And they all lived happily ever-after

[Nfl Fan]

I'm...
um, well... I guess I'm a little confused. Lost without words. Unenlightened, I guess.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298307,00.html

[knapplc]

[Madison]

Heh, I'd love to be right there with you, but I'm sure my big mouth and over opinionated self will wind up involved in this (maybe not - I can always hope). For now though, pass some popcorn, some butter (the good kind!), and an ice cold beer.

[josebach]

This is a tough one.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated 3 that "as many as 30% of completed youth suicides each year" are performed by gays and lesbians. Unfortunately, many information sources have quoted the 30% as if it is an absolute figure. The Department indicates that it is 30% or fewer. If we assume that the 30% figure is valid and that it is constant across the age range of 15 to 24 years, then approximately 1,488 suicides per year are committed by homosexual youth. If we assume that gays comprise 5% of the total number of youth, then the 1,488 suicides represent an excess of 1240 suicides related to their sexual orientation.

I think telling a child that homosexuality is morally wrong and something to be ashamed of is unforgiveable. In many cases, the parents of these children who kill themselves are just as responsible as the child is. With that being said, I think this is an extremely complicated issue and books of this nature are inappropriate for a public classroom full of second graders. Teaching children about sexuality at this age should be the parent's responsibility, not the school system's. I do feel, however, that incorporating homosexuality into the sex education curriculum during middle school years would be an excellent idea. Because there are so many parents out there teaching their children homosexuality is something to be ashamed of, I think it's extremely important to let kids know that being gay can be just as natural as being straight... regardless as to what their parents tell them. It's vital that gay teenagers and young people have a support system outside of the house so that they know they're not alone.


Take it for what it's worth.

*edit* found a more reliable/accurate quote

[moonhead]

This is a tough one.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated 3 that "as many as 30% of completed youth suicides each year" are performed by gays and lesbians. Unfortunately, many information sources have quoted the 30% as if it is an absolute figure. The Department indicates that it is 30% or fewer. If we assume that the 30% figure is valid and that it is constant across the age range of 15 to 24 years, then approximately 1,488 suicides per year are committed by homosexual youth. If we assume that gays comprise 5% of the total number of youth, then the 1,488 suicides represent an excess of 1240 suicides related to their sexual orientation.

I think telling a child that homosexuality is morally wrong and something to be ashamed of is unforgiveable. In many cases, the parents of these children who kill themselves are just as responsible as the child is. With that being said, I think this is an extremely complicated issue and books of this nature are inappropriate for a public classroom full of second graders. Teaching children about sexuality at this age should be the parent's responsibility, not the school system's. I do feel, however, that incorporating homosexuality into the sex education curriculum during middle school years would be an excellent idea. Because there are so many parents out there teaching their children homosexuality is something to be ashamed of, I think it's extremely important to let kids know that being gay can be just as natural as being straight... regardless as to what their parents tell them. It's vital that gay teenagers and young people have a support system outside of the house so that they know they're not alone.


Take it for what it's worth.

*edit* found a more reliable/accurate quote

i can dig it. i'm sure it's not a popular opinion, yet. but i am sure it will gain some steam going forward.

[Art Vandelay]

I have no problem with it whatsoever. If someone wants to teach their kids that there something wrong with gay people, or anyone else for that matter, they're free to do so in home, but the schools shouldn't be forced to pretend homosexuality doesn't exist because the parents of some of their students wish that were the case.

Fifty years ago there'd probably be a similar controversy in many communities if an elementary school featured a book with a black prince and white princess. Now people who had a problem with that would be labeled bigots, and rightfully so. Hopefully in the next fifty years we'll make similar progress in terms of homosexuality.