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The Smearing of Obama’s ‘Safe Schools Czar’ Kevin Jennings

by Tommy Christopher | 9:20 am, October 11th, 2009

» 17 comments

kevinjennings

With the resignation of Van Jones and the sinking of ACORN, the right-wing noise machine sits on a mighty perch. The mainstream media shows every sign of capitulating to their new pimp, at the ready to swarm whatever prey is selected for them. The latest victim-to-be is the Obama administration’s “Safe Schools Czar,” Kevin Jennings.

Before I get to deconstructing the mountain of smears against Kevin Jennings, let me tell you what he has done. Kevin Jennings has made our nation’s schools safer, for my children and yours. As the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and the author of several books, he has striven to end discrimination in our schools, and to foster an environment that values diversity.

As the father of 2 teenage boys, one of whom is openly bisexual, the work that Kevin Jennings has done engenders a particular gratitude in me. Before I ever knew his name, Kevin Jennings touched the lives of my 2 oldest boys when they each joined their school’s Gay/Straight Alliance.

There may be some who are unmoved by the plight of LGBT students and their quadruple suicide rate, and to them, I say that anti-gay bullying doesn’t just kill gay kids.

I remember reading in April that an 11 year-old boy had hung himself due to anti-gay taunts, and that his was the 5th such suicide this year. The idea that being called gay is so horrible that you’re better off dead is not something that can be fought with zero-tolerance policies, or enforced by teachers who still think certain kids “make themselves targets” for bullies. It has to be fought in the hearts and minds of our children.

This is why Kevin Jennings must not be driven out of office. His work has helped my son to feel safe enough to be open about who he is. My son tells me, however, that at back-to-school night last week, there were parents ripping GSA posters down off of the school walls. Kevin Jennings still has a lot of work to do.

NEXT: The Smearing of Kevin Jennings: NAMBLA, Fistigate, Drugs

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Lowl-Lee-Popper/100000006691966 Lowl Lee Popper

There is absolutely no way Jennings didn’t know about Hays and NAMBLA in 1997… considering he published a book on the history of the gay rights movement with a chapter devoted to him in 1994…

“The fact that this information was omitted from Hay obituaries in major newspapers supports this conclusion.”

BS… it supports the fact liberals conveniently whitewash history…
TfT

Pardon my cynicism, but can we now see a whole new series of “The smearing of (Insert name here)” on this board?

I look forward to these ones:

“The Smearing of George W. Bush” with endless examples from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NYTimes, etc.
“The Smearing of Sarah Palin” with endless examples from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NYTimes, etc.
“The Smearing of John McCain” with endless examples from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NYTimes, etc.
Puter Boi

“This is why Kevin Jennings must not be driven out of office. His work has helped my son to feel safe enough to be open about who he is”

ummmmmmmm…Tommy? Isn’t that YOUR job?
JunkJunk

Puter Boi,

Of course parents play a role in making their children feel safe about who they are. And after reading this article, there is no doubt that Mr. Christopher has made every effort to do that for his child. But have you ever gone to public school? Children can be incredibly cruel – and many times they don’t even realize the adverse effects of their actions and words. When your child is in that kind of environment, there is only so much a parent can do to defend their child.

All that to say that your comment is one of the most insensitive things I’ve read in quite some time. Maybe you should stop d!cking around on the “puter” and think before you type.

Have a happy Sunday!

And TfT (hmmm, name sounds familiar…), your examples are weak at best. George Bush should have been impeached for his crimes against humanity (and the English language), Sarah Palin was DEFENDED against a number of smears (Baby-gate, Letterman’s “joke”). She did the damage to herself whenever she had to speak off-prompter (see the Katie Couric interviews). And John McCain (bless his heart)? He chose Sarah Palin to be his running mate. I think he’s maligned himself for the rest of his life just for that decision alone.

If you would like to see columns based on the smearing of your Republican heroes, I would respectfully submit that you google it and go there, and not make such useless posts as the one you made maligning Mr. Christopher for addressing an issue he wasnted to tackle. Or start your own website where you can address those issues.

Happy Sunday!

Mr. Christopher, this is a well-written and researched article, which is something that FOXnews knows nothing about. What ever happened to honest JOURNALISM? I object to the mission of FOXnews, NOT because I’m a blind follower of the Obama administration, but because they like to make up the news. They take sides rather than taking an honest assessment of the facts. They will beat the drums of this story, even though it has NO legs. But it brings in the ratings, so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

‘Fair and Balanced’ is the joke of the industry.
Rachel Sklar

Great work Tommy. It’s pretty clear this is a good man with years of expertise in an area which is only just beginning to get attention (I shudder to think what it must have been like to be a gay teenager in 1987, particularly one of fewer means). Also good call on the Denny Hastert point. It’s time to let these people do their jobs – qualified people who came up in communities that were by their very nature alt, since they have only recently been “allowed” into the mainstream. Holding that alt-ness against them – when it’s the only way they gained the expertise necessary to actually DO something here – is ridiculous, unfair and incredibly damaging. Openness and tolerance requires….openness and tolerance!
Puter Boi

Junk?

Thank you for pointing out my “insensitivity”. You are correct….it is by far the most insensitive post in all of the internet world as we know it ….from the beginning of time even.
.
And thank you for reading and reacting to the other posts and posters. It is certainly a relief to know that someone is monitoring and advising other posters what to think and how to express those thoughts. It is even more gratifying to know that you will advise those who might differ with you to please go away and post on another site.

