The "they'll teach it to first graders!" tactic against same-sex marriage

In both the California and Maine campaigns against same-sex marriage, much was made (in fact, created) about how homosexuality would required curricula in schools if marriage rights were extended.  This was the crux of the opposition's campaign.  In fact, there was not a word about teaching in either of the bills.  So when these accusations were aired on very effective TV ads, the knee jerk response from supporters of same-sex marriage was "that's not true!"

Something has bothered me about this response for some time now.  It feels like the defensive actor or politician who proclaims, "I'm not gay!" (Remember Larry Craig?  The senator with men's room restless leg syndrome?)  The implication that it is also wrong to be gay is hardly subtle. So when I hear supporters of same-sex marriage say, "homosexuality will not be taught in our schools," I get the same feeling.  The subtext?  Because that would be wrong or inappropriate.

I'd like to question that assumption that we shouldn't teach about LGBT issues with another assumption: gayness and homosexuality are already taught in schools across this country.  Here are some examples of how this is done:

1. It's taught every time a kid hears "that's so gay" or the word "faggot" in the school yard.
2. It's taught every time a kid enters a school building and knows of not one gay person there.
3. It's taught when a kid remains quiet during kindergarten talk about families because a brother, sister, mother, father, uncle, aunt or cousin is gay.
4. It's taught by not being taught, by the absence of any recognition of LGBT people in history or literature.
5. It's taught when the school dance group has no male members, because the boys are afraid of being called gay if they join.
6. It's taught the day after a referendum on same-sex marriage in Maine, when a high school class is discussing current events, and a gay kid has to sit through one more conversation about how people don't want her to get married.
7. It's taught on the baseball diamond, when one kid yells to another, "you throw like a girl."
8. It's taught when everyone knows a teacher is gay but it is never publicly acknowledged because it should be a secret.  And secrets are usually bad.
9.  It's taught every time a kid opens a math book and does yet another word problem that involves a heterosexual couple buying groceries or driving x miles an hour down the highway.  Gay people aren't in word problems because they aren't supposed to exist.
10. It's taught when a female athlete doesn't do her 100% best because everyone assumes all good female athletes are lesbians, and no one wants to be known as that.

So, yes.  Homosexuality is taught.  And what is presently being taught about LGBT people is just fine with many of those who so vocally and passionately oppose same-sex marriage.  Because the last thing they want children to believe is that being gay is, well, normal.