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Kevin and Darren live in Portland Oregon and are a gay, committed couple. We believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all...regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, nationality, financial status, and being. Erase man-made borders and "they" become "we". New Site: HERE.Thursday, March 17
No gay studies for primary schools
[Bangkok Post]
The city has no plan to introduce a study of homosexuality in its primary school curriculum, officials say.
The issue sparked hot debate after Natee Thirarojanapong, a member of the BMA's participatory committee on social and public health, told the Thueng Luk Thueng Khon television programme that a study on homosexuality would promote a better understanding of young people with sexual deviation problems, who often faced discrimination and harassment from their schoolmates.
Deputy Bangkok governor Pensri Pichaisanit said Mr Natee had raised the issue with the BMA executives, but the administration had no plan to put it into practice.
"Actually, promoting public acceptance and understanding of these groups is a good idea, and raising teachers' awareness of the issue can help those children, but we don't think it should be put in the curriculum,'' said Mr Pensri.
She said the issue, like sex education, was sensitive, adding it took about 30-40 years before sex education was included in the curriculum.
BMA spokesman Putthipong Punnakan said the city also had nothing to do with the opening of a gay hot-line that Mr Natee mentioned on television, as the BMA had no expertise to run that kind of service.
Mr Natee, meanwhile, said he had discussed the issue with Mr Pensri, and was preparing to present a course outline to the administration for consideration.
The course would be designed for students from the fourth to sixth grades.
Also head of the Bangkok Rainbow Group, Mr Natee said he wanted children with sexual deviation problems to understand themselves, and wanted their friends to treat them properly.
He said many children start forming hatred of gays in late elementary school, forcing some gay boys "into the closet'' and forcing them to marry women when they grow up out of social pressure. Such practices, he added, had victimised the women.
Mr Natee said his course would help children to realise the existence of a "third sex'', to understand what they are and how they feel.
Critics cautioned the course might lead young students into homosexuality, and that it would be more suitable for high school or university students.
Mr Natee, however, argued that children would start to form a sense of sexual identity and feelings from the age of 10, so it was not too early to introduce such a course at late elementary school.
"The lessons would also teach students about social discrimination, what they are going to face, and what kind of life they will live if they choose to be homosexuals. I think it would even help children make the right decision,'' said Mr Natee.
The city has no plan to introduce a study of homosexuality in its primary school curriculum, officials say.
The issue sparked hot debate after Natee Thirarojanapong, a member of the BMA's participatory committee on social and public health, told the Thueng Luk Thueng Khon television programme that a study on homosexuality would promote a better understanding of young people with sexual deviation problems, who often faced discrimination and harassment from their schoolmates.
Deputy Bangkok governor Pensri Pichaisanit said Mr Natee had raised the issue with the BMA executives, but the administration had no plan to put it into practice.
"Actually, promoting public acceptance and understanding of these groups is a good idea, and raising teachers' awareness of the issue can help those children, but we don't think it should be put in the curriculum,'' said Mr Pensri.
She said the issue, like sex education, was sensitive, adding it took about 30-40 years before sex education was included in the curriculum.
BMA spokesman Putthipong Punnakan said the city also had nothing to do with the opening of a gay hot-line that Mr Natee mentioned on television, as the BMA had no expertise to run that kind of service.
Mr Natee, meanwhile, said he had discussed the issue with Mr Pensri, and was preparing to present a course outline to the administration for consideration.
The course would be designed for students from the fourth to sixth grades.
Also head of the Bangkok Rainbow Group, Mr Natee said he wanted children with sexual deviation problems to understand themselves, and wanted their friends to treat them properly.
He said many children start forming hatred of gays in late elementary school, forcing some gay boys "into the closet'' and forcing them to marry women when they grow up out of social pressure. Such practices, he added, had victimised the women.
Mr Natee said his course would help children to realise the existence of a "third sex'', to understand what they are and how they feel.
Critics cautioned the course might lead young students into homosexuality, and that it would be more suitable for high school or university students.
Mr Natee, however, argued that children would start to form a sense of sexual identity and feelings from the age of 10, so it was not too early to introduce such a course at late elementary school.
"The lessons would also teach students about social discrimination, what they are going to face, and what kind of life they will live if they choose to be homosexuals. I think it would even help children make the right decision,'' said Mr Natee.
posted by jikido # 12:02 PM 
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