Florida High School Faces Backlash Over Controversial College Course Asking Students About Their Sexuality

Florida high school students enrolled in a dual-enrollment program at a local college were reportedly given a controversial questionnaire focused on sexuality, prompting outcry from parents and renewed debate over appropriate classroom content. The incident occurred in a "Preparing for Student Success" course offered by Miami-Dade College to high schoolers in Miami-Dade County, where students were assigned questions that scrutinized their sexual orientation and posed provocative inquiries about heterosexuality.

The questionnaire drew attention for including pointed questions such as "What do you think caused your heterosexuality?" and "Is it possible that being straight is just a phase you may grow out of?" Among other queries, students were also asked whether they believed the human race could survive if everyone were straight, subtly referencing overpopulation concerns. The assignment also invited students to consider whether their sexuality stemmed from a "neurotic fear" of others of the same sex and whether techniques existed that could enable them to change their sexual orientation.

Many parents expressed strong discomfort and anger over the subject matter. One mother, whose 15-year-old son was enrolled in the class, said the line of questioning was not only inappropriate but deeply troubling. She stated, "Imagine if anyone went up to your child and asked them these questions. I'd call the police. Why are you talking about sexuality to 15-year-old boys or girls? It's absolutely sick."

According to information provided, the class was designed to help students develop academic goals, learn study skills, and assess their personal learning styles. However, the inclusion of sexually-focused assignments left some students and parents feeling blindsided. While the course description lists college success strategies and experiential learning perspectives as core elements, the sexuality questionnaire seemed to fall outside conventional academic development topics.

The questions themselves were attributed to the textbook "POWER: Strategies for Success in College and Life" by Robert Feldman. The content was based on the "Heterosexual Questionnaire," a set of questions originally developed in 1972 by Martin Rochlin, a gay rights activist, to challenge prevailing attitudes toward sexual orientation.

Following the backlash, Miami-Dade College announced that the assignment would no longer be utilized in its curriculum. In an official statement, the college emphasized its commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and academically sound learning environment for all students. College officials noted that after a review, they determined the assignment would be discontinued and affirmed their expectations for teachers to uphold these standards moving forward.

The controversy also uncovered other assignments given to students, including one that touched on diversity and stereotypes. Students were asked to analyze the racial makeup of their campus and explore their own biases through questions like, "If you found out that a star professional football player is gay, would you be surprised?" These activities, while intended to promote awareness and reflection, have further fueled discussion about the boundaries of classroom discussions on social topics.

The episode has sparked ongoing conversations among parents, educators, and administrators about the balance between fostering inclusive dialogue and respecting personal and family boundaries, especially for minor students participating in college-level courses.