Last week we had three guest speakers from the LGBTQ community come in and talk to our class. I thought this was amazing because I had just handed in a research paper the day before and I chose to do mine on LGBTQ individuals. During their presentation I felt like I could understand what they were saying and I also got to know much more about their community. I also got a chance to experience a few different activities that made me think. They would ask us a question and if we agreed we would stand at the front of the class and if we disagreed we would stand at the back of the class. It was interesting to see people’s responses and their reasons why. The one question that got me thinking was “I would be okay with someone assuming I was gay or lesbian”. I stood somewhere near the front for this question but as I stood there I wanted to move closer to the back. My personality is that I don’t care what others think of me that is why I first went to the front but then I also don’t like when people think that I’m someone I’m not. Then I got thinking if I don’t care how people look at me why it would be such a big deal if my sexual orientation is different, especially since it’s something we have no control over. The more I thought about it the more I realized that it truly is how you were raised and what you were around as a child. I was never around anyone that is a part of the LGBTQ community, but I was raise to accept anyone no matter what they were like or who they liked. My dad would always say things like he’s gay or he’s queer and it led me to think that it was bad to be that. Since I’m ”Straight” I never thought any different of it but it does still have its impacts. It’s not a bad thing, it’s the way we are born and why should they be the minority and get ridiculed. Then again it’s the world we live in and it needs to change, and I believe it will.
For my research paper I stumbled across this website and used it for a resource: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/ I found it interesting that the guest speakers touched on this website and the progress its making. When I first found this website I sat there for at least 4 hours straight watching videos of people telling their story. They are very touching and inspiring stories and they show just how strong these individuals are because of all the trouble they went through in today’s society. Even today they are being judged against; they have a few more rights than they used to though. I loved all the videos that I seen on the site. There was even a video of a man telling his father he was gay and he kept asking his dad “do you still love me?” it was interesting to watch his reactions when his dad reassured him that he is still his son and the person he always was. These following videos are just two of the many that I though showed a real message, and are truly inspiring:
This is related to the field that I will be working in because we will be working with these youth even if we know it or not. We have to learn to use neutral language so that we don’t offend anyone and cause hem to shut down and not talk to us. I think we will treat them differently but that is only because you don’t treat every two children the same way; they each have their individual needs. No matter what their sexual orientation they all have their story. Then when you think about it their case will be treated just like any other, based on their needs. Last week I learnt quite a bit and I had a fun time doing it.
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