History teacher marries man!

     Yes, it's true. A 7th grade teacher is gay. He must be promoting things like civil rights, tolerance, and respect. Now these are things that can't be taught in a classroom.
     It's about a 7th grade teacher who came out in his classroom because the students asked him directly about getting married to a man. He believes in honesty and so told them that yes, he married a man. The classroom gave him a standing ovation. Now of course there are parents saying he's promoting a gay agenda. Is this like when heterosexual teachers promote the straight agenda? The incident is being investigated, but the gay teacher is not. Thank goodness! But times must have been difficult for him, and I'm sure there are more to come. I applaud his braveness and courage to stick up for basic values such as honesty. There are many teachers who don't stick up for basic values enough. And of course when they do they are investigated.
     This story caught my eye because it hits close to home. It's one of the reasons I didn't finish school, and haven't yet become a teacher. There was an incident once with a professor who told me that if she had children in my classroom, she would have them removed because I'm gay. That really struck me, and prompted the thoughts that I write here now. What if I spend all these years getting my degree and preparing to teach - something I've known for a long time that I really want to do and know I would be very good at - and someone finds out that I'm gay? What if a parent finds out and I get fired? My teaching career would be over. Luckily I haven't given up on this dream, and I'm hoping to return to school soon to finish up.
     I wouldn't want to create controversy. I would want what's best for my students, and there is enough in the world to distract them from learning. But at the same time I would want it to be a non-issue. Being gay has no effect on my teaching, except that I know that by the time I get there I will have done enough soul searching to know that teaching is what I want to do, unlike some teachers who would rather be doing something else. I hope that by the time I have my degree and begin teaching for the next generation, the future will be brighter for them and be filled with less hate and rhetoric.
(source: Investigation Launched After Teacher Tells Class He's Gay
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