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McKenzee Lilley

Professor Moore

ENGL 1302.08

19 March 2017

Do Not Discriminate

Discrimination against homosexuals has been around since the early 1900s, if not earlier.

A lot of people in society kill the idea that homosexuality is acceptable. The discrimination

against the LGBTQ community affects many people emotionally and physically. Same-sex

marriage was legalized in 2016, but it sadly did not stop all the bigotry that goes on in society.

Hate crimes are still active in the world because people are not stopped when they discriminate.

There are numerous shooting attacks that have been made against gays like the shooting at the

Orlando Gay Club in June 2016. The discrimination can make people feel like they have to hide

themselves or that there is something wrong with them and nobody should have to feel that way.

Many homosexuals seek advice and hope to get some kind of relief from watching coming out

stories and looking up online how to tell parents that they are gay. Knowing people have to look

up how to do that or are scared of telling their parents, justifies discrimination against

homosexuals still is not over. Discrimination is a horrible thing and everybody should be

accepted just the way they are. People's actions and beliefs are at the heart of their discriminatory

behavior which often leads to society issues, hate crimes, and suicide.
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(Los Angeles Times)

This image of a woman raising the gay pride flag in the air reflects back to the day gay

marriage was legalized. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in the

United States, and as it spread worldwide; many people became happy they could love and have

the same rights as heterosexual citizens. This visual represents that as all the other important

flags, like the United States of America flag, fly high across the nation, the gay pride flag is now

just as important.

The causes of discrimination start with different beliefs and cultures. Most beliefs in

religious views are that homosexuality is immoral and it is against God's teachings. Some believe

that homosexuality is dangerous for children, and according to Ruthann Robson, Christian

fundamentalists have portrayed gay men and lesbians as predators who target children, hoping to

seduce them into a life of depravity and disease. Children should be able to learn about

homosexuality without thinking something is wrong with it because there may come a time they

are gay. Most religions use to believe that gay people need conversion therapy or to have the gay

prayed away, but conversion therapy is a dangerous thing and should be praised for not being

used anymore. Many religious people claim they do not sin, but judging someone by who they

are is sinning. God loves everyone and is forgiving, and he also gets to tell one where they go

when they pass, so others do not get to decide that just because they think it is wrong.

Discriminating against homosexuals is sinning, so for the people who say homosexuality sends
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you to hell, also sin when saying things like that. The religious people who do not think

homosexuality is adequate believe that same sex marriage is never acceptable and that it is hated

by God. Many places around the world do not accept homosexuality and many gay people are

punished for being homosexual. According to Wendy Turner-Frey, Members of the community

feel empowered by the laws, and thus feel justified in punishing someone for the crime of

homosexuality, so people get punished and are not treated like other citizens just because of

their sexual orientation. Religion plays a key role in the cause of homosexual disapproval in

society.

The effects of discrimination against homosexuality are suicide, society issues, gay

people being scared to be them selves and hate crimes. Many people every year commit suicide

because they know society is not accepting of their sexual orientation. Suicide is a serious issue

in the world, and it is ignored too often. Due to homosexuals being looked down upon because

same-sex dating is not okay in society, gay people tend to hide or even end their life. Gay slurs

like faggot and dyke are used too often and the negative impact it has is usually overlooked.

Many parents do not approve of their children being gay, and that makes it hard for the children

to come out and be who they are. Many coming out stories are upsetting because the things

people go through just to be who they are, and it is not right for people to be scared of

themselves. Hate crimes against homosexuals are continually happening and it drastically affects

society. Shootings, stabbings, torture, and abuse are all examples of what some discriminating

people do and it affects many homosexuals lives in a negative way. In March 2013, a young

man I knew in Jamaica was murdered for being gay. A group of men stabbed him to death in the

middle of the day in the busy market area. No one was arrested for this crime. Last June, another

young man I know in Jamaica was beaten nearly to death for the same reason this describes
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how poorly homosexuals are treated, and nothing is done about it (Turner-Frey). Now this did

not take place in America, but the point is discrimination happens everywhere and there are

many negative effects that follow.

Discrimination against homosexuals took place in Orlando, Florida and changed many

lives forever. On June 13, 2016, there was a mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando called Pulse.

Many people were killed and many were injured. At the moment of the shooting, it was hard for

families to know who survived and who had died due to the numerous amount of people

involved. Homosexuals go to gay bars, or clubs, to be themselves and feel loved for who they

are, but it is scary to know they can not even go there without having to worrying about their

own safety June 13--For the LGBT community, gay bars are a haven, a place where they can be

themselves without fear or judgment. Though the shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando,

has shaken them, local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people aren't letting the violence

take away their safe space(Ardis). The LGBTQ community stayed together and did not let the

shooting take away their identities. This hate crime towards homosexuals shows how dangerous

and upsetting it is to know they get targeted for being who they are.

Homosexual discrimination is a worldwide problem in todays society. Not just sexual

orientation discrimination, but also race, religion, and gender deal with hate in society. Everyone

deserves to be equal and treated the same way. When certain people are treated good, and others

are treated bad, it gives society the thought of hate is okay. Society is more accepting of

homosexuals since gay marriage was legalized, but it still happens. No matter what people are

being prejudice about, it really does damage not only to the victims it is happening to, but it is

also doing damage to society as a whole. Everyone is suppose to come together as one in this

nation, but that has not happened because people are prejudice more than they realize. Different
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beliefs and cultures are causing people to hate on others because they are not the same as

someone elses, and because there is much hate it is effecting society by victims being scared,

suicide, and hate crimes. Stopping bias human beings from loathing on others to loving everyone

for who they are, yet a person can not force someone to love another may just help reduce

discrimination. If people were to at least be accepting, or just not be hateful, society could be

turned around for the better.

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Works Cited

Ardis, Kelly. "Local LGBT People and Supporters Hold Vigil in Wake of Shooting at Gay Club

in Florida." Bakersfield Californian, the (CA), 13 June 2016. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nfh&AN=2W63210828619&site=ehost-live.

Loomis, Rick. Mcclatchy, TNSLos Angeles Times. Long Beach, CA, USA. 26 June 2016

EBSCOhost,.

Robson, Ruthann. "Our Children: Kids of Queer Parents & Kids Who Are Queer: Looking at

Sexual Minority Rights from a Different Perspective." Albany Law Review, vol. 64, no. 3,

Mar. 2001, p. 915. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4425839&site=ehost-live.

Turner-Frey, Wendy. "Homophobia Is a Global Issue." Social Work, vol. 59, no. 3, July 2014, pp.

281-282. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=96949087&site=ehost-live.