Lesbianism in our schools

If the problem is as serious as has been suggested by Stephen Plakaris, deputy director of government school security for the Northern Bahamas, a much bigger crisis exists in our school system than the disgraceful "D" average performance that is now the norm nationally for students in government schools.

In an article published in The Freeport News on Tuesday, Mr. Plakaris confirmed that there is a network of lesbians operating in private and government high schools in Grand Bahama. "Unfortunately we cannot deny it," he told our reporter, adding: "To deny it would put us in a situation where we're looking at ourselves in the mirror and pretending we don't see what is there."

Although he could not say how many girls on the various campuses engage in lesbianism, Mr. Plakaris made the shocking assertion that the numbers "are alarming, disturbing and growing." Even more disturbing is the claim made by Mr. Plakaris that there are some adults of this orientation – including some teachers and parents – who "are not inclined" to discourage young girls from engaging in this kind of lifestyle.

Rumours have long been in circulation about lesbianism becoming a growing problem not only in schools in Grand Bahama, but in New Providence as well. Gauging just how pervasive it is in our schools, of course, has always been difficult because gay women do not physically exhibit the characteristics which make it easy to determine that a man is homosexual. The same is true with women in general. However, particularly after Miss Teen Bahamas Gari McDonald, then 17 years old, last year came out of the closet – as the saying goes – and declared that she is a lesbian, some women who are similarly inclined have been boldly speaking out more openly about their sexual preference.

As a moral issue, being classified as a homosexual is no longer as detestable as it used to be in The Bahamas, and indeed worldwide. What's more, it has gained a degree of acceptance in the Church, with the ordination a couple of years ago by the Episcopal Church in the United States of an openly gay priest as a bishop. To be sure, there are committed "Christians" who can present strong arguments, supported by biblical references, that there is nothing wrong with being a homosexual.

But although there no longer seems to be a stigma attached to being a sissy – the more popular word used in The Bahamas for gay men – it is totally, totally, totally wrong for students in our schools to be ensnared and encouraged into this lifestyle by those entrusted to teach them and mould their characters. In essence, they should not be taught a course in "gay science" in the same manner that they are taught English, mathematics and history.

Wherever it can be proven that teachers are involved in polluting the minds of some of their students by spreading lesbianism in our schools, it should be treated as a criminal act. At the very least, they should be encouraged to seek another line of work.

© 2006 The Freeport News