Teaching kids about homosexuality

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bz316

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It might be a good idea to talk to kids about homosexuality as well as heterosexuality. That way, if they turn out to be bi-sexual or homosexual, they won't feel as though there is something wrong with them due to the fact that they were only taught about one kind of orientation.
 

Popido

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This thread is starting to sound more and more about gay rights than growning children...

...
Well some of you people sound sincere about this, but I still think that you're overreacting.
 

mumakurau

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Seriously, though, I believe we should teach children about homosexual relations at the same capacity as other things - at the discretion of the parent, of course. It's their children, after all. Should they choose to teach them about homosexual relations as they would heterosexual, it would go a LONG way to erasing the stigma and easing the worries of children how may actually be gay.

The Hairminator said:
No, I do not. I don't think homosexuality should be encouraged, unless it actually comes from the child itself, with as little as external influence as possible.

The same goes for the opposite- The kid will learn soon enough, and probably ask her parents about it- then they should tell her, naturally, as unbiased as they can. If she later finds out she is indeed actually queer, it would be better if she does not have any subconscious issues with it inherited from her parents.

But still, they should not be handled equally, as heterosexuality is still the norm- and the natural way to reproduce. If the children are gay, they will probably find it out themselves. The important thing is to then make sure they are neither ashamed or feel otherwise repressed.
Whether the user meant it or not, I can't help but feel a sort of homophobic vibe from this post. To approach homosexuality in a retroactive fashion only helps the stigma. To make it known that it "isn't right" even though that besides sexual preferences, gays and lesbians are people like everybody else.

Furthermore, to say heterosexuality is the norm is like saying that being right-handed is the norm. Sure, their may be more right-handed people than left-handed people, but that doesn't mean left-handed people are abnormal. Like a person's handedness, many forms of sexuality have been around since the beginning.

Yes, heterosexual intercourse is the only way for new life to be born. However, encouraging everybody to do so will only create problems. Whether people believe it or not, the world is overpopulated. With overpopulation comes scarcity in resource (just because it isn't happening to you, does not mean it isn't happening elsewhere). Homosexuals are actually doing the world a grand favor in the long run. They cannot produce new life (in most cases*) and many are willing to give homes and a family to children in need of both.

Some may argue that allowing the general acceptance of homosexuality will make it okay for people to willingly end there genetic legacy, which may be the biggest concern to some parents. Personally, I believe such a thing to be arbitrary. Yes, I am here today to say these things because those before me created a union of a man and a woman, but that was their choice (at least, I hope). They were people in control of their own destiny.

But I digress...

My point: Yes, we should teach children about homosexuality. We should teach them because at the end of the day sexuality doesn't matter and that we should love our children despite their preferences.
 

blindthrall

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I think whomever made the kid can raise them however they damn well please. It's none of the Internet's business.
 

Gigano

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101flyboy said:
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Coprophilia and bondage are sexual fetishes, not sexual orientations. Sexual orientations, heterosexuality and homosexuality, are the basics of life. The overall concept of sexuality and romancing both include homosexuality. Saying "men and women fuck and have babies." Well, yeah, but that's not discussing like, why are they having sex, what does it mean to have a baby, and so on and so forth. And then discussing the fact that not all men are with women or women with men. These are the basics as well. And they are realities of life that kids will encounter.

If a child sees 2 men kissing, if you teach them beforehand about the reality that some men like men, then there wouldn't be any potential confusion or drama. They would understand it. If they start feeling some attraction towards the same-sex, they would understand it. Keeping it closeted would cause the confusion.
Undoubtedly they are part of reality, but you should be introduced to concepts in it in correlation with your ability to understand it. I doubt sexuality is something a 7 year old child would speculate much on, so only explaining the basics of what it'll see everywhere (kissing), and perhaps the physical steps required to create a baby (without really touching on the other reasons adults enjoy copious amounts of that process) should suffice at that age.

Other than superficially explaining these things which it will inevitably encounter at an early age, I feel initiative should rest with the child and its own curiosity, to ensure its natural modesty is respected, and that it's not brought into a world it does not have the necessary precondition to understand, much less appreciate.

In their reactions to any such questions the parents should of course be accepting of any plurality in the area that isn't inherently harmful, but I feel that letting the world gradually expand rather than throw it all at them to sort out is the way to go.
 

Sporky111

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I'm a little disgusted at how many people think that teaching kids about homosexuality is about teaching them about gay sex.

Why make it such a big deal? It could just be something like, "Some boys want to have a girlfriend, and some boys want to have a boyfriend." There's something that a child can learn in as innocent a way as possible. And they won't grow up homophobic or insecure if they do turn out not to be straight.

I wish I had that when I was a kid. I didn't even have a concept of homosexuality until I was in junior high and suddenly everyone used "gay" as an insult and it makes you think it's the worst thing you could ever be.
 

