Eric Black Fact Checks Bachmann

A recent Star Tribune article by Eric Black highlighted some of the difficulties two candidates in the 6th Congressional District (Patty Wetterling and Michele Bachmann) were having. Part of the article dealt with Michele Bachmann's extremism, particularly her anti-gay rhetoric. In today's "Big Question," the Star Tribune political blog, he fact checks one of Michele Bachmann's assertions:

"that once a state legalizes gay marriages, 'public schools would have to teach that homosexuality and same-sex marriages are normal, natural and that maybe children should try them.'"

He found that, indeed, in Massachussetts where same-sex marriage is legal, that schools are beginning to teach that some kids have two moms and others have two dads. The real question is: why does it matter?

Teaching students that there is more than one kind of family is a good idea. Teaching them that gay people exist is a good idea. I would draw the line at teaching LGBT themes in sexuality education class until students are at an appropriate age, but even then it's a good idea. There are going to be gay kids in these classes, and it will be good for them to know there is an alternative view to the 'gay people are sinners' rhetoric. Who knows? It might make the difference in whether or not an LGBT youth decides to take their own life. And it's a pretty serious concern.

People do not go out and try homosexuality just because it's brought up, as Michele Bachmann asserts, just as gay people don't go out and try heterosexuality just because it's brought up (although some do try it to hide from oppression and people like Michele Bachmann).