Nguyen 1

Trang Nguyen
Professor Kimberly Merenda
Womens Studies & Social Change
10 April 2015
Purpose and Rationale: Final Draft
The purpose of my project is to raise awareness on the issue of LGBTQ (Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans-sexual, Queer- or questioning) equality and bashing. Growing up,
my strict, conservative parents never discussed any topics like these with me, allowing
me to find out for myself through outlets such as movies/TV shows, the Internet, and
interactions with my peers at school. Just like any nave, young preteen, I just assumed
my parents didnt have a problem with those who had same sex preferences (since they
never spoke of it) and that everyone else also didnt care. To me, at least, it was just
different way one was able to love another.
It wasnt until my freshman year of high school that a close friend of mine called
me at 1 A.M., crying and saying that his parents were threatening to kick him out,
although he didnt tell me until the next day the reason why. I remember him being so
nervous to tell me and all through the night I was only assuming the worst. After some
time, he finally said the words, Im gay and my parents found out about my
boyfriend. , Then waited for my response. I was relieved and confused. Relieved
because I now knew that he didnt do anything bad, like drugs, and confused as to why he
was so anxious to tell me that he had found someone he cared about. Now evidentially, he
came from an incredibly religious, Catholic family, while religion wasnt something I
was highly exposed to growing up either, I was shocked to find out being gay was

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something completely frowned upon and my friend informed me of all the hate that came
with it, his parents being a prime example.
While processing everything I had just heard, I thought, What parent would
willingly force their own child out of their home with such hatred and disgust? Over
time I began to discover that hatred like that was everywhere, even at school there was
gay bashing and homophobia. It didnt matter whether you were a boy or girl, if you were
friends, you could change in front of each before athletics, but if you were gay, you were
seen as someone who tried to make the moves and it was amazing to see a piece of
information so small create such a big gap between straight and gay individuals.
Its angering to see those who have same sex preferences are treated hostilely
different and it begs the questions, Are they not human as well? Are they not allowed
to openly love another? Many get beaten, abused, and so many other hate violence
crimes, some are also killed, whether it be from acquaintances, strangers, or even family
(Lee & Shaw, 543) With that, I want to inform others all the inequalities and hardships
these individuals face every day. I have often seen people use a verse by Leviticus, You
shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (Wikimedia Foundation
2015) To inform individuals that God himself said that it is an abomination for man to
lie with man. However, does it say in any way that He prohibits man to lie with man, or
woman to lie with woman? People are so blinded by things like religion that they
overlook the slightest shred of humanity. Now, I am not saying that whatever faith you
believe in is wrong, but that faith shouldnt blind ones ability to feel compassion and that
is something I want to make others aware of. They fail to realize that so many gay
individuals fall victim to depression due to the lack of a support system, constant hatred,

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and dehumanization, which also often leads to suicide (Robinson). Data shows that gay
youth are at higher risk of suicide and by examining the risk factors, the conditions and
experiences, it can be understood that gay teens are have higher rates of depression and
substance abuse (Lee & Shaw, 316). How can we live in an environment where those as
young as 15 feel the need to take their own life, is okay? It doesnt affect just those in the
United States, there are countries such as Armenia, Honduras, Kuwait and many more
that dont just discriminate gay individuals, they punish any sort of homosexual conduct
and even banning anything to do with the matter (Lee, 321). LGBTQ isnt just a national
issue but a global issue that affects so many people. Society needs to ask them self how
someone being gay affects them personally, or how does it inhibit their existence before
inflicting pain. Everyone needs to see that we are all human, we are all made to love, to
feel, and being gay doesnt give every conservative, straight person the right to bring
them down or try to revert them back to state that is acceptable to society.

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Works Cited
Robinson, B. A. "Suicides among Gay and Lesbian Youth." S. Ontario Consultants on
Religious

Tolerance, 01 Aug. 2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2015.

"The Bible and Homosexuality." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2015. Web.
21 Mar. 2015.
Shaw, Susan M. and Janet Lee. Chapter 6: Sex, Power, and Intimacy. Womens Voices,
Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. 6th ed. Ed. Susan M. Shaw
and Janet Lee. New York: McGraw Hill, 2014. 320-323. Print.
Shaw, Susan M. and Janet Lee. Chapter 10: Resisting Gender Violence. Womens
Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. 6th ed. Susan M.
Shaw and Janet Lee. New York: McGraw Hill, 2014. 542-545. Print.
Shaw, Susan M. and Janet Lee. Chapter 6: Sex, Power, and Intimacy. Womens Voices,
Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. 6th ed. Ed. Susan M. Shaw
and Janet Lee. New York: McGraw Hill, 2014. 316-317. Print.