Well said! I told my kids the same thing. They leaned Gay at an early age--from Three's Company.
It seems irresponsible to me to deny the kids information. Just because the students learn about something does not mean it's being promoted. I have a hard time with this subject because I think too many people wear their prejudices on their sleeves and feel there's nothing wrong with it.
I agree with Dr. Pezz. All too many people think there's nothing wrong at all. They just don't think things through.
What they need is a teacher.
Too many TEACHERS are also prejudiced against gays, unfortunately.
We have some family friends, a gay couple, who have been together since 1971, which is considerably longer than many hetero couples have been together. They live out of town and come to visit every now and again and our girls just love them. We've never broached the subject with them, rather, we have waited for the girls to bring it up. The last time they were here, they asked, "Are they brothers?" No, they aren't. "But they live together?" Yes, they are very good friends.
Recently, one of them said "that's so gay", to be scolded by the other, "don't say that, it's a bad word." That was all we needed for an opener. We explained that it certainly was not a bad word, but people used it in a way that was inappropriate. We told them the OLD meaning, "happy", and then the current meaning. They wrinkled up their little noses, "huh?". Could not wrap their brains around it, but at least they know and will refrain from using the word "gay" as something derogatory, since some of their favorite people are gay.
1. With my young kids I would rather that I deal with the issue rather than the schools. You handled it much as I would (my boys are nearly 7 and 4...my girls is not yet 18 months); my point is that at this age I believe that parents are best. As they get older, then there will be opportunity for discussions relating to sexuality, discrimination, etc. (no, I don't have a magic age).
2. Where did you get that 10% of the population number? I've heard it bandied about but have not been able to find a credible reference. 30 million Americans seems high to me.
The number is the same one you heard. I've also heard it bandied about, but I can't vouch for its accuracy, to tell you the truth.
Maybe the magic age is when they bring it up.
The 10% figure is supposed to be from Kinsey.
According to The National Health and Social Life Survey, Kinsey is way off. (For details on the survey, see here: http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/co...STUDY/
06647.xml. It was done 15 years ago, but it is highly unlikely that the gay population has surged to 10% since then. Note the presence of liberal foundations as funders of the study.)
Here is a link to a summary of the survey (one of many I found). It includes the following verbiage:
"...the rate of homosexuality in the population (which the study reported to be 1.3% for women within the past year, and 4.1% since 18 years; for men, 2.7% within the past year, and 4.9% since 18 years; in all, much lower than the Kinsey report of 10%..."
Oops! Here's the link to the summary:
http://cloud9.norc.uchicago.edu/...du/faqs/
sex.htm
I'd guess that the under-reporting rate even 15 years ago was far higher. That is, that the stigma even then would cause those numbers to be smaller than the actual amount. I'd guess more like double those numbers.
I don't get the "wait until they are older" to teach them thing. My son (16) had the daughter of a 2 mom family in his kindergarten class. How does that not get addressed in a matter of fact way with kids? Shh, children, no one mention the two mommies?!
It seems like people assume that there needs to be some sort of sex positions lecture to accompany what could be a very simple "when two people love each other..."
Jen,
My point above is that I believe that the discussion with very young children is best held with parents. Even with a child in the class with two mommies, I would rather have the "When two people love each other..." conversation with my own kids rather than my kids' teachers. To be sure, I'm not saying a teacher should ignore the matter if a child asks a question; I'm just saying it should not be a part of the curriculum until the children are more mature.
Of course your guess on underreporting is just that -- a guess. If a survey is confidential, then why would someone be worried about a social stigma? Indeed, wouldn't being forthright help change public policy? It's not as if the participants were asked to come out to their parents and friends. The fact is that the 10% number was propaganda pure and simple.
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