Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays has joined forces yet again with Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum and Family Leader Network in opposition to the Montgomery County School Board in Maryland. PFOX and its allies were unsuccessful in their efforts to stop the piloting of what they deem a “controversial” sex and health curriculum last fall, and they’ve recently petitioned the Maryland State School Board to block the full implementation of the lessons in all Rockville, Md.-area middle and high schools for the coming school year. The coalition threatens to sue the county school system if they don’t get their way, claiming that the school system released factually inaccurate information, did not put out material for public review before approval, and violated students’ constitutional rights including freedom of speech and the right to freely exercise religion.
A federal judge ruled in May 2005 that the curriculum’s teacher resource materials singled out specific religions for condemnation of homosexuality. The curriculum has been completely overhauled since that time.
The entire health unit is written to be delivered over a 12-day continuum in 45-minute sessions. However, it is the two-session piece of the whole titled “Respect for Differences in Human Sexuality Lesson” that is the focus of the coalition’s efforts. I took the time to print out and read through the Grade 8, Lesson One and Lesson Two portions of the curriculum and, surprise, surprise, I’m just not finding the “controversy”. The coalition’s concerns are detailed at the CRC website and one of their biggest problems with the eighth-grade lessons is a supposed inconsistency. The curriculum states:
“Sexual orientation is innate and a complex part of one’s personality.”
and then in a later paragraph,
“What causes sexual orientation? Almost certainly there is no single reason why some people are homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation results from an interaction of cognitive, environmental, and biological factors.”
The coalition says that these two statements are inconsistent and a significant portion of their threatened lawsuit is based on these grounds. I don’t agree. We are, after all, innately sexually oriented, and the causes of which orientation we become are many and varied. What’s inconsistent about that? The curriculum could possibly do a better job at segueing those concepts, but I don’t find them difficult to reconcile. It’s not lawsuit difficult.
The 10th-grade version of the curriculum is quite a bit meatier, specifically with regards to the “coming out” process. And, as one can imagine, the coalition wishes to take the cleaver and grinder to those parts. There are several undocumented personal narratives which briefly describe the coming out process of a sampling of orientations, including one transgender story. I suspect the stories are undocumented because they are generic enough that they could be told as they are by literally thousands and thousands of folks without changing one jot or tittle — much like ex-gay stories the world over, or tornado victim stories, or near-death experience stories. It seems some stories are just human stories and overall, humanity responds in very general ways in given circumstances. Which is why I think these stories are important for 10th graders to hear. I’m showing my age, but 10th graders in today’s culture are a far cry more sophisticated, out of necessity, at dealing with these sorts of things than I would have been in 10th grade. Also, the curriculum is specific in its purpose for sharing the stories. The lesson culminates with the students working in groups to discuss ways to make their school a safe and accepting environment for students of all genders and orientations. This is practical stuff in today’s society.
Of course, PFOX has stated numerous times that the curriculum discriminates against ex-gays by not including any of their stories. And I must wonder, do they really want to go there? With a fudged 30-percent success rate being reported by Exodus, a fair representation would include one successful ex-gay story and two that were unsuccessful. As much as PFOX likes to think so, ex-gay is not a seperate orientation unto itself.
The CRC website also erroneously states that the curriculum teaches that sexual orientation is fixed in adolescence and that students are encouraged to label themselves early as to their orientation. Here’s the paragraph on which they base these claims:
Adolescence is marked by a growing awareness of sexual orientation. Although most people are heterosexual, a significant number of people identify themselves as homosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Most people that are gay, lesbian, or bisexual report feeling “different” at a young age even though they may not have had a name for that feeling. People can identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender at any point in their lives. Some people come out at a young age; others wait until they have been adults for many years. For many people coming out is liberating and empowering and makes them feel whole, healthy, and complete. To identify oneself as gay or lesbian can be very difficult given that many people do not understand sexual minorities. Regardless of their sexual orientation, all students should use good judgement and wait to have intimate sexual activity until they are in a committed, permanent relationship.
The 10th-grade curriculum also includes a video demonstration of the proper use of a condom. While I wasn’t able to view that video, I did take a look at the response discussion and activity materials. It appears to be a pretty straightforward step-by-step demonstration, walking the viewer through from the opening of the package to the disposal of the used prophylactic. Apparently, there are three vital steps involved in the proper application of a condom, and the first one involves a bit of pinching. Who knew?
