Georgia Newspaper Goes After Keith Jennings

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

December 23 2009 3:10 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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The Augusta [Ga.] Chronicle published an editorial Monday claiming the U.S. Department of Education's gay assistant deputy secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools encouraged underage sex and molestation -- all while calling him by the wrong name.

The newspaper said that Kevin Jennings -- whom it referred to as Keith -- promoted underage sex with books recommended by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, a group that Jennings founded and headed. GLSEN, which works to stop school bullying of gay students, does recommend books, and some did have passages of a sexual nature, but all of GLSEN's recommended reading materials come with warnings for parents or guardians. It's also not clear if Jennings himself vetted the individual books.

"There can be a fine line between education and indoctrination," according to the Chronicle editorial. "But not in this case. This kind of repulsive filth shouldn't be shopped around to schoolchildren."

Conservative media, including Fox News and The Washington Times, have loudly called for Jennings's firing. President Obama appointed Jennings to his position.

Read the full story here.