I am not sure where to start with this one. Somehow the religion revelation was easier to write.
A few months ago I got an e-mail from a friend that was a petition, asking me to sign it or contact my congressman. Basically it explained that there was a bill being discussed in the senate that would make California textbooks include sexual orientation of historical contributors, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. The bill stated that it would also bar negative portrayals of those individuals.
Let me just say that I did not sign my name nor did I contact my congressman. Why not? The petition was against including these individuals in textbooks.
I did not respond to this e-mail in any way. I read it, disagreed and deleted it. I didn't try to change my friends decision or influence her in any way. She feels one way, I feel another. She is as entitled to her opinion as I am mine. I am not sure that I understand her stance on this, and I know she doesn't understand mine.
I think for some, homosexuality is a way of life. Just as for others it is not. Who I am to say what is right or wrong? It isn't a disease that is going to be cured or disappear over time.
This affects our children. Shouldn't we supply them with all of the facts and knowledge and tolerance that we have and let them make their own decisions? Don't we want them to be happy, no matter what?
This is the part where the waters get a little murky for me. I am not entirely comfortable around gay/lesbian couples, but I am not disgusted either. I hate major public displays of affection, doesn't matter if the couple is straight or homosexual, the publicness embarrasses me no matter who is involved.
I have not yet explained to the girls yet that homosexuality exists, but over the next few weeks I will. I haven't even explained sex to them yet, I think I dread that one more.
This post came out very different that I had intended. It sure seems to be a bunch of jumbled thoughts rather than the neat essay I had planned. I am definitely unhappy with the way it turned out, but am publishing it anyway. I can fine tune it later, consider this a rough draft.
Labels: Sexuality
