on issues surrounding ], the ] community and ]. It was formed in 1995 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition, turned into the Article 8 Alliance in 2003, and adopted the current name in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schlatter|first=Evelyn|title=18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners|work=Intelligence Report, Winter 2010, Issue Number: 140|publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=2012-09-07}}</ref><ref></ref> The group has criticized former Massachusetts governor ] for not opposing same-sex marriage,<ref>{{cite news | title = Mass. Activists Defend Romney Conservative Record; Group Lauds Social Stances | first = Scott | last = Helman | work = ] | date = 2007-01-10 | url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/01/10/mass_activists_defend_romney_conservative_record/ | accessdate = 2008-10-30}}</ref> and says it fights against students in public schools being taught about homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.massresistance.net/ |title=MassResistance |accessdate=2008-10-31 |quote=End ... homosexual activist recruitment of our children in the public schools!}}</ref> The ] has designated MassResistance as an anti-gay ].<ref name=baywindows_shocker/> | '''MassResistance''' is a ] anti-gay group<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=26 |title=Active U.S. Hate Groups |accessdate=2008-10-30}}</ref><ref name=baywindows_shocker/> that promotes ] primarily on issues surrounding ], the ] community and ]. It was formed in 1995 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition, turned into the Article 8 Alliance in 2003, and adopted the current name in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schlatter|first=Evelyn|title=18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners|work=Intelligence Report, Winter 2010, Issue Number: 140|publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center|accessdate=2012-09-07}}</ref><ref></ref> The group has criticized former Massachusetts governor ] for not opposing same-sex marriage,<ref>{{cite news | title = Mass. Activists Defend Romney Conservative Record; Group Lauds Social Stances | first = Scott | last = Helman | work = ] | date = 2007-01-10 | url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/01/10/mass_activists_defend_romney_conservative_record/ | accessdate = 2008-10-30}}</ref> and says it fights against students in public schools being taught about homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.massresistance.net/ |title=MassResistance |accessdate=2008-10-31 |quote=End ... homosexual activist recruitment of our children in the public schools!}}</ref> The ] has designated MassResistance as an anti-gay ] for their "propagation of known falsehoods—claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities—and repeated, groundless name-calling."<ref name=baywindows_shocker/> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 05:14, 3 October 2012
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| Founded | 1995 (1995) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Brian Camenker |
| Type | Nonprofit 501(c)(4) |
| Tax ID no. | 04-3271722 (EIN) |
| Focus | Oppose LGBT rights in law and policy |
| Location | |
| Key people | Brian Camenker, President |
| Revenue | $137,953 (2010) |
| Website | massresistance |
| Formerly called | Parents' Rights Coalition |
MassResistance is a Waltham, Massachusetts anti-gay group that promotes socially conservative positions primarily on issues surrounding homosexuality, the transgender community and same-sex marriage. It was formed in 1995 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition, turned into the Article 8 Alliance in 2003, and adopted the current name in 2006. The group has criticized former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney for not opposing same-sex marriage, and says it fights against students in public schools being taught about homosexuality. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated MassResistance as an anti-gay hate group for their "propagation of known falsehoods—claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities—and repeated, groundless name-calling."
History
MassResistance was previously known as the Parents' Rights Coalition, a group based in Waltham, Massachusetts that opposes claimed liberal, homosexual bias in Massachusetts public schools. The group is allied with, among others, MassResistance. Its promoted its platform through media appearances and lobbies for laws related to parental rights in public schools. The bills that have been submitted on behalf of MassResistance in the past several years have been consistently rejected by the the Joint Judiciary Committee.
Parents' Rights Coalition opposed a Massachusetts public school teacher reading of King & King, a fairy tale in which two men are married, to kindergartners. They alleged that the school violated a law requiring the school to inform parents of all sex-ed related material. The lawsuit has since been thrown out of Federal Court
Founder
Brian Camenker, a conservative activist in Massachusetts founded MassResistance—formerly known as Article 8 Alliance—in 1995. Camenker resides in Newton, Massachusetts, where he has also participated in local politics and was President of the Newton Taxpayers Association. In March 2012, as part of an organization "Jews and Christians Together", Camenker made a series of robocalls endorsing Rick Santorum and opposing Mitt Romney for the Ohio Super Tuesday Republican primary.
Activities
Taping at youth conference
In 2000, members of the Parents' Rights Coalition attended a statewide conference, called "Teach-Out," that was sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, held at Tufts University.
One student asked about fisting and was provided with an explanation. MassResistance dubbed the incident "Fistgate" after one of its members "secretly recorded the workshop". A state employee who participated in the discussion filed suit against Camenker and Scott Whiteman as a result of the distribution of the tape recordings.
