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from Ethical Issues
Dr. Uriel Meshoulam Also Urges
Caution in Gay Self-Labeling
A Massachusetts middle school recently was in the center of controversy because
of its decision to celebrate homosexual diversity. In an effort aimed to "make
students feel safe," the school's principal approved a gay-affirming bulletin
board featuring famous historical figures who may have been homosexual. Dr.
Uriel Meshoulam cautioned the school with the following letter-to-the-editor,
published in the Globe:
"The bulletin board, although well-intentioned, has the effect of perpetuating
the popular notion that people fall neatly into categories of sexual orientation.
This false notion strongly encourages teenagers to close the question of their
sexuality in a simplistic way, and shut it prematurely.
"Rather, teenagers must give themselves time to grow, and learn to think about
their sexuality in more sophisticated and complex ways.
"As a psychologist, all too often I see people in therapy, sexually confllicted
and confused, have their plight compounded by social pressures coming from both
sides of the aisle--the religious right and the 'correct' left. Well-intentioned
affirming messages, such as 'be true to your real self,' imply a fixed, 'true'
and probably inborn sexual orientation. This powerful truism, more often than
not, makes young teenagers feel that they need to quickly make up their minds as
to 'who they really are.'
"Although much less comfortable, it is important for many to keep the issue of
their sexuality, as well as their minds and hearts, open to alternative
definitions. As G.A. Kelly taught us, we continually invent ourselves.
Political correctness, unfortunately, serves to encourage kids to hastily settle
on a certain definition of themselves, and slam the door at the possibility of
self-reinventing."
Updated: 8 February 2008
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