Saugatuck Middle School Might Include LGBT Studies In Sex Ed (VIDEO)

While California schools debate compulsory LGBT studies in history class, a West Michigan school district might have eighth graders learn about LGBT issues as part of its new sex education curriculum.

The Saugatuck Middle School sexual advisory committee is proposing that students watch the video "Coming Out: What Every Teen (Gay or Straight) Needs To Know," WZZM reports. The video discusses tolerance, bullying and identity issues.

"The video really focuses on issues of sexual harassment," said Superintendent Rolfe Timmerman.

The video is available for parents to watch, and the issue has the community talking. Parents with three teens said discussion of alternative lifestyles should come from home:

"The natural, basics should be taught in school, and parents or elders should teach anything beyond that."

Another community member had a strong opinion on those who oppose the video.

"I would say that maybe they need to get educated a little bit about it. Maybe they need to watch the 20-minute video and see what it's about."

Timmerman says the video is worth discussing, WZZM reports. The school board will vote in June on the issue.

WATCH:

Comments

[michiganresident]

02:20 PM on 05/09/2011

Hello All: First time comment on HP

First, this is primarily a local issue and the desire to educate children about sexual orientation and the negative consequences of bullying is a reflection of the Saugatuck community. If you were from around here, you'd realize that the welcoming and nurturing values of the community are what draws visitors and keep our economy alive.

Second: To those who believe that G-d could not possibly have 'created' gay people. Couldn't it be possible that certain people have no desire to procreate with the opposite sex so they would be child free? Look at the benefits to society at large: voluntary population control and adults ready to accept unwanted children,

Heck, if people were really pro-life, they would acknowledge that gay people are part of G-d's plan to make sure that every child has someone in her/his life who loves them. We all know the act of sexual intercourse doesn't not automatically make one a good parent.

How about there has always been in every culture and time period those who are without sexual desire for the opposite sex, but are fully capable of loving, caring, and contributing. How about we take it a step further and say that in a democratic, free society established to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - how an adult chooses to express that love, care, and positive contribution is not mine to control.

[Ioan Lightoller]

03:33 PM on 05/09/2011

Please allow me to become your first fan. So beautifully-put. I've heard many good things about Saugatuck and hope one day to visit. I am so happy to see your community taking this simple yet very important step. Would that all school systems would do this.

[michiganresident]

10:23 PM on 05/09/2011

Thanks for fanning me. Saugatuck is such a beautiful place in the summer that it is actually a bit pricey and has that 'high season', 'mid-season', 'low season' thing going on. If you have no interest in actually swimming in Lake Michigan, come in the fall.

[David N Taiwan]

04:49 PM on 05/09/2011

Fan #3!

Welcome!

[michiganresident]

10:15 PM on 05/09/2011

Thanks David,

I noted that you are in Taiwan. I'm toward the end of "The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and the Birth of Modern China" and am really looking forward to deeper insight into why the existence of Taiwan continues to be such a huge issue. I hope you are having fun over there!

[rekk]

02:06 PM on 05/09/2011

Good! I am glad we can teach our children that gender identity is on a spectrum. Not EVERYONE wants to be a girly girl or a jock. Some of us girls want to be 'Butch' and some of us guys want to be 'Flaming'. It should also help the straights who might get overloaded on gender images in magazines where the thin pretty ones are the only ones getting attention.

[iuriggs6]

01:26 PM on 05/09/2011

Saugatuck is a fantastic place. Sorry, a bit off topic. We used to spend summers there when I was in middle and high school. You can walk down the sidewalk and see any and all lifestyles. It was just a great place to hang out and people watch. There was a store (it might still be there) called Hooptie Scootie that had everything under the sun geared toward gay, straight, pretty much every walk of life for people and it was awesome. My wife and I have taken our kids there a couple times and it's still the same. Good for them.

[TBJ]

12:17 PM on 05/09/2011

johnb123
57, single, Calif
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60 minutes ago (11:02 AM)

GOD did not create gays, you become one by choice.

----------------------------------------------------------------

See, this is what I don't get about the claim that being gay is a choice.

That implies that all gay people are actually straight and are actively choosing to be attracted to someone of the same gender.

But, why do that? If they're straight, then wouldn't they all prefer to have relations with the opposite gender?

The only explanations I can think of for someone to claim that this is a 'choice' is either:
-The person has not actually thought out the concept, and are blindly repeating an anit-gay talking point.
-The person is actually attracted to the same gender (is gay or, more likely bisexual) and is refusing to 'give in' to those attractions. Meaning that they are choosing not to be gay, and therefore, using the false connection of sexual orientation to sexual acts, gay people are choosing to be gay.

Of course, either scenario is completely stupid.

