Homosexuality

A growing issue in today's high schools

by Emilee Goulas

Someone who is said to be homosexual is sexually or romantically attracted to members of the same gender, or sex.

This does not mean that homosexuals are attracted to all members of the same gender any more than heterosexuals are attracted to every person of the opposite sex.

Usually, the words “gay” and “lesbian” are used to refer to homosexual men and women. The term “bisexual” refers to people who are attracted to both men and women.

Researchers who study human sexuality believe that sexual orientation develops and changes over a person's lifetime.

What causes homosexuality one might ask?

No one knows why some people are homosexual. Some of those who study human sexuality believe that sexuality is a result of genetics, social or individual factors, alone or as a combination of the two.

A common misperception is that troubled family relationships cause people to be homosexual, when in fact this myth is not supported by any scientific research.

One might also ask if some one can change from gay to straight or the other way around.

Regardless of their sexual preference, people choose how they act and how they deal with their feelings. However, trying to be something that one is not can lead to factors such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Most studies have found that about 5 percent of high school students identified themselves as gay or reported having had same-gender sexual experiences, according to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.

In 2002, the National Mental Health Association found that gay students are at "disproportionate risk" for bullying and harassment, reporting hearing anti-gay slurs about 26 times a day. Another 30 percent said they had been threatened or injured at school the year before, according to the association, and 78 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds reported having seen students tease or bully others who are gay or believed to be gay.

People who are uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuality are titled as homophobes. Homophobia refers to an irrational fear, prejudice or discrimination towards homosexuals.

Homophobia can occur in different forms, from name-calling and teasing the person, to serious crimes like assault and even murder. Homophobia is most often based upon the opponent ignorance or fear.

Despite the public's opinions, whether they accept it or not, homosexuality is becoming a large part of today's culture.

In turn, homosexuality will gradually grow in our nation's high schools, exposing new issues to the schools, the government, and the public alike.

With this growth as a certainty, the way that the three aforementioned institutions deal with it is the only uncertainty.