Moral Education and Homosexuality
By Dr Bill Robb

Moral education as a practice in schools and other youth organisations has a major difficulty to face. Doing immoral things is serious because then you are a “bad person”. So how does moral education deal with issues that were once seen as immoral and still are by some people and yet are now becoming acceptable and therefore NOT immoral? 

Let’s use homosexuality as an example and see how a moral education session on this topic would go. The bold text is the facilitator’s  questions. The  text  in  square

bracketsis responses of the educands or a note from me about the question. 

Is being gay – having sex with someone of the same gender okay? [Responses: a) yes b) no]. 

If you said yes, why? [Responses: a) people should be free to love who they want and do what they want with their own bodies b) people can’t help it, that’s just how they are – there is even a gay gene c) it’s illegal to discriminate against gays d) people can still be good, kind people and be gay 

What about Places where it is against the law – would you say people should break the law? [Responses: a) yes, some laws are wrong, stupid and outdated and need changing b) no, one should never break the law but try and change it].

What if breaking the law didn’t really hurt anyone – you are not assaulting or stealing? [Responses – much thinking, perhaps the first time they have thought of some laws being unnecessary]. 

Say some people are old-fashioned and really get upset when they see two men or two women snogging in the street? [Responses: a) that’s their problem – why should we change just to make them feel better b) I suppose one should be sensitive to other people's feelings – even if they are misguided]. 

If you said “homosexuality is not okay” why? [Responses: a) the Bible/Koran/Torah says it’s wrong b) it’s not normal or natural – sex is for procreation c) gays get more aids than others d) in the long run it destroys society because no children would result form such unions]. 

What is normal – if sex is  for procreation is it okay for a heterosexual couple to have sex when the woman isn’t ovulating or when using contraceptives? [Responses – much discussion around the different views on sex as a recreation activity and all the potential problems surrounding sleeping with lots of people]. 

Say, for whatever reason, you think homosexuality is dead wrong, how do you treat gay people when you meet them? [Responses: a) treat them with respect like everyone else but respectfully point out that you don’t agree with their life style b)  tell them they are doing something wrong and they should change c) pass laws to ban it and lock people up if they break the law and give them psychological treatment]. 

Say you just feel that you like people of the same gender and you fall in love with someone of the same gender and he/she feels the same way. How would you feel if people told you that you were immoral and should change? [Responses: a) terrible b) don’t care] 

Would you really not care? [Response: almost all humans want to be accepted and recognised as good people by their family and society].

If people are not doing anything to hurt others would you still lock them up? [Responses: hopefully “no”]. 

This sample dialogue is merely a first preliminary step to show how moral education could be conducted more effectively. It will need much refinement with practice. 

Dr Bill would be delighted to talk at your next conference or event and explore how  moral education can be applied in practice and lead to a reduction in prejudice surrounding sexual activity. Contact him on bill@valueseducation.co.uk 

 Copyright © 2008 Values Education Ltd

Note to editors. Feel free to use this article as long as the following details are retained. “A values education article from CAVE  www.valueseducation.co.uk ”