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."