HOMOSEXUALITY

Homosexuality

Homosexuality Behavior in Public Schools

Introduction

The simplest definition of homosexuality is that it is conduct that expresses a sexual and emotional attraction toward persons of the same sex. There are different terms and different categories of people involved in certain aspects to the issue of homosexuality. Homosexuality is an “erotic act consciously engaged in between two persons of the same sex. That is, body contact or embrace between two males or two females is homosexual if the participants interpret it as such and impute erotic meaning to it” young people for the future.

The school is an environment in which each student must feel safe and develop his personality in a healthy and encouragement. This assumption is not valid for the majority of young gays and lesbians who attend schools in Switzerland. Teenagers, who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual lack of reference points and are struggling to build an identity around their innermost feelings, at school, they do not see their reality acknowledged or even mentioned, except in unfavorable terms (insults, taunts, jokes, etc.). It does not educate the youth on this subject. The school does not help teenage homosexuals to break their silence and leaves the door open to verbal and sometimes physical they can be victims (Andrew, 1995).

Discussion

Homosexuality as an identity and a set of practices has undergone repeated metamorphoses since classical antiquity. Before the nineteenth century, homosexuality was thought of not as an identity but a series of practices and attitudes. "In some societies same-sex behaviors and attitudes have been accepted, even honored. In other times and places, they have been considered reprobate, branded sinfully and immoral". The language used to label those behaviors has experienced numerous revisions, from the absence of words to designate such practices in ancient Greece and Rome, to contemporary times in which most languages have numerous words to mark homosexual identities and practices. Responses to homosexuality have been filtered through religious, legal, and cultural lenses and have varied widely from explicit recognition to violent persecution and oppression (Bob, 1994).

Literature Review

In the following viewpoint, Shelly Reese argues that educators must take action to curb the prevalence of homophobia and gay-bashing in schools. Schools should adopt educational programs and services that emphasize respect for gays and lesbians the author contends. Adding sexual orientation to anti discrimination policies, providing gay adult role models, initiating student support groups, and including library information on gay and "lesbian" issues are healthy ways to address the topic of homosexuality in schools, asserts Reese (1999). Reese is a freelance writer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As you read, consider the following questions:

According to Reese, how many gay and "lesbian" adolescents are there in the United States?

According to Norma Bailey, cited by the author, how many gay and "lesbian" students drop out of school?

What "silent symbols" could schools provide to help "gay" youths feel less isolated, according to Reese?

Most people would consider it a tragedy that a public-school student suffered beatings, verbal harassment, and a mock rape because of his sexual ...