What Governor Palin Needs to Know About 'Love'

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has made history as the first mother to be on the Republican presidential ticket, and she has the potential to bring a new perspective on issues that impact America's children to Washington and the White House. Indeed, since her introduction to the nation last week, Governor Palin has talked passionately about her family and her commitment to her five children. Unfortunately, however, little is known about her specific policy positions on issues impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids, their parents, schools and families. An event taking place on September 13 in Anchorage, however, could provide an important opportunity for the Governor -- and other moms and dads who also serve as elected leaders -- to weigh in on one of those issues . . . and take a strong stand for all families.

On Saturday, Anchorage will play host to the latest meeting of the "ex-gay" organization known as Love Won Out. The group, which proclaims that lesbian and gay youth can be "cured" of their sexual orientation, will be meeting at Abbott Loop Community Church. Ahead of the conference, however, Palin's own church, Wasilla Bible, has promoted the meeting, saying in a letter to congregants that, "You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality."

The truth, however, is that Love Won Out is about anything but the unconditional love for, and acceptance of, LGBT kids. In reality, it is a dangerous, harmful "reparative therapy" program that has been condemned by the American Psychological Association and that has a tormenting impact on many of the young people who attend.

Governor Palin needs to know the truth about Love, and America's parents and families need to know what Governor Palin thinks about harmful, anti-gay conferences that preach an anti-gospel doctrine of changing our kids, rather than embracing them.

Earlier this year, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) brought mothers, fathers and families from around the country to Orlando, Florida, for the most recent Love Won Out Conference. Their experiences, captured in a moving video documentary, showcase just how dangerous these conferences can be.

One after another, young people arrived at the conference with tears in their eyes and parents stoically marching them into the event against their will. The sight of supportive parents, carrying signs with slogans such as "We love our gay son just the way he is," were answered with smiles, outreached hands and silent but obvious "thank yous" from the kids being told they were somehow "less than" because of who they love. Inside the conference, organizers told these young people - who had the courage to simply be who they are -- that who they were just wasn't good enough. Outside, loving parents stood tall to remind them that yes they were.

On Saturday in Anchorage, the same story, with different kids, will play out again.

It is unfair, at this point, to assume that Governor Palin endorses so-called "ex-gay" therapy like that espoused by Love Won Out. Most Americans, after all, can probably empathize with being part of a group, movement or congregation that they don't agree with 100% of the time. But Saturday's event in Anchorage provides an important opportunity for the first GOP mom on the party's presidential ticket to make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids. She should seize that opportunity -- as should lawmakers of both parties -- and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as she has for her own.

Comments

[wandering girl]

when Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the most important, he said only this: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. He did not say "Force your neighbor to make the same choices you do." and frankly, whenever I hear a "Christian" declaim that he or she knows *more* about Christ than anyone else, I remember that only the ignorant believe they know everything.

[mercury613]

Please STOP referring to homosexuality as a "lifestyle".

"Leisurely" is a lifestyle; "gay" is not. It's outright insulting to gay and lesbian people, and it shows one's ignorance.

[Mando78]

If she's elected, how much of her personal religious beliefs will she be allowed to foist onto the country? Because she's a Christian she wants my kids' schools to teach about creationism. Because she's a Christian, my daughters may lose their right to choose. Because she's a Christian, birth control and sex education may very well go out the window. And because she's a Christian, gay and lesbian rights and the progress that has been made may also disappear.

As she's already proven through her attempts at limiting reproductive rights, changing public school curriculums and attempting to ban books that she will not honor the constitution in this respect, I believe it is imperative that we stand up against her before she gains any momentum.

I respect her personal views and would never tell her how to raise her kids no matter what mistakes we all see them make. She should come out vocally opposing anything that the scientific community has deemed child abuse.

Of course, she doesn't acknowledge science. Just ask the poor polar bears.

[wandering girl]

one thing I'm pretty sure she'll support: the continuance of "Don't ask; Don't tell."

[Soothsayer08]

As the mother of a gay child that died from the complications of HIV I'm appalled at this brainwashing called a prayer vigil. No one chooses to have a gay child. But when you find out your heart doesn't break because they are gay, but because you know they will face an up-hill battle for acceptance in the United States. You love them even more because you know they will need more love from you to meet the challenges they will be faced with. If these people were really, truly Christian they would accept people as they are, the way Christianity teaches. This is just sickening.

[Buffkat00]

I'm so sorry to hear about the death of your chld, Sooth. What you said about needing to love that child even more is heartwarming and brilliant. My babies are only 6, 4 and 2 and they are already taught love and acceptance, simply by how we love and accept our lesbian friends. We simply say "they are in love. people cannot help who they love." Thank you for sharing.

[hermansf]

Bush - Cheney - Rove
McCain - Palin - Schmidt

How could anyone really think we'll see CHANGE?

[sonshine]

What is the LGBT community going to do about keeping Palin/McCain out of office?

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

The LGBT in the repug party are in lock step with this campaign. as for the rest of LGBT community who knows. They come out strong for gay marriage and such but where are they now?
In the closet again.

[ully]

In difficult time raising teenager,she show world that she protect her doughter!The christian people should not judge Sarah but love her,bring her in your prayer,le t God lead her and family throught the hard time,so she can be a best vice president soon! Amen!

