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AFA Wants Kids Pulled Out of School During Anti-Bullying Day

AFA Wants Kids Pulled Out of School During Anti-Bullying Day

Mixitup

An event meant to encourage empathy and discourage bullying in schools is being demonized as an insidious plot to promote homosexuality.

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The New York Times describes a new low for the American Family Association -- the antigay group is urging parents to pull children out of school during Mix It Up at Lunch Day, an event meant to encourage empathy and discourage bullying.

Even though the event is not specific to LGBT students, the AFA told supporters in an email it's part of "homosexual indoctrination" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which started Mix It Up day 11 years ago. The event encourage school students to eat lunch with different students to foster understanding of differences. Thanks to the AFA's email, a handful of schools canceled the event, which happens on Oct. 30.

"I was surprised that they completely lied about what Mix It Up Day is," Maureen Costello, the director of the SPLC's Teaching Tolerance project, which organizes the program, told the Times. "It was a cynical, fear-mongering tactic." Read more via the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Mix It Up scuffle is the latest salvo in the war between the AFA and the SPLC. The latter group, an equality organization, lists the AFA as a "hate group," which the Christian organization is not happy with. Learn more about AFA and SPLC's war here.

Nbroverman
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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.