by James Lynne

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

Ideally, the home is the appropriate place for teaching children about social issues. However, even the most cursory review of history indicates society's failure to do so effectively. As with many significant social issues, responsibility for teaching children to understand the nuances of society-at-large falls to the schools. Homosexuality is a complex social issue with roots that deeply entertwine into religious belief. As such, schools do not need to take a moral stance on homosexuality, but it is important they address the issue honestly and compassionately.

Research supports that nearly thirty percent of adolescent suicides relate to the gender identity struggle. In a culture that teaches hatred of homosexuals, the child who views himself as one becomes fearful and isolated. Without healthy adult support, these fears can turn into self-destruction. Although religion would still have us believe that homosexuality is a choice, medical research is rapidly dispelling this notion. Socially responsible adults recognize the self-esteem damage that comes from allowing the bullying of children with gender identity issues. If for no other reason than to stop the bullying of children who appear different, schools need to teach about homosexuality.

Regardless of the orgin of homosexuality, nature or nurture, it is not going away simply because religion or schools prefer to judge rather than address it. In contemporary world society, homosexuality is coming out of the closet. Assuming that children become aware of their sexual orientation either in pre-adolescence or during adolescence this can be a confusing and startling awareness for them. Teaching "about" homosexuality in the schools is not the same as "teaching homosexuality" as some might misunderstand. Homosexuality is a reality of the Twenty First Century. Not teaching about it equals burying our heads in the sand regarding a significant social issue.

We are becoming increasingly aware that even though the home, parents, have the right to control "some" of the material their children are taught at school, this is not an absolute construct. Left up to parents to teach them, many significant issues and concepts would be taught in such a biased manner as to become socially destructive. In the United States, we have seen this in action related to science education, integration, civil rights, child abuse, birth control, abortion, and sex education in general. Because we are all part of culture-at-large, we must

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