The promotion or disparagement of homosexuality in schools

In another topic, we got into an argument over what one post referred as "pro-homosexual indoctrination" in schools. I figured it deserved a topic of its own.

Now, I've repeatedly made the argument that if Jews can oppose eating pork, Christians can oppose eating sausage. It's their right to teach what they believe to their children, and it's not my place to advocate a positive portrayal of homosexuality if a substantial number of people oppose it.

However, it is my place to advocate understanding of homosexuality. If you hate gays, know thy enemy. If you're gay, you need to learn that you're not alone. If you're gay and you hate gays, well, that's your cross to bear, and knowledge will help you to bear it. For that reason, I believe that sex ed classes should contain at least some discussion of the varieties of sexuality—homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, maybe even fetishes.

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

Personally, I don't really see the point in either demonizing homosexuality or promoting it. Then again, my view on homosexuality has always been "who people want to have sex with is only their own business and whoever they choose to pursue". Really, in the grand scheme of things a person's sexuality is largely irrelevant unless one plans on trying to bed them.

In a way, teaching to understand homosexuality will more likely promote the acceptance of homosexuality anyways. Considering it'll teach the kids the homosexuals are demonspawn child rapists.

That said....

Try to replace "homosexuality" with "other cultures" or "the opposite gender" in your sentences.

edited 22nd Jul '11 7:01:57 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."

I understand the rationale behind including discussion of homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality in sex ed classes, but I don't understand why you would add fetishes. Fetishes are not a sexual orientation.

Would you kindly click my dragons?

^^ I don't advocate a positive portrayal of other cultures, either. From my perspective, some other cultures are deeply fucked up (particularly ones that treat women like chattel.) I simply advocate understanding their beliefs.

^ They're something that apparently develop at a very early age, and there's a good chance someone in the class will have one, possibly without understanding exactly what they're feeling.

edited 22nd Jul '11 7:03:37 PM by feotakahari

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

Teaching people not to be violent, prejudicial and discriminatory is a valid part of schooling, whether it be based on gender, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, or anything else.

In my experience, the phrase "promoting homosexuality" is generally a euphemism for "promoting non-discrimination". Which I think says alot about why we shouldn't listen to these people.

And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)

Sex ed needs to stop promoting abstinence as the only means of proper sex, in general. In an attempt to keep the children "pure," we're teaching them a primarily Catholic view on a very broad subject with a huge focus on the repercussions of sex (ST Ds, pregnancy, etc.). All types of sexuality should be discussed without bias.

Now, fetishes... are kind of eh with me. I do understand that some kids would find it odd to be attracted to something others find repulsive (BBW, bondage, etc.) but at the same time, it seems like simply discussing a particular fetish would just be... irrelevant to a majority of the class. The individual student should be comfortable enough to ask the teacher a question about a fetish on their own time, to get a personal understanding. Not to mention there's a lot of fetishes out there, so maybe as a general topic they should be discussed, but not individually.

I'm pretty sure the concept of Law having limits was a translation error. -Wanderlustwarrior

Sex ed classes should teach the potential downfalls of sex and how to avoid them. (AKA safe sex.)Several girls in my class were shocked to realize lesbian sex still had risks of STD's so clearly the need to teach safe homosexual sex. But (to my knowledge) when it comes to safe homosexual sex it is more or less the same precautions. So even from the most conservative viewpoint I can argue it needs to at least be reconised that the same safe sex rules apply for homosexuals. (Except for pregnancy obviously) My big question is the right dislikes homosexuality. I can not think of any way to discuss any alternative sexuality in any depth, even asexuality, without implying that alternative sexuality like homosexuality is natural thus ticking of the Religious Right. Fetishes can be mentioned that some people have preferences or fixations and that is perfectly natural. But otherwise I see no reason to delve further than that unless we are getting into a psychology study.

Congratulations! you got me to post. I lurk all the time so this is rare.

Fetishes are so varied and diverse, there is no way to treat all fetishes fairly if you have to go over them one by one.

"Remember kids, the test next Monday will be on furries, and make sure that your report on latex fetishes is on my desk by Thursday."

