Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families
I believe that everyone has the right to be who they are regardless or whether they are gay or straight. Being homosexual is a big part of the world today as anyone can see be the number of television shows, movies, books that include gay couples as well as the number of states that has passed the law for these couples to be married. Excluding books from these centers that depict homosexual couples will not make the issue go away, if the kids are not exposed to this type of literature at school, they are likely to come across this knowledge some other way and be given the wrong type of information. If they are guided in the wrong way or taught the wrong way they will develop bias against this group of people and as they grow older this bias could grow into hate and resentment.
How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child. I would let the parent know that just because the teacher may be homosexual does not mean that they will abuse their child or that they are a pedophile. Everyone has a right to choose who they want to be with whether it is a person of the same sex or opposite. I would let them know that the teacher is well-trained, certified, great with the kids and the kids love them and that I believed in letting my teachers be who they are not who someone else want them to be. I will politely informed them that I would not be getting rid of the teacher based on this attitude, and if they didn't like it and if they so choose they could take their child someone else.
