There was this charter school in San Francisco. A first grade class had a beloved lesbian teacher who was getting married. One of the student's parents came up with an idea to take the kids on a field trip to City Hall to throw rose petals on their teacher after her wedding. The parents talked it over, and two families opted out of the field trip, as is their right, and as was supported by the other parents.
The rest of the parents (including one who is a school principal) loaded their kids on Muni and took them to City Hall to see their beloved teacher right after her wedding.
The school director noted that the with the historic significance of same-sex marriage and related civil rights issues currently under discussion she saw this as a "teachable moment" and authorized the field trip, which was again, thought up and initiated by the parents.
So then what happened you ask? Well, the married teacher and her wife toured the city with a "Just Married" sign on their car, along with a "No on 8" sign. The happy couple went on their honeymoon. The kids went back to school for the day, and life went on.
Then a San Francisco reporter wrote a story in the SF Chronicle and posted video of the children throwing roses, online at SFGate.com
And then what? Then the "Yes on 8" campaign stole the video of the kids throwing flowers that was posted on the Chronicle, doctored it up with menacing music, and used it in an ad supporting Prop 8 on their website and on statewide television, without permission from the kids' parents or the Chronicle.
In a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, the parents wrote, in part:
"Our children are being exploited and used as pawns to further a political cause...We ask that you intervene immediately on our behalf and issue a cease and desist letter to the Yes on 8 campaign. If the campaign does not remove the ad, we ask that you pursue legal action against them."
"Prop 8 claims to be about families, but we're here to say you can't be for families by attacking our families. You can't be for families and take these children's innocent images and flash them not only on television statewide, but on your fund raising page. This must stop right now."
So, the the moral of the story is that Yes on 8 cares about kids and families, but not if those families' rights get in the way of the campaign's agenda of hate.
Below is a video of the outraged parents whose kids' images were used without their permission.
3 comments:
Came over from Bossy's.
Thank you so much for posting this. I am a huge "No on 8" supporter and can't wait to cast my vote on Tuesday.
I didn't know the story behind the whole "first graders went on a field trip to a gay marriage" story on the Haters' TV ad. I'm so glad that I read this here, now I can explain the truth behind that!
My slogan is, "Because I love my children, I'm voting NO on 8." Anyone who has a heart will vote NO!
Over from Bossy.
I don't usually link to myself, but I want you to know you've got support from my corner of the 'burbs.
http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/juggling_life/2008/10/its-called-thoughtful-thursday-for-a-reason-jenns-no-on-8-post.html
My son is in school in Colorado--we actually weighed having him vote there (because Obama needs his vote more in CO than in CA), but he felt like voting No on 8 was too important. And this is from a totally straight 18 year old athlete--it's about the civil rights!
Thank you Cheri, Barbra & Jenn! Your support and comments mean so much!! But what means even more are your actions - rallies, conversations, having your son vote in CA - really it all touches my heart! Thank you!
I've written quite a few posts about Prop 8 - check it out in the archives or tags, the post labeled "Thank You" describes how my partner was SPIT on for wearing her No on Prop 8 shirt. Lovely, isn't?
Anyway, thanks for dropping by from Bossy's, and thanks for everything you do - really!
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