“The Homosexual Agenda.” What is this, exactly? The belief that homosexuals are superior to heterosexuals? No. An attempt to convert straight people to gay people? No. A process of brainwashing children against any previous homophobic indoctrination? Not even that.
For reasons beyond my comprehension, the issue of teaching homosexual-related topics in public schools is one of passionate controversy. Should children be subjected to the fact that homosexuals not only exist, but take part in a functioning society? Of course. Why is this even up for debate?
Apparently, it isn’t enough to ostracize gays from churches and private organizations like the Boy Scouts. According to recent legislation, “homosexuality” shouldn’t pop up in educated conversation either.
Oscar Wilde and Walt Whitman were gay — so much for fine literature. And I guess Greek history and philosophy are pretty much out of the picture.
I’m not saying we can’t teach these topics without mentioning sexual orientation — I’m sure some teachers are practicing this omitted curriculum as we speak. However, to not mention homosexuality at all in public schools is a huge disservice to not only the students being taught but also prominent homosexual figures. What would “Romeo and Juliet” be if their heterosexuality was omitted from the work? Similarly, how can students critically analyze historical and creative works without certain important characteristics of the people involved?
Last year, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill was introduced in Tennessee, threatening kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers with termination if they mentioned homosexuality in any form to their students. The bill, though passed by the state senate, is still being considered and reworked. Last year, Tennessee also passed HB 600, a bill that strips LGBT workers and youth from discrimination protection; thus, discrimination against individuals (including school youth) because of their sexual orientation is allowed. The law not only allows bullying and discrimination, but those in favor of HB 600 seem to encourage it.
Read that again.
Laws like these show the rest of the country that discrimination and ignorance can be spread with ease, and you can expect other states to follow. Don’t teach homosexuality in school — don’t approach the subject with a logical, educated perspective — and ignorance will pass on to the next generation. Tennessee politicians want nothing more than to spread and encourage bigotry on a criminal level. It’s disgusting.
At my California elementary school, I was taught sex education in the sixth grade. Sure, there were a lot of “ewws” and giggling, and I remember watching a birth video that made me wish I had stayed home, but I also remember learning a lot. We learned about abstinence as well as safe sex. (And we didn’t all turn into sex-crazed harlots, can you believe it?) We learned about sperms and eggs. (And we didn’t all get pregnant that year either.)
And, yes, we touched briefly on the topic of homosexuality. And, guess what? Not a single person changed their sexual orientation. No one renounced their religion. No one took up drugs. No one was sucked into the fiery pits of hell.
Knowledge is power. It is only when we start to limit and restrict our knowledge that we become hateful. Only through censored learning is progress halted and choices destroyed.
Learning about the world does not inherently change a person’s core traits. When I discovered in world history class what a chill dude Gandhi was, I didn’t become Indian. Similarly, when I read the Bible for critical literature, I didn’t become Catholic.
Education does not force; it allows.@@I like this line.@@ And only through education can we escape this insane fear we have of those who are different from us.