Homophobia: This Generation’s War
Cultural views today split between a fine line of what is considered normal and abnormal. People tend to take drastic standpoints on controversial issues backed by their own beliefs and in turn, cause social controversy. Among society’s controversial topics however, it may be argued that any LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, and other) related topics have become a primary target for mainstream society to attack, ridicule, and tear apart. It has caused a social war where insults, abuse, and violence towards people of varying sexualities have become a social normality. Religious organizations, schools, work places, and many other organizations and individuals have repeatedly engaged in the mistreatment of LGBT+ individuals.
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Verbal and physical assaults are so widespread against LGBT+ individuals, that some view it as just “a normal occurrence.” One particular example where this is apparent was a teacher overhearing a conversation her adult ESOL students were having. One student stated, “If one of my kids turned out to be gay, I would kill him.” In response, another student said, “But you might not want to kill him,” replied another, “because that would be murder, and they could put you in jail for that.” (Peters, Cynthia. Radical Teacher.) Keep in mind that the people here are talking about their own children, and the only valid counter argument they could come up with to prevent them from taking violent actions against their own children for identifying as LGBT+ was that they could go to jail for killing their kid. There is something terribly wrong with societal views on LGBT+ individuals when parents can engage in dialogue of this nature and others view it as anything but
Within America’s society today, 3.8 percent of the population is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. With only 17 of the 50 states legalizing and recognizing this type of relationship (“History…”), it puts a stronghold on same-sex couples to publicly declare their love with the promise of marriage. Same-sex marriages should be legalized because everyone has equal rights of freedom and liberty.
For years homosexuality in the United States of America has been looked down upon by citizens, religions, and even politicians. The homosexual culture, or the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender), has been demoralized and stuck out and lashed against by the Heterosexual community time and time again. To better understand the LGBT community we must first grasp the concept of Sexual Orientation.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals people make up more than ten percent of the population; that means if you are sitting in a classroom of thirty, then more than three of those people are LGBT individuals. However, this overwhelmingly large minority group continues to be one of the least protected by the government as well as most heavily targeted by discrimination and hate crimes. Regardless of the powerful shift in public opinion concerning LGBT individuals during the last twenty years, the laws concerning hate crimes have remained invariable.
What I am going to talk about today is just as absurd. It is like poison that permeates the very fabric of society. I am talking about homophobia, a problem that remains largely unaddressed. With this speech I would like us to reflect on the presence of this issue in society and the threats it poses to humanity. And finally, I will propose possible ways to eliminate this stigma.
According to a study done by National Youth Association in 2010, 9 out of 10 students in the LGBT community have experienced harassment in school, and over ⅓ of LGBT youth have attempted suicide. More recently, statistics by the Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org) claim that 4 in 10 LGBT youth say that their community is not accepting of LGBT people. In 1998 the Westboro Baptist Church was brought into America’s spotlight when they picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young man in the LGBT community who had been beaten to death because of his sexuality. Since then, the cruelty of WBC hasn’t ceased to leave many in sickening shock. Bullying, throughout time, has evolved. It’s not just Little Timmy being beaten up for his lunch money anymore. Now, parents are involved. Many religious households raise their children on the beliefs that bullying is A-OK if Little Timmy is a homosexual. Parents ar...
James Howe in his book Addie On the Inside said “Another Thing I 'm Sick of Hearing: If I started that gay rights group, I must be gay. So if i start an animal rights group, what does that make me? A giraffe?” The non-supporters of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Queer) community often think that if you support LGBTQ rights you’re gay yourself. This is wrong, LGBTQ rights can be supported by anyone, and their rights are an acute issue in society. There are thousands of LGBTQ couples who still cannot get married in certain states. There are many LGBTQ couples that would like to adopt children and enjoy their lives, but instead they’re being shunned for being who they are. So with this I think that LGBTQ couples should
Despite there being many reasons as to why people discriminate homosexuals, the most popular ones are due to their religion or cultural norm. They include acts of verbal and physical abuse towards individuals who are homosexual. For those who are homosexuals, they are verbally abused by name calling such as fag, homo or sissy more than two dozen a day. There was a survey conducted by Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and found that 86 percent of LGBT teens are being harassed at school in 2007. In 2013, 82 percent of teens had problems from previous year with bullying about sexual orientation. 64 percent felt unsafe at school and 32 percent did no go to school because of feeling unsafe. Even as an adult homosexual are attacked verbally.
A social problem, according to Thomas Sullivan (2012), is “when an influential group defines it as threating its values, when the condition affects a large number of people, and when it can be remedied by collective action”. Homophobia is indeed a social problem because negative stereotypes are prohibiting gay males and lesbians from living an equal, free life like their heterosexual counterparts. Whether the homophobic acts are minor or major, all homosexuals are discriminated, ostracized, beaten, or murdered every day. Further discussion of how homophobic stereotypes affect homosexuals, who is considered to be homophobic, and potential solutions to stop homophobia will be described below through peer reviewed literature.
The Web. 12 May 2014. Fone, Byrne. A. Homophobia: A History of the.
We believe that Violence and hate against homosexuality need to diminish severely. Gay bashing, gay bullying, and hate crime is very popular when it comes to hating on homosexual people. LGBT people of all ages die every year, whether caused by suicide, injury or homicide. From 1999-2010, the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program says that suicide is the 3rd leading cause (4,600 deaths) of death among young people ages 15 to 24. In 2011 there were 1,572 victims that received hate crimes based on sexual orientation. In an article on PBS, written by a woman named Karen Franklin, a description of an interview with a man called Brian states that him and his ...
Sexual orientation and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited Allies/Asexual, Pansexual, and Demisexual rights seem to cause quite the roar in controversy, but while all persons have different views, laws enacted regarding equality should be considered in the rights of a minority. Many human beings taking on queer (different) roles in life are often discriminated against in todays society. While those opposing this said lifestyle have their reasons, (many being set on religious beliefs) LGBT+ members should still have rights as Americans to be free because of due process, and also in the fourteenth amendment. Though, there is no argument for gay rights as to if they are or are not illegal, because there have been no
Baker, Jean M. How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community. New York: Harrington Park, 2002. Print.
This essay will show the ways that homosexuals are sometimes looked down upon in society (with older views) and the way that the world is changing. Though the world is constantly changing and new opinions are being formed, the older and more negative opinions still stand. Often times, a homosexual person is going to be made fun of or hurt because of these older views. As seen through the statistics, those who are homosexual are put down.
The recognition of same-sex marriage is a political, social, and religious issue. Because of this same-sex marriage is a very controversial topic. Legal acknowledgement of same sex marriage is commonly referred to as marriage equality. Many advocates of marriage equality argue that laws restricting marriage to only heterosexuals discriminate against homosexuals. On the other hand advocates against same-sex marriage argue that it would undo long-standing traditions and change the meaning of marriage in a damaging manor. In this essay I will be arguing for same-sex marriage. The arguments mentioned as well as others will be discusses throughout this paper.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.