🚀 go-pugleaf

I was looking for information on my essay that I'm writing on Aids, gay
men and how the media frame these pieces and I came across a page for
The Family Research Council.  There is a section which I read titled
"AT&T Supports Homosexuality" which at first I thought was a positive
article when in fact it is an ignorant piece filled with Bigotry.

When I finished I was so pissed off that I wrote them.  I hope they
write back but somehow I doubt it.  I will post the entire article and
their email address so you have an opportunity to write them yourself.  

One good thing has come from this article though.  I think I will call
up the 3 long distance companies (AT&T Canada, Sprint and Bell) to find
out what their policies on GLBT employees and possible community
services are.  I mean it's my money and it would be interesting to find
out the companies' policies.  Chances are AT&T Canada is similar to it's
US counterpart.

andru

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Article taken from:
http://www.cpac.org/townhall/FRC/infocus/if95b1hs.html

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Homosexual activists often use the power of the government and media to
try to force society to accept their behavior. But the homosexual lobby
is also active in corporate America. 

Some companies are actively promoting the homosexual agenda through
direct financial support, advertising campaigns and corporate policies
such as extending domestic partner benefits to homosexuals. 

One of the companies most actively pushing the homosexual agenda is
AT&T. AT&T's
pro-homosexual activities include: 

Support of "Homosexual Marriage." According to Diversity Digest, a
publication of
AT&T's Information Research Center, the Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay United
Employees at AT&T (LEAGUE) held a conference in which members were
encouraged to "help devise a legal definition of marriage, so the
company can work on extending domestic partner benefits to employees in
states that do not recognize marriages between same-gender partners"
(Diversity Digest August 1994, p.10). 

Homosexual Direct Mail Advertising. Last year AT&T sent about 70,000
direct mail
packages targeted at homosexuals. The package included brochures
featuring smiling homosexual couples and a flier about AT&T's homosexual
employee group. The materials were sent in envelopes decorated with a
rainbow-colored telephone cord and the phrase, "It's time for a
change..." (The Washington Blade June 10, 1994, p. 23). 

Indoctrination of Employees. AT&T has held workshops and "diversity
training" sessions in an effort to force employees to accept
homosexuality. The company has used Brian McNaught's video, On Being
Gay, in these workshops. The video is filled with misleading claims and
presents homosexuality as a normal, healthy lifestyle. 

McNaught, who has done several workshops for AT&T, shows his bias
against those who hold
traditional religious values in his book, Gay Issues in the Workplace.
McNaught links religious conviction with hate and bigotry. He suggests
that people who hold strong religious convictions need "counseling" (p.
100). He shows contempt for those who hold traditional family values by
suggesting that these values fuel "anti-gay bias." 

The following endorsement by an AT&T official appears on the back of
McNaught's book: "Every manager and employee who takes our course on
'Homophobia in the Workplace' will receive a copy of this book. Brian
McNaught has an incredible skill in helping people understand and
respond to gay issues in a nonthreatening way" (Sheila Landers,
Personnel Services Manager at AT&T Network Systems). 

AT&T has also urged employees to observe Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week
and to place
posters and pink triangles on walls to show that the office is "gay
friendly." 

Support of "The Gay Games." According to Businessweek magazine, AT&T
helped sponsor a series of sporting events featuring 11,000 athletes and
a budget of $6.5 million. Businessweek described the "Gay Games" as
"less a series of sporting events than a nine-day celebration of
culture, complete with parades, plays, music, art shows and food feasts"
(Businessweek July 4, 1994 p.38). 

Donations to the Gay Men's Health Crisis. According to Brenda Leake of
AT&T, the
company gave $25,000 to the Gay Men's Health Crisis in 1992. Among other
things, GMHC
distributes graphic, sexually explicit material to young people in an
attempt to "educate" them about the dangers of AIDS. The brochures
encourage young people to engage in dangerous and perverse sexual
practices. 

                               CONCLUSION

Proponents of pro-homosexual policies cite the need to be "tolerant" of
other people. But the question is not one of civil rights or ending
"bigotry." Homosexuals have the same rights as any other Americans, but
are seeking special privileges. 

Christians and other believers in traditional morality are coming under
enormous pressure in AT&T and other corporations to ignore their most
deeply held beliefs. "Diversity" sessions that attack or distort
scripture and church teachings constitute religious harassment. 

The real issue is whether or not people will be forced to accept
homosexual behavior, something that no successful culture has ever done.
Homosexual behavior is not normal or healthy. Opposition to the
homosexual agenda is not bigotry; it is common sense. 

If you are concerned about AT&T's promotion of the homosexual agenda,
contact them to express your concern. Tell AT&T that it is irresponsible
to promote an immoral and unhealthy lifestyle.  AT&T should incorporate
policies that strengthen the family, not undermine it. 

Robert E. Allen 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 
AT&T 
32 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, NY 10013 
(212) 841-4600 

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Email The Family Research Council at: corrdept@frc.org

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