The overall experience of the LGBTQ community in America has been a horrific experience for the past 300 plus years. Individuals who share same sex interest were oppressed, discriminated, brutalized, experimented on, and killed due to their alternative lifestyle(s). Elze (2006) confirms these allegations by mentioning...
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual) youth homelessness makes up only 5 to 7 percent of the general youth population, yet up to 40 percent of youth experiencing homelessness. Many LGBTQ youth face harassment, victimization, violence, social stigma, rejection, and discrimination in their families, schools, employment, and social settings. LGBTQ identified youth ages 13 to 17, provides important information regarding how LGBTQ young people experience life in their communities.
The LGBTQ community is one that faces an ongoing storm of stereotyping and stigmas and the media is no relief from it. One major factor in this is the common trope of the violent and aggressive transgender woman, which is often shown through
Since its inception America has been coined the “melting pot,” a term that’s intended to encase pride over the vast amount of diversity contained within our country. That pride, however, is nothing more than an idealization of the truth. America is a country of great diversity, but its pride and acceptance of that diversity relies on a contingent tolerance. Diversity is a wide term that can refer to a number of different groups and in this context it is referring to groups of minorities in America, particularly the LGBT community. Perhaps, the best illustration of this harmful treatment can be found in the media, specifically in the form of television. The LGBT community has been subjected to discrimination, tokenism, stereotypes, and fatal
In conclusion, equal rights is a move toward the future for the rest of the homosexual lives to be able to have the same rights at others. Not only that, but if society take these steps to give the LGBT community the equalness it won’t be as difficult to “coming out of the closet”. It’s time to go stand with next them, to give them strength and courage to demand the government to create this as a law, because no one deceive their equal rights be
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 (CDC). Students who fall into the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning identity groups report being five times as more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe after being bullied because of their sexual orientation. LGB youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely, to attempt suicide as their straight peers (CDC). Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt (Grossman and D’Augelli). It is impossible to know the exact suicide rate of LGBTQ youth because sexuality and gender minorities
While the movement for LGBTQ+ rights has accomplished many things, there is still an overwhelming number of problems we face in our lives. The constitution has been, and continues to be used against LGBTQ+ people just as much as it is used to protect us. The constitution cannot change unless people do, and so far in 2017, things have been looking down for LGBTQ+ people. From vandalism at LGBTQ+ centers to more than 100 anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced in two months, it seems like we’re moving backwards.
However, like gays and lesbians, transgender people have always lived among us. In the United States in particular, they have existed since at least 1952, when Christine Jorgensen became the first American to go through a gender transition (albeit it took place in Denmark, not here). Of course, like their LGB brothers and sisters, they experienced endless discrimination from society and law enforcement. Local LGBT hangouts were regularly raided by the police, and unrest escalated between the two groups until enough was enough. On June 30, 1969, patrons of New York’s Stonewall Inn rose up against the attacking police force and rioted. The Stonewall Riots are said to mark the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement, and it was largely initiated by transgender women of color. Over the next few decades, legislation would be enacted to aid the cause for equality. By 1977, trans athletes could play on the teams of their gender identities, and by 1993 anti-discrimination laws were extended to transpeople in Minnesota. In the 21st century alone, transpeople were getting invited to the White House, playing in college sports, and serving as judges, all without having to hide who they were (“Milestones in the American Transgender Movement”). Hardships are still all too common, unfortunately, but much progress has been made nonetheless, and the fight continues to this
On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old college student, was abducted by two men who took him to a remote area, tied him to a fence, severely beat him with the butt of a pistol, and left him to die in the cold of the night (Matthew Shepard Foundation, “About Us”). Matthew Shepard’s death became a symbol for the deadly effect that prejudice can have on an innocent, young adult, and it gave people a chance to begin to understand how to accept people of different sexual orientations. However, 18 years later, America still hasn’t learned from Matthew Shepard’s death, and that is most evident in the Orlando night club shooting. June 12, 2016 brought upon a new era of anti-gay hate crimes when 49 people were killed and 53 were injured
