Closing on Gay Issues

Recently America has started to become much more supportive of civil rights for the gay and lesbian community then they have been in the past. Despite this recent change attitudes of homophobia are still very prevalent among individuals in the United States. Homophobia is not only prevalent on the individual micro basis but as well on the macro basis. On the federal level homosexuals are still not protected from hate crime legislation and work place discrimination. Under federal law they are also prohibited from marrying and openly serving in the military. Although gays are usually better protected at the state the level that in not always the case. 30 states still have nondiscrimination laws that do not include sexual orientation. As well statesstill prohibit gay couples from adopting, as well as some states have state or constitutional amendments that prohibit same sex marriage.

Homophobia on a Regional Basis

Cities such as Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco are known to have the highest amount of partnered gay populations as of the year 2000. There are many myths that homosexuals are gravitated to big cities because they are known to be more tolerant than small towns or rural areas. Although it is true that there is a higher concentration of gays living in large cities, as well as it is true that areas such as the Northeast and the west coast are known to more accepting then that South or Midwest it is still true that homophobia is everywhere. Even though people from areas such as the west coast describe that by living in such an accepting area with many gay rights movements has made them more accepting to gays people in these liberal areas still do report seeing homosexuality as well as hearing school yard terms such as “gay” or “faggot”.
What homophobia means for families

Homophobia still being prevalent in many different areas even more liberal ones can be a devastating thing for families. One example of how it can affect families is if a child who is gay has homophobic parents. The parent’s homophobia could cause a rift between the child and their parents if the parents are never able to accept their child. Homophobia can also have a negative affect on a child who has two same sex parents. With several states having laws against gay couples adopting it can be difficult for each of the same sex partner to have equal parental rights over the child. That can become very difficult in the event of a parents hospitalization or death.

The following YouTube clip shows an example on how homophobia can negatively affect a family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuyIMWUTp88

The next YouTube clip explores how parents who are uncomfortable with their child’s sexuality can deal with meeting their child’s same sex partner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7_UQL5OktA&feature=related


Closing Thoughts

1. What do you believe are some ways to end homophobia on a micro level?

2. Can you think of any examples you know of a family being personally affected negatively by homophobia.

Explaining Gay Issues to Children

The issue of homosexuality has become so much more prominent in today’s culture then it was just a generation ago. Terms such as “gay”, ‘lesbian’, and bisexual are becoming much more common in today’s world. This shift is shown by how much more openly gay celebrates who are now in the media such as Rose O Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, Lance Bass and Elton John. As well as movies and televisions shows such as Brokeback Mountain, Kissing Jessica Stein, Queer Eye and Will and Grace the show homosexual life styles.

As well as being more prominent in the media there is now a much bigger push for gay rights, such as in 2004 same sex marriage s became legal in Massachusetts, in November 2008 they became legal in Connecticut and just recently in March 2010 they became legal in DC.

This is such a drastic change because in the culture of the 1950’s the issue of homosexuality was a very taboo one and often swept under the rug and now people are much more open to this life style. When referring to someone as homosexual it means that he or she is sexually attracted to members of the same. Terms such as ‘gay’ refers to homosexual men and ‘lesbian’ refers to a homosexual women. The term ‘bisexual’ refers to those who are attracted to both men and women. Nobody knows for sure why people are homosexual, some studies oh human sexuality believe that it is a result of genetics social or individual factors, either alone or combination. Though since nobody knows for sure there is much confusion about this issue. As well no matter how far that gay rights have come there is still a long way for them to go because homophobia which is an irrational fear, prejudice or discrimination towards homosexual people. Homophobia can vary from name in calling in school to serious hate crimes such as assault and murder. Homophobia is usually based on fear and ignorance.

When wondering where people get these fearful and hateful ideas towards homosexual individuals it is interesting to explore into how parents have taught their children about this issue. When surveyed many people do not remember ever being spoken to about homosexuality as a a child. Some had it be explained and had it treated as any other type of relationship that was the same as a heterosexual relationship. Though many remember their first interaction with the idea of homosexuality to be in school. In schools terms such as ‘faggot’ and ‘gay’ are tossed around loosely as adjectives that have negative meaning attached to them. If that is a child’s first interaction with the concept of homosexuality it is no surprise that ideas of homophobia based on ignorance grow.

It seems that parents do want to shield their children from the concept of homosexuality. These commercials arguing for the passage of proposition 8 in California in 2008 prove how it was believed that teaching children about homosexuality would just confuse them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PgjcgqFYP4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7352ZVMKBQM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8j2y9WtTPw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75J3TN9Zzck&feature=related


As well as in Lexington Massachusetts there was controversy in schools when parents a second graders were protesting the teaching of a fairy tale about gay marriage to the class without warning the parents. The book “King &King” showed different types of weddings where a prince marries another prince instead of a princess. A Lexington parent complained staying “By Presenting this kind of issue at such a young age they’re trying to indoctrinate of children. They’re intentionally present this a norm and it’s not a value that our family supports”

Questions to Think About

1. If you were a parent how would you explain homosexuality to your child.

2. 2 Do you believe that terms such as “gay” or “faggot” are more likely to create homophobia.

3. Do you side with the parents who complained to the Lexington second grade teacher.



http://www.massresistance.org/docs/issues/king_and_king/book.html
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/teens/sexuality/739.html
http://rockhawk.com/homosexuals_in_history.htm
http://www.protectmarriage.com/video/view/7
http://www.massresistance.org/docs/issues/king_and_king/book.html
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=4937
http://www.news24.com/Content/World/News/1073/043aeecea826459c852d8402a8a95bfa/25-04-2006-12-27/Gay_fairytale_sparks_US_debate
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/04/27/when_parents_values_conflict_with_public_schools/
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RNWYVKX