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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kid Rock who wrote (22568)	5/30/1998 10:13:00 AM
From: James R. Barrett	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 108807

Tom, there is no way anyone can "normalize" homosexuality. Homosexuality is simply another form of mental illness like schizophrenia. The bottom line is, they are insane. They are in desperate need of therapy and counseling so that they can get well and become accepted members of society. Many of them are very talented and just need to redirect their talent from hairdressing to something more productive. Jim

To: Kid Rock who wrote (22568)	6/4/1998 2:19:00 AM
From: Kid Rock	Respond to of 108807

Christine, Did you consider this a disgusting question? Tom

To: Kid Rock who wrote (22568)	6/4/1998 8:44:00 AM
From: epicure	Respond to of 108807

Let's see, should you have explained to him about cunnilingus, carpet munching, eating a gal out? Of course you should. Let em' know all the options. Make his future wife a happy woman- I mean he is going to want her to put his penis in her mouth- so let's not make it sound too aberrant. You think telling him that some guys blow other guys off is going to make him gay? Whooooeeee. I rather doubt it.

To: Kid Rock who wrote (22568)	6/6/1998 12:20:00 PM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Sorry, Thomas, it was not because I thought your question about homosexuality was disgusting that I did not answer it. I have had a very chaotic week, and have a lot of posts that I did not answer yet. Basically, my answer is that by by normalizing homosexuality and transsexuality, I simply meant extending full human and civil rights to homosexuals and transsexuals, so that they are not discriminated against in employment, housing, etc. Hopefully this would also create a social climate where the incidence of hate crimes against them is dramatically reduced, as well. I must say I liked X's answer about oral sex, because it made me smile. She is right that men and women perform sex acts on each other that are objectively just as graphic as anything men do with each other, and many heterosexual couples also enjoy anal intercourse. So all of the stereotypical societal repulsions only to the the sex acts that homosexuals enjoy seem more than a little prejudicial. However, in answer to your question, I believe that children should get their sexual questions answered honestly, but in age-appropriate ways. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that a child knowing that sometimes men love men, and women love women, the same close way that mommy and daddy love each other, will make your child homosexual. Sexual identity is usually pretty much in place by age eight, anyway, although it may not have revealed itself yet. If there are homosexual men in your wife's family, it is more likely that your son will be homosexual, according to some new research on the genetic underpinnings of sexual identity. Certainly, it would be as inappropriate to teach an eight-year-old boy that sperm can also go in a man's mouth as it would be to teach homophobia to children, in my opinion. Did I answer your question? I'm sorry it took so long!!

To: Kid Rock who wrote (22568)	6/7/1998 12:58:00 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Tom, Your question has nothing at all to do with normalization of homosexuality but with the appropriateness of information to children at differing ages, which is what X points out in her wonderfully exaggerated response. I frankly don't agree with the term "normalization"; homosexuality is not really "normal" , which to me implies falling within some bell curve of standardized behavior. How many of us are really normal in all areas? Is a priest who chooses celibacy normal? The person with an IQ over 200? The individual who spends his life pursuing a fixed goal against all odds? I would rather give my children the ability to see that behavior doesn't have to fall within some arbitrary normal range (as defined by some limited behavioral box)to feel a person is valuable or worthy of respect and acceptance. When your children ask you about homosexuality ---and they will,if only by indirectly referring to it through a joke they hear at school, or a disbelieving reference when they first hear of it--- they will wait to see what your reaction is. That is when you will make the choice about what to teach them. You are the one who will set the tone for acceptance of diversity or one of ridicule and disgust for anything that is different from you. It will be your choice whether to perpetrate an attitude of tolerance or of prejudice. Will you teach them that there is room for respect and love for all of the world's wonderful variety or will you teach them to be afraid of and hate that which is "different"? I hope that my children will judge people based on something more important than their sexual preferences.