I know it's okay to be anyone, as long as it's you. One of my closest friends is lesbian, another two are bi. So long as a girl doesn't like me (in case you didn't know, I'm a girl) It's cool. No one should pay extra taxes or anything, cause it should be a right... up there next to freedom of speech and religion. Ignore the jerks, or just don't tell them, but don't hide it or deny it. Be proud!
Life is like a box of crayons. Some are fat, some thin, some are short, some tall, some don't have much wrapping, some have funny names, and all are different colors... but they fit very nicely into the same box- unknown.
Personally, I don't know anyone at my school who's gay, lesbian, or bi. But even if there were, it wouldn't bother me at all. My school is fairly conservative (being in a rural, religious community) so most kids tend to be homophobes. I hear "That's so gay" a lot as a synonym for uncool, or stupid. People just don't get it. Simply because someone would rather be in a same-sex relationship doesn't mean they should be shunned. Humans as a whole tend to fear differences. First there was discrimination against religion, then race and skin color, now sexual orientation. It's crazy.
The main thing is, don't be afraid to show your true colors. People who are openly gay or lesbian show the rare courage it takes to be who you really are. By showing people that words can't hurt you, you are demonstrating that you have risen above their petty discriminations.
My school is extremely homophobic. I hate it because there are people that don't even give people a chance just because the person is gay or lesbian or bi. It is really sad because some of my best friends are gay/les/bi and they get teased all the time for it so some that I know are repress their sexuality because they are afraid of getting teased. It's the same way at my house. Both of my parents are homophobic and use extremely derogatory terms to describe gay people so if me or my sister ever stand up for homosexuality, they start accusing us of being lesbian. Both situations are really bad to be in for me...
If love is a color like red or pink, then I am color blind...
There's some homophobia among the males in my school. But generally, there's a lot of acceptance for it as well. It's just not a major issue around here.
My school is a very small, very liberal school. We are on a college campus (one of the most liberal colleges in the country-Guilford College in Greensboro North Carolina) and we actually used to have a Gay-Straight Alliance at my school. We don't have one anymore because of the lack of interest-there are only 180 kids in the school. The point is, I know of at least two gay guys here, not counting the principal and guidance counselor, and I don't know of one homophobe. Needless to say, there isn't a lot of homophobia here.
I do think that homophobia is just silly. Aren't there more important things to be phobic of? Like nuclear weapons...global warming...the bogeyman? It's so crazy that people think just being around someone who is gay, might make them gay...they obviously aren't very secure with their own sexuality if they think someone else's can rub off that easily...and homosexuality is not a disease!! It's a lifestyle, and if y ou want people to respect your lifestyle..whether you're a white rapper or a rpg-er or a hardcore athlete...if you deserve respect, doesn't everyone? I dunno, I just think there are more important things to worry about.
"everything looks perfect from far away 'come down now' but we'll stay.."
quote: well if they dont like being harrased they can keep it to themselves i mean no one needs to know!
WJ, you don't even have to come out to get made fun of for being gay. People will harass people on mere suspection or rumor. And, it's not easily avoidable. When people ask who you like or if you're dating some one etc. It gets tire-some to lie. Also, if you go on dates, people will see you.
"You learn about equality in the classroom but you find out about it in life" - Campus Confidential www.myspace.com/yogore
There's a lot of homophobia at my school as well. It's very hard to come out where I live. We have a gay teacher and he is often harrassed for it. Once the kids in my class called his house when he didn't come to work one day to personally insult him. The guy who called on squealed and screamed "It's a guy! Another guy answered the phone!" It's sick but the worst part is I didn't do anything about it, and I really hate myself for that. I just wish I could go back and do something about stupid people like that, and not be so stupid myself.
"...true love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops." --The Princess Bride, William Goldman
Courtney if you see this i know you don't need anyone to tell you to hang in there that everything will end up okay. That fact is that it will be a hard battle to win, people are afraid of change, and they are being ignorent. I'm glad that you speak out in what you believe in. "The greatest fear one may have is that they will fail in what they do, don't let that be your fear for anything in life, fight for what you love the most- fight for your rights, others will join you in the process."
Just so you know, LinkinParkGurl, the link on the homepage to this thread makes it sound like YOU said "Yeah, if you're gay, you'll get HIV or AIDs. Being gay is a sin. Being gay is gross." When I thought you said that I got so mad. And then I came here an read the thread.
Well, I had one person in My School who was a cross-dresser, and people really made me mad, because they started a petition to get him kicked out of school, because he was dressing like a girl. In the end he left, because he was crushed by that. But the point is that nobody should care, because he wasn't hurting anyone, and it was just wrong. And the administration just let it happen they didn't say anything about it. It was horrible
Yes, there is tons of homophobia at my school. We have 6 bisexual girls, but no openly gay or lesbian students. I constantly hear "Gays are gross" , "Gays are going to hell" , and horrible words used to describe gays and lesbians. I hear it often used as a synonym for "uncool". "That is soo gay!", etc.
If you go to church, try to join a glbt group there. There is one at my church, and I'm in a relationship/sexuality class that talks alot about sexual orientation. I go to a Unitarian Universalist church, which is very open to gays.
I don't understand when people speak of homesexuality like a disease. It is not a choice, and it is not something you can learn or catch. You are born that way and there is nothing wrong with it!
Yeah, I think yogore is right. I mean, I recently came out, and instead of not paying attention to me at all, guys keep checking me out MORE, like to see if I'm going to grab at some random chick and start making out with her right in the hallway or something.... (Not that it would NEVER happen, just not likely )
I find lesbians are usually more accepted because stright guys like lesbians (I think it reassures their masculinity and it doesn't threaten them). Lesbians also don't recieve [much] hostility from women because women are typcically mpore comfortable with their sexuality so it doesn't bug them.
"You learn about equality in the classroom but you find out about it in life" - Campus Confidential www.myspace.com/yogore
at my school, its quite odd. everyone is quite accepting of lesbians, but detest gays. i don't really get it! yes, the lesbians outweigh the gays 10:1, but it still is wrong in the sense that people accept one more than the other, and that they discriminate in general. im not lesbian or gay, but two of my best friends are, so i still feel some of the negative things said or done to them. it kills me to see them talked about of hurt because they are just as much normal people as the rest of us!
"wakeboard naked, it adds color to your cheeks" *rachel aka rocket*
There was alot of homophobia/heterosexism in my school. I started a GSA last year, and it has helped. If your school has one, I say, join it! If not, start one. And also, i tell people to stop when they say things like "That's so gay" or "Eww. She's like a lesbian" I just tell them they need to stop. Granted, problems sometimes arise, but it all workes out eventually. I'm now the token gay kid of my school.
There's one other out guy, but he's kindof shy and I'm not sure many perople notice. We've had a hard time of convincing people that there are gay students even though our school of 7-12 only has 500 students.
Goodluck!
"You learn about equality in the classroom but you find out about it in life" - Campus Confidential www.myspace.com/yogore
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