'How to be Gay' Course Draws Fire at University

[NFS4]

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030818-122317-3268r.htm

Simply speechless:Q

 

Go Blue! *effeminate wave*

 

[her209]

Sounds cool.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: NFS4
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030818-122317-3268r.htm

Simply speechless:Q

:Q

 

[Ryan]

WTF?!?! How do these types of classes even make it past college approval boards?

 

[djheater]

Tempest. Teacup.


Actually it sounds like a very interesting course. Sociologically speaking.

 

[Nocturnal]

Wasn't there a course somewhere that taught you how to become a porn star or something like that?

 

[ElFenix]

sounds better than the keanu reeves filmography class

 

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Wasn't there a course somewhere that taught you how to become a porn star or something like that?

Yeah, I think it was called Dating Your High School Slut 225

 

[spidey07]

Don't worry the supreme court will uphold it as "good for diversity".

 

[Adul]

how to be a porn star?

wtf

 

[Maleficus]

Wow huge waste of money and time, should have never come into exsistence.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: The teacher
"It does not teach students to be homosexual," Mr. Halperin says in an interview. "Rather, it examines critically the odd notion that there are right and wrong ways to be gay, that homosexuality is not just a sexual practice or desire but a set of specific tastes in music, movies, and other cultural forms ? a notion which is shared by straight and gay people alike.
"The reason these courses exist is not that homosexual teachers have hijacked the university for their own purposes; they exist because they convey the results of research which sheds genuinely new light on history, culture, society and thought."

Now the paper goes on to say that:
However, in a course description on the university's Web site, Mr. Halperin says: "Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn't mean that you don't have to learn how to become one. Gay men do some of that learning on their own, but often we learn how to be gay from others."


We all know that couse descriptions are a sh!tty way to tell what a course is about often having little if anything to do with the course. Nevertheless, the course description could still be construed to support halperin's position, though admittedly confusing.

 

[Kadarin]

As an examination of the sociological aspects of "gay culture", it sounds interesting. If it's designed to push an agenda of "converting" students to a gay lifestyle (if such a thing is possible), then it's not so much a good thing.

 

[imported_Papi]

whats up with the homo threads tonight?

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
As an examination of the sociological aspects of "gay culture", it sounds interesting. If it's designed to push an agenda of "converting" students to a gay lifestyle (if such a thing is possible), then it's not so much a good thing.

I don't think anyone in thier right minds would disagree.

Of course politicians have to position on it, rather than just dealing with it cleanly.

One thing I could say certainly needs to go is the provocative course name. I'd have trouble investing trust in a teacher who called the course that. I propose it be renamed:

Male Homosexuality and Initiation: " An examination of the sociological aspects of "gay culture"

 

[IGBT]

And they call this education..any wonder why jobs are leaving the country?? Cheap labor does't explain it all. Very few people in the US are willing to do the hardwork and homework to be truly educated. They would rather go to sissy school...

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

Tax dollars at work

 

[RossMAN]

Damn I was going to post this, beaten!

Here's another link
http://www1.umn.edu/glbt/about.htm

 

[MercenaryForHire]

<Highschooler> Man, this thread is so gay.

- M4H

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: djheater
Tempest. Teacup.


Actually it sounds like a very interesting course. Sociologically speaking.

i agree. id be interested in taking that class.

 

[Howard]

I wonder what it teaches.

Oh, and who cares if you're living the "proper" gay lifestyle or not?

 

[Zenmervolt]

While I'll admit that if it's truly a sociological course it's potentially interesting, I fail to see how even then it would belong in a college classroom. The only thing you can really do with a sociology degree is teach sociology, it's kind of an endless loop. Better to be studying Physics or Engineering or Business IMO.

ZV

 

[pandego]

Mansechs = teh bad.

 

[gopunk]

ugh not this again... is this some kind of new trend, to try and find a college course and make it sound rediculous? PLEASE! STOP THE INSANITY.

anybody that's been to college knows that course descriptions are vague at best, and that the main purpose of the is to interest students enough that they sign up for the course. it seems really obvious to me that this is just an unfortunately worded course description. does anybody really think that there is some sort of bizarre gay initiation ritual going on in these classes? where do these people come from?

if i didn't know any better, i'd think that some right wing anti-gay nutjobs were purposely misconstrueing this course for their own agenda. which doesn't even make sense, because does anybody in their right mind think that somebody is going to take this class and become gay? 10 bucks says the vast majority of the students in these courses were gay or bi to begin with.

Now the paper goes on to say that:
However, in a course description on the university's Web site, Mr. Halperin says: "Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn't mean that you don't have to learn how to become one. Gay men do some of that learning on their own, but often we learn how to be gay from others."


We all know that couse descriptions are a sh!tty way to tell what a course is about often having little if anything to do with the course. Nevertheless, the course description could still be construed to support halperin's position, though admittedly confusing.

well of course the course description is a little confusing, but the confusion you allude to is actually because of sensationalist journalism. the course description goes on to say:

Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn't mean that you don't have to learn how to become one. Gay men do some of that learning on their own, but often we learn how to be gay from others, either because we look to them for instruction or because they simply tell us what they think we need to know, whether we ask for their advice or not.

with the full paragraph, i think it's pretty clear that this class is not intended to teach people how to be gay, but rather explore ways in which people learn to act in a way that they think allows them to "fit in" with other gay people.