The New York Times reports that anti-bullying programs are already under fire from opponents who fear our wee children will catch The Gay if teachers present LGBT folks as, well, fellow human beings:
Some districts, especially in larger cities, have adopted tolerance lessons with minimal dissent. But in suburban districts in California, Illinois and Minnesota, as well as here in Helena [Montana], the programs have unleashed fierce opposition.
“Of course we’re all against bullying,” Mr. DeMato, one of numerous pastors who opposed the plan, said in an interview. “But the Bible says very clearly that homosexuality is wrong, and Christians don’t want the schools to teach subjects that are repulsive to their values.”
The divided Helena school board, after four months of turmoil, recently adopted a revised plan for teaching about health, sex and diversity. Much of the explicit language about sexuality and gay families was removed or replaced with vague phrases, like a call for young children to “understand that family structures differ.” The superintendent who has ardently pushed the new curriculum, Bruce K. Messinger, agreed to let parents remove their children from lessons they find objectionable.
Message sent: We’re all against bullying, except when it comes to kids who are gay, or might be gay, or dress up as Daphne on Halloween even though they’re male. (If that last story doesn’t ring a bell, follow the link, stat!)
Opponents of bullying-prevention spew predictable condemnations of people who have “chosen the gay lifestyle.” I know a few lesbian parents in my town, and believe me, they are leading the “mom lifestyle.” Yes, it can be twisted, but they have chosen it! We see each other at music lessons and soccer. When it comes to carpools and practices, though, there’s not a heap of “choice” involved. (So sorry to disappoint the homophobes). Non-hetero moms and dad are supervising homework just as painfully as the rest of us parents.
So go right ahead, you sanctimonious Christianists. Let us who’ve chosen the “mom lifestyle” hear just how depraved we are – just how repulsive! We can take it.
Just leave our beloved children out of it. My elder son’s favorite color was purple up until about second grade. I don’t think either of my kids are actually gay, but if they were – so what? So fucking what?
No kid deserves bullying, period. As long as wingnuts and ignoramuses act like gayness is a communicable disease and marriage equality is the death-knell of Western Civilization, kids who step outside the norm will continue to be bullied. Some will despair. Some will take their lives in their despair.
What kind of “family values” justify the lethal bullying of children? (Maybe Jerry Falwell will reach out from his grave and enlighten us?)
Patron cat of Kittywampus (1985-2001)
first, to state the obvious: the definition of ‘gay lifestlye’ has as much bulk as a straw hat, and you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a new form of non-traditional, non-gay family structure in this country that americans accept…
but on top of that, it boggles my mind that people still think of homosexuality as a disease. im almost embarassed to say this, but my boss at work has told me that some of the girls i work with get a strong ‘gay vibe’ from me, which turns them gay on me whereas before they were perfectly straight. (this is a part time, at the moment job, and i have never dated anybody from there). i do have a very friendly relationship with my boss, and he does often make jokes about such things as race and sex, but he is also dead serious about this one.
on top of this, i have learned through the years to never mention sexuality to anybody at work because it will unintentionally cause fights.
im a little sick of the hush hush attitude i must maintain to avoid work place confrontation, but i also wonder if gay culture would benefit if every gay in this country flew the ‘gay and proud’ flag all the time. but let’s face it, celebrities don’t even come out until they’re established in their careers. doesn’t that say something?
Yeah, I can’t use “gay lifestyle” without scare quotes. That’s why I felt I had to mock it with “mom lifestyle.”
I don’t want to be unfair toward your boss, especially if he’s generally a good guy. However – his comments strike me as overstepping. Why should he care if you are the gayest gay in the entire USA? Why should he care if you turn all his employees gay? But I sort of this he *should* care that he is the supervisor and you are his subordinate. He’s saying things that might make you uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, no matter what your actual sexual predilections.
Or maybe he’s just imagining hot girl-on-girl action. (Hmm … is that possible fodder for a jokey-yet-serious comeback line?)
Your comment on celebrities is spot-on. Ellen, Rosie – most “openly gay” public figures didn’t come out until they were well established. I’m trying to imagine a world where the phrase “openly gay” would be meaningless because no one would feel stigmatized, no one would feel a need for secrecy. I don’t think it’s your job to fight those battles singlehandedly, though.