To the editors.
What was left out? What would give this character study some meaning? What would enable the reader to understand Timothy’s experiences on Chicago’s north side?
5–exposing the fear of many gay and lesbian organizations to allow participation by gay and lesbian youth in their activities and social services. (Because of society’s stereotype of gay and lesbian citizens as child molesters.)
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These are the elements that are missing from “Child in the Streets.”
The question is, why does society hate gay and lesbian adolescents? Why is it afraid to discuss the issue of sexual orientation? Why will families, churches, schools, and other social institutions refuse to recognize that by not confronting this issue, they are pushing the gay and lesbian teenager out onto the street to look for answers–to look for connectedness–to look for the truth.
The Illinois Gay & Lesbian Task Force has been trying to motivate the Chicago Public School System and others to reach out to gay and lesbian youth–so that they stay in school, and so that they feel like someone is on their side. We have criticized sex-education books which list homosexuality with “masturbation,” “prostitution” and “rape.” We have disseminated an educational packet for counselors on how to deal with gay and lesbian youth. We have presented testimony to school boards, Mayor Washington’s Chicago Youth Commission, counseling departments, and to other professionals in the area.
So long as Timothy hates himself for being gay, and so long as he denies himself the joys of safe sex, the Christian fundamentalists will take care of him and love him for hating homosexuality.
