No same-sex marriage in Texas textbooks

estranged4life · #1 11-06-2004, 10:43 AM

MSNBC - No same-sex marriage in Texas textbooks

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas - The State Board of Education approved health textbooks for Texas high school and middle school students Friday, after publishers changed the wording in their books to reflect marriage as being between a man and a woman.

A day earlier some board members had argued that health textbooks should not contain "asexual stealth phrases" such as "individuals who marry" instead of husbands and wives.

The decision could affect dozens of states because books sold in Texas, the nation's second-largest textbook buyer, often are marketed elsewhere.

Board member Mary Helen Berlanga asked the panel to approve the books without the changes.

"We're not supposed to make changes at somebody's whim," Berlanga said. "It's a political agenda, and we're not here to follow a political agenda."

But Republican Terri Leo argued that certain books attempted to nullify a Texas law banning the recognition of same-sex civil unions by using "asexual stealth phrases" such as "individuals who marry" instead of husbands and wives.

"I want the reader, the child to know that marriage is between a man and a woman," Leo said in a written statement released during a board meeting Thursday.

Berlanga noted that one textbook showed a picture of a mother and a father and a young girl and her brother. "We cannot start censoring books because we do not like the terminology," Berlanga said. "I don't see two males or two females holding hands."

The elected board, which has 10 Republicans and five Democrats, is allowed to reject books only because of factual errors or failure to follow state-mandated curriculum.

Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, said Leo was asserting a religious right agenda into students' textbooks.

"My bottom line opinion is it's irresponsible," Ellis said. "There comes a time when you need to put your own agenda aside and do what's best for youth.

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Sounds like more Bull**** if ya ask me...

Brian j.

GateandGarden · #2 11-06-2004, 06:41 PM

"My bottom line opinion is it's irresponsible," Ellis said. "There comes a time when you need to put your own agenda aside and do what's best for youth."

What is best? Teaching them bigotry early on? Ugh. What is happening to this country?

Hillary

estranged4life · #3 11-06-2004, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

What is best? Teaching them bigotry early on? Ugh. What is happening to this country?

Hillary

recently sang "What's the World Coming To?

Brian j.

amber · #4 11-06-2004, 08:01 PM

too...much...digusting BS....for...brain...to....handle...

Johnny Stew · #5 11-06-2004, 08:38 PM

I wonder if Terri Leo has a problem with Black History month, too.
God knows we're supposed to erase any mention of those who don't look, dress, talk and worship exactly like we do.

dissention · #6 11-06-2004, 10:15 PM

There was a music teacher a couple cities over from me who told her first grade class that John Kerry killed babies by shoving a vaccum into the mother and sucking it out until it choked to death. She got reprimanded.

Aparrently, this has been a coordinated thing across the country, too.

Jason T. · #7 11-06-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Teaching them bigotry early on? Ugh. What is happening to this country?

Hillary[/COLOR]

In defense of my State, Texas has been teaching kids bigotry for years. Secondly, this only means one thing: That when the teachers express their anti-gay views, it will be backed up by the texts as well. If anything, it makes studying and knowing the answer they want you to put on a test a whole lot easier.

Finally, is anyone really shocked by this?

GateandGarden · #8 11-06-2004, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason T.

In defense of my State, Texas has been teaching kids bigotry for years. Secondly, this only means one thing: That when the teachers express their anti-gay views, it will be backed up by the texts as well. If anything, it makes studying and knowing the answer they want you to put on a test a whole lot easier.

Finally, is anyone really shocked by this?

No, I'm not really shocked. But it's kind of like what Amber said--it's too much bull**** for my head to take at once without exploding. But, I have to say that LA is probably worse than Texas. Well, that's just an assumption. But I was taught in high school that homosexuality was wrong. My teacher literally said, "That is not my opinion--it is a fact. Homosexuality is wrong and it's not normal."

So, well, I'm not surprised, at least.

Hillary

Hawkeye · #9 11-07-2004, 12:02 AM

Texas is by far my favorite state. Yeah and I know one of you is going to say I'm not suprised, but really I'm not anti gay. I just Love Texas, specifically the Dallas area. And the world's largest water park is in Texas. So I just have to defend the great state of Texas

And if some of you don't like it becuase you think it's full of bigotry, I'd say Louisiana and Kentucky are worse.

amber · #10 11-07-2004, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Texas

= And if some of you don't like it becuase you think it's full of bigotry, I'd say Louisiana and Kentucky are worse.

I think i smell a new State Motto...

GateandGarden · #11 11-07-2004, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

I think i smell a new State Motto...

Reminds me of when people say "Vermont, the other, smaller Wisconsin." Okay, that wasn't "people," it was "Mystery Science Theater 3000," and yours was funnier. Oh well. I give up. Like I've ever even been to either one of those places.

Hillary

estranged4life · #12 11-07-2004, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

I think i smell a new State Motto...

Texas-Sucking on Oklahoma to keep it from sinking into the Gulf Of Mexico

amber · #13 11-07-2004, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Reminds me of when people say "Vermont, the other, smaller Wisconsin." Okay, that wasn't "people," it was "Mystery Science Theater 3000," and yours was funnier. Oh well. I give up. Like I've ever even been to either one of those places.

Hillary

No, don't give up, that was funny.

I didn't remember that one, but MST3K can't be beat...

GateandGarden · #14 11-07-2004, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

No, don't give up, that was funny.

I didn't remember that one, but MST3K can't be beat...

I'm glad someone appreciated it. What's your favorite MST3K? I have a thing for Overdrawn at the Memory Bank. Not a popular one, from what I understand. I think the Vermont comment was from Time Chasers.

Hillary

estranged4life · #15 11-07-2004, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I'm glad someone appreciated it. What's your favorite MST3K? I have a thing for Overdrawn at the Memory Bank. Not a popular one, from what I understand. I think the Vermont comment was from Time Chasers.

Hillary

I like "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians", That movie was a MAJOR stinker and Tom & Crow ripped it apart...

Best lines from the series I love to quote:

"Shatner...Shatner...Shatner...No Shatner, We're safe..."-Tom Cervo as he watches the opening credits of a movie

"As you can clearly see an extra is wearing "Ray bans" and for an ancient city you can see the highway full of vehicles driving by"..."-Tom Cervo pointing out some really bad editing for a movie in the genre like a "Conan The Barbarian" type of movie