Homosexuality and the Prevention of Homophobia

Homophobia in schools has taken on a different shade in recent years. There is evident bullying of homosexuals in the school system; however, there is also a lack of acknowledgement of the triumphs within the homosexual population, failing to accurately portray historical events. Thus, a lack of appropriate care in schools creates an unnecessary stigma around homosexuality that perpetuates homosexual members of society failing to amount to anything. Homophobia is defined as “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals” (Merriam-Webster Online). Although it is obvious that homosexual students are only a small group within the school’s minority umbrella, there is little effort in the curriculum to acknowledge even small contributions to history. Black history month has a larger prevalence in public school systems today, and frequently uses literature portraying the uprising of the African and African-American society as a means of empowerment to students. However, the same cannot be said about literature, whether historical or via fiction, about homosexuals who have toiled to create a less hostile society. Further, by not being a visible minority, the homosexual community suffers the sort of prejudice that is created when someone decides that being homosexual is a choice, unlike race defined by skin colour. Complete neutrality in the classroom, as is required by Quebec’s education laws, often dissipates in the classroom while discussing homosexuality because teachers themselves may have an even older set of values. This is perhaps due to their own religious heritage, making homophobia in schools even more difficult to deal with in an effective and progressive manner.

In recent decades, ...

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...pinions about the matter, and are able to see the contributions of that society. With the increasing tolerance within school, and greater openness in the curriculum, there are ethical debates among parents and educators, immersing children into a “perverse” world. As facts continue to pile up countering the “choosing gay” argument and far more in support of genetics and hormones, more evidence faces younger students who will eventually shape the future society and generations. It continues to be a debate, but it is abundantly clear that the more open about homosexuality schools become, the more open-minded members of society there will be. If one is teaching about homosexuality as being completely acceptable in school, in the future there will continue to be a more accepting society with less prejudice, despite the colour of their skin or the love in their hearts.