discrimination
Discrimination has been around for centuries and even though there have been many improvements in the way society deals with discrimination, we still have a very long way to go. Gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths and 30% of all completed adolescence suicides are related to sexual identity. Parents, teachers, students – everyone needs to be more open about homosexuality and there should also be an understanding that being gay or lesbian is perfectly fine – as long as their happy, you should be too.
Well, let’s face it, no one is born homophobic. When straight men and women show public affection no one cares or stares. But when homosexuals do, someone is sure to make a hostile comment. I admit it; everyone is prejudice in some way or another, yes. We all judge to a point, it’s useless to deny it. But, simple things such as two men or women holding hands or a brief hug can set some people off or “gross them out.” Everyone has seen a heterosexual couple holding hands, and most of the time we don’t even notice it because it’s such a common thing. Images of heterosexual P.D.A. have been implanted into our minds since many of us were old enough to watch television. If we all agree that a minor display of affection such as hand holding among a straight couple is perfectly acceptable to society, why shouldn’t it be the same for same-sex couples? We all need to show affection. It’s our outward statement of love – a right most of us take for granted.
Homosexuals are just ordinary people who happen to love the same sex. Anti-gay and lesbian discrimination tends to be particularly brutal and nasty. There are many arguments that homosexuality is filthy and that most gay individuals are pedophiles when in fact, over 90% of all reported molestations are carried out by heterosexual males. Some even consider homosexuality to be a mental disorder – even though it was declassified as a mental illness in 1973. Homosexuals
Well, let’s face it, no one is born homophobic. When straight men and women show public affection no one cares or stares. But when homosexuals do, someone is sure to make a hostile comment. I admit it; everyone is prejudice in some way or another, yes. We all judge to a point, it’s useless to deny it. But, simple things such as two men or women holding hands or a brief hug can set some people off or “gross them out.” Everyone has seen a heterosexual couple holding hands, and most of the time we don’t even notice it because it’s such a common thing. Images of heterosexual P.D.A. have been implanted into our minds since many of us were old enough to watch television. If we all agree that a minor display of affection such as hand holding among a straight couple is perfectly acceptable to society, why shouldn’t it be the same for same-sex couples? We all need to show affection. It’s our outward statement of love – a right most of us take for granted.
Homosexuals are just ordinary people who happen to love the same sex. Anti-gay and lesbian discrimination tends to be particularly brutal and nasty. There are many arguments that homosexuality is filthy and that most gay individuals are pedophiles when in fact, over 90% of all reported molestations are carried out by heterosexual males. Some even consider homosexuality to be a mental disorder – even though it was declassified as a mental illness in 1973. Homosexuals