I don't think schools should be in the business of taking sides in moral debates, especially those related to religious belief. From a strictly secular point of view, sexual preference is a complex and varied topic. Sexual preference can take many different forms, whether it's attraction to skinny people, large people, people of different ethnic groups, tall people, short people, or people of the same sex. Depending on one's religious belief (or lack thereof) any or all of these may or may not be forbidden.
Anything which conveys a moral message accepting or condemning any of these practices should be restricted from the role of public schools. A health class which discusses human sexuality and the various forms it takes would be appropriate as long as it does not accept a specific moral position. Additionally, it could explicitly state that while various beliefs may discourage or encourage certain sexual practices, it is not the role of the course to confirm nor deny the validity of those beliefs. There may be a point where homosexuality is discussed and in the context of that discussion, homosexuality's presence throughout history, and different views that accompanied it could be illustrated. (Rejection by early hebrews, acceptance by early greeks, etc...) It would also be appropriate to note that the general consensus among the medical community is that it is not abnormal nor reflects any sort of mental illness or defect.
Overall, I think using phrases like "homosexuality is okay" is where trouble really starts. What does that mean? Is it morally ok? That depends upon one's personal belief. Is it ok in the sense that it is accepted in most free societies? I suppose so, since it is legal in most western democracies. I think it should be much more specific than "OK". Homosexuality is a form of sexual preference and even if your beliefs prohibit it, your beliefs are not universal and so in a free society we must learn to tolerate behaviors that we may personally find inappropriate, especially those that do not directly deprive us of property or life. This is the lesson that kids really need.
I'd be interested to know where you get the idea that there is any agreement, let alone a consensus, in the medical community that homosexuality is normal???
And, before you cite the 1973 American Psychiatric Association (APA) vote to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, you should be aware that the vote was far less than a consensus, and that the vote was preceded by three years of disruption and threats of violence at each years conventions and discussions of the issue.
Furthermore, 4 years after the declassification decision by the APA, a survey of 10,000 APA members revealed that of those answering, 69% said they believed 'homosexuality is usually a pathological adaptation, as opposed to a normal variation,' 18% disagreed and 13% were uncertain. Similarly, sizable majorities said that homosexuals are generally less happy than heterosexuals (73%) and less capable of mature, loving relationships (60%). A total of 70% said that homosexuals' problems have more to do with their own inner conflicts than with stigmatization by society at large." These findings were publicized in an article titled Sick Again, by Time Magazine in its Feb. 20, 1978 issue. You can read it at
Time Magazine.
Perhaps you can give us an up to date survey of medical professionals, particlarly of APA members, that contradicts these findings???
Please put down the wide lapels and step away. How about some more recent info?
For example, this position statement from May 2000 from the APA which not only reaffirmed their position that homosexuality is not a disorder, it sums up the idea nicely,
Several major professional organizations including the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all made statements against reparative therapy because of concerns for the harm caused to patients. The American Psychiatric Association has already taken clear stands against discrimination, prejudice and unethical treatment on a variety of issues including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Therefore, the American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as reparative or conversion therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual homosexual orientation.
Link
Or June 2006 when the APA asked the military to update instruction that still listed homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Link
The American Academy of Pediatrics certainly didn't seem to see it as a disorder when they suggested, "Give evidence of support and acceptance to adolescents
questioning their sexual orientation." in
this clinical report from 2004.
And broadening our horizons to look more international, homosexuality was removed as a disorder from the World Heath Organization's ICD10 in 1993.
I feel comfortable calling that a "general consensus".
