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HOT TOPICS Sexual Orientation

HOT TOPICS Sexual Orientation. Brett Grayson Rosalinda Ramirez Rachel Sanchez. Sexual Orientation. An enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affection attraction that a person feels toward another person.

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HOT TOPICS Sexual Orientation

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  1. HOT TOPICSSexual Orientation Brett Grayson Rosalinda Ramirez Rachel Sanchez

  2. Sexual Orientation • An enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affection attraction that a person feels toward another person. • Develops across a person’s lifetime, which develop at different points in their lives.

  3. Sexual Orientation Survey • Please go to our group’s website… http://projectconnect-sexualorientation.wikispaces.com/

  4. The 2003 National School Climate Survey Results

  5. The 2003 National School Climate Survey Results

  6. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network • Two methods of survey used: Outreach through community-based groups serving LGBT youth and outreach via Internet. • The sample consisted of a total of 6,209 LGBT K-12 students, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, between the ages of 13 and 21. • About 2/3 of the sample (64.4%) white • Over half (57.7%) female • Over half identified as gay or lesbian (53.6%) • Students grades 6 to 12, with the largest numbers being 10th or 11th grade

  7. Sexual Orientation Program History • The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (LGBT) founded in 1983 • Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network (GLSTN) founded in 1990 • Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) founded in 1998

  8. Sexual Orientation vs. Sexual Behavior • Sexual Orientation is different from Sexual Behavior • Sexual Orientation can be known as: • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual • Sexual Behavior • Includes any type of sexual acts.

  9. Sexual Behavior in Cultures • In Greece, older men engages in same sex relationship with young boys. • Purpose: The transition from young boy to adulthood. • In New Guinea, boys 8-15 are inseminated daily by the young make warriors of the tribe.

  10. Gay Gene • How many believe that people are born with homosexual gene (NATURE)? • How many believe that people choose to be homosexual (NURTURE)? • Does the environment play a role in sexual orientation?

  11. NATURE

  12. Mental Disorder • Psychiatrists used to believe that it was a mental disorder. • 1957, tests were performed exploring the relationship between homosexuality and psychological development and illness. • Since the mid-1970’s, it has NOT been supported by health professional organizations.

  13. Research on the Brain • Swaab’s experiment (1990): • 1st document of a gay man’s brain • Found hypothalamus structure of the brain was different from heterosexual man to a homosexual man. • Swaab research was dismissed due to testing done only to homosexual men’s brain.

  14. Hypothalamus • Function: Directly related to sexual drive and hormone regulation. • Androgen: Male Developed Characteristics • Estrogen: Female Developed Characteristics 

  15. Homosexual men and heterosexual women have similar results in hormones. Rat Studies show: Androgen injected to female rats cause those rats to exhibit male symptoms of attraction.

  16. More Research • Dean Hamer: X-linked trait • 5 genetic marker on the X chromosome (Xq28). • Simon LeVay: • amygdala same size in females and homosexual males.

  17. NURTURE

  18. Homosexuality is identified not by a trait or gene, but rather by their actions. • IF homosexuality is innate - • Would merely having the “gay” gene force one to carry out the responsible for homosexual actions?

  19. Beginning Patterns • Childhood play patterns • Early peer interaction • Parental behavior • Role of gender constancy in the home

  20. As of today, the Human Genome Project have sequenced the X and Y chromosome. • X, 1168 genes • Y, 251 genes Neither the map for the X nor the Y chromosome contain any “gay gene”

  21. Fear of “Coming Out” • Fear of Isolation • Fear of Stigmatization • Lack of Family Support • Risk of harassment or get hurt

  22. “The Outcast” HBO Real Sports produced this story of Greg Congdon, a stand-out high school football player in Troy, PA. Greg came out of the closet during his junior year… (2002) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGIpuZEb134&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fprojectconnect-sexualorientation.wikispaces.com%2FVideos&feature=player_embedded And http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ9zOAN8YOE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fprojectconnect-sexualorientation.wikispaces.com%2FVideos&feature=player_embedded These videos can also be found on our group’s website.

