Jul 25th, 2006
Homophobia is learned young. Very young.
How old do kids from gay families need to be before they realize their families are different?
As soon as their peers notice.
So, right around age two or three.
This reality is in stark contrast to many parents’ perception of their kids’ awareness. Take, for example, a lesbian mom at one of my book signings who said, “I started thinking about my sexuality with I was about 16, so I figure that’s about the age my kids should be when I talk to them about me being lesbian, right?”
Wrong. Start a little younger. As in: nursery school.
From Guardian Unlimited:
“Nurseries urged to teach about same-sex relationships”
by Debbie Andalo, July 24, 2006
National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the introduction of civil partnerships last year created an ideal climate for nursery schools to tackle the issue of same-sex relationships and homophobia.
Many gay parents of nursery school children are reluctant to “come out” for fear that their children might become the target of homophobic bullying, said the union.
Young boys at primary school are also bullied and called “gay” if they do not conform to perceived male stereotypes - reflecting the union’s belief that homophobic prejudice should be addressed at an early age when children are in nursery school.
The NUT said: “It is particularly important to begin to make three to five-year-olds aware of the range of families that exist in the UK today”. That would includes families with single parents or those with “two mums” or “two dads”, the union said.
No-promo-homo promoters: Welcome to your nightmare.
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Additional reading: Advice I wrote to a day care provider about little boys with lesbian parents.
You’re so right. Parents have to be prepared for this — it’s less about sexuality than it is about family. What does the child of two mommies do in pre school when everyone else is making father’s day gifts? It *will* come up.
In all seriousness, I wish with all my soul that the NEA would get something like this going in the US.
It would be the end of both the NEA and the public schools as we know them.
It’s way past time to start again from scratch I think.