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Linguist writes:

I knew I was gay by the time I was 12 or so--probably earlier.

It was in an era (the 1960s) when there was virtually no discussion of same-sex orientation. I didn't even know what it was called or whether there were others like me in the world. It certainly wasn't about "doing" anything sexual.

Being an avid reader, I spent many an hour in the central library trying to figure it all out. Somehow, at some point, I happened upon the word "homosexuality". I then knew what to look up in the card catalog.

Few of the books listed were in the open stacks. I read whatever I could, and what I read had more to do with corrupt politicians ("The Boys of Boise") or very strange pronouncements that it ranged from "it's just a phase" to homosexuals as predators ("Everything you ever wanted to know...[etc.]")than they did about what I was struggling with.

Pretty scary. I was completely isolated. I felt there was no one I could ask. I became depressed and more and more confused.

I did survive. Not all gay youth do. It is EXTREMELY difficult to grow up gay in a culture where it isn't discussed.

This law is wrong. It's counterproductive and it harms innocent kids who are well aware of their sexuality, but get little or no accurate information about what that means --and doesn't mean.

Teaching the mechanics of sex is beside the point. Teenagers should be taught about abstinence, as well as the importance of being safe. But talking to kids about sexual orientation is a different topic.

An unavoidable one which, somehow, our society goes out of its way to avoid.

Very strange. And VERY cruel to innocent gay kids.
