Acceptance

A lot of time is spent looking at the differences in the human population. Differences that make us all unique. Differences that make up part of who we are. Sometimes these differences open us up to criticism. Other times we gravitate to others that share our characteristics. We need to get out of our comfort zones.

There are many differences: race, gender, creed, nationality, sexual orientation, hair color, and financial status, just to name a few. Some differences are minor and others have a larger impact on who we are as people. The thing we need to remember as humans, is not how different people are, but how similar we are. We ALL want to be happy, we ALL want to be loved, and we ALL want to be accepted for who we are.

This comes easily for some. I, for one, have never felt like I wasn't accepted. (High school doesn't count.) All you have to do is change one thing about me, though, and I would be considered by many to be an outcast. What if I was a gay man? What friends would continue to be my friends? What coworkers would treat me differently? What might my parents think?

I don't struggle with these questions. I am not gay. There are many people out there who are. They are struggling with all of life's problems and have an added level of anxiety. Every time they meet someone new, there is a chance that person may dislike them because of the gender they are attracted to. They are judged, before the person even sees their beautiful personality.

Even the government treats gays and lesbians differently. There are lobby groups out there trying to convince people and politicians that being gay is a choice and that these people do not deserve the happiness that marriage and adopting children can bring them. Really? People are making a career out of this?

This bothers me. A lot. Why does this difference still matter? Why did it ever? We have come along way in this country with regards to gender and racial equality, probably not perfect, but we have made strides to make everyone equal in the eyes of the government. Why is the LGBT community different? What threat does allowing LGBT couples to marry pose? No, religious doctrine does not matter, as the separation of church and state is critical in a country that trumpets our freedom of religion.

A little talked about byproduct of all this prejudice and debate is the rate at which LGBT teens are comitting suicide. This is truly sad and a loss for all humanity. I recently saw an ad campaign for a group working to help LGBT youth get through their rough years. It is called "It Gets Better Project" and can be found here.  It will hopefully help these young people to cope and not give in to their suicidal thoughts.

Do your part. Vote for equality when it comes to sexual orientation. Let your friends and family know that you love and support them for who they are. They should not have to hide or be ashamed of who they are. Stop using "gay" as a put down to your straight friends and erase hateful speech from your vocabulary. This will all help young people feel more accepted for who they are, as it should be.