People are gay. Get over it.
Sadly, students who are in the LGBTQ+ community can often be the target of insults or even physical threats. This needs to stop. No one should be targeted with words or actions towards them because of who they love.
To those who feel the need to target those who have a different sexuality than straight need, here are my words to you:
Stop. Just stop using the words that describe an identity as an insult. Words like “tranny” or “that’s so gay” or “soooo, if you’re pansexual, are you attracted to a pan?”
There is no reason to attack someone based on what their sexuality is. They shouldn’t feel oppressed by someone thinking that it’s reasonable to toss a term in a rude manner, or using it in a joking manner when it shouldn’t be used. Just let people love who they want to love without finding some way to be insulting towards them.
Yes, we are getting a little better. For example, in pop culture, more movies and TV shows have come out to show that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. Movies such as Love Simon, or the TV shows like Will and Grace of Schitt’s Creek feature gay characters within the show. At LHS, we have a (GSA) Gender-Sexuality Alliance club for people in the LGBTQ+community.
I know that some religions believe homosexuality is a sin and forbid it. Even if you are someone who doesn’t agree with the relationship someone has, you don’t have to be mean about it. Just don’t say anything if you have a problem with it. I’m not saying you can’t have your own opinion, but people that are part of the LGBTQ+ community are also allowed to have their opinions. People don’t have to agree, but if you can’t accept someone because of their sexuality, at least respect them.
It might be hard to do this in the high school environment. People might feel forced to say very insensitive things about sexuality because of peer pressure. Maybe they want to be accepted in the group, or just have people laugh at the ‘joke’ that they have made with insulting words. This is not okay.
If you feel compelled to say something derogatory towards someone that is part of the LGBTQ+ community, just don’t do it. What is it at the end that you gain? Satisfaction for being a person that hurt someone emotionally or who made them even more afraid to tell people who they are?
The world was made to give everyone the ability to be kind towards each other. All that is needed is a bit of faith. The world should be a place where anyone can like whoever they want, and not feel that they will be targeted because people can’t accept who they like.
The most powerful gift in the world is the gift of kindness towards someone you might have nothing in common with, and respecting who they are to the world and to themselves, and it all starts with an action from one student to another.
