This Paper Is Gay
The National School Climate Survey conducted a study in 2011 and reported these statistics on LGBTQ bullying: 82% of LGBTQ youth had problems during the previous year with bullying about sexual orientation. 64% felt unsafe at school due to sexual orientation. 44% felt unsafe at school due to gender identification. 32% did not go to school for at least one day because of feeling unsafe. These numbers are shocking and disgustingly high. LGBTQ youth should not be bullied for being who they are. It is simply not acceptable and it’s our generation’s job to educate American everyone on the LGBTQ community.
Leelah (Joshua) Alcorn was a transgender (male to female) teenager who took her life on December 28th, 2014. She set her suicide note to be uploaded to Tumblr a few hours after. DailyMail.com posted her note and gave some more background on the situation. Alcorn wrote that ever since she was four, she felt like a female trapped in a male’s body. She found out this was called “transgender” when she was fourteen and told her parents. They refused to accept her or call her by her new name, Leelah, due to religious reasons. After three years of pain, confusion, fighting, and rejection, she took her life. Alcorn did not want people to mourn her. She wanted everyone to take her life as a wake-up call. She wishes that no one should have to feel the hatred for life that she did.
GSA Network is an organization started to provide outreach for youths eager to support equality for the LGBTQ community and support their rights movement. GSA stands for Gay-Straight Alliance, but can also be referred to as Gender-Sexuality Alliance, as its goal is to protect every one under that umbrella. It is currently working in every state, but its homebase is in California. GSA Network began working with about 40 GSA’s in the California bay area in 1998. Their goal, now and then, is “Empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.” They offer support, reliable information, and resources. To get involved, one would start by looking their state up to see if there are any GSA clubs near by. If not, starting a GSA is the next way to support. One can also donate to the cause. Ultimately, getting educated and standing against transphobia and homophobia will lead to a more accepting America and will spread the love. Visit their website at https://gsanetwork.org/ .
Even with helpful organizations like GSA Network, there is still a lack of knowledge on non-hetero sexualities. At school, “gay” is used as an insult regularly. How are LGBTQ students, or any students, expected to grow up accepting homosexuality if homophobic ideas are hammered into their head on a daily basis? It’s an uphill battle, but we’re getting close to the end. With education, courage, and determination, our generation can break this heteronormative society and make the United States safe for everyone.
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Works Cited
"Home | Gay-Straight Alliance Network." Home | Gay-Straight Alliance Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
MailOnline, Sara Malm for. "Transgender Teenager, 17, Leaves Heartbreaking Suicide Note Blaming Her Christian Parents before Walking in Front of Tractor Trailer on Highway." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
"New Details Emerge as Officials Rule Leelah Alcorn's Death a 'Suicide' | Advocate.com." New Details Emerge as Officials Rule Leelah Alcorn's Death a 'Suicide' | Advocate.com. N.p., 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
"View and Share Statistics." Human Rights Campaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016. Introduction