gardi wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:29I don't disagree that schools should focus on teaching kids to respect others and that in an ideal world everybody should be treated the same. The sad truth however is that homosexual kids are systematically bullied and harassed for being gay while straight kids are not. In that context it seems reasonable to me to emphasize (both to them and to other kids) that there is nothing wrong with them and that it is wrong to discriminate against them. Imagine a world where christian kids were constantly bullied at school for being christian and suffered for it. Wouldn't you agree that in that case it would make sense for schools to remind all kids that different people have different religious beliefs and that we should respect everybody? I think that's different from celebrating one religion over another, no?
I don't take issue with what you're proposing, but what you're proposing isn't celebrating or normalizing either. This is pretty close to how my kids school operates today, but it's moving in a more progressive direction.
gardi wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:29I think what I was trying to point out is that the suffering by those kids is real and that we should all share the common goal of making sure that all kids feel equally human and accepted. It seems like we agree on that. After all we can always start hating each other as adults

I don't want anyone to suffer and if I had a significant issue I would just pull my kids from the school. Ideally, it would never come to that.
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34What type of special treatment are you talking about here? Being allowed to live without being told they are sinners? Without being bullied or discriminated against? It seems that simply being treated like any other non-gay kid is exactly what are you are advocating against.
When I was in elementary school I had access to school counselors. Wouldn't all elementary kids have access to this if they need help, whether they were homosexual or not? Isn't that in the spirit of equality?
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34They would be a lot less likely to need help if people like you were not promoting the idea that is somehow wrong to be gay.
I don't think it should be promoted ... I said it shouldn't be celebrated and normalized.
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34Well, honestly, how can you not see that you are effectively bullying them by telling them they are sinners and also effectively promoting a platform and reason for other kids to bully them.
I haven't promoted anyone tell other they're sinners. In fact, Christians are advised to do the opposite ... doesn't mean we are to surround ourselves with sin.
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34Honestly, how much public display of affection are you really envisioning happening in schools. And odd how you throw hetero couples in as an afterthought. Do you somehow thing gay people have an agenda to promote they are gay with public displays of affection in schools?
I think school's are more reluctant to punish homosexual displays of affection on school grounds out of fear of being called a homophobe. There are some examples of this in the thread.
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34By normalizing, you mean "treating them the same as anyone else" and not telling them they are sinners?
You're right. Treating them the same as anyone else. No celebrating their sin, no telling them about their sin, no special LGBT days, no gay pride celebration, no rainbow week, etc.
boston_e wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 14:34How can you not recognize that telling a gay kid he is a sinner isn't a form of torture. You are torturing them simply by promoting this agenda.
You're repeating this notion, which makes me think I said something that makes you believe I've said this. I haven't advocated for telling kids anything. If I had an issue I'd talk to the school administrator ... I wouldn't enable my children to be involved or the other child/children in question.
XtremeJibber2001 wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 13:41You don't think we should discriminate agains gays in school. Should a gay kid be allowed to bring a same sex date to prom? Or is that "celebrating" homosexuality?
This thread has gone on for a while so I'm starting to repeat myself

This discussion started about my issues with Elementary schools. I don't have strong issues with High School level ... I don't think they should be celebrating / normalize there either, but would have less concern because my children would be adults. So no issue with two gay kids going to prom.
deadheadskier wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 15:37For one, unless you specifically send your kids to a Christian School, your desires for the curriculum to follow your religious beliefs are a mute point.
You may have misread what I wrote. I said it would be strange to celebrate my religion in school.
deadheadskier wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 15:37For two, in what ways are public schools elevating homosexuality? I don't think the goal of any public school is to elevate it, they just want gay students to feel welcomed and supported as who they are just the same as straight students.
If you're permitting school wide gay pride and LGBT days/weeks/month, you're elevating and celebrating it. Just an example for K-12:
https://www.weteachnyc.org/resources/co ... ide-month/
Bubba wrote: ↑Dec 10th, '20, 15:49
I have to go back to the conclusion reached in Brown v Board of Ed of Topeka where the court wrote “Separate but equal is inherently unequal”. While you’re not suggesting separation, of course, the simple designation of one group as sinners because of who they are is inherently a designation of inequality for that group. No?
Except that we're all sinners Bubba so we're all inherently equal. The difference is some chose to repent and turn away and other chose to live habitually in sin.
I know I opened this can of worms so I felt obligated to answer any questions raised, especially since most were cordial. However, it consumes a lot of my time to respond to everyone and we're getting to the point where we're going in circles. I appreciate everyone's perspectives and you've asked a lot of things to think about. This will be my last response on this topic.