Mitt Romney
In January 2007, Mitt Romney's campaign issued a press release attacking Camenker for MassResistance's "Mitt Romney Deception" report. Romney's campaign removed the press release from its site, but MassResistance continued to display it on their own site, and they issued their own press release as well.
Employee arrest
In October 2008, Michael Olivio, an employee of MassResistance, was arrested for disorderly conduct at a school after parents became concerned about his taking many pictures of their children. When questioned, he explained that he was filming footage for a documentary, but mistook an elementary school for a high school. Olivio then began to "act erratically"; he "ran through yards shedding clothing as he ran". Brian Camenker, head of the group, backed up his story, that he was working for the group but went to the wrong school.
Hate group designation
Since March 2008, the nonprofit civil rights organization Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has listed MassResistance as an active anti-gay hate group. In November 2010, the SPLC stated, "Generally, the SPLC's listings of these groups is based on their propagation of known falsehoods—claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities—and repeated, groundless name-calling."
In 1996 MassResistance's leader, Brian Camenker claimed that suicide prevention programs aimed at gay youth actually were “put together by homosexual activists to normalize homosexuality.” MassResistance also asserted that groups such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which support school anti-bullying programs, actually want to "lure children into homosexuality and, very possibly, sadomasochism".
MassResistance has also insisted that gays were "trying to get legislation passed to allow sex with animals", later adding, "They are pushing perversion on our kids."
MassResistance has made claims that no homosexuals died in the The Holocaust of World War II, that the "pink triangle the Nazis forced imprisoned gays to wear actually signified Catholic priests," and that "gays are dangerous to kids". They have also made comments regarding "skyrocketing homosexual domestic violence" and called a gay pride event a "depraved" display that featured "a great deal of obviously disturbed, dysfunctional, and extremely self-centered people whose aim was to push their agenda".
References
- "2010 IRS Form 990 federal tax return". Foundation Center. 2010. Retrieved October 02, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ LeBlanc, Steve (July 2, 2006). "Group wages battle against Massachusetts gay culture". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. Associated Press. Retrieved October 02, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - "Active U.S. Hate Groups". Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ Jacobs, Ethan (March 26, 2008). "Shocker: MassResistance Declared a Hate Group". Retrieved September 17, 2012.}
- Schlatter, Evelyn. "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda". Intelligence Report, Winter 2010, Issue Number: 140. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- MassResistance Accomplishments
- Helman, Scott (2007-01-10). "Mass. Activists Defend Romney Conservative Record; Group Lauds Social Stances". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- "MassResistance". Retrieved 2008-10-31.
End ... homosexual activist recruitment of our children in the public schools!
- ^ http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=07-1528.01A
- "Two for one: Help stop "Safe Schools Czar" Kevin Jennings -- and get historic documentary:". MassResistance. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
Brian Camenker, President of Parents' Rights Coalition (now MassResistance).
- Parents May Sue School Over Gay Book, by Staff Writer, The Pink News, 25 April 2006.
- National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
- There Goes the Neighborhood
- Firestorm over GLSEN sex education workshop worsens
- The Fistgate Report
- "Critics contend safe-sex forum far too graphic". The Union-News. May 17, 2000.
- Greenberger, Scott (2000-11-28). "Educator fired for sex discussion sues to reclaim job". The Boston Globe.
- "Activist rains on Romney's parade". The Boston Globe. 2007-01-22.
- Mitt Romney Campaign's press release attacking Brian Camenker
- ^ Man snapping pictures outside school caught after foot chase Quote-"But Michael Olivio's employer has come forward to back up his story. Olivio, 48, works for the anti-gay rights group MassResistance.org. Brian Camenker, head of the group, said Olivio mistakenly went to West Middle School Tuesday to snap pictures instead of the high school."
- Ma, Ken (November 24, 2005). "College students' blackface stunt creates backlash". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - Wiggins, Ovetta (April 26, 2006). "Racial Slurs Make For Ugly Commute; Vandals Deface Bowie Church, Sound Barrier". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - Dininny, Shannon (January 16, 2012). "Civil-rights history gets boost; Whitman College students to teach subject this week". The Seattle Times. Seattle, WA.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Schlatter, Evelyn (2010). "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
Generally, the SPLC's listings of these groups is based on their 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.
{{cite web}}: External link in|quote= - Aiello, Dan (December 31, 2009). "Sister of prop 8 mastermind will run for sacramento superior court judge". Sacramento Examiner.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - Camenker, Brian. "What same-sex "marriage" has done to Massachusetts". MassResistance. Retrieved 18 September 2012.