Rep. Steve King is at it again

Iowa rep.: Anti-bullying czar pushes "homosexuality" on kids
Reposted from http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1009/Iowa_rep_Antibullying_czar_pushes_homosexuality.html.

Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa), a religious conservative, wants President Obama to dump "school safety czar" Kevin Jennings, claiming the former history teacher promoted "homosexuality" in elementary schools by penning a forward for a book titled [I kid you not] "The Queering of Elementary Education."

Jennings' appointment as head of the Education Department's Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools is part of a push by the Obama administration to recognize increasing problem of school bullying, underscored by the recent beating death of 16-year-old Chicago honor student Derrion Albert.

The 1999 book, a compilation of essays seems to be largely focused on eliminating homophobia among children in schools aims to foster diversity. The book jacket description [cribbed from Amazon] says the tome "is not about teaching kids to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or straight. It's not part of a sinister stratagem in the "gay agenda.'"

King isn't so sure, and released the following statement:

Quote

“Kevin Jennings lacks the appropriate qualifications and ethical standards to serve in a presidential administration. Despite serving as the ‘safe schools’ czar, Jennings has demonstrated a willingness to look the other way on sexual abuse. His life’s work has been the promotion of homosexuality, even in elementary schools, and he has demonstrated no qualifications to make students safer in our schools. Jennings is committed to the ‘safety’ of only a narrow portion of American students, while expressing disdain for religion and traditional values. President Obama should fire Kevin Jennings immediately.”

The conservative Family Research Council, which has opposed the recognition of same-sex couples, got the ball rolling over the summer, setting up the site stopjennings.org.

Byron York of the Washington Examiner reports on another flashpoint for evangelicals: Jennings' regret over an incident he described in a 1994 book, "One Teacher in Ten: Gay and Lesbian Educators Tell Their Stories."

York: "Jennings wrote that in 1988, when he was a high school teacher, he was approached by a 15 year-old boy who said he had become involved with an older man. Instead of notifying the boy's parents or any authorities, Jennings instead offered the boy advice: "I hope you used a condom.'"

Last week, Jennings released a statement saying "Twenty-one years later, I can see how I should have handled this situation differently. I should have asked for more information and consulted legal or medical authorities."

Thus far, Education Secretary Arne Duncan reiterated his support for Jennings.

Jennings has his share of defenders, who say he's the subject of a smear campaign -- and that his sensitivities toward gay rights is critical of he's to address the growing issue of anti-LGBT bullying in schools. The Media Matters Action Network describing King's call an "anti-gay crusade."