An Arizona school district is under fire after a worksheet exercise asking students to reconsider their heterosexuality went viral online.
“[Scottsdale Unified School District] reportedly hosted a student club to “promote leadership and diversity” which was actually a cover for teaching gender identity and sexuality,” popular Twitter account Libs of TikTok said, adding a photo of the worksheet.
https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1536038585496809477?t=sJ7V0PPHHhWVNS7PEN3xIg&s=19
“What do you think caused your heterosexuality?” is one of the prompts on the worksheet.
“If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, is it possible that all you need is a good gay/lesbian lover?” says another question.
It also asks students whether their heterosexuality is “just a phase” that they might grow out of, and why some students “flaunt” their heterosexuality.
“A disproportionate majority (side note: the actual figure is 98%) of child molesters are heterosexuals,” the worksheet says. “Do you feel it safe to expose our children to heterosexual teachers?”
Another question asks why there are “so few stable relationships among heterosexuals,” citing the divorce rate of married couples.
There is no evidence to suggest that heterosexual relationships are any less “stable” than homosexual relationships.
The school club that promoted the exercise is called “Unitown.”
“Unitown was established in Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) in 1989. Each year, 75-80 students from our five high school [sic] are invited and apply to attend a 4-day camp,” Scottsdale Unified School District Communications Director Kristine Harrington said. “It is strictly voluntary and requires explicit parent permission. Parents are also invited to attend a pre-camp parent orientation where they learn more about the various themes.”
Harrington continued:
The camp and year-long club activities help school youth leaders better understand the diverse communities they serve, empathy and respect. Some of the issues addressed during the 4-day camp include bullying, prejudice/discrimination, racism/sexism and seeing others as people. Campers engage in in-depth discussions, workshops, skits and shared experiences, allowing delegates to gain a greater understanding of themselves and others.
Again, Unitown camp is not a required activity. Parental permission is required. Programing is evaluated regularly. Of the 4 days, approximately a 90-minute block was used to identify how to build empathy and understanding for students who identify as LGBTQ+. The worksheet was not used with students this year and has not been used with students since before the pandemic.
Harrington did not respond when asked if there was any school programming that asked students to reconsider their homosexuality.
The worksheet is branded by a group called AnytownArizona, which claims to be an education group for schools and employers.
“Built on the conviction that honest, forthright conversation is the cornerstone of a just society, Anytown views open dialogue as a crucial step toward breaking down the barriers that separate individuals,” its national website says. “We build stronger communities by facilitating camp residential programs, school programs and workplace diversity programs that educate individuals on inclusion, bias, and discrimination.”
Specifically, it describes its school programs as “[a] series of customized in-school and off-site programs built on the powerful and proven concepts of Anytown, our flagship human relations youth leadership camp.”
_ _ _
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Scottsdale Unified School District” by Scottsdale Unified School District.
