We used to live in a world where it was expected for a man to marry a woman and a woman to marry a man. It was the assumption that if you were born female, you stayed female and vice versa.
However, times have changed and the world has evolved. Through modernization and medical advancements, it is now possible for individuals to marry who they’d like and identify as whatever gender they desire.
These recasting’s of our society have made our country more inclusive and welcoming. Yet, there are still many individuals who disagree with the ideas in the LGBTQ+ community.
A major controversy surrounding the concept is if children should be taught about it, and its history, in schools. Both sides of the argument have some fair points, but I whole-heartedly believe LGBTQ+ history is a crucial notion that should be taught to kids – at a certain age.
Looking back in history, the U.S. used to be in a constant fight for civil rights. Whether that be for women’s rights, to end segregation or for LGBTQ+ rights.
The U.S. used to be a place full of hate, misogyny and segregation. One of the first milestones in American LGBTQ+ history took place in Chicago, when Henry Gerber founded the first ever gay rights organization on Dec. 10, 1924. However, there have also been many negative moments in LGBTQ+ history.
On April 27, 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the executive order, 10450, that banned homosexuals from working for the federal government. This is just one instance of many where those in the LGBTQ+ community were treated as inferior to others.
Through endless protests and work to gain equal rights, the LGBTQ+ community eventually became a normal integration into our society. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court voted5-4 for same-sex marriage to be legalized in all 50 states. This fight for equality is more recent than many people realize.
This all goes to show that the LGBTQ+ community has put in endless work to be treated fairly and equally. Their hard work and dedication to being their true selves deserves to be taught in schools. I understand the perspective that it can be a bit confusing to teach young children about the matter, however not educating kids about LGBTQ+ history at all fosters the close-minded idea that being a part of the community is not okay.
A common curriculum taught to sixth graders is sex education in health class. The class itself discusses anatomy, child abuse, nutrition, substance abuse and many other concepts that are crucial for children to understand. I believe adding a lesson on sexuality, gender and LGBTQ+ history is just as important as the other ideas taught throughout this class.
Danielle Shoulders, a sophomore business major, agrees.
“I believe it is important for kids to learn about what LGBTQ is, and I believe integrating into every health class is an effective way to educate kids about the matter,” Shoulders said.
Because our world has become more welcoming and inclusive, individuals are coming out at much younger ages. A study done by San Diego State University found that by age 10, about 1% of kids identify as potentially gay, bisexual or transgender.
This shows children at that young of an age are able to identify and understand, to a certain extent, their own sexuality and gender identity. Therefore, it is important for all kids to be able to understand what it means to be gay, lesbian, transgender, etc. The belief that LGBTQ+ talk should be left out of schools can lead to decreased peer acceptance and more kids feeling uncomfortable in their own skin.
If schools are allowed to discuss marriage and sex between a man and a woman, then it should not be an issue to discuss the same occurrences between those of the same gender. Trying to frame the idea as harmful is blatant homophobia, which should not be tolerated.
Our world has become so diverse and inclusive because these marginalized groups have put in endless work for their rights to be accepted and their voices to be heard. LGBTQ+ history is not “harmful” or “inappropriate,” it is a life that millions of people live and a life that everyone should be educated on.