[StevenM]

01:38 PM on 05/09/2011

Not that I disagree with you, but what difference should it make? Is it okay to bully a child because this child's mother or father is a drunk, or divorced, or whatever? Why would it be okay to pick on a child because this child has two mothers or two fathers?

Unfortunately, many Protestant Christians have divorced their theology from Lutheran theology (Luther was the beginning of Protestantism). Luther had a more nuanced view of the human will. Some refer to him as the first depth psychologist. At the very least, Luther understood that life wasn't just about making choices, human psychology was more complex than that.

[TBJ]

01:48 PM on 05/09/2011

Um, all I was trying to do was prove that claiming "being gay is a choice" was irrational, and showing the likely motivations of people who make that claim.

I guess it was off-topic from the whole bullying thing, but, yeah, any and all bullying shouldn't be permitted, even for things like a kid choosing to be (or not be) in the band or on a certain school team.

[David N Taiwan]

04:40 PM on 05/09/2011

One has to wonder how John came to be such an expert in these matters. What is his opinion based on? Any real-world experience? Extensive research? Lots of reading?

[Oneandoneandone]

04:48 PM on 05/09/2011

Johnb thinks that saying the same thing over and over again makes it true. The only things he's an expert on is repetition and stonewalling.

[johnb123]

09:09 PM on 05/09/2011

I Google for my research. :)

[Bryan Morris]

11:29 AM on 05/09/2011

The 10 Republican views of education:

1 - If the facts don't support our agenda, ignore them.
2 - If we don't like they way history shows our hypocrisy, rewrite it!
3 - If the facts contradict the bible, discredit the researchers or claim divine authority.
4 - When proven wrong, invent a reason you are right.
5 - When irrefutable evidence is found that contradicts you, claim it was put there by god to confuse the non-believers.
6 - Michelle Bachmann
7 - GM execs and other corporate leaders care more about educating students than teachers do.
8 - If you can't test it, it's useless. Cut all arts funding.
9 - Orientation, much like race, is something you choose!
10 - Snow comes up, Charlie Brown. Snow comes up!

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:10 PM on 05/09/2011

Now, there is an agenda for you! They are the ones with the agenda, not GLBT people. We have but one goal: EQUALITY.

[StevenM]

08:37 AM on 05/09/2011

While some Christians have made public statements against this type of presentation to children, I am at a loss to understand why. Bullying is always wrong. Bullying children is even worse. As Christians we live in a world which does not always share our values. I get that. Yet it should be important for us to teach our children that just because someone, some child, or some child's parents, do not share our values, it is wrong to bully them, or bully their children. Unfortunately, some Christians appear to have it in their mind that just because someone does not follow our teachings, that it is okay to belittle them, ridicule them, denigrate them, and condemn them and their children. But that wasn't the teaching of Jesus, he said we Christians would be known for our love and compassion for others. My father was (he has passed away) a fundamentalist pastor. While he was very conservative in his outlook, he was always compassionate and kind towards others, and he taught me to be the same. My father had this ability of approaching a complete stranger and treating this person as a long lost friend. I never picked that up, nonetheless helping those in need, being friends with the unpopular, sticking up for those being bullying, and not being a bully myself, those values still stick. They are Christian values. They are the values my father taught me growing up and going to church.

[johnb123]

10:31 AM on 05/09/2011

This is not a video about bullying. There's no mention of any other groups or persons, only gays. What if someone made a video of bullying and only talked about Christians and the bible? Would you accept that as being ONLY about bullying?

[StevenM]

10:55 AM on 05/09/2011

Your reasoning appears more partisan than thoughtful. If someone made a video about discrimination against Blacks, without mentioning discrimination against Asians, or against Christians, would you then claim that it wasn't a video about discrimination since it only mentioned discrimination against Blacks? Where is the logic in that?

No one has suggested that this video is "ONLY about bullying" (whatever you might think that means). But why as a Christian would you be FOR bullying of any kind? Why is bullying children okay with you?

[EmmaDarian]

11:38 AM on 05/09/2011

Ok, john. It's a sex ed class. So, anything presented is going to have to do with sexuality. What group or groups are often bullied and even disowned for the sexuality? Which which group or groups have to deal with coming out?

And, yes, it is about bullying. And other groups are mentioned. You are simply, demonstrably, factually wrong.

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:13 PM on 05/09/2011

Fanned and faved. Bless your late father--he was a true Christian. Neither I nor any other gay person expect total acceptance--that is not possible, I do not think. But we do ask to be treated as others would wish themselves to be treated.

Please ignore Johnb123...he has some very serious issues. This is indeed a video about bullying and the lives of GLBT young people.

[Tracy Fortune]

07:55 AM on 05/09/2011

If same-sex attraction were that influenced by what is seen & taught- then there ought to be no gay people at all. If you consider that straight-world is the only world that has ever been promoted, how do you explain any gay people at all if every parent was straight?

