Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

            I believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books that represents gay or lesbian individuals and same-sex partnered families. I am not a homophobia. I do not have personal feelings about an individual's sexual preferences. I believe that children should learn about sexual preferences or orientation at an early age from their parents, because at the level of early childhood, explanations can confuse a child. Example, a child is taught in their Sunday school class and at home about a family structure and they have strong religious belief. The child is also taught in their childhood's center gays and same-sex partner this leaves the child confused, because the child's parent’s views are not the same as the educator's. How should a childhood center explain to a child that has strong family beliefs about sexual orientation that it is okay to have same-sex partners and be considered as family?  Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) states “Invisibility erases identity and experiences; visibility affirms reality. When children see themselves and their families reflected in their early childhood setting, they feel affirmed and that they belong. When children's identities and families are invisible, the opposite happens” (p. 13). Therefore, as an educator I must understand that it is important for me to respect the relationship I made with my parents and present my reactions. I know that it is imperative that I remain open-minded to finding solutions to having mutual grounds between the parent's perspectives and myself.

            If someone explains to me that they do not want anyone who is homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child. I would the person to thoroughly explain to me their opinion and view-points; because sometimes a person can be ignorant to an issue because they assume and do not have thorough knowledge of the facts. As a parent I understand that every parent wants to protect their children from harm, so I too would be very skeptical if my child's teacher is homosexual or a transgender. However, as long as the teacher does not display themselves openly and expresses his/her view point about homosexual and transgender I can accept the educator. Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) states “young children struggle with many issues as they attempt to understand what being a girl or boy means. The support they do or do not get in their preschool years lays the foundation for the rest of their gender identity formation (p. 91). I would explain to the parent/family that having a homosexual or transgender teacher would not influence their child's sexual orientation, because their child cannot be influence by someone else sexual preferences.  Jennings (2015) states” we should be respecting every kid that comes into the school. We should be treating them equally and give them equal opportunities to succeed. We should be hiring teachers based on how well they teach, not based on their sexual orientation.

References

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. O. (2010) Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and            Ourselves. Leaning About Gender Identity & Fairness. Director Publications and Education   Initiatives.

Jennings, K (2015) Q & A with GLSEN Founder: LGBT Teachers Still Face Barriers. Retrieved from

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/09/qa-with-glsen-founder-lgbt-teachers-still.html