A national civil rights group that is known for its advocacy of the homosexual lifestyle is promoting its annual “Mix It Up” tolerance day to elementary schools.

On Tuesday, October 30th, over 2,000 public and private schools across the United States are scheduled to participate in an observance spearheaded by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which begins at, but is not limited to, lunchtime. It focuses on encouraging youth to meet up with and affirm those who are different from them, not only persons of various races and ethnicities, but also those who are openly homosexual.

“Mix It Up” is part of the organization’s “Teaching Tolerance” program.

“Our Teaching Tolerance program is working to foster school environments that are inclusive and nurturing – classrooms where equality and justice are not just taught, but lived. The program points to the future, helping teachers prepare a new generation to live in a diverse world,” outlines the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website. “As one of the nation’s leading providers of anti-bias education resources, we reach hundreds of thousands of educators and millions of students annually through our award-winning Teaching Tolerance magazine, multimedia teaching kits, online curricula, professional development resources like our Teaching Diverse Students Initiative and special projects like Mix It Up at Lunch Day.”

During “Mix It Up” day, teachers are urged to speak to their students about tolerance. The Southern Poverty Law Center is providing resources and activities that can be implemented at each grade level. For instance, for grades K-2, the organization has activity ideas outlined for teachers under a program called “It’s Okay to Feel Different.” Students will learn about the meaning of the words “difference” and “diversity,” among others. Teachers are also encouraged to read aloud the It’s Okay to Be Different children’s book written by Todd Carr, which is designed to “help students understand what diversity means and how it applies to them.”

On its website, the Southern Poverty Law Center lists the over 2,000 schools that are said to be participating in the upcoming effort. However, according to reports, some schools have been shocked to find their name included unaware.

“Many school administrators were offended to learn that their school was listed as a participating school on the SPLC website and ordered it removed immediately,” states the American Family Association. “In some cases, students or teachers independently signed the school up without approval, leaving principals and superintendents unprepared for phone calls from concerned parents.”

The organization has been working to alert parents nationwide about the upcoming observance and to ensure that their child does not participate.

“AFA is joining other family-oriented groups in urging parents to keep their children at home that day if their local school is sponsoring the ‘Mix It Up’ project,” it states. “The Southern Poverty Law Center is using this project to bully-push its gay agenda, and at the same time, intimidate and silence students who have a Biblical view of homosexuality.”

“See if your school is on the list,” the American Family Association continues. “If it is, a simple phone call or letter to school administrators telling them your child will not attend school on October 30 may be enough to cause some participating schools to change their plans to sponsor, endorse, or promote ‘Mix It Up’ day. ”

A list of participating schools may be viewed here.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has been working in other aspects of society as well to silence what it believes is bigotry and hatred against homosexuality. It says that it “monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the United States and exposes their activities to law enforcement agencies, the media and the public.” Over 1,000 entities have been placed on its “hate group” list, including a number of Christian and pro-family groups, such as Focus on the Family and Family Research Council.

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