My sex ed teacher's comments on homosexuality can be boiled down to "Anuses weren't meant to be used like that. Buttseks will give you AIDS, mmkay?" I'm not sure if it's a part of the curriculum or not, but I do know he was the really religious type. As in, he once stated to the class that the Left Behind series is his favorite book series EVAR.

edited 22nd Jul '11 7:39:51 PM by LilPaladinSuzy

Would you kindly click my dragons?

Basically my argument is the same as Bat Pencil's only with more swearing targeted at the people complaining about "promoting homosexuality".

Basically, they're idiots and bigots and should be ignored.

edited 22nd Jul '11 7:42:20 PM by Capt.Fargle

I wasn't complaining about it; I just mean personally I don't see a point in promoting OR demonizing it.

Then again I've never seen gay people as anything besides regular, normal people with a different preference. Some people prefer Coke, some prefer Pepsi, both are still people in my eyes.

I don't know, I see something in keeping all forms of sexuality out of schoolrooms. Although I know it's not realistic.

Ever shown a young child two guys kissing? It's traumatic disgusting experience. Ever shown a young child a man and women kissing? They also think it's traumatic disgusting experience.

This might be prude teenage me speaking, but rather I would people would simply stop forcing heterosexual ideas such as the importance having a girl/boyfriend and the unity of marriage onto impressionable minds rather then take a 'diversity' approach to education.

no mummy, I came from the stork, the stork! Not where you go to the bathroom

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:09:01 PM by joeyjojo

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Sexual education should be just about teaching the basics of what sex is, what to know about to be safe, and maybe some general knowledge of some types of sexuality out there. I don't think it should go into details about what kind of sex you can have and so on, because that isn't really the point of the education. That's like trying to teach people to certain types of music or painting. If you want to learn about it, you take specialised classes.

But those different types of sexuality are typically a taboo to be brought up, and when you're first starting to have hormones hit you, it's a really awkward, uncomfortable experience. It's a lot different than appreciating different types of music/art because this has to do with your health and what your body is, erm, "hungering" for.

I'm pretty sure the concept of Law having limits was a translation error. -Wanderlustwarrior

Well, reading that you're from Texas, I think your area is just insanely right wing and moral-guardian compared to where I grew up. I never had such a problem. That isn't something solved by teaching sexuality in school, it's about teaching general openness, liberality and being tolerant.

What about teaching students that whatever they do should be Safe Sane and Consensual, with curriculum centered on last to first?

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:18:50 PM by Enkufka

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

I think my sexual education was focused on safe and consensual. I don't know what sane means.

Thread Hop: discrimination in schools should not be tolerated, and the curriculum designed to ensure that students are not being encouraged to discriminate. Ergo, I am probably in favour of promoting homosexuality, if disparagement is the only alternative.

I means use common sense.

What about good old victorian denial?

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:48:08 PM by joeyjojo

hashtagsarestupid

^ That's n- oh, you were talking to Blueharp. Sorry ^^;

That's entirely the result of their parent's ineptitude as parents. In these situations, it should be the school's duty to fix the parent's screw ups before it's too late.

While I don't ever remember being grossed out by the idea of a boy and a girl kissing...I didn't understand why they like it, but I understood it's a sign of affection.

I was slightly weirded out by seeing two guys kissing...but that's until I remember some people great each other by kissing strangers in the cheeks, or bowing down and kissing another's feet. So I got over that very easily.

And then there are kids of homosexual parents. Are they traumatized every day of their life because their same sex parents would kiss?

The idea that sexuality is "icky" is due to cultural reason.

---

More importantly...thanks to the media, christians, and the frequency of Humans Are Bastards, it is likely that homosexuality will be met with mass disparagement with or without their parents or teacher teaching them to act like that. So we should teach the promotion of treating homosexuals with respect, if atleast to discourage/reduce the frequency of disparagement.

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:46:20 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."

I think you mean Breadloaf, not me.

Or it's just gross! I mean, really, no matter how you do it, it's just EEEW!

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:46:12 PM by blueharp

Allan Assiduity: yeah I got ninja, now you must bare my cruse

hashtagsarestupid

@ Signed: I don't really know. Kids have got a lot simpler why of handling things do adults do. It's better in many ways.

I remember when I was younger I ask two boys in my play ground who I liked to marry me >_<

They say yes :D

edited 22nd Jul '11 8:56:32 PM by joeyjojo

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