Fox and Friends has a proud tradition to uphold: they must perpetuate their spotless record of finding the most offensive side of any issue and defending it. Maryland's James Hubert Blake High School will begin using gender neutral graduation robes, beginning with the class of 2016, in solidarity with transgender students. The move was overwhelmingly supported by the students of the school, so where's the controversy? Simply ask the guest du jour, and you'll be Fox-plained about the evils in removing gender specificity in graduation ceremonies.
Julie Gunlock, a senior fellow at the International Women's Forum begs to differ. Her reason? Life is really hard for women and LGBT people, worldwide, and allowing schools to do away with specific gender robe colors is doing kids a disservice. Now they think they can always 'get their way.'
'I understand some people feel very strongly about school traditions. But I do think it's also important that educators and parents teach kids about real hardship in the world. In ISIS controlled Iraq, you have women who are being raped and mutilated and murdered. Homosexuals are being thrown off rooftops. Christians are being hunted down and executed. This seems to me the real issues that we should be concerned about. Not having a color that conflicts with your own identity for one hour...I don't think we need to scrap all traditions to sort of make people sort of happy on their graduation day.'
Her premise that backwards religious cults like ISIS are intolerant is rather ironic, given the fact that her own organization is equally intolerant of equality for women and the LGBT community. She doesn't really sympathize or care about students who may be marginalized by traditions or anyone else for that matter.
The IWF disagrees with the idea that we should fight inequality inherent in our society. She once went head to head with Thom Hartmann on the issues of harmful foods that cause cancer, obesity and other problems.
Throughout this debate, Gunlock kept ranting on about personal responsibility and ignored Hartmann's counter arguments about poor people lacking access to the healthier alternatives to Fritos and Cheetos as well as health information.
(The IWF was) originally formed in 1991 as "Women for Clarence Thomas" in an effort to secure the nominee a seat on the Supreme Court. Just what the Independent Women's Forum is independent from is unclear -- it certainly cannot claim independence from the White House with Vice-Presidential wife Lynne Cheney as Director Emeritus and ultra-conservative pundit and Bush advisor Larry Kudlow as a board member.
The IWF reeks of Ginnie Thomas' brand of Tea Party Patriot misogyny.
From Right Wing Watch:
The Independent Women's Forum is an anti-feminist organization housing various "experts" who weigh in on a wide array of issues ranging from feminism and family issues to economics, environmental policy, and international affairs.
In other words, the IWF is anything but an 'independent forum' of any sort. Elisabeth Hasselbeck interviews this woman as if she represents the concerns of society at large and this Maryland High School is simply an anomaly. Desperately clinging to antiquated gender roles, Fox 'News' and Ms. Gunlock are demonstrating how terrified they are of America's imminent future, filled with tolerance and empathy for all.
