Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Premise:

gay

lesbian

education

teachers

"others"

homophobic



Dennis Carlson argues that school systems need to incorporate gay and lesbian issues into their curriculum. It is not taught in the classrooms and has a lot to do with the fact of why people are homophobic.

If all you learn in the classroom about gays and lesbians is that they spread diseases, would you be homophobic? The only time they are really talked about is when you are learning about HIV and AIDS. That right there is giving homosexuals a bad first impression to someone who doesn't know much about that. And there isn't anyone there to back them up or help people understand there is more to them then a percentage who have a disease. And I find it very strange that when reading the article "Amazing Grace", which had a lot to do about drugs and diseases, such as AIDS and HIV, not once was a gay or lesbian spoke about. "...the first group in the United States diagnosed with AIDS were male homosexuals." So hate them? What if the first group diagnosed was a group of doctors? Would we feel the same way about doctors as we do gays?

In the beginning "

It is ridiculous to me and so hard to believe that people can hate someone because of what they are, not even putting into consideration who they are. They are human beings with feelings just like you and I. The way society catagorizes them and puts them down and shuts them out is so hard for me to understand. Because they are attracted to the same sex makes them bad, and we should hate them for it? Why? I would love to hear an explanation that would make me wonder. I have a best friend who is gay. We talk about it occasionally but it is just the way it is. It's not like he ever askes me why I am straight. It is not like he chose to be gay. Just like he didn't choose to be black. It is just the way it is and people need to realize that.