If I were still in HS, and gay HSs were more prevalent, I would be a little creeped out at going to a straight school. I would feel it would unnecessarily draw attention to the sexuality of the students remaining at the straight school.
“Hey baby, wanna go out. Cuz, like, we know we’re both STRAIGHT!”
As of yet there is ZERO physical evidence that being gay is a result of a genetic, or other defect.
I must be honest and say it probably will be found to be a genetic mutation of some sort eventually however.
I also think it can be a sociological disorder, both socialized through childhood experience and trauma.
That said, we as the most intelligent beings on earth have the ability to consciously reject urges and instincts that manifest themselves in our thought and emotions. A gay person has the ability to NOT live as a gay person. There is Zero argument there, it IS a choice to live gay even if it not a choice to have the defect. There are people who are incapable of experiencing sex in a normal way for a variety of reasons, because of having strange fetish behavior for dead people, animals, children, feet, etc. I’m not saying that homosexuals should never be allowed to experience sex, I just believe doing so is a choice, and they need to then live with the consequences of putting themselves out side the norm. The problem this activists don’t accept this, and think the norm should be changed, instead of their behavior.
Should homosexuals be beaten, and alienated from society – no. I don’t believe their behavior; however, should become a “meshed” part of society. What is so hard about keeping it private. I DON’T GET IT!
Homosexual behavior is a disorder. It is not normal.
**
Certainly not every youth who is kicked out of their home, assaulted or murdered by their peers, commit suicide, or are otherwise abused happen to be homosexual. I’ve seen statistics showing that homosexual youths are more likely to commit suicide then heterosexual kids. I’ve never seen reliable statistics that show homosexuals kids are more likely to be assaulted or murdered then heterosexual kids. Maybe you know something I don’t?
I don’t like the idea of homosexals and heterosexuals being segregated. On the other hand I have to appreciate the fact that homosexual youths may be going through problems I don’t fully understand. It seems reasonable to have programs to help these kids out. I’m willing to give the school a shot.
Marc
No, other people focus on the sexuality of homosexuals. That is why the sexuality of many GLBT youths weighs heavily upon their minds – it is their sexuality that makes other people want to hurt them. If your sexuality places you in danger of hellfire, ostracization, or a brutal beating, it’s eventually going to start to seem like kind of a big deal.
ArchEtech -
Edits are disabled on this message board. It’s not because you’re new.
This whole thread is evidence in favor of vouchers for education. Let people pick what kind of school they want their kids to go to.
Regards,
Shodan
PS - Welcome to the SDMB, ArchEtech.
At the risk of providing sustenance to a sub-river crossing dweller, I must say to Arch that there are plenty of people who are perceived as being gay, or perhaps even are, who in no way engage in homosexual behavior. How are they to “Stop being gay?” Huh?
Well, I do believe ArchEtech’s rampant homophobia, prejudice, bigotry and discriminatory attitudes pretty much sums up what this school exists for. I mean, obviously:
You’re one lucky guy that this is Great Debates. We’re being nice to you here.
Esprix
Here, for those who would like to express their feelings to ArchEtech (whose SN I appear to have spelt wrong in my thread), is a [url="http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201020"pit thread.
That would be this here thread. Grr. Dratted coding.
Might I ask for a cite? If you have problems finding something, perhaps you might look here . It is from a statement published January 26, 1990, by Bryant Welch, J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director for Professional Practice, American Psychological Association.
Oh and by the way, in case you weren’t aware…
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of disorders.
Now, do you have evidence to the contrary that you could share? Something from an unbiased source perhaps?
Well, if you want to compare suicide rates, that’s fine. It will bolster my side of the argument, not yours. So, do you really wanna go there?
Unfortunately, there is nothing in these motives that discounts the victim’s sexuality. Matthew Shepard was killed because of an “interpersonal dispute.”
Julie
I think this has been said about 20 times already, and it’s already been dealt with. It’s not segregation or a regular school for kids who are gay and don’t want to deal with ‘straights.’ At least, it’s not segregation any more than a Catholic school is, or schools for the deaf, blind, or those with mental disabilities. [Before we go here, I am not calling homosexuality a disability.]
A school of 100 students, not all of whom will be gay it seems, hardly strikes me as ‘hiding the victims.’
None of those things strike me as “social challenges.” And the ‘are we supposed to do this for every kid’ thing has already been asked and answered dozens of times.
And when people start “Catholic crimes” or abuse others for not being able to see, perhaps that’s the case. Until then, it seems to be segregation to me. The principle of it removes homosexuals from normal interaction. This does not strike me as a very ingenius method of making homosexuality accepted in public society, unlike the Catholic church down the street or the signs that indicate blind people live nearby.
What do you think?
I don’t really see how the existence of this school results in all gay people (teens in this case) being removed from normal interaction. I would say that at least as many gay teens were openly out at my public NYC high school as currently attend Harvey Milk (50-60).
The expanded Harvey Milk school will not be a holding pen for every homosexual teen in the city. It exists to serve a small population of very troubled teens who are having real problems getting an education the regular way. I really don’t see any segregation at work there.
So much for unity.
Even though I can find sympathy with these high-school aged students wanting to fit in and in a be more comfortable & friendly environment, the principle of a Harvey Milk School runs contrary to American values.
When & where does the factionalizing stop?
What’s next; Seperate schools for attractive and homely kids? The Jacklyn Smith School for Brunettes, where blondes and redheads attend classes with the albinos down the street?
Hasn’t the group-think mentality gone too far already?
Case in point, from earlier today: [url=]The Marion OH Star: Should Black Teachers Be The Only People Teaching Black Studies?
Being that I’m always finding fault with the Public School System, I guess I shouldn’t complain, the cycle is almost full circle.
Home & Private Schooling -> Segregated Public Schools -> Integrated Public Institutions -> Segregated Public Schools -> Private & Home Schooling.
Hello Again said:
I don’t either, and I’m wondering why this thread seems to repeat every 3 posts.
Seems like a seprate but equal type solution… I can;t say that I believe this to be the right way to go. I think special schools would increase divisiveness. We need to educate about differences not educate seperately.
I agree with the first six words of your sentence wholeheartedly (which explains why I volunteer for a program which does exactly that). However, until it has time to work, I don’t think it makes sense to let the kids who are served by this school twist in the wind. If someone’s drowning, getting them a life ring is a bigger priority than draining the lake.