- MassResistance
-
MassResistance 
Formation 1995 Purpose/focus Oppose gay rights in law and policy Location Massachusetts President Brian Camenker Website www.MassResistance.org MassResistance is a Massachusetts anti-gay group[1][2] that promotes socially conservative positions primarily on issues surrounding homosexuality, the transgender community and same-sex marriage. It was formed in 2006 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition and the Article 8 Alliance.[3] The group has criticized former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney for not opposing same-sex marriage,[4] and says it fights against students in public schools being taught about homosexuality.[5]
Contents
Founder
Brian Camenker, a conservative activist in Massachusetts founded MassResistance—formerly known as Article 8 Alliance—in 1995.[6] Camenker resides in Newton, Massachusetts, where he has also particpated in local politics and was President of the Newton Taxpayers Association.[7]
Major events
"Fistgate"
In 2000, members of the Parents' Rights Coalition attended a statewide conference, called "Teach-Out," that was sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, held at Tufts University.
One student asked about fisting and was provided with an explanation.[8] MassResistance dubbed the incident "Fistgate" after [9] Scott Whiteman, a MassResistance member, "secretly recorded the workshop".[10] As a result of the outcry that was generated when parents heard tapes of the event, Margot Abels, a state employee who participated in the discussion, and two other state employees were fired.[citation needed] One of the state employees was later reinstated to her job.[11][Third-party source needed]
Abels filed suit against Brian Camenker and Scott Whiteman as a result of his distribution of the tape recordings.[12] The case was settled out of court; the result of a second lawsuit is unavailable.[13][unreliable source?]
ToBGLAD taping
In 2004, Camenker accompanied another parent, Kim Cariani, who tried to videotape an event called "ToBGLAD: Transgender, Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Day" at their children's school, Newton North High School.[Third-party source needed] After repeatedly requesting that the videotaping be discontinued, the principal, Jennifer Huntington, summoned police officers to the school to warn the two parents that they would be charged with trespassing if they didn't leave the campus immediately.[citation needed] They were told they could stay and attend like everyone else, but taping would not be allowed. A local columnist, Tom Mountain of the Newton Tab, was also barred from the assembly "for the safety and security of the children."[14][unreliable source?]
Macy's protest
In June 2006, members of MassResistance protested a Macy's store in Boston, Massachusetts due to a display of transgender mannequins.[Third-party source needed] According to MassResistance they were successful in removing the "transgender mannequins" from the store window.[15]
"Basically, here you have two apparently homosexual men touching each other, both of them with big breasts that are unlike any mannequin anyone's ever seen," said MassResistance President Brian Camenker. "A number of people are getting a little tired of having homosexuality pushed in their faces," Camenker added.[16][dead link]
Mitt Romney
In January 2007, Mitt Romney's campaign issued a press release attacking Brian Camenker for MassResistance's "Mitt Romney Deception" report.[17] Romney's campaign eventually removed the press release from its site, but MassResistance continued to display it on their own site, and they issued their own press release as well.[18]
Employee arrest
On October 23, 2008, an employee of MassResistance was arrested for disorderly conduct at a school after parents became concerned about his taking many pictures of their children.[19]
1913 Law reinstatement attempt
MassResistance's attempt to reinstate the Massachusetts 1913 law by a referendum failed in October 2008 when the group collected roughly a third of the required signatures. The law had been used by Governor Mitt Romney to prevent out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts. It was repealed in July 2008.[20]
Criticism
MassResistance has been criticized by Janice M. Irvine of the University of Massachusetts College of Social and Behavioral Sciences for promoting anti-gay studies lacking scientific merit.[21] Since March 2008, the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed MassResistance as an anti-gay "Active U.S. Hate Group".[22][2]
References
- ^ "Active U.S. Hate Groups". http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=26. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ a b "Shocker: MassResistance Declared a Hate Group". http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc3=&id=72193. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ MassResistance Accomplishments
- ^ Helman, Scott (2007-01-10). "Mass. Activists Defend Romney Conservative Record; Group Lauds Social Stances". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/01/10/mass_activists_defend_romney_conservative_record/. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ "MassResistance". http://www.massresistance.net/. Retrieved 2008-10-31. "End ... homosexual activist recruitment of our children in the public schools!"
- ^ National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
- ^ There Goes the Neighborhood
- ^ Firestorm over GLSEN sex education workshop worsens
- ^ The Fistgate Report
- ^ "Critics contend safe-sex forum far too graphic". The Union-News. May 17, 2000.
- ^ Brian Camenker Discusses Confession of Margot Abels, Fistgate Teacher
- ^ Greenberger, Scott (November 28, 2000). "Educator fired for sex discussion sues to reclaim job". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Lesbian Sues Pro-Family Activists for Exposing Truth About Pro-Homosexual Event
- ^ Parents kicked out of 'gay day'
- ^ Macy's gay pride display in downtown Boston
- ^ 'Homosexual Mannequins' Pulled From Macy's Display
- ^ "Activist rains on Romney's parade". The Boston Globe. 2007-01-22. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/01/22/activist_rains_on_romneys_parade/?page=full.
- ^ Mitt Romney Campaign's press release attacking Brian Camenker
- ^ Man snapping pictures outside school caught after foot chase
- ^ 1913 law petition fails
- ^ Irvine, Janice (March 2005). "Anti-Gay Politics Online: A Study of Sexuality and Stigma on National Websites". University of California Press 2 (1): 3–21. doi:10.1525/srsp.2005.2.1.3. http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/srsp.2005.2.1.3. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
- ^ "Active U.S. Hate Groups". http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/type.jsp?DT=26. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
External links
Categories:- Political organizations in the United States
- Organizations based in Massachusetts
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