And the two princes lived happily every after …
Monday, December 10th, 2007Forget Heather Has Two Mommies. 
More and more scholastic books on homosexuality are emerging on the shelves of school libraries across America. And more and more parents are trying to stop it from happening.
As reported in the Washington Blade, a group of parents who objected to the discussions of gay families in their children’s classrooms have taken their case to a federal appeals court. The lawsuit filed by the parents explains why they sued after their son brought home a book from kindergarten that depicted different kinds of families, including a gay family. Another couple signed on after they found out that a second grade teacher read the class a story about two princes falling in love. (Oh, the horror!)
The parents cried that their “rights to religious freedom and to control the upbringing of their children” were violated by the school system.
I’m all for religious freedom and the right for parents to “control” (they mean “teach”, right?) their children how they see fit … but, if they enroll their children in a public school, they do not have the right to dictate the curriculum. Furthermore, if certain parents want to monitor what their children read and learn, then they should be home-schooling them. They can’t expect an entire school system to change their curriculum on account of a few students.
If you are a parent who cringes at the thought of your child reading a fairytale about two men living happily ever after (pun intended), then pull your kid out of school. Have them read books that deal with the kinds of subjects you deem educational, the kinds of subjects that you feel expose them to the way the world really is (in your mind). I’ve got news for you though. When he or she graduates from twelve years of sheltered schooling, while other kids have gained a wealth of knowledge from all walks of life, your child will certainly be a step behind the times.
Here’s the deal folks. If you hadn’t noticed, the world is changing. What was considered taboo twenty years ago isn’t so “hush hush” anymore. You’d be surprised to know that your little five-year-old is more open-minded and accepting than you are, maybe even more than you will ever be. Why try to shelter your child from reality? The fact that there are interracial families in the world is real. The fact that there are single-parent families in the world is real. And, I’m sorry to say, the fact that there are homosexual families in the world is also very real.
You shake your head at me. You say, “It’s not my reality.” Fine. Then hide the book from your child. In fact, don’t ever let them step foot in a library. Who knows what they might find! Who knows what they might read. But if you do that, then you’ll have to keep them from watching television. You’ll have to keep them off of the computer. And don’t let them have any friends either, because they might learn a thing or two that you don’t approve of from little Mary down the street. As far as school goes – what if your child ends up in the same class as the child of two women or two men. What then? Maybe it’s best if you lock your child up in the house and board up all the windows and doors. Let them out for church only. Then bring them back home where they will be safe.
Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Well, so does your idea of banning books that deal with subjects you don’t approve of.
I know of an author who has been the subject of banned books. What a horrible person this must have been, you think. What garbage did she write about, you ask?
Her name is Judy Blume. And she is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of this era. The book she wrote that has been banned is called Forever. The reason it was banned was because it dealt with teenagers having sex.
Aren’t you glad some people fought to have that book banned from bookshelves? Teenagers would be having sex all over the place.
Oh wait. They have sex regardless.
Maybe that means that banning books on homosexuality won’t stop it from happening either. Hmmm.
the washington blade, judy blume, forever, heather has two mommies, banned books
America’s most celebrated novel about fictional gay athletes has garnered yet another literary distinction with her first nonfiction book about real-life sports figures titled, The Lavender Locker Room: 3000 years of Great Athletes Whose Sexual Orientation Was Different.
, whose 1974 landmark novel, The Front Runner, became an international bestseller and the first modern gay love story to become successful in mainstream America, has won the Independent Publisher Gold Medal this year for Best Gay/Lesbian book.
Since it’s the thick of April … and April always seems to bring rain showers or in some cases (if you happen to live in the North East as I do), snow, I thought that I’d give you all some suggestions of quality reading material to snuggle up with on the couch until the warmer weather ushers in.
