EndTheLies.org: Unfounded, Anti-LGBT Scare Tactics on ENDA Become Latest Addition to Interactive Wall
Scare tactic promoted by Right Wing group exposed for outright falsehood.
Washington –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today added the Traditional Values Coalition’s salacious attack against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the EndtheLies.org website. EndtheLies.org, a website confronting lies and distortions repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures, now features TVC’s recent action alert to its members where they claimed that ENDA would mean children will be taught by “men dressed as women” and forced "to learn about bizarre sexual practices.”
“The Traditional Values Coalition has reached a new low, by both dehumanizing hardworking, dedicated educators who are transgender and flat out lying about the impact of basic workplace protections for our community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This is further evidence that the Traditional Values Coalition will use any tactic, including lies and smears, to stand in the way of basic fairness. Concocting wholly unfounded threats to our children to serve a political agenda is not consistent with traditional values.
Solmonese continued, "The majority of Americans support non-discrimination protections. This latest attack is unconscionable and only seeks to promote misunderstanding and fear."
The TVC alert also states that the presence of teachers who are transgender in schools would confuse children. This is not borne out by the actual experience of the many states and localities that have extended workplace protections based on gender identity. Reports from schools in which teachers have transitioned on the job show that teachers and school administrators worked successfully together to prevent any confusion or disruption. Press reports from New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina also indicate that, while a small number of parents have occasionally raised concerns, the overall experience for students and teachers was positive and affirmed basic American values of fairness and justice for all.
“The majority of Americans support non-discrimination protections,” said Solmonese. “We have seen opponents of civil rights use lies to try and turn the tide before, but painting professional educators as a sexual threat is a new low.”
The real truth is that:
- Teachers are already protected from discrimination based on gender identity under the laws of twelve states and over 100 local jurisdictions.
- Scientific studies indicate that children are not harmed or confused by the gender transition of parents or other adults in their lives. The research shows that, in fact, younger children are the least concerned or confused. There is no reason to believe that a transgender teacher will have any negative effect whatsoever on the children they teach.
- In recent years, press reports about teachers who have transitioned in New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina have indicated that, while some parents have raised concerns, the overall experience for these students and teachers was positive and affirmed basic American values of fairness and justice for all.
- ENDA explicitly allows employers to maintain reasonable, gender-specific dress and grooming standards for all employees.
The EndtheLies.org interactive wall includes videos, audio, pictures, and quotes from the anti-LGBT figures it highlights. By clicking on the panels of the wall, users can access more information about those on the wall, watch videos, add comments on multimedia discussion boards, and learn how to take action to counteract their misdeeds.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.