Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Teaching gay

"Teaching Gay

by

Jarvis Emery

Reading the peer reviewed journal “Recognizing and Utilizing Queer Pedagogy” (Smith. J, and Smit. G, 2010) It talked about how teaching sexual orientation to kids in education programs was something teachers need to consider. The only issue I think would be the immaturity from the students, who are rather insecure in themselves and their own sexuality. They would see it as a perfect opportunity to make more jokes at another student, or even a teacher. While reading this article I notice that it was missing a few things on what and how they would teach the program.

From what I read it seems as though it was going to focus on teaching the class only to stop the hate crimes, and bulling, which in itself could possibly lessen the hate crimes, and suicides. That’s great, but such a program should not be wasted on just kids, but should be used as a tool to educate parents, and adults. It is very important to teach why and where this hate, dislike, or uncomfortably comes from. (Personally I think it’s because of the bible) “Man shall not lay with man as he does with woman. It is an abomination to the lord, and they shall be put to death” Leviticus 18:22.

If people are so quick to use the bible as a tool in today’s society to hate, or kill, then why just that one, why not the others such has: Exodus 35:2 “For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.” Or Leviticus 11:10"And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:”

A perfect example to tell them that what’s in the bible is/was for that time period would be the story of Onan. He was killed because he did not want to get his brother’s wife pregnant. Back then it was a family duty that when a man died and left no children, the next of kin was sometimes obligated to produce children with the widow, but the children would be considered the descendents of the late husband’s and would be raised as such. For Onan not wanting to do that the lord took his life. (Genesis 38:9)

Now in today’s society, you would be considered “scum of the earth” for even making out with your brother’s ex girlfriend, so just imagine what would happen if he was dead and you slept with her, and or got her pregnant. But for people trying to hear things, that could show the bible as being remotely hypocritical or just not making much sense at times would be a task itself. But I strongly feel that doing that would really help people think twice before they try to use the bible as a weapon.

When it comes to sexual orientation on its on it is important to discuss why it may be a “choice”, or NOT BE A CHOICE. How can that be done? Simple!

For starters, they would, or should start at the beginning like if they were learning for the first time. Describe what sexual orientation really is, and not just focusing on the gayness, or the hate crimes. For example, define what sexual orientation really is, and break down the categories. There are at least five. (For those who are wondering I fit into two of them.)

  1. Asexual: Is a person who does not care for sexual activity. That doesn’t mean they don’t have sex, it’s just not at the top of their list like most people. That’s not saying asexual don’t get aroused they do, they just prefer having sex by themselves more so than with a partner. In spite of what some people might say, or think nothing traumatic has to happen to a person for them to be asexual. It is somewhat important to know that there is a difference in being asexual, celibate, and abstinent. (Celibacy is usually and religious type ordeal and abstinence is usually to prevent STD’s, and unwanted pregnancy). (American heritage dictionary, 1992)

The X on the Kinsey scale are the 2% males that are asexual (Kinsey, 1948) There was also a second book called “Sexual behavior in the human female” that broke down the X even further. (Kinsey, 1953)

  1. Heterosexual: They take up more of the space in the world. They are the “normal” people, they way god intended us to be, and the whole reason the world is populated. Heterosexuals are two people of the opposite sex who have romantic and sexual feelings toward one another.
  2. Bisexual: These are the group of people that have more of an “open mind” when it comes to have sexual feelings, and attractions to people. They prefer both sexes. They also sadly get a bad reputation, for being greedy, sneaky, down low, confused and unfaithful just to name a few. I’ve notice a few things when it came to teenagers that claimed to be bisexual. With girls it’s usually for attention they still end up with a man when it’s all said and done. With boys it’s not so much for attention, but expectance. They feel that if people think they are bi then all they will hear is he still likes girls, so it’s just a phase. But at the end of the day his true affections are for other males.

Every time I hear a male kid say he’s bisexual I just remember a student of mine named Jordan.