Klarinette

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Ugh... "the norm." Just because it's not normal to you doesn't mean it isn't normal to a shit-tonne of other people. Also, not teaching them about it isn't going to keep them from being exposed to it in life.
 

Of-the-Lion

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Definately. Physicist Max Planck famously stated:
?A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it?
 

The_ModeRazor

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Well, the Jedi never told their little students about the Dark Side, because that's Evil. And so many little jedi students fell to the Dark Side for some reason.
Except that gay people are not cool, and the above comparison is completely pointless. I don't care when or even if you decide to teach your kids about gay relations. I don't like gay people. I'm not gonna bash them over the head with a baseball bat, or gather a nazi mob to lynch them, but I dislike them.
 

thiosk

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lettucethesallad said:
..except that there's a world of difference between "It's ok for a girl to love another girl" and describing something as graphic as S&M. I'm not talking about going into detail on the physicality of homosexuality with a kid, just to let her know that some people like people of their own gender and that that's fine.
I don't think there is. I mean, at age 7, almost all children would qualify as homosexual under that simple definition-- minus the sexual part. Ask a little boy or a little girl who they love, its usually mommy, daddy, brothers and sisters, grandma, and their best friend at school. Boys and girls tend to have cooties, if you recall, and its not until they get a tad older that true sexuality starts to come out of the woodwork. A seven year old isn't really prepared to handle what sex is all about, let alone "other" kinds of sex.

Children should be taught to be open and accepting of everyone. And the community that wants to teach children that homosexuality is normal and wonderful should really watch out for unintended consequences. There should not be anything that could be misconstrued as homosexual indoctrination in school, as the blowback from that would set the gay rights movement back 30 years. Teaching seven year olds that hoohoos go in the poopoos and its natural and OK is exactly the kind of thing that gets social conservatives elected en masse with 60+ percent of the vote. Not the good fiscal conservatives, the crazed religious ones who would like to reinstate sodomy laws.
 

xdom125x

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I think children should be educated on homosexuality a little bit after learning about heterosexuality. Or when the child starts asking about it. Whichever comes earlier.
 

Adam Green

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If homosexuality is taught to kids of a young age, then it may reduce homophobia by quite a bit. The more people are aware of the subject, the more open minded they'd be. It's not like gay people are brainwashing kids to their side as if it were a shitty Star Wars sub-plot
 

Riff Moonraker

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ShadowsofHope said:
Riff Moonraker said:
ShadowsofHope said:
Riff Moonraker said:
ShadowsofHope said:
Riff Moonraker said:
TheDoctor455 said:
Yes, they should absolutely be informed of both at the same time.
The way I see it, what's the fucking difference?

Its not like giving them information about something will make them more interested in it.
However, it has been proven over and over and over time after time after fucking time that withholding information makes something more interesting to people. We want to know why we're not being told something. Don't make a big deal out of this kind of thing, because it isn't a big deal.

And I'm sorry to OP, but your sister sounds like a bigot to me if she's trying to set heterosexuality up as the "norm". Because that is exactly what all of the bigots do, regardless of what they are prejudiced against: they set their own situation up as the "norm" and devalue everything else or at least whatever they deem to be the "opposite" or "abnormal".

This all stems from how I view the issue as a whole: it doesn't matter if sexuality is biology or if its a choice; neither case is a valid reason to deny someone their human rights.
And encouraging ignorance in children is a step towards encouraging bigotry and hatred in children.
But thats the point, isnt it? It all stems from how YOU view the issue. Which is fine, everyone has opinions. But his sister doesnt view it the same way, nor do I. How does that make it right to call us bigots? No, you didnt call me a bigot directly, but a blanket statement like that certainly includes me.
That all depends. Why do you view homosexuality with a negative connotation, personally?
I simply do not believe it is right, personally. However, I wouldnt treat anyone any differently because of it, just like I wouldnt treat anyone differently because of their skin color, or political differences, etc. etc. As per my earlier post, I believe in treating others how you want to be treated, and do so.
I understand that, but your justification is still one of irrationality. Why do you not believe it is right? What makes it "wrong"? What qualifications do you have to decide whether or not an individuals sexuality is "right" or "wrong"?

Also, opinions on this subject can be wrong. If you find homosexuality is wrong just.. because, then your opinion is quite frankly worthless. If you have a reasonable justification for why you would think so otherwise, then please do share.
Simply put, I was raised in a strongly christian home. So my beliefs are that its wrong. You live in your world, with your beliefs, and I live in mine. My children, that my wife and I are raising, feeding, loving, and caring for, are OUR children, and are being raised in our world. I will not teach them that it is wrong, I will let them make that decision on their own. However, I will teach them to treat people with respect, and I will teach them about sex when the time comes.

