from Gay Activism in the Schools

'No Name Calling Week' Cited
As Misguided Gay Activism

January 19, 2005 - Dr. Warren Throckmorton and Brenda High, executive director of Bully Police USA have publicly questioned the usefulness of "No Name Calling Week," created by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in association with Simon & Shuster, publishers of The Misfits, written by gay author James Howe. His book tells the fictional story about a gay student in a middle school.

"No Name Calling Week" in public schools is scheduled for January 24-28. The alleged purpose of this week is to protect children from being harassed or called derogatory names.

Dr. Throckmorton and Mrs. High, however, question the motives behind "No Name Calling Week." According to High, "It is not the job of the school to desensitize students concerning moral values. Strategies such as No Name Calling Week that focus on social advocacy do nothing to keep schools safe for ALL students."

Dr. Throckmorton agrees. "'No Name Calling Week' has an admirable objective but a dubious methodology. By basing the event around a book that has its purpose to change beliefs about the controversial issue of homosexuality, the organizers are asking schools to become involved in social advocacy first and education second, if at all. Furthermore, the book, The Misfits is developmentally inappropriate for children targeted by the No Name Calling Week, grades 5 through 8," said Throckmorton.

Dr. Throckmorton notes that the No Name Calling Week sponsors are using name calling as a tactic to meet social advocacy objectives.