Jordan was the boy who didn’t really associate with the other boys. You always saw him around with girls, and I knew why. For some reason on the last day of school completely out of the blue he says to me “you know I’m bisexual right” I said “Jordan no you’re not”, he said “yes I am”, I said “no you’re not, you’re gay. You’re just saying that you are bi because you think that people won’t look at you as weird, or you feel that it will be easier for people to except you if your bi, than if your just gay, trust me I’ve been there before” after a few moments of awkward silence( on his part, I was fine) he gave me the usual “my family is really religious” I said “to hell with them. You need to be you; you need to be who you really are inside. If they truly care for you that shouldn’t matter, and if they cast you aside for something that you can’t control, then you go out and be the best at what it is you want to do, and when they come to you wanting to be in your life you tell them whatever is truly on your mind, without holding back…. Unless you want to cry and tell them how much you missed them, don’t do that, that would be letting them off the hook”

  1. Transgendered: They are a group of people who are born one sex, but inside feel they should have been born the other sex. I would say it is pretty hard to “class” transgender fall under (gay, straight, bi) If you are born with the gentile of a male, but you feel you should’ve been born a female you aren’t really attracted to guy that identify themselves as gay. That’s why many transgender people are disliked, or beaten to death. (Venus Xtravaganza, Brandon Teena, and Sanesha Stewart) They go after straight men/women who believe them to be an actual women/man without telling them the truth before any type of activity happens. The most important thing to know and understand about transgender people that they are not drag queens there is such a big difference. You want to see a drag queen you watch “Jerry Springer” they are the gay men who are making a fool of themselves, and furthering a negative stereotype on the gay community. A transgender is doing what he/she can to look more like the sex they feel they should have been born as. That includes having whatever necessary surgery they can have, and afford. Notable transgender’s are. Alexis Arquette (formally known as Alex) and Chaz Bono (formally known as Chastity)
  2. Homosexuality: This is probably one of the most controversial topics in the world, and defiantly the longest. Homosexuality is when a person of a sex has a strong attraction, and or sexual feeling towards someone of the same sex.

Breaking everything down like that would give such a better understand of a person’s sexual orientation. If you just focus on the “hate crimes” then all they are hearing is “don’t do this” and “don’t do that” Which means it’s going in one ear, and out their ass.

A very important aspect of this class should focus on how kids and adults who are comfortable with their sexuality are not in any way forcing others to take such a leap. They need to know and understand that a person “coming out” on there own time, in there own way is more important than them thinking it’s a good idea, and that it’s a must.

As I said before an Educational program for sexual orientation is great, but why does it have to be a “program”. A program is optional unless its court ordered. This is something that could be taught in school. Considering all the violence that is surrounding the LGBT community I would think this is a bit more important than learning about a form of math you won’t really use after you graduate high school, or any history topic.

Please notice that I said LGBT community, and not LGBTQ. That is because I personally take offense to that “Q” The Q stands for questioning. It was added as away to say it’s a choice. Even though it’s not part of the normal acronym, it was added in the late 90’s, and it’s used in the article I read. To say that your sexual orientation is a choice is to say that being straight is a choice. It’s saying that all the kids and adults who have been beaten up, killed, kicked out of the house, ostracized by their families, had their parenting skills questioned, or had their kids taken from them, or killed themselves. That Q says they all chose that.

Based on what I’ve seen, read, heard, and experienced. The only choice you have in your sexual orientation is the choice not to be ashamed.


: References:

Jeffrey D. Zacko-Smith & G. Pritchy Smit “Recognizing and Utilizing Queer Pedagogy” MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION 09/01/2010.

The American heritage dictionary of the English Language (3d ed. 1992), entries for celibacy thence abstinence.

Kinsey, Alfred c. (1948). Sexual behavior in the humane male. W.B. Saunders.

Kinsey, Alfred c. (1953). Sexual behavior in the humane female. W.B. Saunders.

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