My children will be raised believing in the bible. My children will be raised to believe in God. My children will be raised to treat other people with respect. My children will be raised to respect the American Flag. They go to a school where they still say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. This is my world, this is how I am raising my children, and I am very happy with that, and very content with that.
Fair enough. I do not believe anyone has said you could not do such, otherwise. While I disagree entirely on the "validity" of viewing sexuality through the lenses of the Bible (considering the time frame most of the authors wrote the ideals in), you are free to do as you wish. It is at least good to hear you are following the Golden Rule, in which so many of your faith tend to discard as soon as bigotry is convenient.
As it is your right to disagree, and thats fine. I'm not going to get all up in arms about that, like it seems some people do in these and other forums. Our views are just different. Its what makes the world go 'round. :)

I will say, though, that its not a majority that discard the Golden Rule as soon as bigotry is convenient, its just a very vocal group. The loud overshadowing the rest, so to speak. I really do believe that as long as you are good and decent to other people, then everything else will fall into place.
 

UnwishedGunz

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i believe that parents shouldn't teach kids about that kind of stuff but if a child happens to be curious then the parent should, and should accept them
 

emeraldrafael

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I think so. If not, you get things where people look at it as wrong.

I mean, yeah, hetero marriages are "the norm" but when things are "the norm" they have a bad habit of being "the right" especially when you bring god into it. And anything other then "the norm" is "the wrong" and evil.

So I think that you should, just to show that its oka. Sure, its not the common thing, but its not bad either. I've been teaching my cousin it (and he's young) and his parents are cool with it, but they've gotten calls already from his teacher because he siad its oka for a man and a man or a woman and a woman to be married.
 

The Hairminator

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liveslowdiefast said:
The Hairminator said:
If she later finds out she is indeed actually queer,.
Please don't use the word queer when talking about homosexuality. I find it offensive just use homosexual or gay, I see "queer" as a derogatory word.
So? I find a lot of words offensive, but I don't act like a diva and ask everyone to stop using them. There are too many opinions in this world to satisfy everyone.
 

JanatUrlich

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Of course kids should be told about homosexuality! It's a completely natural thing and I don't understand how telling kids that you can love anybody you want can is a bad idea.
 

RandV80

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Considering the age of the kid in question from the OP I would think no, for many of the good reasons outlined here. At the heart of the problem is adults meddling in the lives of children to effect social/political change. While this may be done with good intentions you can't actually know the effects, short or long term, on children.

For example, all the apparent 'bi' kids these days. Homosexuals only represent a very small portion of the population (it's more like 1-3% rather than the 10% that usually gets reported), so the large majority of kids will not grow up to be gay. It's just a simple fact. However, to protect those few that will we now often teach them about homosexuality as part of a normal sex-ed and as we see now when they start to develop sexually there's a lot of confusion. So is teaching them young really the best way?

Personally rather than focus on the kids to fix the problem I think it needs to start with us. Kids learn not only through what there parents and teachers teach them but also through observation. If the gay community can exist in our society without prejudice or persecution, kids will naturally pick up on this as well.
 

timeadept

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Timmehexas said:
The Hairminator said:
No, I do not. I don't think homosexuality should be encouraged, unless it actually comes from the child itself, with as little as external influence as possible.

The same goes for the opposite- The kid will learn soon enough, and probably ask her parents about it- then they should tell her, naturally, as unbiased as they can. If she later finds out she is indeed actually queer, it would be better if she does not have any subconscious issues with it inherited from her parents.

But still, they should not be handled equally, as heterosexuality is still the norm- and the natural way to reproduce. If the children are gay, they will probably find it out themselves. The important thing is to then make sure they are neither ashamed or feel otherwise repressed.
Yes because informing them about it is so "encouraging" it, they're going to learn about it eventually why not tell them in a completely unbiased way so they can make up their own decision when they're older about whether they think it's right or wrong.
No but i agree with The Hairminator, If you're teaching kids a "rule" about life, like a family is a mommy and a daddy and whatever kids they might have, then you don't go on to immediately tell them about the "exceptions" to that "rule". You let the kid learn the rule and then let them start applying it. when they start to notice that there are exceptions to their rule then they are ready to learn about them and you can have that second talk about homosexuality. I know from experience that when learning something new (and i'm talking about academics now)if i am taught the wrong way to do something first, or how many people do this thing wrong or so on(BTW I am NOT trying to imply that homosexuality is wrong.) then i end up remembering both ways, the right way and the common mistake, and i'm continually confused as to which one was the right way to do this thing from that point on.
Basically you end up confusing the idea that you are trying to teach and making it harder to sort it all out in the future.
 

Terminal Blue

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The Hairminator said:
So? I find a lot of words offensive, but I don't act like a diva and ask everyone to stop using them. There are too many opinions in this world to satisfy everyone.
Gasp.. A white, straight boy comparing his experience of being insulted with that of other people.. I never saw that coming!

timeadept said:
(BTW I am NOT trying to imply that homosexuality is wrong.)
You are however managing to do so pretty substantively.