Adam, a transgender character on Degrassi
The American Family Association (AFA) and Florida Family Association (FFA) are alleging that the Trevor Project is “recruiting teens and children to become ‘gay’” through its suicide prevention hotline. The AFA reports today that FFA is encouraging followers to boycott Target for advertising on the Teen Nick show Degrassi, which airs PSAs for the Trevor Project. The group has provided a form email, which reads:
Not only is Teen Nick affirming the homosexual and transgender lifestyles in the content of the program itself but also includes promotions during Degrassi which lead America’s youth toward, not away from embracing these behaviors.
Target is the ONLY major retailer that is advertising on this irresponsible and shameful show. This is a point that I will remember when choosing where to shop.
The Trevor Project is unabashedly committed to saving lives through its lifeline. While this particular email campaign is trivial, it is emblematic of the true motives of religious right “family” groups. Not only are they unsympathetic to the bullying and harassment that young people face for being perceived as gay, they are actively promoting the negative climate in schools by objecting to the very group trying to save lives. Given a choice between standing by their anti-gay and anti-trans beliefs or affirming young people to save their lives, it seems that groups like the American Family Association have chosen stigma over survival.
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