The “Tuscan initiative”, sponsored by Italy's equal opportunities ministry, promotes a billboard advertising campaign which uses a photo of a baby to express its message concerning homosexuality.
Baby Used in Homosexual Ad Campaign - Vatican Objects By Deacon Keith Fournier
My question as a gay man and gay therapist is, "What is wrong with considering babies and children as gay or lesbian?"
The article is about the Vatican objecting to an ad against discrimination of homosexuality showing a baby wearing a hospital bracelet.
The hospital bracelet worn by the newborn bears the French word "homosexuel" in the place where the child’s name would normally be placed to tell the waiting world of his or her identity. The campaign slogan is "Sexual orientation is not a choice."
The Vatican and others are criticizing it including a gay man himself.
Yet, Gianni Vattimo, well known postmodern philosopher, a self professed homosexual, is critical of the advertising campaign. In an interview with the daily "Corriere della Sera"newspaper he questioned the idea that homosexuality is genetic. As for the billboard campaign, he said "The initiative is in bad taste, in fact they've made a mess of it."
The reason anyone would think this is in bad taste is that no one likes to think of children as already being homosexual and later coming out as gay.
My thoughts are that it is because when people hear the word gay they only hear gay adult sex. They don't consider homosexuality as anything other than sexual. But when we think of children being straight we don't think of them in adult sexuality terms. We think of them being romantic and cute with opposite gender peers and teachers.
"Do you have a crush on Mrs. T?" we ask a kindergarten boy.
"Do you like Bobby in class?" we ask the first grade girl.
This usually means something romantic and sweet not sexual! So why do people think of gay children as sexual and not sweet?
What do people think of this? Why is this?
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