New Jersey’s preeminent gay rights group came to the defense yesterday of Evesham’s school district, which is facing questions from some parents for showing a diversity video that includes families headed by same-sex couples. The video, called “That’s a Family!,” depicts children being raised in a variety of family structures, including those headed by divorced and single parents, grandparents, guardians, and gay and lesbian couples. The video is used around the state, and the New Jersey Department of Education provides training on incorporating “That’s a Family!” into the classroom. Evesham elementary schools began showing the video this year to third graders as part of their health curriculum. But the video drew complaints from some parents who objected to the portion showing same-sex parents, saying the school district didn’t tell parents about “That’s a Family!” beforehand.
I suppose I can understand where these anonymous parents are coming from here. After all, everyone wants to be able to teach their children to share their own particular hatreds and prejudices. Heaven forbid that little Johnny should grow without a working knowledge of whom to hate and marginalize based on their lifestyle choice and/or belief system.
This is America, damnit! One of the freedoms we hold dear as ignorant troglodytes Americans is the inalienable right to hate groups or individuals because…well, just because we can. Maybe we don’t like their looks, or their beliefs, or even the way they live or who they sleep with. It hardly matters, because this is a free country, and we’re free to hate whomever we choose. Even better, we can pass our ignorance and hatred onto our children. It’s a legacy, and it’s American as apple pie, burning crosses, and white robes.
Jeebus, people; get a clue, willya? No one is expecting you to support or advocate for a lifestyle choice you don’t agree with. Unfortunately for you, hating something and doing your best to ignore it isn’t going to make it go away. Sheltering your children from the reality of same-sex households isn’t going to turn your third-grader into some sort of gay avenger. Education is simply the act of making children aware of the world around them AS IT IS- not how you wish it could or think it should be. If you don’t agree with the gay lifestyle or the idea of same-sex households, that’s your prerogative, and you are free to bring your child up accordingly. What you are NOT free to do is to demand that our public schools reflect your own ignorant, hateful, short-sighted worldview. If you insist on that right, pull your children out of public school and find a private school that teaches your particular flavor of hatred. Or, better yet, homeschool them. Yep, raising your children in a hernetically-sealed environment where they’re exposed only to your point of view almost guarantees that your hatred and prejudice will live on long after you’re gone. What more could a proud parent possibly want?
