Gayness , Multicultural Education, and the Community

Dennis Carlson
Gayness Multicultural education and Community

Kelsey davenport

1. "In 1993, the gay rights movement claimed a major victory in the signing into law of a Minnesota bill that makes it illegal to discriminate agaisnt lesbians and gay men in employment and housing. Yet what got ignored in all the celebrating was a provision in the bill that prohibits teaching about homosexuality in the public schools"

 - This passage means that even though they were passing a law saying it was illegal to discriminate lesbians and gay men with housing and employment , they could still discriminate and ignore their presence in the public schools. I think that this is something important to discuss because by not teaching about homosexuality in public schools, its still a way of discrimination because you may have students who are gay and they will wonder why homosexuality cant be discussed or taught in school , but what about african american history or spanish history or homelessness or hungryness issues can be taught about but homosexuality cant? they are going to ask whats the difference? and therre really isnt a difference because people can have the same hatred or fear towards african americans ot homelessness as they can with homosexuality but one is talked about and not the other.

2."English literature onthologists still go out of their way to avoid aknowledging that certain famous writers were gay such as Gertrude Stein, Walt Whitman, or James Baldwin. This cleansing of gayness from the literary canon is often defended as an effort to maintain the reputation or "good name" of authors by not "outing" them"

-this quote means that schools would avoid mentioning that famous english literatures were gay because people said they didnt want to ruin their reputation or good name. well i think this is a well derserved issue to discuss about because in my opinion by not aknowledging these famous people were gay yes you are perserving thier "good name"  to the people who disagree with homosexuality but what about that 1% that is in favor of this right? if we mention and aknowledge that these people were gay but also look they were still successful then we could passs along a positive message. i mean isnt that wht we all want for our future educators or our children : is to develop a positive outlook on everything life brings forward to them?

3. "straight teachers often participate in silencing practices because they are fearful of raising a controversiall issue that might provoke conflict in the classroom"

- I think this is worthy of discussing because its understandable why straight teachers would be fearful of bringing up this controversial subject in the small cofined classroom , however I dont think it should prevent this issue from arising and being discussed. I think its crucial for teachers to bring up controversial subjects in classrooms because it can teach the students how to handle different opinions and thoughts. Teachers shouldnt be afraif of raising this issue and afraid of conflict, after high school and after college these citizens are going to face an infinite amount of conflict with tons of different types of people. They neeed the practice at debating, sharing, thinkig critically, and listening/accepting others.  The teacher should start off the conversation that anything said should stay in the classroom like confidential , and they have to keep it civil with each other. no bringing peopke down for whatever they have to say and stuff lik that. set boundaries. and tell the students the purpose of this mini debate is to learn how to deal with conflict , differences and opinions.

I think this entire article was one of the best ive read so far. Maybe Im a little biased :) Because one of my friends is gay so i know what it is like for her and shes always talking to me about gay rights, so i am VERY pro-gay. =) Anyways another quote that stuck out at me was this one "Nothihg seems more certain than that homosexuality is contagious" I couldnt disagree more. I think thats completely false. everyone has their own perference and everyone is their own person who is abole to make their own decisions and choices. look at me, just because my friend is gay doesnt mean i am too because i am def straight :) ... ive been friends with her for about 3 years now and she still hasnt had that affect on me. gayness is not contagious. The only way someone becomes gay while being around someone else who is gay is probably becfause that person isnt their own person and lets other people influence them in ways that they wouldnt otherwise be influenced.