Why "Protecting Your Children from Homosexuality" Does Not Work.

Essays | Peyton Richards | May 14th, 2022.

Most people would like to believe that there is an ever-increasing tolerance for same-sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ influence in the American public sphere, and for the most part that is true. However, as of 2022, there are still myriads of obstacles facing LGBTQIA+ youth that threaten their mental health, safety, and well-being: a prominent example being Florida’s House Bill 1557 (more widely known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill”). This bill addresses the concerns of parents who do not want their children exposed to “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in public schools. 

Instead of worrying about what schools are teaching their children, parents should worry more about what they themselves are (or aren’t) teaching their children. Many parents in the United States vow to “protect” their children from homosexuality and LGBTQIA+ influences. Some examples of this include forbidding their children from engaging with members of the LGBTQIA+ community or from watching programs that feature same-sex couples. In turn, these kids believe that love and marriage only exist between a man and a woman.

By the time these children grow older and become more independent, they will inevitably realize that this is not true as LGBTQIA+ individuals exist everywhere. However, their parents’ teachings will stick. After all, family has the greatest impact on the development of a child’s values and beliefs. The bubble these parents have created in hopes of protecting their children from the “harsh realities'' of the world cannot and will not last. So why create it in the first place? 

Parents are setting their children up to be hateful, prejudiced, and bigoted as they will be unfamiliar with the concept of homosexuality, and thus unable to easily accept it. On the other hand, if a child is taught at a young age that love exists everywhere, there won’t ever be a “that’s weird!” phase when introduced to LGBTQIA+ influences. Sometimes, teaching your child nothing is the worst possible action a parent can take. 

Many parents believe that it is inappropriate to engage in discussions about sexuality and sexual orientation at such a young age. However, it isn’t inappropriate-- it’s just life. LGBTQIA+ influences are not going away. They have always existed and will always continue to exist. So why fight against it? Read your child books featuring same-sex couples. Educate your child on the existence of LGBTQIA+ individuals. If your child asks, “Why are those two women holding hands?”, don’t respond with, “You don’t need to be seeing that.” If you are a parent, especially of a young child not yet introduced to all the world has to offer, I beg you to heed my advice. Homosexuality isn’t something you can just “shoo away” and hope will never return.