| This survey was designed to take a look at the exposure that people have had to Gay and Lesbian characters in junior and high school literature, and textbooks. Demographic results: 25 people took the survey. 68% of the people surveyed were between 40 and 59 years old, 16% were between 30 and 39, 12% were between 20 and 29, 4% were 19 or younger. Survey takers included 1 heterosexual male (4%), 1 heterosexual female (4%), 14 gay males (56%), 5 lesbians (20%), 4 bisexuals (16%). 88% of the people taking the survey graduated from high school, 12% left school before graduating. 48% attended Central New York Schools. 24% attended school outside of Central New York, but within New York State. 24% attended school in a state other than New York State. 4% attended school outside of the United States. Survey results: 92% of the people surveyed said that their teachers never assigned reading that included gay or lesbian characters within school textbooks or literature, and 8% said that it was rarely done. 92% said that they never read about gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks, and 8% said that it was rare. 88% said that they never read literature including gay or lesbian characters within school literature, and 12% said that it was rare. 76% said that history books never told when a person was gay or lesbian and 24% said that it was rare. 76% said that their teachers never told them when a history figure was gay or lesbian and 24% said that it was rare. 80% said that literature books never told when a person was gay or lesbian, 16% said that literature rarely told when a person was gay or lesbian, and 4% said that literature used in school often told when a person was gay or lesbian. 76% of the people surveyed said that including gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks and literature would reduce the sense of isolation that gay and lesbian youth may feel from not including gay or lesbian characters. 16% said that including gay or lesbian characters would often reduce feelings of isolation within gay and lesbian youth. 8% said that including gay or lesbian characters would never reduce the sense of isolation that gay and lesbian youth may feel from not including gay or lesbian characters. Discussion: The survey shows that some schools are using literature or textbooks that include gay or lesbian characters. The survey shows that over � of the people in this survey reported that they were not ever exposed to gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks or in literature used by their schools. The survey shows that some history textbooks do tell when a person is gay or lesbian, but that over � of the people who took this survey used history books that did not tell when a historical figure was gay or lesbian. Over � of the people surveyed said that their teachers did not talk about gay or lesbian historical figures being gay or lesbian when the person was mentioned in their history textbook. This survey shows that many schools may not be using textbooks and literature that include gay or lesbian characters. The people who were 29 or younger that took this survey were among those who were rarely or never exposed to gay and lesbian characters in their school textbooks and literature. The people who were 29 or younger that took this survey said that their teachers rarely or never discussed gay or lesbian people mentioned in history books, other textbooks, or literature. There are some teachers willing to talk about gay and lesbian people in history, but they seem to be a small amount of teachers. The survey shows that most of these people attended schools that use literature and textbooks that did not include gay and lesbian characters at the time these people attended school. 92% of the people surveyed feel that including gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks and literature would help to reduce the sense if isolation that gay and lesbian youth may feel when these characters are not included in their school textbooks and literature. At the same time at least 3/4 of the people surveyed attended schools that used textbooks and literature that did not include gay or lesbian characters, or somehow these students were not exposed to these characters if they did exist in literature and textbooks used by their schools. . More Questions: The survey raises many questions. Why were so many people who took the survey never exposed to gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks and literature? Why did most of their history books not mention that some important historical figures were gay or lesbian? If putting gay or lesbian characters in school textbooks and literature will reduce feelings of isolation among gay and lesbian youth, then why aren�t more there? Is there a real lack, or is there a shortage, or is there a small amount of gay and lesbian characters in textbooks and literature used by schools? Does society want to support gay and lesbian youth by including gay or lesbian people in textbooks and literature used by their schools? These are just a few of the questions that could be raised by this survey. |
| SURVEY: �Exposure to Gay and Lesbian Characters� in Junior and Senior High School textbooks and Literature� |
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