Monday, December 07, 2009

Kevin Jennings' Theory: 20% of Americans Are "Staunch Bigots"

Kevin Jennings, Obama's "Safe Schools czar", advised "LGBT" activists "to have loud and strong voices that shout over anti-gay efforts and convince the easily-influenced majority." From a talk he gave in 2006:


Mama's Boy, Preacher's Son: A Book Signing for Kevin Jennings' New Memoir
by Meredith Nicholson
On September 21st, [2006] around two dozen people - including myself and GLSEN Boston's two Co-Chairs, Frank Pantano and Wendell K. Chestnut - attended a book signing at Brookline Booksmith by Kevin Jennings, the co-founder of GLSEN and the current Executive Director of the national organization. Jennings began by reading several sections from his memoir Mama's Boy Preacher's Son ... After the reading came a thought-provoking question and answer session. Attendees asked Jennings about topics such as his work with LGBT juveniles and foster kids, the oppression that gay males face compared to that faced by other members of the LGBT community, advice for gay youth who are also members of deeply religious families and of course, how GLSEN got started....

He also went in depth about a fascinating psychological theory, according to which 20 percent of all people have staunchly bigoted convitions [sic] and cannot be convinced to change their beliefs, 20 percent are true supporters of the LGBT community and likewise cannot be convinced to change their beliefs [but are not "bigots"], and 60 percent are easily swayed by whichever of the first two groups has the largest presence. In this case, he said, it is important for GLSEN and others working for a world of acceptance and equality for LGBT individuals to have loud and strong voices that shout over anti-gay efforts and convince the easily-influenced majority.

[Emphasis added; read complete story here.]