A girl I went to high school with was always made fun of and called a lesbian, though she has never announced this was true. But these students who continuously ridiculed her made her high school experience so much more difficult and depressing due to the fact that hardly anyone accepted her. She had done absolutely nothing to wrong those other students and was a very genuine, good-hearted girl, as well as a straight A student. So by putting her through all of this pain and suffering, people destroyed her self-esteem and self-confidence. This should have never been an issue, whether she is a lesbian or not. People should understand that her sexual orientation, no matter what it is, is as important as their own and they should learn to accept it.
Unfortunately, in our society, many people are homophobic and unaccepting of those who are not heterosexual just like those high school students. But those people who are not heterosexuals are just as important as any person that is! It is unfair that they are looked down upon at all due to this reason. It is simply the way they are, and they should be able to live freely the way they are most comfortable. People tend to look down on people with homosexual or even bisexual orientations so much even though there is nothing wrong with those sexual orientations at all. Heterosexual is considered to be “the norm” and therefore is the only sexual orientation accepted by many people across the world.
This occurs so much that many people view gays, lesbians, and bisexuals as people with disabilities and disorders (who are also wrongfully frowned upon by people, whether it is consciously or not) (Caldwell, 2010). First of all, homosexuality, as well as bisexuality is absolutely not a disorder or a disability at all. People with those sexual orientations are fully-functional people physically and mentally, for the most part. And secondly, it is unfair to frown upon people with disabilities as well. They are also people too and they deserve to be valued as much as anyone else. So to have the mindset that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is like having a disability is very wrong and it is just as wrong to look at those people as being of less importance.
After having said all of this, I believe that the population is taking a turn for the better. I think that people are beginning to get less homophobic. Long ago, being homosexual or bisexual was extremely frowned upon but I believe that now, people are slowly starting to become more and more accepting. Since 2005, same sex marriages have become legal in all parts of Canada (CBC). I do have high hopes of soon having a society that accepts all sexual orientations.
References:
Caldwell, K. (2010). We Exist: Intersectional In/Visibility in Bisexuality & Disability. Disability Studies Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 3/4, Page no unavailable.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/samesexrights/
-Marina. R.
I can’t believe that is has been 5 years since the legalization of same sex marriages, and still not all provinces/territories in Canada are on board! This looks extremely bad on Canada as a nation, as they are not accepting the differences in people.
ReplyDeleteYour post points out a lot of problems that society has with homosexuals. A big problem that I have heard a lot about too is that people who are gay are “sick” or “mentally disabled”. How would a heterosexual feel if a homosexual told them that they had some mental disability because they like the opposite sex? I can’t imagine how someone would feel being told that they are sick because of who they are attracted too. Love is love, it shouldn’t matter who you choose to love.
It’s sad to see that people still aren’t able to accept homosexuals in all parts of the world. These people should be able to have the same opportunities and be treated equal as any other person would be.
-Jessica VL
Good post Marina!
ReplyDeleteIt still boggles my mind that gay marriages have only been accepted for 5 years. I will never understand how some people can be so bothered by the way that complete strangers live their lives.
This is why I believe in being active in the community and showing that people should be proud to be LGBT. The more likely you are to know someone who is LGBT, the more likely they are to truly accept them as a person. I think the world can change, but it just might not be as quick as people hope. Good topic!
-Avery F
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you Marina when you talked about how you think that our society is becoming more accepting. To a point it seems like our generations “norm” is more of a broader term. But then in other words it’s hard to say that in a way with all the suicides that have been going on lately with relation to sexuality. I think the biggest thing that everyone has to remember is that we are all humans, and their is no need to make rude and hurtful comments. Like you said we can’t look at people as being less important. I do have hope that as the younger generation is around these different “norms” the judgement, and putting down will stop, and everyone can accept each others sexual orientation.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa V
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Alyssa, the "norm" of acceptance may be broader, but the concept that different equals bad is so deeply imbeaded in most that true acceptance without judgment has a long way to go. It's awful that being gay becomes a defining trait, like those who are physically disabled. Everything about them is directly linked to to their sexuality, How someone dresses and talks, to even their tone of voice. Because it is presumed to be a "choice" people still kinda think it's ok to discriminate because if they really wanted to they could change
ReplyDeleteHolly L
High school is brutal. I have no idea why people feel the need to put others down. High school bullying is so overwhelming and I have no idea what the solution would be. People say that the solution needs to be more teacher intervention but that usually incurs more ridicule. I don’t know what to do? We need solutions and we need them fast, too many people are dying because of bullying. What do we do?
ReplyDeleteJessica N.