Is Homosexuality Genetic?
Posted on 02/08/2002 3:05:41 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest teachers union will ask school districts to protect homosexual students and staff by adopting policies that punish harassment and discrimination.
Under a plan adopted Friday by the National Education Association's board of directors, schools also will be encouraged to develop factual materials for classroom discussions on homosexuality. All staff and students will be encouraged to speak up when they see or experience discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"I think it's a pretty clear signal that the organization recognizes there are some pretty serious needs for gay and lesbian children in school - and employees," said Penny Kotterman, president of the Arizona Education Association. She chairs the NEA's Task Force on Sexual Orientation, which was created last fall to develop the plan.
Kotterman, a middle school special education teacher in the Kyrene School District in suburban Phoenix, said the plan will help schools with difficult issues of student sexuality.
"Staff do need help," she said. "They need professional development, they need good, factual data that helps them deal with these issues."
The union said it could provide "accurate, objective and up-to-date information" on the needs and problems of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students and staff.
A statement by the NEA said the information schools provide should be age-appropriate, nonjudgmental and relevant to subject matter being studied.
Studies indicate that homosexual students have higher dropout and suicide rates and sometimes are treated with hostility by fellow students. NEA President Bob Chase has said gay and lesbian teachers in some states face losing their jobs because of their sexual orientation.
"It is clear that, in too many places, students and education employees who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered face a hostile environment," Chase said Friday in the statement.
A study last year by the University of North Carolina estimated that 5 percent to 6 percent of students 17 or younger, or more than 2 million students, are gay, lesbian or bisexual.
The NEA represents 2.6 million teachers and other school employees.
Uhhhhh.....let's see.....I felt like it? She was right?
Sometimes I wonder. Now the homosexuals are encouraged to come out of the closet, celebrate their lifestyle in provocative manner and used to undermine the traditional values. Maybe once they have served their purpose they will fall again out of favour like they did after Nazis solidified their power.
And the militant ones are hell-bent on silencing former homosexuals who got psychological treatment and are now heterosexual!
My sentiments exactly.
Kevin, the real issue is bullying. One would think the NEA already has their plate full with other problems...academic excellence, or the lack of it, for starters.
Teaching is the very last thing the NEA cares about. Way up there, on their list of priorities, is political power.
Want to stop the NEA? Help get the RATS out of Washington. (I address this especially to those conservatives here who say there is "no difference between Republicans and RATS".)
RATS and NEA... go together like a horse and carriage.
Respect is a disposition. You can't force a disposition. You may get something that looks like respect, through force, but it's gilded. What you're calling for is thought police.
Is Homosexuality Genetic?
The idea that the will and freedom evolved is paradigmatically ridiculous. You have no theory of morality, just a very little idea.
Have a very good life!
I really don't care who is gay or straight. I would prefer all sex remain between married male and females. I don't guess that will be happening any time soon. I do agree with pray4liberty in that I'm sick of talking about it, hearing about it, seeing it on TV, etc. Just shut up about it!!!!! I don't care about your private parts and what you do with them. I think all this talk perverts God's beautiful gift. JMHO
I get on my own nerves sometimes, because I can be far too tolerant to be considered a good conservative. LOL I like anyone as long as they behave and aren't rude. But what bothers me is when we say, "Homosexuality is wrong", people treat us as if we are evil and have the swastika tattooed on our forehead. It just ain't the case! We are normal, nice, polite people who just happen to believe certain things are wrong and certain things are right. No gray area.....white or black...right and wrong. PERIOD!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
