TheProgressivePatriot
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- #121
I already said that they are not the same thing. However, I will add that some trans people identify as gay while others do not. Try wrapping you closed and narrow mind around that.I am well aware of the fact that it is not the same thing. The issue is about how educators respond to children who have issues with gender identity or sexual orientation. Get it now?OK, here it is againI don't have my own children but I was a social worker in a child welfare agency for many years. I not going to say that it is the same as being a parent, but I had a lot of exposure to a wide range of issues that beset children. I have also read a lot on the subject of gender dysphoria. Did you read my post # 17?? Can you comment on it and explain why I'm wrong if you think that I don't know what I'm talking about
No because I cannot see post numbers on my phone. Sorry.
LGBT Issues, Children and Education by Progressive Patriot 3.27.15
Many people who rail against the ubiquitous of LGBTQ issues deluded themselves into believing that if we do not support homosexuality and transgender phenomena, the issue will somehow go away. They rail against the idea children will be "taught homosexuality".
However they do not actually understand what that means and most often believe, or claim to believe , that it means that children will be taught TO BE HOMOSEXUAL, or encourage to be homosexual-or transgender. That of course is ridiculous, dishonest, and ignorant. What it means is that children will be taught to be respectful and accepting of those who are different, and that includes an acceptance of themselves if they are the ones who are different.
Yes, some children will come out sooner as LGBT in a trusting and supportive environment but that is not to be confused with making them gay, or encouraging them to be gay. It is giving them permission and encouraging them to be true to themselves rather than live a life of repression, guilt, un-fulfillment and misery. LGBT issues and people are a part of modern culture and depriving gays rights will not change that and you can’t shield the children from it.
Children always have and always will struggle with their developing sexuality including sexual orientation and gender identity issues. In the past, for the most part, children were left to try to understand these things alone and in silence. They would feel guilty and confused about any sexual matters and especially any LGBT issues. Today, there is much open discussion about these issues-in the print and social media, among peers, on television, just about everywhere. In this electronic society where kids spend much of their days on line, it cannot be avoided. Many children know an LGBT child or adult. Children hear and see this all, and like it or not, they are very much aware. As we progress as a society, more and more of that discussion is positive, and young people are much more accepting of those who are different than many adults care to imagine. There is nothing short of criminalizing these lifestyles, and snuffing out free speech-in effect becoming Russia-that anybody can do about it. Can anyone dispute or refute any part of this statement?
My next question is: What do parents, educators and the rest of us do when these issues come up? Here are some options:
1. Do nothing, be silent. Leave the children to their own devices to figure things out for themselves. After all, that’s the way it was 30, 40, 50 years ago and everything was just fine. Or was it? In any case, this is now, times are different and sexuality is a much more salient part of life and discourse. This may not be a great option, if it ever was.
2. Condemn homosexuality and transgender issues openly and vehemently. Doing so will have the effect of marginalizing LGBT kids, crushing them with guilt, and setting them up for bullying. Then all that will be left to do is to keep tract of the suicides, bullying incidents and mass shootings.
3. Engage in constructive dialogue with the kids and among ourselves as adults. Dispense with the hysteria and misinformation and start to deal with this as part of our human experience. We could dispense with rhetoric about “promoting homosexuality and transgenderism ” and the scare tactics such as it leading to incest, polygamy and bestiality. Rather, the emphasis would be on human relations, not sex because relationships are really what it’s about. We could just let kids know that they are OK and loved no matter who and what they are…….because whatever they are, that’s what they are going to be. Maybe, just maybe it’s time to make a choice between ideology and religion on one hand, and the children that we claim to care so much about on the other. The only question is ….will they be happy, confident and secure, or guilt ridden, miserable and confused.
However, you still have those who want to pretend that the issue will just go away. That is ignorant and dangerous. Fortunately , one community had the good sense to know it is wrong and fought back:
Community Protests Attempt To Remove LGBT Information From Health Classes
Indian River, Delaware Board of Education member Shaun Fink wants to remove all LGBT references from school Health classes, saying he has "issues with teaching it's ok to be gay".
About 100 students, parents, members LGBT community and their straight allies turned up at a meeting of the Indian Rivers, Delaware, Board of Education meeting this week, hoping for a chance to speak. The protesters object to a move afoot by at least one board member to remove the terms gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, from the district's Health curriculum.
Cole Haden, a senior at Sussex High School was visibly angry, locking eyes with Shaun Fink as he spoke:
"Mr. Fink, I would like to thank you for allowing me to have a chance to stand for LGBTQA equality and engage my peers in a conversation about fairness and tolerance, which you seemingly haven't contributed to. You have fueled a fire long waiting to erupt. However, I can't thank you too much, for as a LGBTQA student at Sussex Central High School, and the district that you heartly govern, you have done the school district and the community a great disservice by allowing your personal faith to interfere with your professional work."
My issue with your post is lumping gay people with transgender people. Not the same thing. IMO.
No. Because they aren’t the same thing.