Prejudice and Bias Introduction

    The module, Prejudice and Bias Introduction, was informative in a myriad of ways and exposed the reader to real world happenings. Referencing hatred, bigotry, and deep-seated stereotypes that are ingrained in society. Module 3 explored these feelings in relation to the LGBTQ+ community more than other issues, and honed in on the disconnect they feel from a society which neglects them. After viewing The Laramie Project, and reading various articles, I wanted to express my feelings on the topic of members of the LBTQ+ community who make a pass or act flirtatiously to those who identify as straight. The film The Laramie Project, explains and develops the story of Matthew Shepherd, a young man from Laramie Wyoming who was murdered by Russel Henderson and Arron McKinney. The two young men saw Matthew at the bar, lured him into their car and were initially going to rob him at the time. However, allegedly Matthew placed his hand on one of their legs and that is when McKinney pistol whipped him. Here lies the issue that I wanted to further discuss in depth. The plead that McKinney's lawyer attempted to use was the "gay panic" plead. McKinney pleaded that the same sex advance provoked him, causing him to lash out. However, the hate in his heart is what really drove him because the measures to which they made Matthew suffer were not simply because he touched his leg. This case I believe was a shift for not only the state of Wyoming but for the entire country to understand that homophobia is not a viable plead for hurting others. We saw in the film that it grasped national attention and is still today the most well known gay hate crime. The president at the time spoke out explaining how we have to do better, and various celebrities spoke out and sent donations. In the article from LGBTQ bar "LGBTQ+ "panic" defense" it discussed that in court people use it in 3 ways, defense of insanity, provocation, or self- defense. Additionally, the article discussed how the court should create limitations to "gay panic" and that if the flirtation is not violent or malicious , there is no viable reason for harmful actions to ensue under the alleged claim of self defense. However, interestingly enough, gay panic is not only applicable when physical interaction ensues. In the Chalk Beat article  "New LGBTQ Stories Social Studies curriculum includes voices left out of history textbooks" New York City schools integrate LGBTQ stories in social studies curriculum through the program  "Children of the Rainbow." The program encouraged educators to teach LGBTQ+ history,  and the Chancellor received death threats from various sources who were against the integration of the topic into the curriculum. The mere mention of  LGBTQ+ causes a "gay panic" because people have a fear of the conversation and those in the community.  However, this is discouraging to those who are in the LGBTQ+ community because it makes them more insecure and uncomfortable about their sexuality since their own teachers and staff fear what they are or are too uncomfortable to have a conversation. Moreover, the entire concept of "gay panic" is unacceptable and should be denounced at every chance, especially in a court of law, and that is what happened with the Matthew Shepherd case. 

    
In addition, last weeks module talking about race and anti racism relates to the "gay panic" claim, because the term "panic" can be associated with people of color as well. The article I read, "Raising Race Conscious Children" discussed various responses parents can share when their children ask about the political turmoil surrounding our country. One specific response was in regard to their child asking about why a police officer shot a black man. The mother proceeded to explain that although cops protect us and serve this country, there are always some bad seeds in every field of work. In no way shape or form am I expressing that police officers are dangerous, because they serve and protect us and do jobs we are not strong enough to complete but as I said, there are bad seeds in every field, and over the last year we have seen a few. In those few, we could replace "gay panic" with "person of color panic" when an officer makes a stereotypical assumption and shoots a person of color because they deem them to be dangerous because of previous prejudices. The entire concept of panicking because someone that is not of our sexual identity, or someone is not of our skin tone, is unfathomable and not something of God because fear is not from God, and I think more than anything our country needs to trust in God because we are all his children. For a long time after 9/11 there a was panic when anyone of muslim nationality entered a room because the Taliban shot down the twin towers. When a person of color sees a police officer at times they panic and act frantic, which causes miscommunication. The division in the country, and especially young children of this country, is most frightening to me because the young children are experiencing feelings of hate that stem from racism at such a young age. In an article from education week, "Hate in schools: An in-depth look", the article disclosed racist words and phrases that were written on bathroom stalls and it was appaling. Once specific instance was when someone wrote that they were going to kill people of African-American descent, and had various girls names on the stalls that were people of color. The panic, racism, and other happenings in this country needs to come to a halt, and in order to do that we all need to come together and reunite and remember that we are a country together not divided. 

    Moreover, the film and the various articles I read explored concepts and conversatinons that are growing increasingly necessary to understand and discuss. As a future educator I am going to make sure that when I am teaching a specific novel or covering a specific piece of history, that I will provide my students with the tools to explore the main controversies and have adult conversations about them. I will assure that there are no negative comments or actions in the classroom and that it is a safe environment for all. I will provide my students with a source they can always come to for a necessary or light hearted conversation. 

References

    Vara-Orta, F. (2018, August 6). Hate in schools: An in-depth look. Education Week. Retrieved from    https://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/hate-in-schools.html

LGBTQ+ "panic" defense. The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. (2021, September 10). Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/. 

July 26, 2021 · by R. R. C. C. · in C. (2016, June). A resource for talking about race & diversity with young children. Raising Race Conscious Children. Retrieved September 21, 2021, from http://www.raceconscious.org/. 

Salhotra, P. (2021, June 8). New LGBTQ Stories Social Studies curriculum includes voices left out of history textbooks. Chalkbeat New York. Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2021/6/8/22524247/lgbtq-history-curriculum-nyc-schools.      

 

Baldwin, D. (Producer), & Kaufman, M. (Director). (2002). The Laramie Project [Motion picture]. United States of America: HBO.