Some people believe that the LGBT community should not have their voices heard by society, due to their religion, personal background, etc. Others believe the opposite. They think that homosexuals deserve the same rights as any other person, and that gender does not matter when it comes to love.
So why do people have conflicting opinions?
THE "FOR" SIDE:
“Treat others how you want to be treated”
Otherwise known as the Golden Rule, many people are introduced to this early in their childhood. Supporters of the LGBT community believe that everyone should have the right to marry and love, regardless of gender. Things like marital rights have not been granted to the LGBT community around the globe, and many are trying to change that. This connects to the Golden Rule as it reinforces that people should see every other person as their equal and vice versa.
Here in the USA, social media shows how supporting gay rights is the popular opinion among citizens. Over the past few years, there have been major improvements to the homosexual community. We have had Pride Month every year in June to show support, as well as many other occurrences. In fact, a few weeks ago, President Obama tweeted:
In his post, he used the hashtag #LoveIsLove, which has been popping up all over social media, regarding gay rights. For example, Ellen DeGeneres, who is known to be homosexual:
Many people have gained the media's attention through the use of this hashtag, such as Mr. X who has an encouraging message:
In his post, he used the hashtag #LoveIsLove, which has been popping up all over social media, regarding gay rights. For example, Ellen DeGeneres, who is known to be homosexual:
Many people have gained the media's attention through the use of this hashtag, such as Mr. X who has an encouraging message:
Through social media and the use of hashtags, these people are able to show their celebration of gay rights. The hashtag #LoveIsLove has currently been circulating on Twitter right now, and I believe that it is a powerful way of declaring support. “#LoveIsLove” alone does not have the same meaning, but with the context of gay rights, the language becomes empowering. It expresses that all love is the same love, no matter the gender. Through this, it is seen how language is used to include the LGBT community. Without the context behind #LoveIsLove, the meaning becomes love is love, just like food is food. Hence, the inspiring meaning of the hashtag is shaped by the context.
However, in some cultures the hashtag may be perceived differently and seen as insulting to a religion, leading us to...THE "AGAINST" SIDE:
All around the world, religion is integrated into many cultures. Different religions have different views on homosexuality, but one recurring belief is that men were created to be with women. For example, 31% of the world population practices Christianity. In the Christian religion, people believe that it is not in human nature to be with a person of the same sex, as we were created by God differently. Therefore, they think that homosexuality is a way of opposing what God intended as our purpose, and many argue against the LGBT community. However, they are encouraged to avoid violent approaches. Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian religious group, encourages homosexual people to overcome their attraction and choose to not nurture their “wrong desires.”
Another 23% of the population consists of Muslims. In traditional Islamic countries, being homosexual is seen as a grave sin. Any sexual contact between people of the same gender is even seen as a criminal offense in 74 countries. Among 13 of them, homosexuality has a death penalty (see photo on right).I’m sure many of you have heard of the shooting in Orlando a few weeks ago at the Pulse nightclub, a known gay nightclub. 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire. 49 people died and 53 were wounded. In today’s society, hatred towards the LGBT community exists in many people like Mateen. Many living in Islamic societies have grown up in an environment where parents downgraded and despised homosexuals. This belief has passed down generations, creating a population where homosexuality is rejected. These people use language with homosexual slurs to show their disapproval of the LGBT community. Hence, using their language to exclude and add negativity. They also perceive tweets including #LoveIsLove as insulting and revolting, because it goes against what they have always believed.
My Opinion:
I believe that every person has the right to be equal to others. We should all have the right to love who we want, no matter what gender. I think that sexual preference is not something we can just change, it’s part of who we are as humans.
I have a friend who is gay who told me of the struggles he had to overcome because of his sexuality. He told me about the homophobic slurs he has been called and the disapproving opinions of people around him like his parents. I could tell that this really impacted him and it shows how language can be used to exclude people. However, my friend also mentioned the support homosexuals get from social media via things like the hashtag #LoveIsLove.
Different forms of language are used to both include and exclude the LGBT community, and I believe that we should all work towards including others. This was what inspired me to write this blog post. I want the LGBT community to be in a society where they can be accepted as who they are and not face the various challenges my friend did.
So spread the word and support homosexuality because love... is love!
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