Most children love the opportunity to sit back for 30 minutes (or whatever time frame their parents permit after finishing their homework) and enjoy watching TV. Not just any TV, mind you, TV for kids! If you’re a parent or anyone with at least basic cable, you know exactly what I’m talking about: Nickelodeon.
But now, Nickelodeon is planning to do an “age appropriate” show that will concentrate on gay parenting, asking kids how they felt about homes with “two mommies”.
Hold on a second! An “age appropriate” show about some kids with two mommies?! On a children’s network?!
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES A PROBLEM WITH THIS?!
Let’s see, who could team up with Nickelodeon to “moderate” this lesbian mommie thing. I know, how about Rosie O’Donnell. And I know, while we’re at it, let’s invite the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Gay and Lesbian Education Network (GLSEN) to appear on the show — you know — just in case the kids have any questions about being gay. But, of course, Nickelodeon is not trying to “push”, “promote”, or “present” a homosexual lifestyle to young children.
No, of course not. How could you ever get that idea?!
As Nickledodeon spokesman David Bittler said, “The show is not about sexuality.”
No, of course not. How could you ever get that idea?!
Hello?! Sexuality is exactly what the show’s about!! How can you even think about having a show about lesbian mothers without their sexuality being involved?! I mean, without sexuality being involved, kids don’t have two mommies. Right? And what do you suspect Rosie, GLAAD, and GLSEN are going to say when little Susie Audience Member says, “What’s a lesbian?” There’s only one common definition and it’s sexual in nature. Of course this show is about sex.
But, at least it’s not on HBO, Showtime, CBS, or any other freakin’ channel devoted to young adults and adults, right? Apparently, adults and young adults don’t need to understand the hardships of being a lesbian mommie. I wonder why?? Did they have a bunch of lesbian mommie shows on Sesame Street? Hmm, they must have, otherwise young adults and adults would never have learned the slightest thing about or even heard the possibility of lesbian mothers, right? What? You mean there weren’t any shows about lesbian mommies when I was growing up? Hmm, but we don’t need lesbian mommie shows for adults because…as adults, we get it. Hmm, then maybe –and I’m just shooting from the hip, here — but maybe today’s kids don’t need the shows either. Hmmm.
Nickelodeon, mind you, has a target audience of ages 3-11. What 3-11 year olds need a lesson in lesbian parenting? Seriously. What child have you ever met, ever, that is just dying to know more about the struggles of being a lesbian and a mother?! In fairness, I know that there are kids who have two mommies and kids that have two daddies. I’m sure it’s confusing and upsetting to them if other children make fun of them.
But, come on, people. Get in your car, rind down to the freakin’ clue store, and get a clue! Children do not need to learn about gay and homosexual lifestyles to learn respect and tolerance for other people. The solution is not to teach more kids about the hardships of being a lesbian mother, instead teach all children about respect and diversity, and teach children with gay parents the exact same thing you should teach all children: They are special because their parents love them.
Before you get all email happy and start bashing me, hear me out. I don’t have a lot of gay friends. There are a couple of guys who I can hang out with and enjoy their company. I don’t care that they’re gay and they don’t care that I’m not. I am a tolerant person. To some, that’s a damning statement. But I mean it wholeheartedly, I can hang around and accept pretty much anybody (except terrorists!) I don’t rock the boat and I don’t expect others too. I’m simple.
My feelings aren’t based on whether someone is gay or even whether the show is about being gay. It’s probably a topic that needs to be explored publicly in some manner – but not with, for, or about children. Period. End of story.
Kids will always tease other kids on the playgrounds because they are fat or skinny, smart or dumb, rich or poor, pretty or ugly, glasses or no glass, one mommie or two.
Children need to be taught to respect everyone’s differences, to excercise tolerance. Children need to be told (and told, and told, and retold) that they are special – that they are loved. Give a child these basics and I sincerely believe that you will see children grow into caring, well meaning, and tolerant adults. If you’re a parent, that’s your job. It doesn’t matter how many mommies a child has, teach your children well.
Kevin, go to bookstore and pick out some books in the Lesbian/Gay section. Go home and do some reading. You need more education than one little email can give you, fella.’
No, I don’t think I do and that’s the whole point here, really. I have gay friends, both men and women. I understand the incredible challenges that they face in today’s society. I many not have a first hand understand, but I certainly have a second hand awareness.
The point of my entire message has nothing to do with being homosexual. Perhaps you should spend a little time rereading my post, if we serious about understanding.
One of the two points of my post has to do with age-appropriate sexual education. Even representatives of GLAAD admitted that this program may expose younger children to an issue that they may not be capable of understanding.
As I said previously:
It’s probably a topic that needs to be explored publicly in some manner – but not with, for, or about children. Period. End of story.
The second point of the message here is that children need to be taught to respect everyone’s differences (upbringing, physical looks, mental prowess, moral beliefs, etc) and to practice tolerance.
Not to repeat myself, but I think you missed it in a rush to indict me:
Kids will always tease other kids on the playgrounds because they are fat or skinny, smart or dumb, rich or poor, pretty or ugly, glasses or no glass, one mommie or two.
Children need to be taught to respect everyone’s differences, to exercise tolerance. Children need to be told (and told, and told, and retold) that they are special – that they are loved. Give a child these basics and I sincerely believe that you will see children grow into caring, well meaning, and tolerant adults. If you’re a parent, that’s your job. It doesn’t matter how many mommies a child has, teach your children well.
Sorry to email you a second time, especially when my first message was probably longer than it should have been. Again, I appreciate your comments and I respect your right to come to my own personal website and criticize my own personal thoughts.
Assuming I go to the bookstore and pick out some books in the Lesbian/Gay section, and then I do go home and do some reading, what exactly am I hoping to receive from this experience? Seriously. I’m not being funny. What books am I going to read and what will they teach me about my position that children should be taught to respect everyone’s differences, to exercise tolerance.
I ask that because, and I confess that this is an assumption, I have an expectation that these books your referring to would definitely advise that children should be taught to respect everyone’s differences, to exercise tolerance. I mean, if they don’t advise that, they really should, don’t you think?
I don’t see how I’m advocating something that extreme. I would like you to reply if you have a moment. It doesn’t have to be today, but –if you would please place yourself in my shoes– you came into my space and were critical of me. The more I think about it, the more obvious it seems. I would appreciate your reply.