However, it’s not the pinching that has PFOX and their cohorts in a tight over the disease prevention portion. The curriculum repeats numerous times that the only way to be 100 percent certain you will remain disease and pregnancy free is through the practice of abstinence. Abstinence and condom use are not matters subject to sexual orientation. But the coalition insists that the curriculum should emphasize statistics highlighting the risk of HIV infection specifically associated with homosexual activity. I suppose they could also include the very low risk of pregnancy associated with gay sex. While they’re at it, I’d suggest they break it down by gender and show students the statistics proving that the very safest sexual orientation, disease AND pregnancy-wise, is lesbianism.
For those of you faced with a bout of insomnia, or like me, possibly just very interested, here’s a link to the full 132-page document which includes all the resources, lesson plans, and revisions agreed upon after the pilot was implemented last fall.
I believe it’s ignorance of one basic truth that drives much of the fear-induced activism of PFOX and those working with them to try and prevent this very necessary curriculum from making it’s way to public school students. Here’s one final quote, presented to students in the 10th grade curriculum, which speaks to the heart of that fear.
Educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is especially important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to understand their sexuality – whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. Fears that access to such information will make more people gay have no validity; information about homosexuality does not make someone gay or straight.
American Psychological Association, 2006
They forgot ‘asexual’. And the operative word is ‘sexual’. Which we are all born to be. This isn’t new, this is what ALL of us can relate to. And asexuality bears consideration in the curriculum too.
Schools do have an obligation to not only teach the most comprehensive information, but also as a social environment of young people that must prepare them for adulthood and encounters in a diverse world. The school would be derelict if they didn’t engage students in something obviously important, and impossible to ignore or leave to the private sector or parents.
Children rely on ALL adults, not just the judgement of their parents, to give them their optimum chance at adjusting to real issues.
It’s more than irresponsible to treat homosexuality as the worst human condition to have or live with in one’s professional, social or family network. And PFOX’s reactionary conduct on this issue ALONE is almost comic in it’s redundancy.
As if young people haven’t already met or aren’t related to someone gay.
Young folks will find themselves likely having to work closely with someone gay, have a neighbor who is, or be employed by one…or have someone gay be the difference between their life and death. Like a gay surgeon, firefighter…or police officer.
The priority in those situations won’t be that they are gay, but that they are competent.
And if it’s someone in the family, that it’s someone they can count on.
I wish these people would give it a REST already!
What is it THEY want to say?
In what way and why do they think what THEY want to do is BETTER?
Or hasn’t BEEN tried already?
And what RESULT is their goal if they had their way?
One thing I know for sure…you can’t lie to teenagers. You can’t lie to children.
They will call you on it, and won’t let you forget it if and when they find out you lied.
And on this subject…PFOX isn’t encouraging honesty or social cooperation. Something vital to teach young people and how they conduct themselves with each other and those they meet in the future.
PFOX seems to want to set these kids up for betrayal and it’s too convenient for them to do that with gay kids.
Or at least they think only gay people will be affected.
But ultimately the betrayal goes much deeper. Do they have ANY idea to what depth?
Would they admit how out of their element they are, but will blunder into it anyway?
Results matter. But I don’t think PFOX has seriously considered exactly what that means.
Look, let’s forget about the “effectiveness” of EXODUS and their ilk. Even if ex-gay therapy WERE effective – and I mean, more than 30% success rate effective – think about the COST and TIME it takes to become “straight!”
people have spent TENS OF THOUSANDS of their hard-earned dollars on “reparative therapy,” only to find they were either still 100% gay or perpetually struggling with SSA’s.
When I was in tenth grade, I came out as being attracted to girls. I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disease that unfortunately runs in my family. FORTUNATELY, I had a wonderful therapist, one who probably ended up saving my life – and my parents had ample health benefits from their jobs, so I could be properly medicated by a very good psychiatrist. Although the road was indeed VERY rough, I made a recovery, and am now a happy functioning human being who never felt more like herself (and more in love with women 😉 ).
