Gayness, Mulicultural Education, and Community

As I read this article I really noticed how gay people have been made absent, invisible and silent with the community. Public schools are being drawn into the battle between brewing "new right" fundmentalists in American culture. Carlson talks about how gay people or gayness have been kept in their place in the school community. I dont know what he really means by that, but I feel like he saying that gay people have to be secretative about their relationship when in school because people will look at them and judge. I know it might not be possibly but I feel as though if your gay or not you should be allowed to show your feelings to one another in public areas such as school. I dont think they should go as far as showing physical activity but holding of the hands or whatever if might be that is acceptable in school. When i was in highschool i had alot of diverse students and there were a few of "gay couples". They would hold hands and mabye give a kiss here or there. Some of the students at school would make rude remakrs or make fun of them becuase it was "two guys being together". I was always okay with that, i never made comments about it becuase there really no need too. I know it makes alot of people uncomfortable to see it. As i read down in the article i noticed how Carlson states that white middle class males get privileged and represented as "normal" but if yor gay, black or whatever it might be you are analyzed as sick, neurotic, criminal or lazy. I just think that is going a little to far.

Since all schools need to be "normal" they make sure that they have the power to keep "gayness" in it's place. They want to make sure it's invisible, meaning they dont want any other normal students to see it. They give a couple of techniques that show what they have done:

1. erasure of gayness in the curriclum
2. the "closeting" and "witch hunting" of gay teachers
3. verbal and physical intimidation of gay teachers/students

I feel as though gay people get that shorter end of the stick with whatever they try to do. Now a days when two guys live together people automically think they are gay, or when they are out to dinner. Basically it comes down to that schools will not allow gay people/couples and if they do they make sure they are in invisible.