WASHINGTON, D.C.
– The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today added
the Traditional Values Coalition’s salacious attack against the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the EndtheLies.org
website. EndtheLies.org, a website confronting lies and distortions
repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures, now features TVC’s
recent action alert to its members where they claimed that ENDA would
mean children will be taught by “men dressed as women” and forced "to
learn about bizarre sexual practices.”
“The
Traditional Values Coalition has reached a new low, by both
dehumanizing hardworking, dedicated educators who are transgender and
flat out lying about the impact of basic workplace protections for our
community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This
is further evidence that the Traditional Values Coalition will use any
tactic, including lies and smears, to stand in the way of basic
fairness. Concocting wholly unfounded threats to our children to serve
a political agenda is not consistent with traditional values.”
Solmonese
continued, "The majority of Americans support non-discrimination
protections. This latest attack is unconscionable and only seeks to
promote misunderstanding and fear."
The
TVC alert also states that the presence of teachers who are transgender
in schools would confuse children. This is not borne out by the actual
experience of the many states and localities that have extended
workplace protections based on gender identity. Reports from schools in
which teachers have transitioned on the job show that teachers and
school administrators worked successfully together to prevent any
confusion or disruption. Press reports from New York, New Jersey, and
North Carolina also indicate that, while a small number of parents have
occasionally raised concerns, the overall experience for students and
teachers was positive and affirmed basic American values of fairness
and justice for all.
“The
majority of Americans support non-discrimination protections,” said
Solmonese. “We have seen opponents of civil rights use lies to try and
turn the tide before, but painting professional educators as a sexual
threat is a new low.”
The real truth is that:
•
Teachers are already protected from discrimination based on gender
identity under the laws of twelve states and over 100 local
jurisdictions.
•
Scientific studies indicate that children are not harmed or confused by
the gender transition of parents or other adults in their lives. The
research shows that, in fact, younger children are the least concerned
or confused. There is no reason to believe that a transgender teacher
will have any negative effect whatsoever on the children they teach.
•
In recent years, press reports about teachers who have transitioned in
New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina have indicated that, while
some parents have raised concerns, the overall experience for these
students and teachers was positive and affirmed basic American values
of fairness and justice for all.
•
ENDA explicitly allows employers to maintain reasonable,
gender-specific dress and grooming standards for all employees.
The
EndtheLies.org interactive wall includes videos, audio, pictures, and
quotes from the anti-LGBT figures it highlights. By clicking on the
panels of the wall, users can access more information about those on
the wall, watch videos, add comments on multimedia discussion boards,
and learn how to take action to counteract their misdeeds.
