Gay Rights

There are countless controversial topics in the world that, no matter how strong the efforts, will never be entirely solved. It is inevitabe that there are always going to be debates and arguments over such subjects, and that is something the world has to live with. One of these is gay rights, but when I hear that I think, “Why is this even controversial?” If a person loves another human being, he/she should be able to express it without being victimized, and should certainly never feel the need to hide that love. Love is love, and no one has the right to hate that, or to stop it from evolving.

One of the reasons gay rights is still so controversial is due to religion, which is a lifestyle to some people, but so is being gay. Obviously not all religious people have it easy, and some are still harassed for believing in their God, but I do not think many Catholics or Christians ever feel victimized for believing in God. Is it fair that some people are threatened and beaten, whether it is for being gay or simply believing in a God, because they choose to live their life while others pay no consequences? For all the strict-to-the-Bible people; the Bible says, “Love thy neighbor,” but what if they are gay? That’s quite the dilemna, there, isn’t it? One could always move, but is it not just easier to accept it?  

When something such as religion is added to the equation, it is difficult to stop a person believing in what they do, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. On the other hand, when they exercise that in a negative way, it is illegal, unnecessary and completely ignorant. Acts such as verbal and physical harassment-anything involving openly hating and hurting a human being are despicable, and a person should never have to go through that. Many homosexuals have committed suicide due to bullying. Anyone who is driven to end their life because they are being harassed for being themselves obviously feels alienated and personally victimized. They feel as though they have nowhere to turn because the bullies have implanted the idea in their mind that it is wrong to be gay. Each person struggles with their identity in their youth, and for some their entire life. It only makes discovering ones identity tougher when they have others conditioning them to be afraid of being who they are.

It is disgusting to see that gay males are openly hated by straight males, but those same straight males think lesbians are “hot,” or try to pick them up at parties while knowing they are not straight. Here’s a tip for all the straight males hitting on lesbians – if she says no, she’s not interested. If she tells you she is a lesbian, she’s not interested. If she throws a drink in your face, she is not interested. Just stop trying. Male egos seem to get in the way in some situations and they proceed to ask the question, “Have you ever been with a guy? If not, how do you know you’re a lesbian?” Which is met with a simple reply, “Have you ever been with a guy? If not, how do you know you’re straight?” At that point, you all need to realize that she is not interested and just walk away.

More and more homosexuals are treated with respect, but despite much of this generation's tolerance of the gay community, countless acts of hate are displayed across the globe that have proven the world has not fully grown up just yet. Nonetheless, being gay has become more socially accepted than ever, which is a great feat for the gay community. However, for as many people who are comfortable with themselves and feel accepted, just as many are still being threatened, bullied, mocked, accused of choosing to be gay, and told that they deserve everything they get for making that decision. Being attracted to someone of the same sex is as much of a choice as being attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Being gay is not a choice, hating it is.

It is true that the world is becoming more accepting; there are several television series and movies with homosexual orientation, but I believe it is for all the wrong reasons. The gay community is being commercialized because it draws in viewers, which is complete exploitation of an entire lifestyle. The use of same-sex couples is rarely seen as loving and romantic, as it would in a typical female/male relationship, and it does not seem as real. Although it may not be intended by the creators, to some viewers the use of homosexuality is seen as a way to attract them to the film/program for their entertainment purposes only. Viewers sometimes miss that the point in same-sex relationships is that they are equal to any other relationship we see on the screen or in real life.

The gay community is still struggling in the world we live in because it is not taken very seriously, and is treated as a minority. Just like every other visible minority in society, homosexuals must deal with being considered lower on the social chain, and cannot just live like the rest of the world. With today’s generation becoming open-minded and accepting, that could soon change. As time moves forward, I only hope to see that gay rights are taken more seriously and that the hate is washed out.