Michele Bachmann's Cohorts Took a Direct Role in Anoka-Hennepin Anti-Bullying Policy

Kudos to David Brauer at MinnPost for setting Strib columnist Lori Sturdevant straight: Lori Sturdevant — a stalwart Strib editorial board civility campaigner — takes Rolling Stone to task for “linking” Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to GLBT suicides in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Writes Sturdevant of Bachmann: “Her 2004 claims that defenders of gay rights were 'targeting our children' in public school sex education classes were laughably homophobic. Her refusal in 2006 to back state anti-bullying legislation was ill-advised. But that’s a long way from condoning teen suicide, as the article comes close to implying that Bachmann has done.” The ultimate weakness of Sturdevant’s case can be found in this epic conditional — “comes close to implying.” Doesn’t say directly, doesn’t even imply, but comes close to implying. Read the whole thing. Sturdevant defends Bachmann, but will she take a look at the Bachmann's close associates' role in the controversy? There's no doubt at all that Bachmann's close pals and cohorts in her well-documented her anti-gay crusade, Janet Boynes and Barb Anderson have been directly involved in opposing any anti-bullying policy at Anoka-Hennepin that would protect gay students. As recently as last December, Jessica Lussenhop at the City Pages reported on the appearance of these two virulent homophobes at Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting. First Boynes: Even Janet Boynes, the ex-gay minister with ties to Michele Bachmann, made an appearance. "Removing the present Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy . . . opens the door for promotion of the homosexual lifestyle in the classroom," she told board members. Barb Anderson: Barb Anderson of the Minnesota Family Council was also in attendance. She echoed the sentiment of other speakers that district chair Tom Heidemann is going back on his promise during board elections to defend the neutrality policy. Anderson was a district parent who helped write the most harshly worded version of the policy in 1995, which dictated that "homosexuality not be taught/addressed as a normal, valid lifestyle." "We will see more homosexual propaganda flooding the classroom," she said ruefully. Barb Anderson has appeared on Bradlee Dean's radio show claiming oral sex causes cancer. From our book "The Madness of Michele Bachmann": Barb Anderson is a researcher for the Minnesota Family Council and a member of the Parents Action League (PAL), a shadow group formed to oppose “the Gay Agenda” in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. The Parents Action League is worried about “the pro-gay activist teachers,” “an increase in pro-gay curriculum materials,” and “thehealth risks to students who are affirmed and labeled as ‘gay’ and who may participate in homosexual acts.” The Parents Action League has put a lot of effort into hiding who its members are. There are no names associated with the group, though Barb Anderson, a Minnesota Family Council employee, has been active with promoting antigay hysteria within the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Some of Anderson’s letters to the editor are quoted on the PAL website. Anderson was a guest on hate-monger Bradlee Dean’s radio show. On the show, she gloated about how as one person, she has become very powerful within the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Barb Anderson is also the vice president of Janet Boynes Ministries. Barb Anderson and her husband are big contributors to Michele Bachmann’s campaigns. In addition, Anderson is one of Michele Bachmann’s contributors who endorsed the following proclamation of the Alliance for the Separation of School and State (ASSS): “I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education.” And Janet Boynes: Michele Bachmann’s ex-lesbian sidekick Janet Boynes is a promoter of the “pray-away-the-gay” movement and a close friend of Michele and Marcus Bachmann. Boynes writes books, appears on Christian radio and television shows, and gives lectures about how she went from gay to straight with the help of God. She testified at a Minnesota Senate hearing that legalized gay marriage would have dire public health consequences: spreading AIDS and “gay bowel syndrome.”... Bachmann & her anti-gay, theocratic pals have been assaulting public education in Minnesota for years and continue to wreak havoc - read the Beth Hawkins Minnpost article titled: "Group that scuttled pre-K initiatives has close Bachmann ties". For more about Bachmann & her gang's crusade against gays, pick up a copy of our book. Here is a video of Boynes testifying about “gay bowel syndrome.”: