Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if people hated you for loving someone? For lgbt+ people, this is a common concern.Equal rights for lgbt+ people is a popular topic and highly controversial, but why? People say it goes against their religious beliefs, it is just wrong and unnatural, or that it is a choice.Why would loving someone be deemed as wrong by something that teaches love(religion)? How is it unnatural when it is found in 1,500 species of animals? Why would someone choose to be hated by 39% of the world's population if they could choose who they are?In this essay I will touch on some very controversial topics in the lgbt+ community such as adoption, mental health, and violence. Hopefully I change your mind on some topics.
First off is the adoption process for lgbt+ couples. Lesbian and gay people are often discriminated against and turned down for adoption simply because they are lgbt+ and it goes against a person's religious beliefs. "All available evidence to date demonstrates that the sexual orientation of parents has no impact on the sexual orientation of their children - children raised by gay or lesbian parents are no more likely to turn out gay than their heterosexually raised peers." Says Bryan Mcaffrey on his blog."I found overwhelming evidence that scientists agree that there is not a negative impact to children of same-sex couples," Says , a sociologist at the University of Colorado at Denver and co-author of the paper.What that quote means that if a child is raised by a same sex couple, it will not affect their sexuality in any way, shape, or form.Children raised by heterosexual couples are not always heterosexual, so why would you assume it's different for children raised by homosexual couples Being adopted and raised by homosexual couples have no negative impact on the child/children involved.
Secondly, mental health in in the lgbt+ community is a very big issue. Lgbt+ people are constantly berated, harassed, and denied equal rights, it leads to depression, anxiety, and self hate."Higher rates of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use or dependence in lesbian and gay youth. Higher rates of recurrent major depression among gay men.Higher rates of anxiety, mood and substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts among people ages 15 to 54 with same-sex partners.Higher use of mental health services in men and women reporting same-sex partners." Says Susan Cochran, PhD, an epidemiologist in the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health. When same sex marriage was legalized, so many people were happy. But with this good news came bad."The fact that the same year the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the country, and , likely won't be recalled as clearly. Except, of course, by the people targeted by them." When same sex marriage was legalized, 115 anti-lgbt+ bills were brought to the supreme court as well as 160 the next year. This is the epitome of homophobia and hate to people that were so happy, that is why mental health among lgbt+ youth is so low, because they see that hate.
Finally, the violence toward the lgbt+ community is repulsive.In 2014, 1,115 hate crimes out of 5,462 were because of someone's gender identity and sexuality.It is hard to find stories of lgbt+ hate crime that are school appropriate, I only know one or two. June 12, 2016, Orlando Florida. Inside of an lgbt+ bar a person started shooting. Forty nine people died including the shooter and fifty three more were injured. It was the largest terror attack since September 11th, but the location was not by chance, It was a hate crime against lgbt+ people.It is, under no circumstance, okay to hurt someone that isn't hurting you and especially loving someone you don't think they should. People need to realize people like different things and that it is okay to be different.
In short, just don't be a jerk about what you do or do not believe in. You can oppose homosexuality all you want (but why would you?), but the minute it interferes with someone's mental health or personal life, you've gone too far.-Re-covering all the topics so far, adoption should be available to everyone who is in the right mindset to care for one, mental health should not be ignored even if you aren't lgbt+, violence and hate crimes need to stop being a fear among lgbt+ people.What if people hated you for something you couldn't control, what is some or most of those people wanted you dead. These are the things lgbt+ people face everyday.
