Sexual education plays a vital role in schools. For decades schools have enforced the education on such diseases like HIV/AIDS. Prevention classes such as Sexual Education and also other programs have reached out to all people who have questions or may be sexually involved. Although sexuality is not exposed to the teachers or health professionals who come to schools to talk about safe sex, homosexuals find themselves benefiting a lot from these courses. These courses educate people of all ages, race, sexuality, and genders about various diseases, transmission, and preventions.
These programs, as mentioned before educate and inform the students about potential risks and experiences young gay men and women go through or deal with. It is believed to help reduce the stigma and prejudice that follows the gay community. Informing the heterosexual community about these health factors help them come to the realization that it can also effect them as well, and not just targeted to homosexuals. Teaching about the risk and behaviors of homosexuals in the sexual education classes will give more knowledge to the one person who may have not come out about their sexuality or who is in a relationship with someone of the same sex. It has been proven that these programs in school have become effective and reduced additional risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.
DID YOU KNOW?
"53% of students report hearing homophobic comments made by school staff". More than half of students in school hear derogatory statements being made by staff members. This may lead many students to be discouraged about opening up about their sexuality in schools.
"HIV, AIDS and young gay men." AIDS & HIV information from the AIDS charity AVERT. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.avert.org/young-gay-men.htm>.
"Gay Statistics - The Real Truth." Parents Of Gay Children. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.gayfamilysupport.com/gay-statistics.html>.
Alicia,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great statistic (because you found it, not a negative comment). People that are not homosexual may not even notice these comments because it does not relate to them. Maybe members of the staff come to some crazy conclusion that kids cannot be homosexual 'at that age' and, for whatever reason, believe it's 'okay' to make a comment here or there. I think the general public still do not understand, or refuse to understand, what it's like to be homosexual. I believe our country's stigma towards that population is still strong and that shows with your statistic. Children are like sponges. You really have to watch what you say around them. As I have grown older, that is becoming more of a reality to me. I appreciate your research. This is an area of which I could build upon for my own understanding. Thanks again and good luck this week!
-Dominick Iannelli
I agree with opening up the idea sex education and not differentiating between homosexual relations and heterosexual relations is a great way to kill the false facts people have about HIV being a gay mans disease. I do think that we constantly are bombarded with negative connotation of homosexuals. It is everywhere to the point where we get desensitized to it and the school systems are no different. Great Blog!
ReplyDelete-Haymanot Birra
Sex is sex. It is vaginal, oral or rectal. There may be 52 different positions to have sex in, but there are only three orifices. When this country stops defining sex as heterosexual or homosexual we will have made a giant leap forward.
ReplyDeleteIn Seminole county you can't mention condoms, birth control or anything that might prevent the spread of HIV. You can talk abstinence. You can also take your baby to the day care center on the school property. Seems to me that it would be more cost effective to talk about sex and birth control than to build day care centers on every campus.
@TeachUCF
ReplyDeleteThat first paragraph in your comment is perfect. I totally agree, and I will probably quote that for the rest of my life.