  23. “Coming Out”From bottom to top, the order of who typically hears the announcement

  24. Recommendation & Solution As Educators

  25. What Schools and Communities Can Do • Schools with anti-bullying policies must clarify that teasing and exclusion based on sexual orientation is prohibited. • Schools need to consider adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the school community that no one should be treated differently because of an admitted or presumed sexual orientation. • Schools should train staff and volunteers on effective bullying prevention methods and interventions.

  26. More to Consider… • Understand the nature of sexual orientation • Provide an accepting environment • Treat them with the same equality • Adopt policies in districts and schools • Support student clubs, GSA (Gay Student Alliance)

  27. Effects of Harassment • Mental Health • They are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide • Education • Often embarrassed/ashamed of being targeted, may not report abuse • More likely to skip school due to fear, threats and property vandalism directed at them • Because of their absence they will have a result in low academics and low GPA • 28% of gay student will drop out of school • (normal rate is around 10%) • 4 out of 5 gay and lesbian students say they don’t know 1supportive adult at school.

  28. Legal Principles • What does the law say about homosexuality in public schools? • Court Victories • What does this mean to you, the teacher?

  29. What does the law say? • Students are protected by the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment, which, among many other things, requires the separation of church and state. • For example, public schools may not promote religion, endorse particular religious beliefs or seek to impose such beliefs on students. • Gay, Lesbian, and bisexual students – like all other students, are also protected by the 14th Amendment’s requirment of equal treatment under the law.

  30. Progress made in the court system 9 Major Court Victories • 1969 The California Supreme Court rules that the state cannot revoke a gay teacher’s credentials on the basis of sexual orientation. • 1974 The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals establishes the rights of gay college student groups to exist. • 1980 A U.S. district court rules that Cumberland, R.I., high school student Aaron Fricke has the right to bring a same-sex date to the school’s prom.

  31. Progress made in the court system 9 Major Court Victories • 1984 The U.S. Supreme Court affirms a lower-court ruling in Oklahoma overturning a law against discussion of homosexuality in the classroom. • 1995 A U.S. district court rules that a Kansas school board cannot ban the lesbian novel “Annie on My Mind” • 1996 Jamie Nabozny wins a settlement of over $900,000 after a federal jury finds that high school officials had failed to protect him from harassment.

  32. Progress made in the court system 9 Major Court Victories • 1999 A U.S. district court in Salt Lake City rules that denying access to a gay-straight alliance violates the federal Equal Access Law. • 2000 A Massachusetts appeals court rules that a transgender junior high school student has the right to wear gender-specific clothing • 2003 The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals says that school officials in California have a duty to protect gay students from harassment.

  33. What does this mean to you? • School districts must protect student from anti-gay harassment just as it protects students from other kinds of harassment. • Jamie Nabozny won $900,000 because his district did not adhere to this principle. • If a student wants to start a “Gay-Straight Alliance Club” it must be considered as equal status to any other club in the school. • Public Schools may not disseminate info to students if the material is not adequately researched or scientifically biased.

  34. What does this mean to you? • If you’re ever in doubt about how to teach any particular ‘hot topic’ or which materials to incorporate, you should contact your district’s legal counsel. • Irving ISD’s legal counsel is: Ralph Diaz Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent 972.215.5005 rdiaz@irvingisd.net.

  35. Resources • "Sex Education" by Michael R. StevensonEncyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered History in America • "School Court Victories" by Don RomesburgThe Advocate, 12/20/2005 Issue 953, p8. • “Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators & School Personnel,” by the American Psychological Association. 2008. • “The Outcast,” produced by Amani Martin. HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, 2007. • "Sexual Orientation" from WISE - Working to Improve Schools and Education • GLSEN's 2003 National School Climate Survey -- a full report of this annual study which documents issues many LGBT youth and professionals experience in schools -- also includes information about schools with effective policies and practices regarding issues of sexual orientation and harassment. • GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network • http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html

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