Yet more evidence revealing the dark side of GLSEN – the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network – has surfaced. (GLSEN was founded by President Obama’s “safe schools czar,” Kevin Jennings.)
At issue this time is a GLSEN fundraiser featuring a theatrical play called Santa Claus is Coming Out!
GLSEN’s fundraiser invitation says the play depicts “Santa in his heartfelt struggle to reconcile his romantic relationship with Italian toy maker Giovanni Geppetto.” Pictures on a Web site promoting the production depict Santa in not-so-subtle sexually suggestive situations. The play also mocks those who support traditional values.
It’s sad that GLSEN, which claims that it wants to protect kids, has chosen to use a fundraising tool that perverts the innocence of Christmas and sexualizes the longtime, child-revered icon of Santa Claus.
Public comments made by the play’s writer and performer, Jeffrey Solomon, provide more insight into the true agenda of homosexual activists and groups like GLSEN.
In recent interviews, Solomon explained that he was inspired to write Santa Claus is Coming Out by his research into the parents’ rights movement to keep gay issues out of the classroom. He said the central message of his play is “a challenge to speak truthfully to children.” What is his version of “speaking truthfully?” Consider this anecdote Solomon shared:
“I was dressed as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and I had a sign saying ‘Rudolph Supports Sexual Diversity.’ And the owner of the pharmacy on Commercial Street came out (shouting). ‘I’ve got kids inside. Get out of here. They’re asking questions. I don’t want to see that. I don’t want to see that sign.’ … We love this lie of Santa Claus and when we mess with that ‘they’ (family advocates) get very upset. The same summer I was promoting the play, and I had the poster ‘Santa Claus is Coming Out.’ A straight couple with a very young boy about 7 asked me directions, and the kid was kind of looking at the poster. Suddenly, the mother clenched her hands over his eyes as I was giving them directions, and she held them there the whole conversation. And it’s very funny. In both these instances, the play is playing out in front of me.” (Santa Claus is Coming Out: An Interview with Actor-Writer Jeffrey Solomon, by Deirdre Donovan, Nov. 29, 2009, TheaterScene.net)
Clearly, homosexual activists like Solomon have no qualms about using shock tactics to expose children to homosexuality. And it’s sad that GLSEN promotes these tactics. Apparently, GLSEN wants to have it both ways: On the one hand, it wants to be perceived as a mainstream group for public schools that’s worthy of parents’ trust. On the other, it wants the freedom to desensitize kids and attack parents’ God-given rights to protect their children’s innocence.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read more posts by Candi Cushman or our other policy analysts.
