Name of Author and Text:
Dennis Carlson- Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Arguement:
Carlson argues that, no matter what your sexual orientation may be, you should be accepted. You should be able to speak out amoung your peers without judgement or ridicule. You should not have to live in fear of being proud of who you are. Also that schools need to be more open minded about such topics because faculty and students are not going to hide in a box to make it easier to brush off the topic. You should not see someone on the basis of who they like, but for what they bring, intellectually, to your school.

Quotes:
* Getting rid of teachers who were homosexuals was said to,"keep young people from being exposed to improper role models, lechery, and child molestation."

Ok, so, when I read this I said "ARE YOU SERIOUS?" outloud and scared my dog Caramel half to death. First off, it should not matter whether a person is gay, straight, bisexual, or lesbian. They all went to college and all have a degree to be a teacher, and I'm pretty sure if their professors found them inadequate, they would not have passed them. Second, I don't see how not being straight makes you an improper role model. When I was in the 10th grade I took a computer course and my teacher was straight, and he was the worst role model of all. He would sit at his desk and watch Asian porn flicks all class period long. He was eventually fired, but after years and years of teaching it took them that long to believe what his students were saying. And third, how are all non straight teachers child molesters!!!! What a horrible thing to say about anyone if it is not true! Have you ever heard of Mary Kay Letourneau? Sure they both agreed on what was going on, but it was along the lines of that and she was straight! Any teacher of any sexual orientation can molest a student. I just don't see it as fair to stereotype at all nevermind so over dramatically as this.

* "Three techniques of normalization and (hence) marginalization have been of primary importance in this regard: 1) the erasure of gayness in the curriculum, 2) the "closeting" and "witch hunting" of gay teachers, and 3) verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers and students."
I feel like students should be educated about gayness and not forced from the subject at every ounce of exposure. Not all people are the same. Some are going to want to talk about the subject and some are going to wonder why it is never talked about. It is up to the educators to accept comments and neutralize themselves on the subject whether you agree with what is said or not. It is something that should not be pushed aside. Why should people have to live in fear? Why is it okay to talk about being straight, and have an open discussion about it, but not for someone who is gay? Being gay is just as normal as being straight. And I understand that a teacher's personal life is none of anyone's business, but there are ways in which teachers can help students feel more comfortable in their skin assuring them that they are not alone. Why must they be "witch hunted"? That expression makes them sound as if they are these evil creatures when they are just the same as you and I.

* "gayness often has been positioned as a "white problem.""
Well from what I have seen and known there are gay people in every race not only whites, and since when is it a problem? I don't see how loving someone, no matter what gender they are, is a problem. There are so many gays, lesbians, and bisexuals in my family that it has never been an issue. One of my ex best friends was a hispanic, gay male and it never occured to me that his gayness was a problem. Being white and gay is just as much a problem as someone being white and straight because if it is ok to say that gayness is an issue then you are talking about a large portion of my family and I have a right to protect what my family believes. I just don't understand why it is ok to critisize someone else's life? Are you that bored with your own life that making someone else afraid to be themselves has become a hobby?

Questions/Comments?
I am glad that I was able to spill my thoughts here because as I was reading this they were just building up inside me. I am greatful that this topic is becoming more accepted and the means of a class discussion. I said so much that I needed to say in the last paragraphs that I really have nothing left....I am cleansed :)