The Invisible Minority

Basic information about sexual orientation is provided with guidelines that teachers can easily use for presentations in their classrooms. The information is helpful to all students including those who are straight. It is especially needed for gay lesbian bisexual transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth in schools because they often face persecution and do not have family members who can help them cope. Nearly one-third of all teen-age suicides are related to persecution around the issue of sexual orientation. Every classroom contains one or more students who now or will eventually identify themselves as gay or lesbian. Information is provided for all grade levels and classes that teach sexuality as well as English and History. A dozen appendices provide more detailed information and references including Homosexuality and the Bible Slurs Facts and Statistics. Homosexuality is a normal variation that occurs in nature in many species and among most if not all of humankind''s various cultures. Homosexuality is a variation very much like left-handedness. Most of the population is right-handed. A significant minority of the population is naturally left-handed. Left-handed people are present in all occupations and have made important contributions throughout history. Similarly most of the population is heterosexual. A significant minority of the population is naturally homosexual. Homosexual people are present in all occupations and have made important contributions throughout history Extensive research over the last 50 years indicate that about 10% of the population in the United States is exclusively homosexual. Kinsey''s research indicated that an additional 5% engage in homosexual behavior part of the time. These percentages have been confirmed by many scientists but even if the numbers were much smaller it does not change what needs to be done in schools to meet the needs of a vulnerable invisible minority.