In a day and age where there are little to no taboos left, why is it that something as ridiculous as homophobia is still around? I have seen people be more accepting of my brothers IV drug habit than they are of my being gay. I have encountered my fair share of homophobia, especially throughout high school, where I had been physically and verbally abused, I had even once had a dead gopher with the words "die dyke" carved into it's stomach put in my locker. Needless to say, this made angry. But what made me even angrier was my schools blatant refusal to do anything about it. I couldn't get a new lock, because all locks had to be school issued, I had to dispose of the poor animal myself, and not once had anyone offered to help. I had been kicked out of gym class because the girls wouldn't change while i was allowed in the change room, for fear that I would try and jump them. When i came out, I was jumped by several kids from my town. I ended up with bruises and scratches, but I will never forget the intense fear i felt at that moment.
Personally, I think this is bullshit. I am the way I am and nothing is going to change that, so why on earth can't people just accept that? My being gay does not damage or hurt anyone, nor does it disrupt peoples lives. It is absolutely mind boggling to think that we are so closed minded. I know of many homophobic men that believe lesbians just "have not met the right penis yet" and every time i encounter one of these assholes, I thank god that I never have to speak to them again. If anyone has heard of the Westboro baptist church from Topeka, Kansas, this is a grade A example Of what I am talking about.
These vultures are run by a horrible man named Fred Phelps, who is a known child abuser. Their website, www.godhatesfags.com is enraging. They make their way around the country to picket the funerals of Hate crime victims, and fallen soldiers. They heckle the poor grieving families, and even force children as young as 4 to picket with them, holding up sign and promoting beliefs that they can not even understand, let along beleive at such a young age. Look up these crazy people, Hell, if your brave enough go to their website and write a little email.
Homophobia has to end, one way or another. In 2008 alone, it averages out to one murder because of sexual orientation every 8 days. I am sorry, but that is just a little to often for me. It's time for a little Did you know session about homophobia:
Students who describe themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered are five times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe. 28% are forced to drop out.85% of teachers oppose integrating lesbian, gay and bisexual themes in their curricula
Due to sexual orientation discrimination, lesbians earn up to 14% less than their heterosexual female peers with similar jobs, education, age and residence, according to a study by the University of Maryland.A survey of 191 employers revealed that 18% would fire, 27% would refuse to hire and 26% would refuse to promote a person they perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual
I kindly ask that anyone who can possibly do anything about this issue, try your best to help erase it. As a gay citizen, I know just how deeply troubling this issue can be. A good friend of mine had her arm broken, and a mild concussion after she came out to her father and he assaulted her. He assaulted his own flesh and blood just because she was gay? Another friend was forced to leave his high school when death threats were constantly painted on his locker. I am lucky enough that my family was very accepting, but many people arn't so lucky. Homophobia knows to limits, no age, no discrimination. It doesn't matter if it is family, or a complete stranger, it is still a harm to people everywhere.
And it needs to stop.
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If you are receiving that kind of harassment at school and they are not doing anything about it even after you submit complaints, I think it's time to phone the ACLU. You are going to school in a hostile environment and I'm pretty sure you have a right to go to school without fearing for your life. And then being kicked out of gym class for being discriminated against, that's just blatant discrimination. You need to contact a lawyer and hold the school accountable for their non-actions.
Agh, I totally screwed up this sentence:
And then being kicked out of gym class for being discriminated against, that's just blatant discrimination.
What I meant to say is that it's wrong for them to discriminate against you in gym class based on sexual orientation.
I need another coffee.
Wow, that's disgusting and scary. You say that there are little or no taboos left but being gay sadly sounds like one. I just can't believe all that. I am trying to think of anything like that back when I was in high school but I remember openly gay people being liked. Sometimes I do wonder what goes on that most people don't see though...
I'm really sorry you had to go through that kind of BULLSHIT. That's terrible.
I went through a similar though lesser experience in highschool, a couple times a variety of colourful words were carved into/drawn onto my locker at school, and when the admins saw it they made ME sand/wash it off every time which I thought was ridiculous... similar things happened to a couple of my female friends, as the three of us were labelled gay at random (despite the fact that only one of us was). There was also a lot of verbal harassment on a daily basis. It was extremely frustrating to see the administrators of the school ignore it completely.
In the end me and my friends who were in the same boat ended up transferring to another school because we just couldn't take it any more... the vice principal's reaction? "It's probably for the best, you girls didn't really fit in here anyway".... RIIIIIGHT.
Its definitely a really stressful and depressing situation to be in... fortunately college is much better (esp. art school :) )
that's life... homophobia exists... it sucks... and its not going anywhere for a while. But ya know, my favorite part is about those homophobes who think we choose to be gay... yeah, we want to be discriminated against and forfeit many of the privileges held by heterosexuals... SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!
I agree, people seem to think that well gays don't have that bad now, the same wiht "women don't have that bad now." Well if they were on our shoes they would understand. I don't I've been through anything that bad as a bi-sexual, for the reasons that I have only come out to my closer friends and family. I have to sa that I'm a chicken for not wanting to come out openly to everyone, for the same reason that it will change my life. And sometimes it is hard to hide the half of you.A nd what sucks also is that even the people who you love the most sometimes bring your sexuality for reasons that do not even make sense. Like my boyfriend told me that It made sense that I was a feminist since I was bi! My high school also did not accepted gay people, they said they had no problems, but when it came to those school dances like prom, you couldn't buy a ticket with a female, because they said they didn't support gays.
Here is my pledge: no one will be allowed to do this to my son, or to any of his friends, or to any of my nephews, or to any child that I have any kind of contact with or access to. My son is only two, but I am already gathering information and planning out how to explain discrimination to him and how to send him out in the world with the means to be whoever he is and help others do the same. I pledge that I will tell my son about role models on all parts of the queer spectrum, that no one will ever be allowed to say "that's so gay" in my household, and that I will teach him by direct instruction as well as by my own example to deconstruct any homophobic media portrayals he might be exposed to. I will let him wear what he is comfortable in and play with what interests him. I will read him stories that don't revolve around hetero relationships. And I'll do anything else that needs to be done, because this type of crap can NOT go on.
As far as the Fred Phelps thing goes... he hates everyone. His church is in the process of making a website that explains why God hates EVERY COUNTRY in the world. Not that that makes the picketing and everything okay, but it also means no one really takes him seriously.