Prop 8 and Gay Marriage: Teaching Our Youth About Homosexuality

As November 4th quickly draws near, more and more our television programming becomes full of commercials for candidates and propositions that urge us to vote “Yes” or “No.” One proposition that is passionately discussed is Prop 8, which eliminates same-sex couples from marrying in California. While the state tends to be more progressive than others, the concern over the protection of marriage still causes a rift between the socially liberal and the socially conservative. Homosexuality is still a subject that makes many people, especially (though not exclusively) religious folk, uncomfortable because of its supposed violation of the biblical definition of marriage; however, by the looks of the current pro-Prop 8 ads, it seems like there is an underlying fear that it is some sort of infectious disease needing to be contained before it spreads. In one advertisement, paid for by ProtectMarriage.com, an excited little girl runs into the kitchen to show her mother the most recent book read in her classroom entitled, King & King. She begins rambling about how she learned in school that a prince could marry a prince, and she could marry a princess (close up on the mother’s horrified expression – jaw on the floor, eyes wide as saucers.) Then, a lawyer from Pepperdine University floats in on the left, and in a very serious and fretful tone states that “This is ALREADY happening.” The main argument of this commercial is that we must vote “Yes” on the proposition, otherwise our children will be taught about gay marriage. Gasp! Jokes and sides aside, the commercial presents the education of homosexuality as detrimental to children, which in turn teaches and encourages youth to discriminate.

What is it about marriage between same-sex couples that can be so threatening to our youth? In school, we learn about an array of things, both good and bad – from the layers of the earth to evolution to the Holocaust. Curriculum has always included subject matter, like evolution, that may be controversial or even “untrue” to some; still, the importance of including these kinds of topics is to provide students with a range of information so that they can decide what they personally believe is right and wrong. Additionally, taking this kind of material out of school curriculum does not eliminate it completely. It would be foolish to blind our children from real issues that are relevant to the present – this would encourage ignorance and promote discrimination. It is safe to say that a majority of Prop 8 supporters are so for religious reasons, but why are they looking past the bible’s “golden rule” that we all learned as children – “Do Unto Others.” As the daughter of an Episcopal minister, the bible has been a central part of my life, whether I liked it or not. To be honest, there is not one part in any of the teachings of the bible that I can remember that renounces homosexuality. Obviously, these points are in the bible, but my point is that as a child the only real rule I ever retained was the one they stressed the most, which was the golden rule. Likewise, the bible states far more about its views on poverty or basic shaping of character than it ever does on homosexuality. It seems like the bible has been manipulated for the chief purpose of justifying our ignorance and discrimination rather than teaching us what really is important, that we are all God’s children – gay, straight, black, white, etc., and we should be treating others the way we want to be treated. For those who object to the Prop soley based on the definition of marriage, I say to them what all my past English teachers have said to me about using a definition at the start of an essay: it is an overused ploy that contains little validity. The dictionary is a human edited text that is constantly rewritten. Even slang is included in the dictionary now.

Our schools and our churches have control over the bias they allow to express in the classroom, and Prop 8 will not take that away from school and Sunday school teachers. Though, as a teacher myself, I do not think it is our job to take advantage of our influence. Rather, we should present both sides and let the student decide based on his or her own beliefs. Prop 8 states that it wants to protect marriage – it wants to keep the traditional idea of family. According to people like the ones who are funding this campaign, education in the form of a book like in the commercial is threatening to that idea of family. I highly doubt that any school has presented gay literature in the form of a fairy tale, as shown in the King & King book that the little girl brings home in the commercial. On the other hand, there are texts that exist that are written by gay authors that glorify a strong family, and not so much sexual preference. One of my favorite writers, David Sedaris, is the perfect example of a successful, talented, gay man who uses his strong, and very American family, as his muse in many of his essays. I cannot deny that he has written about his experience as a gay man, and even as a gay child; however, the core of most his essays is his family and how they have influenced his own life and his art. Perhaps if we included in curriculum writing like his, which includes both strong family values as well as self-acceptance and awareness, the introduction of such taboo subject matter would not seem so contentious. Sedaris may be gay, but he does not write these essays in hopes that young children with undeveloped intelligence will join his homosexual movement. He writes more as a reflection of the wisdom he has gained from his Greek-American southern upbringing in a stable household.

Gay marriage is an issue that I believe we will look back on with similar guilt as we do when interracial marriage was frowned upon. As our society continues to advance its norms, it is obvious that we will face debates such as this. Nevertheless, the main problem I have with Proposition 8 is that encourages ignorant education. In order to shape our youth to be its best, we need to teach them about relevant history and news, which may include material that will upset some. Still, it is important to the awareness and intelligence of children to present them with information that may challenge their thinking. Furthermore, I do believe that if the Prop does pass, it is silly to think that this will be the end of the issue. Homosexuality, whether it is or is not taught about in our schools, will be a noticeable and persistent movement for years to come.