Pacific Justice Institute Announces 2009 'Hall of Shame'

The Pacific Justice Institute has published its 2009 Hall of Shame, the ten worst attacks on faith, family and freedom encountered this year.

1. Atheist Michael Newdow went to federal court seeking to stop prayers at President Obama's inauguration, and the use of "So help me God" in the presidential oath. PJI successfully represented defendants Drs. Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery, Jr., in getting the suit dismissed. It is now on appeal.
   
   
2. A school board in Alameda, California, turned a deaf ear to hundreds of parents and adopted a curriculum that pushed acceptance of homosexuality to students beginning in early elementary grades. After the school district then rejected parents' attempts to opt out of the curriculum, PJI filed suit.
   
   
3. A church appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge in San Francisco decided that the church had grown too much and should split into smaller congregations, rather than turning a vacant building into a worship center. PJI represents the church.
   
   
4. Atheists asked a federal appeals court to ban the use of memorial crosses to mark spots along Utah highways where officers were killed in the line of duty. PJI filed an amicus brief opposing the atheists.
   
   
5. Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill encouraging schools to celebrate the birthday of homosexual icon and sexual predator Harvey Milk.
   
   
6. The Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened city councils in California and elsewhere over traditional invocations at meetings. PJI sent legal opinion letters to several city councils offering advice as to how they could constitutionally continue their invocations.
   
   
7. A school district in Castro Valley, California, refused to provide information to parents about a talk given by a lesbian minister to math and science classes. PJI filed suit on the parents' behalf.
   
   
8. A school district in Oakley, California, stopped a second-grader from performing sign language in a talent show because her chosen song had Christian lyrics.
   
   
9. Pres. Obama signed a controversial federal hate crimes bill into law. The bill prioritizes crimes based on sexual orientation over crimes against the elderly. It also could be used by overzealous prosecutors to intimidate and punish pastors who preach against immorality.
   
   
10. The City Council of Washington, D.C., voted to allow same-sex marriage while refusing to allow citizens a vote on the issue.

"Coming Out Day" for 5 year olds?

Parents at a K-8 charter school in Hayward (California) were shocked to learn this week the extent to which their school is promoting gay and lesbian ideals to their daughter in kindergarten.

The parents were shocked to see a poster announcing that "Coming Out Day" will be celebrated at the school today. The school, Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, chose not to tell parents ahead of time, but it is in the midst of celebrating "Ally Week," a pro-homosexual push typically aimed at high school students. When one mother asked her daughter earlier this week what she was learning in kindergarten at the school, the 5-year-old replied, "We're learning to be allies." The mother also learned that her daughter's kindergarten classroom is regularly used during lunchtime for meetings of a Gay Straight Alliance club.

Later this week, the school is slated to talk about families. The parents have noticed several posters promoting families, all of which depict only homosexual families. More controversial discussions can be expected through next week, as the elementary school continues to celebrate Gay and Lesbian History Month. On Nov. 20, the school will host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as "Jane and the Beanstalk."

These parents are being advised by attorneys from Pacific Justice Institute. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible? Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools."

Any other parents whose elementary-age children have been subjected to pro-homosexual propaganda should contact Pacific Justice Institute for counsel and possible representation: Phone:(916) 857-6900, Fax:(916) 857-6902.