Column:

Our generation needs to stop discrimination on the basis of sexuality

By Christina Stiehl

Published Oct. 6, 2009

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Resource Center is celebrating Coming Out Week this week, which should hopefully be an exciting and liberating time. Unfortunately, not all people who fall into this category will feel comfortable or safe coming out to their peers. And we only have ourselves to blame.

From the moment we are born, we are taught to embrace each other's differences and be true to ourselves. But this valuable life lesson seems to only apply to the geeky kid who plays World of Warcraft or the girl from a working-class family wearing hand-me-down clothes. Sexual orientation, on the other hand, is off-limits.

Be yourself, as long as "yourself" isn't gay.

Schools shy away from educating about sexual orientation or providing resources for adolescents who are questioning their sexuality because it would be too taboo or controversial.

Apparently, this has something to do with the fact homosexuality is considered a sin. So for those of us who aren't religious, we must still abide by the rules placed by someone else's god, even if it means preventing an entire community of people from being who they really are.

And as we all know, this doesn't just apply to public school districts. The military holds a strict "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and our own government will not allow two people of the same sex to marry.

I know "marriage is supposed to be a sanctity between a man and a woman." So what about the millions of heterosexual couples who marry in non-religious ceremonies? Why are they still allowed to have all of the governmental and citizen rights coinciding with marriage even though they chose to leave a god out of it?

It is completely ignorant and vile for heterosexual people as the active majority to sit back and allow the rest of society to treat an entire community with so much hatred and disrespect.

In 2007, the FBI reported nearly 2,000 hate crimes were motivated by sexual orientation, and LGTBQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey.

Homophobia doesn't always come in the form of a hate crime. Homophobia comes in the snide remarks you make to your friends when you see a same-sex couple showing affection or in the last time you used the term "gay" as a synonym for "lame." Homophobia is using "dyke" or "faggot" as a way to insult someone or the uncomfortable feeling you have when you see someone in clothes of the opposite gender.

The debate still continues on whether living a gay lifestyle is a choice. Although I am not a lesbian, I personally believe sexual orientation is a trait with which you are born.

The LGBTQ community is treated like second-class citizens in this country. I'm hoping through more education and understanding, our generation will be the necessary driving force to bring about action and change both politically and socially.