(Partial) Victory in Montgomery Count, Maryland
January 13, 2007: Thanks to LGBT parents and other committed activists, my local county is implementing a gay inclusive education cirriculum this week. This is from the Washington Blade:
The curriculum, titled “Respect for Differences in Human Sexuality,” explains concepts like sexual identity and orientation using nonjudgmental language.
Students in eighth grade are taught to recognize healthy relationships, and how to define human sexuality, gender identity and other terms. Students in 10th grade receive a more robust curriculum, including an examination of topics like coming out. It also asks students to consider the challenges a transgender student might face.
It wasn’t a total win - sadly, the school district omitted some “controversial” passages that would have made life a lot easier for some LGBT youth, including mentions “that most health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, and that gays can live happy and successful lives. ”
Obviously, just because these statements are demonstrably true doesn’t mean they should be taught to our children.
Of course, life is all about balance and while we didn’t get everything we want, neither did the haters.
Although the final vote was unanimous, the discussion was not always amicable. (A) proposed amendment — to clarify that homosexuality is not a disease — was vehemently opposed by board member Steve Abrams, who said the addendum was a “deal breaker,” and proposed that students likewise be told about a recent study that showed “homosexual behavior between animals can be changed.”
What kind of person would object to children being taught that homosexuality isn’t a disease? I can’t think of anyone, not even the most right-wing religious conservatives out there, who claim that it is.
And if it is a disease, is it contagious? Like bird flu? Should straight people be wearing hazmat suits when getting their hair done or meeting with an interior decorator? Or can you catch it by watching Project Runway? Why isn’t the CDC looking into this?
And what about his claim that there’s a study somewhere that shows that homosexuality among animals can be changed? Is this through religion, as the reparative therapists claim? Do nelly poodles or butch bulldogs relinquish their sinful ways through a relationship with Jesus? I want to know.
Has anyone else seen or heard about this study, or does it only exist in the mind of Mr. Abrams?
Actually, in the end Mr. Abrams said “I think the balance that was reached was an appropriate one and a good one, at least for starters.”
See, he can be reasonable. Now, if only he hadn’t put on the surgical mask everytime a gay person testified at the hearing…