I am sure Tommy Christopher is just so fragile that he can’t read ideas or questions from those who might see things a little differently….and it must do his heart good to know that you are on top of things. He will be able to sleep a little more secure tonight.

Oh, and…Happy Sunday!
ingenieux

Tommy Christopher – your sons are lucky to have a father like you; you’re sensitive, understanding, receptive, perceptive and involved. The world would be a better place if more kids had a support system like what you provide because, as is evident from the homophobic and hateful rhetoric, it really means the difference between self-acceptance and a lifetime of internal struggles.
http://soupsoup.tumblr.com Anthony De Rosa

The world is an intolerant place, for the most part. Parents can only do so much, especially when kids spend such a large chunk of their adolescence away from home and at school. It’s imperative that people like Kevin Jennings help provide a safe place for kids of all persuasions.
CaptainAmerica

It’s not a smear when its TRUE!!

The Real Keven Jennings

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,562501,00.html
CaptainAmerica

With the resignation of Van Jones and the sinking of ACORN, the right-wing noise machine sits on a mighty perch. The mainstream media shows every sign of capitulating to their new pimp, at the ready to swarm whatever prey is selected for them>>

So Tommy wants to defend VAN JONES and ACORN as well!! ha ha ha
sandratycova

Growing up in an area where we had over twenty young males in a one block span, calling someone a “faggot” or far worse was a common day occurrence. It just never dawned on us that our retaliation should include murder. A punch in the face – maybe, murder – never. These days everyone seems to be raising kids with thin skin.
koffergurt
ChrisNH

Liberals love any government official on whom they can off-load their own parental responsibilities. It gives them more time to be, you know, ‘tolerant’ and stuff.
Sunnyr

This man should be fired NOW! Anyone who glorifies a member of NAMBLA should not be associated with school age children in any capacity! Mr. Obama, what were you THINKING?? This is an outrage and you have not heard the end of it yet.
sarainitaly

I don’t like the idea of a witch hunt and smearing someone who is innocent. That said, looking at all the info I have read so far, the majority from Zombietime blog, and here, what I could find on my own, and I just watched some Hannity clips for more info, I think I am siding on the side that Jennings is a bad choice.

Anyone who praises a man who thinks sex with boys is a-ok has no place working as a school czar (much less working in schools!) I am not against gay teachers. but anyone should be concerned about NAMBLA and Jennings approval/praise of Hay. (and from the FBI agent who infiltrated NAMBLA for 3 years said they discussed and approved of oral sex with an 18 month old baby…)

I just think there has to be other fully qualified people for this position who have not publicly praised, and written chapters in their books dedicated to a man who approves of child rape.

George S was on Hannity, saying there was no connection between the two besides that one comment in a speech. Obviously George did not do much research because Jennings co-wrote and edited a book published in 1994 that had a chapter dedicated to Hay. Hay had been an active participant and supporter of NAMBLA by 94. (for at least a decade by that point) http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=927

Hannity and George: http://tinyurl.com/yztyms5

This is exactly why people are so mad at the media. George’s blatant refusal to do any research and is making excuses for the WH. Shameful.
sarainitaly

I don’t like the idea of a witch hunt and smearing someone who is innocent.

That said, looking at all the info I have read so far, the majority from Zombietime blog, and here, what I could find on my own, and I just watched some Hannity clips for more info, I think I am siding on the side that Jennings is a bad choice.

Anyone who praises a man who thinks sex with boys is a-ok has no place working as a school czar (much less working in schools!) I am not against gay teachers. but anyone should be concerned about NAMBLA and Jennings approval/praise of Hay. (and from the FBI agent who infiltrated NAMBLA for 3 years said they discussed and approved of oral sex with an 18 month old baby…)

I just think there has to be other fully qualified people for this position who have not publicly praised, and written chapters in their books dedicated to a man who approves of child rape.

George S was on Hannity, saying there was no connection between the two besides that one comment in a speech. Obviously George did not do much research because Jennings co-wrote and edited a book published in 1994 that had a chapter dedicated to Hay. Hay had been an active participant and supporter of NAMBLA by 94. (for at least a decade by that point) See zombietime blog for the details.

Hannity and George: http://tinyurl.com/yztyms5

This is exactly why people are so mad at the media. George’s blatant refusal to do any research and is making excuses for the WH. Shameful.
sarainitaly

The info outlined on Zombie: http://tinyurl.com/ybor8pg, including the book Jennings co-wrote.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Callan/100000200979966 Joe Callan

I could really care less about the dude himself. The idea that there’s a “Safe Schools Czar” is the part that’s ludicrous. The idea that you’re going to make the red-staters (and their children) MORE tolerant by forcing yet another federal appointee into their lives is just silly. Someone want to explain to me how exactly is this guy going to stop bullying around the country?

Yeah, I got made fun of in public high school too, mainly for coming from a Catholic grade school (despite the fact that I wasn’t–and still am not–a baptized Christian). Was I supposed to have a special group to save me from ridicule? The “Children Who Went to Catholic School and Then Transferred to Public School Anti-Ridicule Association,” or CWWCSTTPSARA? Come on. I took it for a while, eventually got sick of it and eventually fought back. No noses were bloodied and no one was suspended. Kids bully other kids. We really need a federal appointee to oversee that problem? Let’s waste some more money, guys. Great idea.

As for Kevin Jennings, sure he’s a great guy. It’s his job that’s asinine.