Sophomore physiology and neurobiology major
Recently, a lot of controversy has emerged from Ferguson, Missouri, which has become America’s foremost battleground on racial issues. And yet while much has been made about 21st-century racism in America, there is another pressing civil rights issue that lies right in front of us that has unfortunately taken a back seat. Even now, it is a perceived taboo issue that simply has been ignored for far too long. And indeed, it is time to recognize the plights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (and/or questioning) community in our education system.
Throughout history and even up to today, LGBTQ issues have been largely ignored by the masses, and a lot of that I believe stems from a lack of quality education regarding this group’s struggle for equality and equity. Education is fundamental in aiding this demographic and I think that more in-depth and earlier education regarding LGBTQ issues could gradually eradicate homophobia and gender bias in America.
A cursory glance at today’s Common Core, which sets the standards for what students should know by the time they enter college, reveals that a lot of those standards involve a certain understanding of U.S. and world history. And while these history curricula generally cover a wide range of civil rights issues from women’s suffrage to the rights of disabled Americans, one commonly ignored aspect of the Core stands out: LGBTQ rights. And as a heterosexual male, it wasn’t until I came to college that I learned about basic LGBTQ history that I think should have been covered earlier on in my education.
Nowadays, if you ask anybody about the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott or Rosa Parks, you can expect a near-universal response about how they were pivotal in the fight to end racial segregation. But ask that same question about the Stonewall Riots and Matthew Shepard’s murder, and chances are, you’ll probably get more than just a couple of blank stares back. Those were also pivotal moments in LGBTQ history that led to the gay liberation movement and today’s fight for LGBTQ rights. The only difference between the two? One is covered more heavily in public classrooms, while the other is rarely taught.
By neglecting to teach LGBTQ history and issues, our education system essentially promotes the idea that the LGBTQ community and their issues are secondary to more mainstream civil rights issues. And this is simply inexcusable. This dearth of LGBTQ education causes a proliferation of ignorance, and it is this ignorance and lack of understanding that in turn promotes irrational fear and hate. People fear and hate what they do not understand, and by teaching LGBTQ issues early on, we can create a more accepting, less hateful society.
And while there may be certain religious objections to this proposed education expansion, does the First Amendment not cover the separation of church and state? In this sense, public education funded by the government should not be limited so rigidly and religiously. A friend once told me that the end goal of any civil rights movement is not to be a movement. Indeed, by expanding our education systems, we could save hundreds if not thousands of people from rampant, irrational homophobia.
Max An is a sophomore physiology and neurobiology major. He can be reached at maxandbk@gmail.com.
