Talking Points #3- Carlson

Dennis Carlson. "Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community"; from Beyond Black And White.

Carlson argues that public schools must create a multicultural community where gayness is accepted. Gay and lesbian teachers and students must be allowed to be open about their sexuality and who they are. Carlson argues that discussions about gayness must be included in the curriculum to root out homophobia in the public school community.

• "Nevertheless, normalizing texts systematically exclude and neglect the culture of those outside the norm for the purpose of ratifying or legitimating the dominant culture as the only significant culture worth studying." This quote is important because Carlson is explaining that cultures outside the considered "norm", such as gayness, are not considered worthy enough to be discussed in the public school system. This type of attitude towards gayness contributes to feelings of homophobia among straight teachers and students. It also causes gay teachers and students to be afraid to show their sexuality in public.
• "This implies at the very least that educators involve young people in a discussion of gay identity within the context of a discussion of human rights in a democratic community, and it may extend to a discussion of caring for others, including the gay Other, in community." This quote is important because Carlson is stating that educators must teach their students that gayness is a human right and identity that must be protected in a community. Educators must teach their students to care about all the members of their community, including gay members.
• "Finally a democratic multicultural education must become a dialogue in which all 'voices' are heard and all 'truths' are understood as partial and positioned." This quote is important because all educators must teach their students that all people play an integral part in a community. All voices must be heard within a community and no voice should be silenced based on a person's sexual orientation.

I found Carlson's article to be very thought-provoking. Discussions about gayness are not talked about much in public schools. Gayness is considered by many to be too controversial or taboo to talk about. Silence about gay issues has caused homophobia to run rampant in the public school system. No one should ever go to school or work feeling uncomfortable about being who they are in public. How have public schools and communities been allowed to push gay issues under the rug? Educators must open up clear dialogues where gayness is discussed respectfully and where everyone has a voice.