Our country is by no means perfect and, therefore, in no way devoid of fault. Occasionally the country regresses, and it seems that, for a time, we go against the overwhelming public opinion that unites us as citizens. Most recently, the relapse in our values against the preservation of LGBT+ rights has led me to question my hope for the future of this country. The call for a transgender military ban by President Trump and the United States’ refusal to denounce the death penalty against gay sex in the recent UN vote calling for its condemnation serve as decisions contrary to our country’s quest for equality. Despite these regressions, I know that, in the end, progress will prevail. Discrimination will never be completely eradicated from our country, but we will do our best to get as close as we can to a society that firmly advocates for the equality of our fellow
My entire life I have wanted to help people. I have tried to stay current with world events and keep educated on how they occur and how best to fix them. I try to promote a progressive agenda and volunteer for multiple organizations. However, because I live a short bart ride away from San Francisco and because I identify as bisexual and most of my friends are on the LGBTQ spectrum, one problem that is very important to me is LGBTQ rights — in particular issues faced by LGBTQ youth. In 11th grade I gathered up the courage to join GSA. Within the club I worked hard to solve problems faced by LGBTQ youth in my community. I helped form the school's first pride event, organized a fundraiser for LGBTQ youth homelessness, taught my peers about LGBTQ identities and orientations, and proposed and helped lead a campaign to get gender neutral bathrooms on my school’s current and future campuses. While not a end all solution, this work
Loffreda quotes Walt Bolden, a friend of Matt, who refused to lose a friend in vein and called upon legislature’s to consider the threat that now seemed so apparent: “Boulden [...] legislature’s failure to pass a hate crimes bill: he told reporters that “they said nothing like that happens in Wyoming because someone is gay, but we’ve always known someone would have to get killed or beaten before they finally listened. I just can’t believe it happened to someone I care about.’” (371) The problem with society isn’t the overwhelming number of loathe toward one another, but the lack of consideration and empathy. Loffreda’s essay not only draws awareness to the LGBT community, but also emphasizes the amount of support they are gaining. Everdeen Mason, author of “The dramatic rise in state efforts to limit LGBT rights,” draws to light that although the LGBT community have gained support they are still facing discrimination, “ While the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has become more visible [...] state lawmakers have increased attempts to pass legislation that could restrict civil rights for LGBT people. Since 2013, legislatures have introduced 254 bills, 20 of which became law.” From same-sex marriage to the bathroom bill the LGBT community fought, and continue to fight, to achieve equality. Equaity, a
Another incident happened in Greeley Colorado in 2008 “, Angie Zapata, 20, was fatally beaten by her date after he discovered she was Transgender. Zapata 's killer, Allen Andrade, told police that after he discovered Zapata had male genitalia, he hit her twice in the head with a fire extinguisher thinking he had, in his words, "killed it." Andrade was reportedly a member of a Colorado gang that is reputed to have a zero-tolerance policy on homosexuality. He was charged with first degree murder and a hate crime.59 Andrade was found guilty of these crimes on April 22, 2009” "Hate Crimes Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Individuals”.These crimes both happened about a decade ago, but has anything changed? “Reported hate crimes in Los Angeles increased 15% in 2016, with a marked rise in violence against LGBTQ individuals, according to a new analysis”, the report also says that “the 2016 jump was driven by a combination of a 64% surge in violent aggravated assaults, an 18.5% rise in racially motivated crimes and a 24.5% increase in crimes against LGBTQ people . “Hate Crimes in Los Angeles Rose in 2016, Many against LGBTQ People, Study
In this day and age, the LGTBQ+ community is expanding rapidly. Therefore, the community has included the plus sign at the end to represent those who are questioning, pan-gendered, intersexed, transsexual, or two-spirited and the many new ways people are self-identifying. Each generation is becoming more exposed to more information and are capable to choose from openly out members of the LGBTQ+ community as role models. For younger generations, it may become easier to recognize and acknowledge one’s sexual orientation or gender identity than those apart of Generation X and the Baby Boomers. However, even in this more open-minded society, homophobia is still living, breathing, and thriving.
LGBT/ same-sex marriage is one of the most heated and controversial debates in our current society. Unlike the past thousands of years whereas marriage was defined as a legal union between a man and a woman, now the concept of marriage has been extended to a broader context. “Homosexuality” in most cultures is viewed as a disgrace, and it is often considered as a great sin from a religious aspect. But now our society has evolved, we gained clarity and reasons. We are now able to acknowledge and accept people who are different whereas we use to enslave and discriminate people who were a little different. But still, it seems we have a long way to