My parents were str8- had 6 kids- 2 out of 6 gay. There were zero gay influences for us growing up.

That whole argument is sheer & utter nonsense espoused by ignorant & hateful people.

Yes, I believe that it is very important to educate children on as many types of prejudice they may confront- and do so as soon as possible. Maybe it will help to teach compassion.

[Ioan Lightoller]

12:25 PM on 05/09/2011

Agreed, Tracy. I come from a straight family and both my half-brother and I were/are gay. And we heard nothing but straight 24/7 growing up.

Learning compassion for ALL people is something this country needs to do. Let's try to make this a better world for our kids.

[Tracy Fortune]

07:11 AM on 05/10/2011

I am doing my part LL. I have a 12 yr old daughter & 16 yr old son. I came out in late 40's & have primary custody (in AU)- father in the states. Kids & I are permanent residents now. When they visit the states, they have said they feel "uncomfortable"- due to bigotry from the culture, mainly. They breathe a sigh of relief when they return home to AU.

SInce coming out to them, they have been incredibly open, helpful, & supportive. In the aftermath of the divorce, what I have seen played out is their compassion towards others and their willingness to defend the underdog- I could burst with pride over this!

Keep pushing, Everyone who understands what it is to be discriminated against- lock arms now. This is a matter of principle. We are all equal.

T

[European1919]

04:38 AM on 05/09/2011

That clear up a lot of ugly myths and rumours.

[Ioan Lightoller]

04:26 AM on 05/09/2011

It is disgusting how some here are all up in arms because tolerance toward GLBT kids and people MAY be taught in this schoool system. You can't even allow gay kids that chance. Start hounding them as young as possible. Do you think that will make them straight? Do you think your children are going to catch "teh gay" while learning tolerance? What about those of you whose children might be gay. Shouldn't they have a chance to go to school without bullying?

[Ioan Lightoller]

03:28 AM on 05/09/2011

Still won't make gay people straight. You never have anything positive to contribute, do you?

[Ioan Lightoller]

04:27 AM on 05/09/2011

And it is not a "lifestyle". Stop denigrating our lives.

[AgentGrey]

01:27 AM on 05/09/2011

For homosexuals or those who don't identify with their biological gender -- as well as for straight people -- sexual identity is an aspect of their humanity. It's not something they took up because they thought it seemed fun or interesting. Yet children are taught to think of homosexuality as a defect and an affliction before they even understand what it means. This leads to a great deal of unnecessary judgment, insecurity, shame, and self-punishment that might be avoided by taking steps to neutralize the stigma.

Are you suggesting that this puts us on a slippery slope to too little bigotry?

[Uncle Bill]

11:47 PM on 05/08/2011

For those who think kids can be indoctrinated into being gay, ask yourself who indoctrinated you into being straight? I just remember in the spring of my fifth grade year a classmate named Marla suddenly inspired me to reconsider my previous thinking that girls had cooties. She wasn't interested in me in the slightest, and still held to the cootie theory apparently, so I seriously doubt she was either recruiting or indoctrinating me. Hormones seemed to have more to do with it.

[Ioan Lightoller]

11:45 PM on 05/08/2011

It is so sad that the anti gay types see anything positive about GLBT people and the effort to increase tolerance to be part of some sinister plot. We do not harm anyone and yet anything positive about us is sensed as a threat by those determined not to see anything good about us.

All you anti-gay haters need to look inside yourselves and see what the source of your prejudice and ignorance is. Because you WILL find in the end that your god does not approve of your hatred and ignorance.

[Yeah-Me]

11:51 PM on 05/08/2011

"All you anti-gay haters need to look inside yourselves and see what the source of your prejudice and ignorance is."
================
Fear of the unknown is what it comes down to, I believe.

[peegan]

11:33 PM on 05/08/2011

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.  ~Dr. Seuss

[Yeah-Me]

11:36 PM on 05/08/2011

Leave it to the esteemed wisdom of Dr Suess...

Faved.

[TMc73]

12:57 AM on 05/09/2011

Can't go wrong with Dr. Suess.

F&F

[CubfanBudman]

10:59 PM on 05/08/2011

We talked about gay couples in sex ed. This had to be 20 years ago or so when I was in 6th grade.

[3daywkend]

11:11 PM on 05/08/2011

Same here, and we also had a course called the Bible as Literature. All of sudden, this stuff is supposed to be new.

[David N Taiwan]

09:09 AM on 05/09/2011

We talked about gay people in class of all different kinds in 1978. That was 32 years ago!

[HRH]

12:25 PM on 05/09/2011

Did anyone in your class catch "teh gay" because they took the class?