http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=999700In January 2008, every public school superintendent in the U.S. was sent a brochure called "Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth." It was a coordinated effort by 13 organizations – including the American Psychological Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the National Education Association – to integrate teaching about homosexuality into school curricula. The brochure promotes the idea that all forms of sexual attraction among students (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual) are normal. Educators are informed that sexual-reorientation therapy can be harmful. It also advises school officials that "gay clubs" should be allowed on campus.
A few weeks ago, America's public school supervisors received another letter, this one from the American College of Pediatricians. Its message was quite different. Here's some of what it said on the issue of sexual orientation and young people:
Adolescence is a time of upheaval and impermanence. Adolescents experience confusion about many things, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and they are particularly vulnerable to environmental influences. Rigorous studies demonstrate that most adolescents who initially experience same-sex attraction, or are sexually confused, no longer experience such attractions by age 25. In one study, as many as 26% of 12-year-olds reported being uncertain of their sexual orientation, yet only 2-3% of adults identify themselves as homosexual. Therefore, the majority of sexually-questioning youth ultimately adopt a heterosexual identity.
It quotes Dr. Francis Collins, former Director of the Genome Project, as stating that homosexuality isn't "hardwired by DNA." It goes on to cite a research study recently released by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) called "What Research Shows." That study drew three major conclusions. One is that people with unwanted same-sex attraction can be treated successfully. Please note carefully the word "unwanted." NARTH works with people who, of their own volition, want to be freed from same-sex attraction. The second conclusion was that, despite what the "Just the Facts" letter stated, there is absolutely no evidence that undergoing such treatment is harmful. And the third conclusion is that, "as a group, homosexuals experience significantly higher levels of mental and physical health problems compared to heterosexuals."
watch commentary icon smallTeens who have a "gay" identity are at higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, alcoholism, drug abuse, anxiety and depression.
"Gay" clubs at schools often encourage teens to "come out." The American College of Pediatricians warns in its letter that "there is a serious risk of erroneously labeling students [who may merely be experiencing transient sexual confusion and/or engaging in sexual experimentation]. Premature labeling may then lead some adolescents into harmful homosexual behaviors that they otherwise would not pursue."
There's no question that school administrators are under tremendous pressure from pro-homosexual organizations not only to promote homosexuality by supporting "gay" clubs, but also to label as discrimination any discussion of reparative therapy or suggestion that many teens outgrow same-sex attraction. Stating baldly in sex-ed class that homosexual sex carries significantly greater health risks than heterosexual sex would be considered the height of political incorrectness.
The American College of Pediatricians has also just launched a new website, called FactsAboutYouth.com with further information intended for students and educators. Among other things, it includes detailed statistics on the health risks of homosexual behaviors. There's also a link to the NARTH website which directly addresses information in the "Just the Facts" letter.
Here's how NARTH responds to the widely-held notion that "gay-affirming school programs" are important in keeping schools safe:
Without question, the aim of gay-affirmative counseling programs is humanitarian. They are responding to a problem of scapegoating which schools must address. But the problem is, while claiming only to discourage scapegoating, gay-affirming programs do much more. In reality, they promote a particular worldview, complete with truth claims that students are expected to adopt – lest they become the scapegoats, as victims of these programs' insistence on conformity. These programs promote the value systems of a particular social group and denigrate the views of another, while at the same time, distorting science.
The American College of Pediatricians believes that schools should provide a safe environment for all students. However, the ACP does not believe that schools should play a part in attempting to, as they put it, "'affirm' a student's perceived personal sexual orientation."
The ACP isn't recommending that schools avoid encouraging students to identify themselves as "gay" for religious or moral reasons. It's pointing out the fact that it's not uncommon for young people to be sexually confused. The vast majority of those confused youth will ultimately identify as heterosexual. Pressuring them early could change that. And the plain and simple truth is that the health risks -- both physical and mental -- for "gay" teens are great.
Topic: Should schools promote 'gay clubs'? (Read 476 times)