Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Dennis Carlson

Hyperlinks

The subject of homosexuality is obviously a very controversial issue within our society. Reading this article and listening to Carlson argue that "that schools use their power of influence to keep gayness 'hidden', 'in its place', and not to be part of the 'normal' that is accepted in our society” (Alicia’s Blog) It really made me wonder how this could actually be happening. This class is making me see that maybe America isn’t all it’s worked up to be. How are we the land of opportunity if we have a “culture of power” and don’t let people inside that without these certain characteristics, in this case, straightness? That is beside the point though. “Gayness” is always a topic on the news and I want to pull up a few things that relate to this topic and are real eye openers.

First, just two weeks ago, a freshman student at Rutgers College committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge because his roommate broadcasted his gay relations over a webcam. This sickens me because it is such a cruel thing to do to someone. Carlson argues that everyone is different in this world and people need to be accepting of that. If Tyler Clementi’s roommate was accepting of Tyler’s lifestyle then he would have never been found at the bottom of the Hudson River.

Next I found a YouTube video (which i could not embed?) on a thirteen year old boy who committed suicide because of being bullied for being gay. One, this is disturbing because he was so young. Police said that they cannot prosecute those who bullied Seth Walsh because it is not a criminal act. I found this heart breaking and think that if this had been going on for so long how could a teacher not recognize it, they must have at least somewhat witnessed it since most of the bullying was at school. Do you think they were just “sweeping it under the rug” and ignoring it. Carlson talks about teachers not having comments on this subject and it makes me sad to think that this got so far to where a boy committed suicide and it could have been prevented.

Last I just want to conclude with a story that connects to Carlson. My friend Travis is gay and came out in 2007, his senior year of high school. His dad sort of abandoned him when this happened-saying that it “would ruin his reputation” and gives the family a “bad name.” This is exactly what Carlson was talking about, challenging the norm. Trav’s goes to school in New York for dance at probably the most prestigious performing art school in the United States, Juilliard. I don’t think that is at all ruining any reputation or giving a bad name to his family. To this day Travis and his father do not talk, it’s a sad way to show how society can be so cruel, even to one’s family.

Carlson talks about how a "democratic multicultural education must become a dialogue in which all "voices" are heard and all "truths" are understood.”  I, in one way or another, would like to see this in classrooms. I realize that this is difficult, but I strongly feel  that every student should feel comfortable enough to talk in a classroom and not feel they will be judged on their opinions.

Online I found this debate, although I did not read all of it, some of the points made here were interesting and if you have time you should skim through it.

In class I would like to discuss our thoughts about discussing homosexuality inside the classroom.