Many people do not fully understand the nature of homosexuality. They fail to realize that homosexual individuals are exactly the same as heterosexual individuals in every shape, manner, or form, with the only exception of personal sexual orientation.
On Monday, The Associated Press reported a story out of Salt Lake City in which a veteran high school psychology teacher is being sued by both parents and students for discussing the nature of homosexuality in the classroom. What is interesting about the case is that the plaintiffs are particularly concerned with the individual delivering the information, especially since the teacher in question, Wendy Weaver, is openly lesbian.
Which leaves us to wonder if the plaintiffs would pursue the same legal action had homosexuality been taught in a classroom by a married heterosexual who vehemently believes that all gay individuals are spawns of Satan?
The argument set forth by the plaintiffs contend that since sodomy is against the law in Utah, any discussion of homosexuality, particularly if an individual uses personal experience with the subject matter, can be seen as promoting criminal behavior. As attorney for the plaintiff, Matthew Hilton explained, "Teachers are prohibited from supporting criminal conduct by students, and sodomy is against the law in Utah ... just as a teacher couldn't encourage students to smoke marijuana or drive drunk, Weaver shouldn't be allowed to have gay issues become intertwined with the teaching experience."
Currently, this case is being prepared for examination by the Supreme Court, who must decide whether parents and students have the right to sue an individual teacher for instructional conduct in the classroom.
This case infuriates me for numerous reasons. First, the logic used by the plaintiffs is shaky, ignorant, and childish. The plaintiffs have based their case on the idea that homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle, when psychological research has clearly demonstrated otherwise.
Furthermore, even if one was to preach the archaic belief that homosexuality is a chosen way of life, discussion of this topic is not going to promote homosexual behavior. It is completely illogical to believe that if one discusses an issue, that they are going to mimic the same behavior. Believing this idea is to believe that if one holds a discussion about Andrea Yates, then they might be at risk for drowning their own children. This is completely preposterous.
Secondly, by pursuing legal action against an open homosexual for being honest about their identity, the plaintiffs in the case have made a blatant condemnation of homosexuality as an orientation. This is particularly dangerous to adolescents in high school who may be dealing issues of sexual identity. Currently, one of the leading causes of suicide amongst high schoolers revolves around fearing rejection for being gay. Consequently, by publicly condemning Wendy Weaver, this community has sent out a warning call to all those that may consider being vocal about their homosexuality. By witnessing the treatment of Weaver, some homosexual students may gain a sense of additional justification for decisions to kill themselves.
And finally, by preventing the discussion of homosexuality in the classroom, this Utah community has ensured that the students who leave their school system will have an incomplete view of homosexuality — one that will be filled with hateful stereotypes. This Utah community has ensured that the cycle of hate in our society will continue to turn.
Our only hope for the future rests in education. Hopefully, as the Utah students move away from their community and into the college environment, they will be challenged in a new way and will learn to respect all individuals of all sexual orientations.
If they don't, then they clearly haven't graduated — and as a result, neither will our society.
Karen Engler is an English literature graduate student. Reach her at
karen.engler@asu.edu.
