Gender, Gender Idenity, Gender Orientation

I am responding to the following bulletin:

       - Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families.

I believe that early childhood centers should not avoid the inclusions of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families because the children that are serviced by many of the early childhood centers are raised by same says parents.  In the center that I work for, we have a lot of children who are raised by same sex parents or partners.  So when the children family members come to visit them at family hour other children are asking why you have two moms.  I believe that if we have literature for the children than they will better understand what is going on and the other children will be able to relate.  This by no means says that the teacher or the center agrees with the living conditions it just say that they respect that diversity in various households. 

       -How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child

I would explain to the parent or family member that here at this particular center we do not discriminate.  I have the confidence in this particular person that the parent is referring to do a wonderful job of caring as well as educate their child, but the ultimate decision is up to you the parent, either your child can stay at the center or you are welcome to take your child to another center.

I believe that people should not be judge on who they are or what they believe in.

Erica Hines