The Impact of Gay Marriages on Education

The legalization of same-sex unions in some the States in the United States and other countries around the world brought about the argument of its impact to affect education resulting to lower literacy levels. However, the impact of same-sex marriages on literacy levels still remains a daunting task to ascertain due to a number of reasons (Wardle, 2001). For instance, the at-risk individuals face various challenges such as abuse in educational institutions and in some instances, divorce rates impact learning among these people. 

Notably, effects of same-sex marriages on education have varying results based on countries. Whereas in the United States the divorce rates are down, literacy levels remain affected due to the stigmatization of the at-risk individuals. In comparison to a country such as Sweden, same-sex unions have experienced high divorce rates; however, literacy levels amongst these persons continue to be higher than their heterosexual counterparts. Accordingly, this paper shall discuss the impact of same-sex marriages on education by comparing information obtained from the United States and Sweden, which are among the countries that have had legalized same-sex unions for years.

According to Wardle (2001) the legalization of same-sex marriages has solicited problematic educational crisis that confirms the unions affect the education on the nations and States that it has been legalized. Wardle (2001) argues that normally the at-risk individuals from same-sex unions are suppressed by the educations system such that the opinions and viewpoints expressed by teachers, students, guest lecturers, administrators, and parents. This aspect also extends to other aspects of education such as hiring, disciplining, and dismissing education personnel. This aspect results to limitations being illegally imposed on some of the qualified educators from conducting their roles in schools with little to no disturbance. Additionally, some of the children that originate from same-sex unions are hardly protected from prejudice implying that their class attendance and contributions is largely affected given that the system only promotes a curriculum that is based on heterosexuals.

There is an increase in the number of cases whereby students and teachers are found to be engaged in same-sex behaviour (Wardle, 2001). Common cases have arisen in the States of Massachusetts that allege that some tutors have been prevented from teaching children. On the other hand, a report by Coalition for Marriage (2012) asserts that some heterosexual parents have protested the use of learning materials that leans towards homosexuality. For instance, the education Act permits the teaching of marriage and its relevance to family life and the upbringing of children.

However, in 2006, a set of two parents from Massachusetts took legal action against a teacher who used a story book containing ‘gay’ content to teach children aged between 6 – 7 years about the importance of the family (Coalition for Marriage, 2012). The parents argued that the content of the book was not appropriate to children of such ages. Accordingly, discrimination against teaching by same-sex educators, or tutoring of content with homosexual theme results to discrimination on the part of the teacher that might give rise to disciplinary action.

Some reports out the United States allege that same-sex unions have resulted to increased divorced rates (Bailey, 2013). Out of this, 20 percent of same-sex relationships normally have children from one side of the partners. In most instances, younger children are faced with the challenge of understanding their existence in a same-sex marriage and during a break up they end up to be drastically affected (Wardle, 2001). Bailey (2013) asserts that there are over six million American children under the care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) relationships that are at risk of suffering psychologically as a result of separation from their parents. Accordingly, due to the volatility of same-sex unions, the at-risk children stand a high chance of losing their focus in school in the event of a break up (Wardle, 2001).

Sweden has recorded high rates of literacy levels especially from same-sex unions. In comparison, Rosenfeld (as cited in Ald´en, Edlund, & Hammarstedt, 2014) that same-sex parents had equal capabilities in providing an education to their children. Statistics indicate that over 52 percent of gays have a college degree as opposed to 42 percent of their heterosexual counterparts (Ald´en, Edlund, & Hammarstedt, 2014). Unlike the United States though, Sweden introduced same-sex relationships and its education system has expanded to include a curriculum that encompasses children from heterosexual or same-sex marriages.

On the contrary, some the States in the U.S have included Acts that permits parents to exclude their children from education material that does not value the religious beliefs and moral values of the family. Sweden, on the other hand, provides an education system that protects the rights of the children against being exposed to material that exposes them from unwarranted material unknowingly (Ald´en, Edlund, & Hammarstedt, 2014). Perhaps, this aspect largely contributes to the high literacy levels among members of the LGBT community in Sweden than the United States.

According to Wardle (2001) there are currently no policies that regulate the education system in the presence of members of the LGBT communities. For instance, the education system does not have provisions that promote learning among homosexuals. Additionally, there are cases of whereby LGBT student grades are sabotaged by the examiners such they are given lower grades. Given that there are no channels that can avert such behaviour by the examiners, homosexual students are coupled with unfair grading from their institutions.

Wardle (2001) argues that the incorporation of an education system that caters for the homosexuals shall increase the literacy levels among members of this community since, discrimination at the educational level shall be dealt with in accordance to the law. For example, Sweden promotes equal education rights among members of both heterosexual and gay communities. In fact, the pursuit for an education has been found to be the major leading cause of gay separations in Sweden (Ald´en, Edlund, & Hammarstedt, 2014). Accordingly, the U.S can follow suit by ensuring that the education system promotes learning among same-sex communities a fact that shall have an overall positive impact on the literacy levels of the country.

In summary, there is little information that correlates dwindling literacy levels to gayism (Wardle, 2001). In fact, countries such as Sweden have recorded higher literacy levels among members of the same-sex relationships as opposed to heterosexuals. However, the positive performance among gays in learning is attributed to the Swedish policies that promote education a fact that is currently a major contributor of separations among same-sex unions. On the other hand, lower literacy levels in the U.S can be attributed to the non-existence of policies that promote learning among members from same-sex unions. To some extent, the lower grades scored can be as a result of sabotage by the examiners on students that are perceived to be gay as revealed by Wardle (2001). Accordingly, just as Sweden, the U.S ought to have policies that create a level playing field for learners and educators from same-sex relationships to flourish in pursuing their education activities.

References

Ald´en, L., Edlund, L., & Hammarstedt, M. (2014). Same-Sex Partnership for What? Evidence from Swedish Register Data, 1-32.

Bailey, R. (2013). The Science on Same-Sex Marriage. Reason.com. Retrieved 21 November 2015, from https://reason.com/archives/2013/04/05/the-science-on-same-sex-marriage

Coalition for Marriage,. (2012). Gay Marriage in Primary Schools: The Impact of Redefining Marriage on Primary Schools. London: Coalition for Marriage Limited.

Wardle, L. (2001). The Impact of Education of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage and Lessons from Abortion and Jurisprudence. Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal, 1(2), 385-635.