Recently our school system has taken upon itself, without our input, to instill LGBTQ educational information to our school nurses.
Much like the ill-fated and unproven adoption of Common Core, the education system has proceeded with its own agenda, with no true understanding of what it is imparting to the school staff members and being forced upon our children.
In many ways, it can be hard to understand “LGBTQ” as it is presented in modern society. These terms are grouped together and promoted to accept our differences. To first address that topic we must understand sexuality.
The first order is to define the primary purpose of sex. From bacteria to bugs, worms, birds, dogs, and people, the primary purpose of sex is procreation. There are many other secondary functions of sex, but any unfettered behavior that has its main goal of procreation would be biologically acceptable to the continuation of a species.
From there we can follow to the medical aspects of different sexual behavior that American Psychiatric Association has described. All the listed aspects of “LGBT” were considered mental disorders historically and with official criteria until 1973.
With no new medical information, the ”LGB” disorder was slowly redescribed and then fully removed from the mental disorder list. The focus at that time was removing the stigmatization and inappropriate abuse that many gays and lesbians were subject to. (Search – Out of DSM: depathologizing homosexuality).
I will skip to the “Q” or as modern interpretation tells as “Questioning.” We can assume someone is not certain of their sexuality.
This has been long known to be a part of adolescence. The current thought is that in some way 40-50 percent of teens will have a dream, thoughts, or even an event of homosexuality but grow past this point. This is similar to many other things teens question roles during development. There is 5 percent to 7 percent of the population that will be permanently homosexual and we need to make sure they have a safe environment to grow up in and that there is no propensity to self-harm.
The problem with current social teaching is that exploring sexuality should be encouraged. It is not explained that this if often a temporary and normal part of sexual development. Leaving sexuality as ill-defined actually leads to more psychologic stress. In addition, for children earlier than the start of puberty (10-12 years old) forced, over-explicit sexual education and exposure can be harmful.
To address “T” or transgender, it is still considered a mental disorder. It has been changed to a listing of “Gender Dysphoria” in DSM criteria. There are many other coexisting mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders that go along with transgender behavior.
The socially promoted idea of transgender experimentation can be damaging and is actually discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
When we have our children being educated with incorrect information, the effects can be hurtful to them psychologically.
As with other conditions, we still want these students to be safe and avoid self-harm. This is not normal behavior, however.
Like most other sexual issues, there is very poor response to psychologic and medicinal treatments. What we see in gender reassignment surgery is an attempt to find a physical cure for a psychiatric illness. If there are any accommodations that need to be made for these students, it should fall under the ADA and not be taught as another aspect of sexuality.
What we see currently on TV, media, and now even our school system is the grouping of different forms of sexuality as if they all have equal normalcy and acceptance.
In fact, we have what is formerly known as a mental disorder (LGB), what is currently viewed as a mental disorder (T), and what is seen as normal phase of development (Q).
Clearly there is purposeful misinformation being brought about to change social perception. It is our responsibility as parents to have the truth be told to us and our children. Let us insist the state and county give us that information.
I would offer one last fact to help frame the recent social debate on sexuality. It is this: Sexuality of any kind (including heterosexuality) is a Thought that requires Action. It is a Choice (except in assault). It is NOT a civil right. It is NOT a state of being.
Every one of us discriminates on other people’s choices of all kinds of behavior. Sexual behavior is no different. Judging peoples’ behaviors is how we form our societal structure.
But, just because we have a Thought for any sexual behavior doesn’t mean we have to follow that with Action.
Some people choose to not have sex until they marry. Some people who are married choose to break vows and have sex with someone else. Some choose to act on their desire with multiple partners and never marry. Roman Catholic priests take vows of celibacy and choose not to have sexual relations with any one.
Do we discriminate whom we want to associate with when we know these facts? All of us do, every day.
Dr. Anthony Lawson
Fayetteville, Ga.
