homophobia

    Both class and the readings for this week have been really interesting! Seeing that video Monday in class made me really upset. How is it possible that children are being terrorized at school when school is suppose to be such a safe environment? The worst part about it is that people throw the words faggot and gay around like nothing. It is not a word to play around with and they are words that can truly hurt someone.

    The readings for this week were filled with so much emotion! One of the common elements that I saw throughout the readings was fear. Fear by the family and fear by the gay community. One of the things that we do not realize is how much the family is affected by this. Whether they are supportive or not, they are struck by fear. Some fear that they will be treated differently because they have a family member that is different. Others fear for their family member. Knowing they are oppressed and hated by many, there is always fear tat something will happen to them. One of the readings in the book that shocked me the most was the one where bisexuals feared the rest of the gay community because they like both sexes. Now that I think about it, i understand the rest of the gay population would feel that bisexuals are being traders. But its not right. No one should be oppressed. We are all different. 

     Another part of the readings that I found really interesting was the questioning of why heterosexism exist? Who established it? I am Catholic so i know the story with Adam and Eve and everything. But would God really be as hateful as some people are towards the LGBT community? Nope. i don't think so. The book also said that the choices we make about our lifestyle are not personal, they are political. I found that highly interesting.

      I always like when the author adds lists to the readings and the list on this reading was really interesting. SOme of the things on there included how the heterosexual man is considered to be normal and healthy and not have AIDS or be asked to be tested for AIDS. Any heterosexual couple can be affectionate in public without fear of being criticized. They can also put pictures of their family up at work. A heterosexual person is not described as straight, yet a gay person is immediately called gay. One of the saddest points on that list was the one that it is easier for a child to say i have a mom and a dad  than 2 moms or 2 dads. Why can't it be accepted and the child not be hurt?

     I really do hope that one day, as a nation, we can learn to accept that everyone is different. I would hate to have to leave this earth and things still being how they are now. I know there must be something done.