Talking Points #3 on Carlson

"Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community" by Dennis Carlson

This article is about:

• the creation of the terms associated with Homosexual peoples
• the view that Homosexual peoples are "ill"
• avoidance of using Homosexuality as a reference
• avoidance of asking someone of their sexual preference
• discrimination against Homosexual peoples
• suicide rates among Homosexual individuals

Author's Arguement:
Carlson argues that the world's people have created the image of Homosexuality being "bad" or being an "illness". He is arguing that it is hard enough for people who are Homosexual to live in a world full of discrimination, without the prejudices of close-minded people.

Evidence:

1. "...while other individuals and subject positions (i.e. black, working class, female, homosexual, etc.) are disempowered and represented as deviant, sick, neurotic, criminal, lazy, lacking in intelligence, and in other ways, "abnormal".
   This quote shows that many people are subject to the view that they are "ill" when in fact they have not chosen the way in which they are living. Obviously, African American peoples did not choose their skin color, women their gender, Homosexuals their sexual preference or working class citizens their stations in life. It is simply something we are all born into, and being a female I can personally attest to that. However they are trying to pin these people as being "sick" or "criminal".
2. "In such an environment, it should hardly be surprising that major textbook publishers avoid gayness like the plague. English literature anthologies still go out of their wayt ot avoid acknowledging that certain famous writers were gay, such as Gertrude Stein Walt Whitman, or James Baldwin."
   I think this is a changing thing, but it is true that most teacher's try not to tell people that some of the most esteemed people in their culture are gay. Look at Elton John or Ellen Degeneres? There was a rather large outburst at their coming out of the closet because of their high places in culture, however every one in the world has learned to get over it because they are good people. Homosexual's are all good people, and it's time the world got over it.
3. "For example, it is now estimated that up to one-third of all adolescent suicide victims are gay, approximately one-quarter of all homeless youth in the United States are gay, and dropout and drug abuse rates among gay youth are likewise high."
   Well it's no wonder, when they are put under such disgusting scrutiny. It is an appalling thing to know that most suicides are because people have come out of the closet.

Comments:
This article really opened my eyes, because I have grown up with a cousin who is a Lesbian all of my life. Nobody in my family really cares because we've all known and accepted her for who she is. We all attended her commitment ceremony (except for a few who don't particularly matter in the least anyway) and we all accept her Life Partner as part of our family, partially because she's been around since I was about 6 years old. But it is true that Homosexual couples are alienated. At the commitment ceremony (which was held outside) it was astounding the amount of people who would stop in their cars to see the wedding party, but then drive away at about 80 mph when they saw it was between two women. I honestly think the world needs to grow up, Homosexuality is a fact of life, and I would not give up my Gay or Lesbian, or even my Bi friends for the world. They are awesome people, just like anybody else.