TEXAS JOURNAL, Austin, Texas - Bob Ward, Editor 

April 18, 1996 lead story: 



               AISD's Counseling Endorses Homosexuality 



    Apparently, AISD thinks the schools are not diverse 

enough and need more homosexual pupils.

   According to Caring, AISD's guidance and counseling 

newsletter, the district's diversity program includes advising 

pupils who think they may be gay that homosexuality is per-

fectly acceptable and anyone who doesn't agree, for whatev-

er reason including religious objections, is a bigot who dis-

torts the Bible. 

   This newsletter and other material supporting 

homosexuality has reportedly been distributed to district 

counselors.

   Caring, notes that gay and lesbian youths suffer harass-

ment by peers, sexual abuse,  domestic violence, illness, de-

structive behavior, AIDS and other sexually transmitted dis-

eases, substance abuse, prostitution, suicide, isolation, paren-

tal rejection, running away and low self-esteem.     

  That seems like a lot for a school counselor to take on but 

Caring sees counselors in "a unique position to address the 

developmental issues and mental health concerns of ho-

mosexually oriented youth and their families."  There is no 

concern that counselors may not be educated or trained to 

address "mental health concerns" of children or that the fam-

ily should consult a professional therapist.

   Apparently addressing the kids' "mental health concerns" 

does not mean seeing homosexuality as a problem and help-

ing the child discover why he or she has those impulses and 

then helping him overcome them.

   As outlined in Caring it means reinforcing those feelings  

by telling him it's okay and that society, his family, the 

church and anyone else who disagrees is a bigot who hates 

him. For example, counselors are told that gay students 

know society says they are "wrong."  The quotation marks 

tell us that homosexuality isn't really wrong, society is just 

bigoted and ignorant.

   Counselors are advised to "be aware of the cultural roles 

which may affect the students."  This includes religious and 

moral teachings which are defined as obstacles to a child 

"attaining"  what is called "a lifestyle of non-concealment." 

   Contrary to what we're told, the celebrated "wall of sepa-

ration" between church and state does not prevent a public 

school from teaching the Bible, provided what is taught is 

politically correct.

    For example, children may learn in church that the Bible 

condemns homosexuality. But AISD's theologians correct 

what they consider a  doctrinal error.  Counselors are in-

formed that "scholars and theologians confer (sic) that refer-

ences to homosexuality in the Bible are questionable at 

best." A reading list includes two books about the Bible 

(Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by Bishop John 

Spong and What the Bible Really Says About 

Homosexuality  by Daniel Helminiak) but not the Bible it-

self.

   Parents are treated as contemptuously as religion. Guide-

lines admonish counselors to "respect confidentiality" and 

not snitch to parents. They are asked to "Imagine . . . the 

boy who's (sic) parents withhold affection because they fear 

it may make him effeminate."

  They're advised to warn pupils about confiding in parents 

because they "will probably respond based on a lifetime of 

information from a homophobic society."  Because parents 

financially support their children, pupils are warned not to 

tell parents they're gay "until they do not have this weapon to 

hold over you."

   Alternatives to parents are listed. They include: AIDS Ser-

vices of Austin, a tax-supported agency whose publications 

feature salacious pictures and gratuitous crudity of language; 

Out Youth  Austin, a homosexual group that advertises in 

Austin school papers with a hotline kids can call to avoid in-

volving parents; and "self-identified affirming  counselors" 

on campus.

   Most people consider heterosexuality normal, like having 

two ears, and not something that needs explaining.  AISD  

rejects that claiming only about half the population is hetero-

sexual.  And a "Heterosexual Questionnaire" asks such ques-

tions as: "What do you think caused your heterosexuality?" 

and "When and how did you first decide you were a hetero-

sexual?" The point is that heterosexuality is not the normal 

state. 

   Accordingly, the right to marry is labeled an unwarranted 

privilege enjoyed by heterosexuals and unjustly denied to 

gays.  Counselors are told their own attitudes must conform 

to "current scientific knowledge" which considers homo-

sexuality "a normal variation of sexual expression."

   To advance the notion that homosexuality is normal 

teachers are told to use same sex couples in math word 

problems and to problems and to develop "gay history" 

curricula.

   Schools are admonished to halt such "inappropriate" 

practices as inviting "spouses" but not "friends" and encour-

aging students to date members of the opposite sex. Assem-

blies and film nights with homo- sexual content are recom-

mended.

 "All students," counselors are told need "skills for declining 

or accepting romantic/sexual overtures with dignity."  

Parents can be grateful the public schools will teach their 

kids to swing either way -- with dignity.