Gay Students Targeted in Schools

I know that there are a lot of people who feel homosexuality is a choice, but it makes me really frustrated when I hear them express this viewpoint. I know that religious beliefs are often what they say is behind their assumptions that homosexuality is some sort of "sin", and I usually try to respect other people's religious views. This issue, however, is not one that I feel should not be considered as "moral" or "immoral". I cannot help but feel that it is an obvious fact of life that some people are born homosexual, and others are born heterosexual. I agree with Alfred Kinsey's viewpoint that everyone is somewhere on a scale between completely one and completely the other.

I am currently enrolled in graduate level psychology courese, and I liked the fact that my texbook clearly states that "research suggests that homosexuality is not simply a lifestyle choice but is rather a naturally occurring phenomenon linked to a biological disposition. Nothing more need be said." Despite the fact that loving a person of the same biological sex used to be considered a "disorder," the psychological community stands firm behind the idea that homosexuality should be accepted, and that the only psychological problems involved are depression and feelings of being an "outsider" that are brought on by ignorant people and their lack of tolerance and understanding. You hear congressmen in the news say that homosexuality threatens the sanctity of marriage, even though many of the people who say this are on marriage number three or four. Doesn't divorce threaten the sancity of marriage just a bit more?? It seems to me that people who are extremely homophobic would be more mentally unstable than the average homosexual person. Isn't a phobia a mental disorder in itself? Seriously, I wonder what in a person's life makes them so extremely fearful of the idea of romance between two people of the same sex. That would be an interesting topic to research.

I teach high school, and I have had an issue in my classes lately with high-schoolers calling things "gay". Many do it without meaning to be hurtful to anyone, but it is offensive, nevertheless. In one of my classes it has become a real problem. All year I have asked anyone who uses the word "gay" in a derogatory manner to stay after class. If they did not seem apologetic, they had to write a half page explaining why their comment was inappropriate.

Most teachers don't react at all when kids use that word in a negative way, and I imagine that gay or lesbian students are sick of hearing it slip by without anything being done. I don't think it is fair that students have to hear people use their sexual orientation used as an insult, even if the person using it is just joking. Last week I had a real problem with a student getting really angry when I asked him to stay after class. He just did not understand why anyone would take offense to that, and he said he thinks it's disgusting, and that he should be able to have his own beliefs. I agree that he can believe whatever he wants, but he does not necessarily have the right to express those beliefs unsolicited during class in a way that makes other students feel uncomfortable.

I wish that more people would be more open-minded and understand that it's none of their business who other people are attracted to, but I know that the problem will persist. It seems like there is more tolerance, as LGBT groups gain more exposure, but we as a society have a long way to go before the word "acceptance" could be used.