January 12, 2005

“There is a special place in hell for people like you!”

These words were directed at me by a teacher during this past summer’s National Education Association convention in Washington, D.C. This delegate to the NEA convention made his prediction in response to my presence at the Neal’s Ex-Gay Educator’s Caucus booth in the convention exhibit hall. His cheery salutation caught me off-guard given the message of tolerance and acceptance I had been hearing around the exhibit hall. This teacher disagreed with my views of sexual orientation and made sure I knew it.

I thought of this encounter as I perused the list of organizations that have teamed up to bring us “No Name Calling Week” during the week of January 24-28, 2005. Based on a fiction book called The Misfits by James Howe, the purported purpose of NNCW is to raise awareness among school children of how destructive name calling can be. I noted that the NEA was one of the co-sponsors of the week. I had to chuckle as I wondered if this event would be observed at this delegate’s school. While the NEA delegate did not technically call me a naughty name, I don’t think he meant his prediction of a special place as a random act of kindness.

Another sponsoring group is the Gay Lesbian and Straight Educators Network. In fact, the president of this group, Kevin Jennings, is also the national spokesperson for the NNCW. Curious, I have read that Mr. Jennings knows how to call a name or two. In fact, several years ago, he used language in a speech to supporters that might have gotten him expelled from many schools. In the speech, Mr. Jennings was audio taped discussing his feelings about those he labeled, “the religious right.” Concerning those who disagreed with him, Mr. Jennings told the audience:

"We have to quit being afraid of the religious right. We also have to quit -- ... I'm trying to find a way to say this. I'm trying not to say, '[F---] 'me! which is what I want to say, because I don't care what they think! Drop dead!" (Speech at Marble Collegiate Church, New York City, March 20, 2000).

Mr. Jennings and GLSEN have been called upon by numerous school districts to provide in service training concerning sexual orientation. Perhaps the NEA delegate who talked about my “special place in hell” attended one of those training meetings.