The truth about violence against LGBT

Hello friends and readers!

Since most of you are also my readers, I ask that you take a second out of your day and read this post about a topic that is often covered even on AFF. To prefice this, let me tell you about some news I read today as I was randomly browsing the news on Yahoo (not the greatest source but...).

I came across this article about the violent death of a young gay man in 1998, Matthew Shepard.

https://ca.celebrity.yahoo.com/news/matthew-shepards-parents-hope-documentary-sheds-myths-son-151206667.html

I'll admit; I had no idea that this had happened. I was still young in 1998 and we certainly didn't have access to the same amount of information as we do now so I wasn't aware that this took place. Sadly, this kind of violence still exists even as we celebrated the start of a new millenium and our beginnings in the 21st century. A simple search on the web will find you case after case of violence against lesbians, gays, bi-uals, transgendered, and anyone who even dare to suggest that their ual preferences are different from the norm.

This article hurt my heart a little. As a writer of (mostly) homoual fiction, I often try to bring in the realism of society's judgement against my gay characters. My gay characters are often afraid of revealing themselves to their families, to the public, and sometimes even to themselves about who they really are. I often write about violence, both verbal and physical, against my characters that are often received only because they are gay. Sadly, everything that I write still exists in the world today and the hard truth is... that won't change anytime soon. Yes, people are starting to stand up to all of this and, yes, we are making progress. But it is a slow and long journey before we as a society, or country, or culture can finally embrace the differences in ual preference. As straight woman who is living a (relatively) unjudged life without having to fear for my life, I find it frustrating and unfair to watch my gay friends live in tension and fear.

I acknowledge that we have a long way to go. I acknowledge that it may not be in my lifetime before the fear I see in gay people's eyes are completely erased. What I ask of those of us who not only accept but embrace our gay peers with open arms to take a moment out of your day and realize that violence against LGBT isn't just fiction. It happens to real people like Matthew Shepard... a young man who was just trying to live his life.

Comments

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yDeathEater #1 May 24, 2014 14:31:15

I'm saddened to say this but in our religion, it is allowed to kill any homoual person.

Today on ask.fm some random person questioned me and my religion. Saying that it's wrong to be homoual. I replied that many Muslims break the rules and no one cares so why should you care if I like someone of the same ?

last year, a transgender was dragged out of her home by the cop without any warranty or permission just because she's transgendered. She said she felt outraged and that a classy lady like herself should be physically abused by the police for not doing anything wrong. Of course, no one took her seriously. She then threatened that if she didn't receive a proper apology and being let go of without going to curt, she'll tell the United Nations about this just so people can see how horrible they were.

Sometimes, I wonder if God actually cares over a minor detail so much that he makes it a sin when there are way more horrible things in life.

chillua #2 May 24, 2014 01:31:13

i have a lesbian friend, but like, the other friends of mine who also knew about the fact distanced themselves from her and even talk bad about her secretly. I've explained that it's not her fault to be born like this, but they don't seem to change their attitude -.- Idk I can't believe they are actually this closed-minded.

mangaxkpop #3 May 23, 2014 19:32:18

I wonder that those two that killed Matthew ever regret or stopped to think about what they did. Did they ever know that what they did was wrong?
It's just sad to see how there'll always be hatred among humans. And some hatred can make a person kill another person.

oppach #4 May 23, 2014 18:25:26

Because I'm old, I do remember that horrible murder. I find that the issue isn't as much about being different but about the evilness that exists in the human heart. It sickens me to think of what happened to that young man. I cannot fathom how anyone could do those things to another human being.