Educating kids about gays' place in history

What an inspiring law has passed the California State Senate:

The California State Senate approved a controversial bill on Thursday requiring public school material to include "age appropriate" lessons on the historical contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The measure was based, in part, on the belief that presenting positive role models could help ease negative feelings and battle high suicide rates among gay and lesbian students.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the measure -- the first of its kind in the nation -- also prohibits teaching or textbooks that reflect adversely on people because of their sexual orientation.

Obviously, the legislation's opponents aren't thrilled at all, and will fight with their nails and teeth to keep it off the books. Unfortunately, it looks like the Governator is on their side, since his approval ratings are pretty bad these days and he can't afford to lose any supporters, especially from the far right of the Republican party, in an election year, and will likely veto the bill.

Another great example of why elections matter: if a Democrat had won against Governor Davis or if his recall election had failed, we would by now have same-sex marriage in California and we'd soon have gay history taught in schools.

The most disturbing (and annoying) part of the article, however, is this:

"If you're a black American, you can't help it. You are born that way," said Republican Senator Bill Morrow. "There is not one scintilla of credible scientific evidence that homosexuality is biological in origin. That is a myth. It is behavioral." Morrow said he believes the bill is dangerous because it puts sexual orientation -- which he categorized as a "cultural or behavioral lifestyle" -- in league with race and sex, which are biological. According to the Times, Morrow also objected to textbooks pointing out historical figures' sexual orientations, because "their contribution to history has nothing to do with their sexual proclivities."

First of all, Mr. Morrow, you should take a look at my recent post on the biological origins of homosexuality, or at least inform yourself by checking the latest scientific information available. Unless, of course, you're not interested in being fair and objective, and all you care about is actually serving the religious zealots who put you in office.

Second, Mr. Morrow, you should avoid handing out judgment on other people's lives until and unless you have experienced what you're talking about first hand. Since, Mr. Morrow, you are, I assume, straight, you cannot and should not tell any gay person what their life is or isn't with absolute certainty. You shouldn't dare.

I can assure you, Mr. Morrow, that at least 99% of gays and lesbians on earth would prefer being born straight into this world, given the hardships of being gay. It is no fun, I can assure you, and it's precisely the narrow mindedness of people like you, who have no clue what they are talking about, that makes it that much harder.