[quote=6packscaredy]the stuff from other kids is going to be way worse than whatever comes from school.
i still vividly remember an afternoon looking at Playboy magazines with Dario, the much older Super’s son in a hidden cove in our apt building, with other boys, and some very raunchy talk. it was so thrilling. i twas perhaps one of th emsot intense moments of my life. i think i was 7? maybe 9?[/quote]
Exactly. I thought the video of the kids discussing the legalization of gay marriage was awesome. They were having an open, honest, intelligent dialogue about civil rights, the boundaries of law, social acceptance and peer influence, etc. The discussion was led and guided by the teacher in a very thoughtful, kind way. That was impressive, not scary.
Now, if they had been having that same conversation out on the playground, I’m willing to bet that it would not have been as civil and thoughtful as the discussion in class. The bullies and thugs on the playground would have taken over the conversation, and any kids who might be dealing with issues of sexuality would quickly learn that they need to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves or else subject themselves to cruel and possibly dangerous teasing and threats.
These topics WILL come up at school. The question is whether we want the teachers to lead them in a kind, thoughtful way; or if we should leave it up to the bullies (or those who have truly been exposed to far too much at a young age, and in a bad way) who will lead the discussion in a hateful, threatening way.
Paramount, put yourself into the shoes of someone else for a moment, and try to think about what it would be like if you were truly gay. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a parent who so strongly disapproves of being gay…enough to disown their kid and never speak to him/her again? How about if you knew that there was a concerted effort to ban discussions of sexual orientation in school? If you really love your kid(s), you will want them to feel accepted and loved no matter what their sexual orientation is. How can that be wrong?
