emarked, "This isn't aboutprotecting kids, because adequate protection already exists. This is about legitimizinghomosexuality, bisexuality, etc., in an attempt to bring it into the curriculum" (UnionTribune, p. B4). Notice the language used here by those in opposition of the newnondiscrimination policy: "homosexual agenda," "infiltrate," "legitimizing." They are allused in a negative context to maintain the boundaries and reaffirm what is deviant. In summary, there are many sociological issues that contribute to the construction ofcategories of sexuality and gender identity in our society. The primacy of masculinityversus femininity, the categorizing of deviants as "abnormal" or needing psychiatric"treatment," and the role of power in American society all contribute to explaining andunderstanding the role of deviance in our society. There are also several tools that serveto maintain, enforce and reinforce these categories, but the strongest uniting factor is theimputation of negative status for that which is deviant. Kinsey argued that we shouldavoid applying terms of behavior to individuals. Rather than using terms such asheterosexual and homosexual to describe persons, we should use them "to describe thenature of overt sexual relations." I think he posed this idea in light of conductingobjective, unbiased research and the realization that the use of these terms was toorestrictive and limiting to characterize a person based on their sexual behavior. From adeeper look, we have seen that there are many factors that determine how society feelsabout sexuality. Although I agree with Kinsey's statement, our world is not designed tolook at the issues of sexuality and gender in an unbiased, objective manner. Who knows? One day, it may be. ...