[exhale09]

ully, Sara Palin "protected" her daughter, as you say, by not informing Bristol that she (Sara) was going to be the VP candidate with John McCain untill just a few hours before it was announced to the Nation. That gave Bristol only a few hours to absorb the news that she was about to be put into the National...WORLD... spotlight.­..pregnanc­y and all, to be the fodder for gossip magazines.

Then just a few hours later, Bristol was paraded across the stage with a large blanket
"hiding" her own pregnancy, while she carried her mother's 5 month old baby on stage as Sara took the National spotlight.

What did that say to Bristol? The more important question is what does that say about Sara Palin's judgement where her 17 year old daughter's feelings and emotional difficulties at this time in her life is concerned?

"We have to hide your shameful pregnancy behind a blanket?" Keep it a secret.
It was pressure from the media that forced Sara Palin to openly admit the truth a couple days later.

[booker52]

Heaven help any child that may be gay and a child of Gov Palin.

[PoliticalCrucible]

Not only can these conferences be damaging, converting to Pentacostalism can significantly increase your chances of clinical depression.

Using data from a large study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, researchers divided the survey respondents into six categories:
mainline Protestant (which included Presbyterian, Methodist,
Lutheran, Episcopalian, African Methodist Episcopal and Quaker);
conservative Protestant (including Baptist and Seventh Day Adventist);
Roman Catholic; Pentacostals (Church of God, Assembly of God, People's
Temple); other (Unitarian, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Muslim) and no
religion (those who had no preference or refused to answer).

The authors found that the rate of serious depression in the previous six months among
Pentacostal Christians was 5.4 percent, compared to 1.7 percent for the nation as a whole.

[DMSmith]

"...and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as she has for her own."

With five children, she has a good chance of having a gay child. What makes you think that if she does, she's stood up for them boldly? She'd offer them up to this group without hesitation.

She should NEVER be in ANY elected office.

[joeyfoto]

Did you know that Governor Sarah Palin attempted to fire a respected librarian for refusing to censor books according to her ignorant and bigoted ideas of what should and should not be in the library? Again, do not underestimate the charisma of this woman. She was carefully selected and has been protected by the best lies that the first-string right-wing apologists could provide. If she is not attacked head-on for the danger to liberty that she represents, she will have a powerful effect on this election. If Senator Obama does not have the stomach to make her eat her ugly record in public, he does not deserve to be president.

[booker52]

As a volunteer of the Friends of the local library I find it offensive that Gov Palin would try and ban books. Right there it should of put her out of the running for VP. Guess that tells you how well McCain and Co didn't vet Gov Palin.

[JohnNotMcCain]

Please publish any and all links about Palin as a book banner. I need to know...and so does America.

[joeyfoto]

Fat chance that Governor Palin will do anything remotely related to love. This is about winning the votes of bigots; it has NOTHING to do with love or truth or integrity. It is all about capturing the bigot vote. They talk about Sarah Palin's inexperience but people are underestimating her power. There are a mass of voters in this country who have been looking for an excuse not to vote for a Black man and she is it. The idea that this anti-choice "hockey mom" would attract the votes of Hillary Clinton die-hards is a canard. These women may be angry but they are not stupid. This fringe Christian fascist will attract very few PUMA votes. She will attract the attention of men --- blue collar men who have voted consistently (since Reagan) against their families economic welfare in favor of support for the ignorance, backwardness and bigotry of their world-view. Sarah Palin is a pretext for these men to do that once again. Do not underestimate this woman; attack her for what she is... a manipulative bigot with very clear fascist tendencies that have repeatedly caused her to abuse her power as governor of Alaska.

[M1]

Isn't there a video about Palin's church wherein they are hating on Jews too...something like they were punished for not accepting jesus and don't let your sons marry one or he will become a jew.

Hate for Jews, Gays.....sounding Hitler like to me...add some of that hatred wrapped up in a flag and call it Country First patriotism and I suppose we could see a holocost in the US. Just a thought.

[M1]

REGISTER ALL YOUR GAY FRIENDS AND MAKE SURE THEY VOTE!!


BECOME THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE......REGISTER GAYS!

[rwe]

you write in the manner of "yes I have gay, black,Asian friends " a little on the condescending bigoted side.... Sarah church calls for prayer,,, Barack's church says down with whitey and goddamn America...

[eyecon]

This is preposterous!

You can no more convince Palin that you cannot pray away the gay than you could convince her than Darwin is not a flawed theory. At a very early age, these folks are taught, "God said it, I believe in God, that settles it." http://www.tips-q.com/content/boot-camp-lessons-ignorance-video

Save your energy for teaching parents that their gay kids are not gay because they did anything wrong. Teach kids that they can have happy and productive lives - regardless of what nitwits like Sarah say. Keep them from believing the BS but forget turning off the manure spigot. It's never going to happen.

Gay hate is a billion dollar a year industry. It is a cooperative effort between the GOP and the Christian Right. I have penned a fuller description here:
http://www.tips-q.com/content/why-do-they-hate-us-so-much

[joeyfoto]

You've got it right... save your breath. We are going to need our voices --- straight & gay --- to defeat this right-wing resurrection. MCCain was dead. Now he's interesting. Until we expose Sarah Palin's Bible-based hate and in-bred ignorance for what it is, she will appear powerful.

[TRUE BLUE AMERICAN]

joey-boy you just alienated 85% of the country by stating Palin's beliefs are"Bible-based hate". That kind of talk might work. Keep it and try again in 2012....