Just quickly, Jolanda (spelled right? lol),
I agree with you on this subject (we are working through another one, aren’t we…). It’s does not matter whether homosexuality is genetic or emotional. It is an individual’s choice. As long as those choices do not hurt another, it is between themselves and whomever they choose to let in. I do not care how your son (or mine – if I am ever so lucky) turn out as long as they are good, loving, happy people who contribute to society and support others through love and compassion rather than self interest and greed.

Enough said on this pointless argument really…

JustDan

Garra. No malice here. I just got Enaj’s name wrong, it was a typo copy slip, and I apologize to Enaj. Thanks for letting me know!

I really don’t believe that we have a overtly homophobic society. I do however believe that we have a lot of bullies in our society. Homosexuality is, in my opinion, accepted by the majority of people, they may not all agree with it but they accept it.

JustDan. I think that it does matter if homosexuality is an emotional reaction as it is then a result of the environment and many of these people suffer because of the environment that they are in. Its how you are treated that makes the difference and too many young people are suffering!.

The bullying the teasing and the discrimination, I believe, is because of malice and spite and prejudice and Homosexuality is just an excuse and if it’s not homosexuality its Racism and if its not racism it’s Religion or something else. Some people are just mean and they are bullies and they get away with it because we are expected to turn a blind eye and be considerate and understanding of the bullies difficulties and past life. To bad about the victim, wouldn’t want to upset the bully as they don’t really mean it! (cough,choke). Many even join in and also bully for fear of otherwise becoming targeted and also becoming victims. This happens because there is no law that protects the victims as they have no rights!.

Nothing will change until Legislation makes it so that it is against the law to discriminate out of malice, spite and prejudice. We should be required by law to treat each other fairly and with respect.

Jolanda, you touched on a very important issue. "The human mind is a very sensitive instrument"

Brain chemistry is an amazing field of study for the amature like me who just 'experiences' it, and the academic who does the whole footnotes and all thing. A recent study showed that when a group of people are exposed to feromones, areas of the brain became more active. Gay people's brains showed more activity when feromones of their own gender were encountered. The interesting thing was, they observed that there was a connection between this, and other factors, including conditioning of the brain to 'react' this way. So, on some of the evidence "Gays are naturally like that" and on the rest of the evidence "Gays are that way because they re-inforce and feed" that tendency.

I think most of you who are ripping into Kevin are being unfair. He is raising the issue of the more extreme elements of the educational peck order, and their activities don't alway filter down 5 minutes after they adopt a policy.

My own son never seems to be exposed to a 'managed pc curriculum' at his public school, and attitudes to gays seem more picked up from the schoolyard. But I closely monitor the reading material they are 'required' to study. Some schools take the opportunity of the available choices, to select books which DO fit the agenda Kevin is referring to, it appears that those of us here simply have not seen out kids going to such schools.

No schools are right on the money.

Parents who don't like it are free to send their offspring to private schools, which still qualify for government money.

Public schools have a duty to offer an educational environment that is inclusive of all students of any cultural, lifestyle, class, faith, non-religion or whatever backgound.

If I was 15 right now, a public school would be the only one I could attend in 'gender of identification', wear the corresponding uniform and use the corresponding amenities. The corresponding amenities would be generally necessary to ensure safety and reduce the risk of molestation or assault of a transsexual student.

All young people at school have a right to a safe and welcoming educational environment.