Why do I mention this? Well, what if PFOX’s “educational” curriculum had permeated my public school? I would’ve gone home to my parents and insisted I go into therapy for my SSA. Because such treatments are rejected by every mainstream medical org. in America, my parents’ health coverage undoubtedly would not have helped. On top of my regular therapy, group therapy, psychiatric sessions, and medication for my bipolar disorder, I would’ve had to attend live-in programs, go to expensive counseling sessions, and spend those already-difficult teen years loathing what i was, desperately wondering why I couldn’t be like the ex-gays who told their stories in health class. My parents have 4 other kids to care for – they can’t spend all their money on me.
Having ex-gay testimonies in a health class curriculum is, in not so many words, a tactless profiteering gesture.
“Hey kids! want to be more like the other kids? Tired of feeling ‘different?’Get mom and dad to spend their money here!”
Pam,
Great post, seemingly ridden with objectivity in what is going on with education. I think discussing homosexuality with 10th graders is very vital in helping them understand how to love others. The thought that you will taint someone who isn’t already dealing with SSA or gay tendencies is a complete farse. I’ve thought of trying to convert some of my attractive hetero friends and well….it doesn’t happen really.
Allowing people to label themselves and giving them tools to understand the labels and navigate the labels is very important. Sexuality is part of who we are on a deep level. It’s complicated and unique, just as we are all uniquely created by God (I would assert at least) 🙂
Emily K, you have brought THE most important factor in all of this. Besides the diagnosis, and organic mental and emotional problems that insurance can cover…there are specifics to those disorders that can be tempered with medication. There is serious URGENCY to diagnosis and treating bi polar disorder.
There are also specific results, when you don’t.
As I don’t have to tell anyone, homosexuality bears no resemblance to mental or emotional disorders that create chaos and pain within the individual, and social dysfunction in public.
The urgency for mental and social relief and requires intervention.
Homosexuality does not. PFOX is a product of prejudice, and their interventions a matter of THEIR discomfort, not that of the individual.
Happiness, social adjustment and competence are not compromised by homosexuality.
And PFOX and other ex gay supporters do an egregious disservice to the information and understanding of it in the public arena.
And do so in the area of mental illness and social integration.
And the ‘treatment’ or ‘intervention’ against homosexuality ISN’T cheap, and when you are talking about a family, and the other children in the family, it’s a financial burden as well.
I am reminded of those parents who have normal children. even very ATTRACTIVE and beautiful children, who might have ears that stick out a bit, or an ethnic feature that is disctinct, or small breasts.
And because perhaps the parent is wanting their child to be in show business, or to just look ‘normal’, the parent is urged or simply wants their child to undergo plastic surgery.
There is no urgency for this. Like a severely uncomfortable or life threatening situation. It’s mildly annoying, but grown in importance because of FOCUSING on that too much, and ignoring the other more important attributes of the youngster that need developing.
Eventually the discomfort is out of proportion to the situation. And well ahead of the youngster’s full development and adjustment among a social network that wouldn’t make notice of their feature.
Stigma is PFOX’s stock and trade. And an exploitation of that stigma.
It’s just a ridiculous and cruel to say that it’s a REQUIREMENT in public schools that a stigma remain. And at a period of time in a youngster’s life when their peers are at their least compassionate and cruelest.
Which will put the family at risk for expenses as a result of the consequences of PFOX’s intervention.
This is why a class action against such activity is proper. Doctors are not allowed to frighten people into taking prescriptions or using therapy for a characteristic THEY are more uncomfortable with, than the individual.
Teaching discomfort with homosexuality, is as vicious and cruel as teaching discomfort with small breasts or asexuality.
Follow the money.
Follow the fear. Follow the exploitation.
I’m glad you’re okay Emily. And families, as well as mental health pros have much more important illnesses and disorders to address.
And homosexuality surely isn’t one of them.
Personally, I think a cure for sociopathy is well in order.
Pam,
Thanks, great post…leaves little to be said since you said it well.
Emily,
And for those who are, er, cured…they join the baptist church, get married and then become part of the high rate of divorce satistic among fundamentalists. So,instead of going to hell for ssa, they go to hell for divorce. Which begs the question, are these guy’s really offering an alternative?
Oh Pam, what makes you think you know any more about evaluating curricula than PFOX? You’re just an… oh… yeah… educator.
Hah! well said, Timothy.
“Follow the money”… pretty much. If it is a matter of life/death, heaven/hell – why don’t these “reparative” programs offer their services for free or super-cheap? If they “love” homosexuals that much, why not be charitable to them as well?
Of course then we could start saying “well, you get what you pay for” every time someone exits unchanged.