Gay literature in schools

[bigfootedfred]

saw this recently.

would be intersting to hear some veiwpoints

Should kids as young as four be taught about homosexuality in the classroom? Inside Out visits a primary school in Leytonstone where youngsters are reading stories about same-sex relationships..

It’s not just gay rights storybooks that are available to the children.
Junior schools kids act a play, And Tango Makes Three, featuring two male penguins who fall in love at a New York zoo.
There are now plans to distribute gay fairytales to nurseries

you can watch the whole program here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/c...&nbwm=1&bbwm=1

what also interested me was for the annual; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual month; Several schools were performing plays such as
Romeo and Julien.

so what are opinions on this?

[CDMan477]

As long as there is heterosexual literature taught in conjunction, go for it. Although, four seems a little young to be talking about such things.

[Ron Burgundy?]

I find this most disturbing.

[Dr. Croccer]

I find this most disturbing.

Seconded. You shouldn't start giving kids sex ed untill they're eight or so, let alone stuff like this. And it should be largely up to the parents, not the schools.

[cristophe el perno]

Seconded. You shouldn't start giving kids sex ed untill they're eight or so, let alone stuff like this. And it should be largely up to the parents, not the schools.

How is that sex ed? If that counts as sex ed and innapropriate for the age then most fairy tales should be banned.

Unless you think homosexuality is innparopriate or unnatural?

[cristophe el perno]

At age four, children are told plenty of stories with heterosexual relationships, no sordid details obviously, but the concept of heterosexual relationship certianly exists in shildrens stories.
Now since homosexual relationships are just as natural as heterosexual ones, why shouldn't they be featured occasionally in children's literature. There was nothing more obscene in that fairytale than any 'traditional' one.
There needs to be no taboo on homosexuality even at that age, for doing so will only help to breed another generation of homophobes.

[Ron Burgundy?]

Now since homosexual relationships are just as natural as heterosexual ones,

I find this line even more disturbing.

[cristophe el perno]

I find this line even more disturbing.

Why? Homosexuality occurs naturally in humans and many other mammals.
The only real argument against homosexuality comes from the bible, and how the damned book and it's prejudiced views has been forced upon society for millenia.

I don't quite gather how people think this is on the same level as sex ed. It's not about bodily functions or the exact mechanics of anal sex (I'd certainly be agaisnt teaching that to four year olds), it features little more than the concepts of love and marriage, which can exist (love definatly, marriage depends where you are) between homosexual couples just as well as heterosexuals.

[Yosemite]

I find this line even more disturbing.

i blankly stared at the screen after reading op's post and thought "what the " over and over again

seriously, what the

gay fairy tales?

also if the dad is homophobic, don't worry, the kid has a lot of chance to become one

[bigfootedfred]

Now since homosexual relationships are just as natural as heterosexual ones,

Well, i cant say i agree with that at all.
Can same sex couples be just as sincire and love each other as much as frankly, normal couples? yes of course they can and lots do.

But just as natural? well...id disagree right there with you.
cos that aint where its supposed to go...but thats my opinion.

There needs to be no taboo on homosexuality even at that age, for doing so will only help to breed another generation of homophobes.

what makes someone a homophobe?

Its the whole way its being forced down peoples throats that gets to me.
Its one thing to tolerate something, and its another to like it.
And you shouldnt be trying to force anyone to like anything.

i dont like it. i dont like it at all.
Dosent mean im homophobic. i dont have to like it.
I accept thats how they are and thats what they want.
And fair is fair, its frankly none of my buisness and doesnt effect me in anyway.
what does effect me is the whole way its being forced down my throat in a "you must like, no, LOVE gay, you MUST, or your a homophobe!"

[gojira]

Concerning media aiming for adults (movies, books...): I am totally fine with "gay-topics".
But not when its about children. Call me intolerant, but thats my point of view. If someone is gay, he will find out when he/she grows up,- no need to advertise it in kindergartens and elementary schools.

I am fine with gays, but it should not be advertised, nor do I support the idea of same sex couples to adopt children.

I am fine with everything everone does in his adult lifes, if gay is your way: Its okay.

But keep the children out of this.

[cristophe el perno]

what makes someone a homophobe?

Generally a belief that homosexuality is in some way unnatural or wrong.

Its the whole way its being forced down peoples throats that gets to me.
Its one thing to tolerate something, and its another to like it.
And you shouldnt be trying to force anyone to like anything.

It's not forcing them to like it, it's merely making them aware that homosexuality exists and isn't neccessarily bad.

i dont like it. i dont like it at all.
Dosent mean im homophobic. i dont have to like it.
I accept thats how they are and thats what they want.
And fair is fair, its frankly none of my buisness and doesnt effect me in anyway.
what does effect me is the whole way its being forced down my throat in a "you must like, no, LOVE gay, you MUST, or your a homophobe!"

How is it forcing it down their throat? It's not like the book's telling them all to turn gay or something.

[danzig]

At age four, children are told plenty of stories with heterosexual relationships, no sordid details obviously, but the concept of heterosexual relationship certianly exists in shildrens stories.
Now since homosexual relationships are just as natural as heterosexual ones, why shouldn't they be featured occasionally in children's literature. There was nothing more obscene in that fairytale than any 'traditional' one.
There needs to be no taboo on homosexuality even at that age, for doing so will only help to breed another generation of homophobes.

Hate the term homophobes because its basically saying someone is fearful of it when in fact alot of people simply have moral objections to it...which IS THEIR right. Too many gays do what people accuse too many of jews of doing, anytime critical or question something toss out the buzzword homophobe or antisemitic. I go news for you there are is always going to be a some level of taboo to homosexuality because it IS outside the norm of the vast majority of people.

That said, far too young to be bringing up this topic to kids....crappy math scores, poor reading skills but lets bring in the social issues! Priorities!

[DragonsWarrior]

proberly not in lower or middleschool but when they are at secondary school they should teach it with the sex ed

[igotballsofsteel]

proberly not in lower or middleschool but when they are at secondary school they should teach it with the sex ed

Agree

[Barry Goldwater]

Whoa whoa whoa, you should at least wait a bit before teaching kids about this stuff.

[Kiljan Arslan]

Whoa whoa whoa, you should at least wait a bit before teaching kids about this stuff.

Agreed maybe when their in sixth grade.

[removeduser_487563287433]

I think it's appropriate to be frank when educating children about sexuality. Homosexuality is a part of human behaviour and perhaps if education was more effective we would see less of the ignorant and biggoted posts that sometimes appear on this forum.

The Netherlands shows us it is perfectly possible to teach children in detail topics such as homosexuality, anal sex, contraception and have incredibly low teenage pregnancy rates and generally healthy attitudes to sex.

[Orko]

I think it shouldn't be taught if they don't teach about heterosexual relationships. When they learn about families and stuff in later age it should be mentioned, though.

[Dr. Croccer]

I think it's appropriate to be frank when educating children about sexuality. Homosexuality is a part of human behaviour and perhaps if education was more effective we would see less of the ignorant and biggoted posts that sometimes appear on this forum.

The Netherlands shows us it is perfectly possible to teach children in detail topics such as homosexuality, anal sex, contraception and have incredibly low teenage pregnancy rates and generally healthy attitudes to sex.

eh? Kids here aren't given sexual education untill secondary school, and homosexuality is a small subcategory of it. Again, I learned to accept gays through my own experience, not education per se. My aunt has a lot of gay friends (knowing her job as an artist , I kid, I kid) that I met on her parties. I never regarded them as something inferior or whatever. Just people. I think that giving toddlers gay fairy tales is just... plain weird.