1.What group is sponsoring this site? Are they pro or anti-queer?
More broadly, what groups or issues are they for or against?
PFLAG (Parents, Families,
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is the sponsor of our site. They
are a pro-queer group that consists of people close to lesbians, gays,
bisexuals and transgenders. Specifically they are for the education
of the public about queer issues, the human rights advocacy of gays and
lesbians, and the unconditional support of all people, regardless of their
sexuality.
2. What kinds of information do you find in this site? Which one(s) will you focus on?
The information in this site
mostly centers around the ways to educate, support, and advocate.
There are links to PFLAG's public policy endorsements; projects or events
about gay issues; ways to get involved in various local PFLAG chapters;
and, current topics that touch the PFLAG community. Our focus will
entail their mission statement and what it means; basic human rights; and
educating misinformed people about the truth and myths of homosexuality.
3. What is the purpose/goal/objective of this site and its sponsoring group? To whom and what are they responding?
The purpose of this site
is apparent in the mission statement of the organization. It states
that PFLAG's purpose is to promote the health and well-being of gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered persons, their
families and friends through: "support, to cope with an adverse
society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy,
to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights".
4.What is their position on queer sexualities?
Their position on queer sexualities
is basically that all people deserve to be valued, loved, and supported
regardless of their sexual preference. PFLAG's focus is not so much
on sexuality, but on the fact that everyone deserves similar things in
life, such as basic human rights and respect.
5. What perspectives are they using (order/critical, essentialist/social contructionist)?
PFLAG' s specific perspectives
on sexuality aren' t particularly clear or obvious because of their focus
on support and advocacy. It seems that they share an aspect of the
critical perspective, because they seem to be critical of the sexuality
hierarchy that the religious right support. They appear to be partially
essentialist and constructionist because they believe that gay people are
unchanging, and born with a sense of their future sexuality, while they
also believe that one sexuality is no more "natural" than another.
In terms of how they see sexual preference having meaning, they take a
social construction perspective because they feel that society's concept
of sexuality can be changed and is not inherent.
6. What is their agenda? What kinds of arguments, appeals, language, and images do they use to support their agenda?
PFLAG's agenda is to promote
the health and well being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people,
their families and friends through support, education, and advocacy. This
program also looks to providing an opportunity for discussion about sexual
orientation and acts to create a society, which is healthy and respectful
of human diversity. One issue PFLAG addresses to accommodate religious
parents and friends of homosexuals is whether or not the Bible considers
homosexuality a sin. PFLAG argues that gay people are positively
portrayed in the Bible. For example in the Old Testament, the entire
book of Ruth entails stories of love between two women. PFLAG also mentions
that several passages from this scripture have been used in the past during
heterosexual marriage ceremonies. Another example used to support
their argument is that Jesus was unequivocally aware of homosexuality,
but there is no record that he ever publicly condemned it. In fact,
there is one specific incident where Jesus is healing a centurion' s gay
lover and he calls him a "beloved boy".
One appeal PFLAG uses is
that homosexuality is a normal part of human behavior, apparently biological
in origin; and, not an unnatural perversion. They advise their
viewers that homophobics just want the general public to believe that homosexuals
are perverted sex addicts trying to destroy traditional family life and
childhood innocence, but that the truth is much different. PFLAG
explains that being gay isn't about sex as much as it is about love and
that it just means loving people of the same sex. They stress that
being gay does not mean there is an overwhelming drive to have sex as often
as possible
7. What actions or strategies (political or otherwise) do they purpose?
One example where PFLAG purposes
political strategies is when they explain to parents of homosexuals that
they can have grandchildren; which, helps to normalize homosexuality.
One option for childless gays is adoption. PFLAG points out that
child welfare agencies would rather place a child in a nurturing home belonging
to a gay or lesbian couple than have a child continually move from one
foster home to the next, or worse yet live on the streets. Also, lesbian
couples can partake in artificial insemination where
the couple requests sperm donation from men who they admire, respect,
and are close to. Other couples may choose to find sperm from an
anonymous donor at a sperm bank. Childless gay male couples can participate
in surrogate mothering; which, is often by lesbian couples who perform
this service out of love and admiration for gay men in their community.
The surrogate mother is inseminated either with the gay man' s sperm or
with an anonymous donor's sperm. Adoption, artificial insemination,
and surrogate mothering are occurring with increasing frequency in the
United States.
Another political
strategy PFLAG uses is by addressing right-wing political and religious
leaders who condemn homosexuality. They publicly express that facts
and research do not support these leaders' allegations, and that they are
used to merely exploit homosexuals. PFLAG teaches that preaching
of hatred and misinformation against homosexuals harms children because
it teaches them to hate and repeat violence against lesbians, gay, and
transgendered people. By speaking out against homophobics and their
hate campaigns PFLAG is gaining support of impartial people and fighting
against providers of hatred and discrimination.
8.Where do they fit in the large U.S. spectrum on the politics of sexuality? Who are their friends and allies?
Like any other political
organization, PFLAG continually fights for federal, state, and local anti-discrimination
laws that ensure full legal protection against discrimination and violence.
With the passage of hate crime statutes in states across the country, the
number of these crimes and other bias incidents has dramatically declined.
Additionally, PFLAG encourages Police agencies to include gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered people in all level of their department.
And, PFLAG fights for government funds to be directed towards community-based
service organizations, such as members of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence
Programs.
Additionally, PFLAG spreads
their mission statement through national and local media in the United
States. Articles and appearances by PFLAG members in the U.S. help
dispel harmful myths about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people
by recognizing their family members and friends, who love and support them,
and advocate their equality.
PFLAG members describe themselves
as "mainstream America". PFLAG' s allies entail anyone open-minded,
non-judgmental person or group of people who believe in and participate
in advocating the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered people.
9. In your opinion, what is the significance of this site in the debate on sexualities? How powerful are their arguments and probability of achieving their aims?
This site is significant
in terms of the debate on sexualities because it uses everyday, common
rhetoric to appeal to people to change their views about others.
PFLAG affirms the importance of all people's contributions to society,
and strongly asserts that all people must be respected. They have
a somewhat conservative approach to achieving their aims because they appeal
to people's sense of family and loyalty. We think this type of approach
is the kind that will eventually be the most successful in winning
the cultural wars.
PFLAG' s argument
is powerful because it is practical. Their logic is easy to understand
and apply. For example PFLAG's believes that knowledge of human sexuality
and an understanding of human relationships are important to the full development
of the individual and should be introduced to the child in age-appropriate
ways very early in life. They point out that parents should continuously
reiterate these ideas as their children mature. Additionally, these
beliefs can be reinforced in agencies outside the family like schools,
religious institutions and youth groups. Since approximately 10%
of our children are homosexual, adults need to be able to properly address
young children who are having a hard time understanding their sexuality.
Through open-minded education, both inside and outside the family, regarding
all sexual orientations, homosexuals will be able to lead productive and
meaningful lives like heterosexuals where their sexuality can be through
caring, committed and loving relationships.