Alternative Discrimination Essay, Research Paper

Alternative Discrimination

In today’s American society, it is expected that young men and young women court eachother, marry, and eventually raise a family. This is the kind of life that is expected, the one almost every parent wants for his or her child. Not all men however are attracted to women and not all women are attracted to men. So what is thought of the young men and women who do not fit in to this predestined lifestyle? Although homosexuality has become more mainstream, it is still looked at as an unnatural, unclean, alternative lifestyle by most. Homosexuals, as well as those who accept them, are often labeled freaks. My acceptance of homosexuality puts me in a position where I find myself not only enduring criticism but also defending my own sexuality, and it is because of this that I feel there is a limit to how close I can get to those who oppose homosexuality.

I personally believe that people are people. We all have differences, whether it be our race, religion, ethnic background, or sexuality. At one time, it was considered acceptable to condemn and discriminate against those with dark skin. In today’s society, however, this behavior is looked down upon by most and considered despicable. The treatment of and the assumptions made about gays are despicable and hopefully will change in the future for the better. I, one night, found myself in a situation that was reminiscent of something that would have occurred in the sixties when ignorance was rampant. An openly gay friend of mine and I were dancing and minding our own business one night in a club in Greenwich Village. We were not only verbally harassed by an observer who was standing near us but we were also pushed and told to go dance somewhere else. These kinds of incidents occur all the time. Homosexuals, as

2

well as those who support them, endure all types of ridicule. It is okay for someone to have their own opinions on matters; it is when one imposes his beliefs on others that it becomes wrong.

I have come to realize that the way I view having gay friends and the way the general public views having gay friends are completely different. I am a heterosexual, black female who has a diverse group of friends. We became friends because we were attracted to eachother’s differences and we respect eachother’s differences. Of course, in a group of friends certain characteristics may rub off on eachother such as the way one dresses or the slang they may use. Sexuality, however, is not a characteristic that would rub off on someone. Sexuality is inborn, that is why I found it ridiculous that some people felt that my associating with homosexuals would somehow influence my sexuality. My heterosexual male friends have expressed fear of my turning into a lesbian because I am constantly around this lifestyle. To me, this is the same as fearing that I am going to one day turn white or one day become a man. All of these fears have the same level of absurdity and thus prove my point that the thought process of those who accept homosexuality and those who don’t are so completely opposite, it is nearly impossible to make them think otherwise.

In today’s society, most people strive to be politically correct in the way they word certain ideas or the way they label people. We should, however, concentrate on being more politically correct in how we stereotype people and how we assume negative things about people we clearly have no knowledge about. People today seem to have no problem accepting those who have different religious beliefs, ethnic background, or skin color, yet when it comes to

3

sexuality there seems to be a high level of ignorance. The general public stereotypes homosexuals and because I interact with them so closely with them, I too am stereotyped and misunderstood. The differences in opinion on this particular issue make it hard for me to develop close relationships with those who oppose homosexuality.

eachother, marry, and eventually raise a family. This is the kind of life that is expected, the one almost every parent wants for his or her child. Not all men however are attracted to women and not all women are attracted to men. So what is thought of the young men and women who do not fit in to this predestined lifestyle? Although homosexuality has become more mainstream, it is still looked at as an unnatural, unclean, alternative lifestyle by most. Homosexuals, as well as those who accept them, are often labeled freaks. My acceptance of homosexuality puts me in a position where I find myself not only enduring criticism but also defending my own sexuality, and it is because of this that I feel there is a limit to how close I can get to those who oppose homosexuality.

I personally believe that people are people. We all have differences, whether it be our race, religion, ethnic background, or sexuality. At one time, it was considered acceptable to condemn and discriminate against those with dark skin. In today’s society, however, this behavior is looked down upon by most and considered despicable. The treatment of and the assumptions made about gays are despicable and hopefully will change in the future for the better. I, one night, found myself in a situation that was reminiscent of something that would have occurred in the sixties when ignorance was rampant. An openly gay friend of mine and I were dancing and minding our own business one night in a club in Greenwich Village. We were not only verbally harassed by an observer who was standing near us but we were also pushed and told to go dance somewhere else. These kinds of incidents occur all the time. Homosexuals, as

2

well as those who support them, endure all types of ridicule. It is okay for someone to have their own opinions on matters; it is when one imposes his beliefs on others that it becomes wrong.

I have come to realize that the way I view having gay friends and the way the general public views having gay friends are completely different. I am a heterosexual, black female who has a diverse group of friends. We became friends because we were attracted to eachother’s differences and we respect eachother’s differences. Of course, in a group of friends certain characteristics may rub off on eachother such as the way one dresses or the slang they may use. Sexuality, however, is not a characteristic that would rub off on someone. Sexuality is inborn, that is why I found it ridiculous that some people felt that my associating with homosexuals would somehow influence my sexuality. My heterosexual male friends have expressed fear of my turning into a lesbian because I am constantly around this lifestyle. To me, this is the same as fearing that I am going to one day turn white or one day become a man. All of these fears have the same level of absurdity and thus prove my point that the thought process of those who accept homosexuality and those who don’t are so completely opposite, it is nearly impossible to make them think otherwise.

In today’s society, most people strive to be politically correct in the way they word certain ideas or the way they label people. We should, however, concentrate on being more politically correct in how we stereotype people and how we assume negative things about people we clearly have no knowledge about. People today seem to have no problem accepting those who have different religious beliefs, ethnic background, or skin color, yet when it comes to

3

sexuality there seems to be a high level of ignorance. The general public stereotypes homosexuals and because I interact with them so closely with them, I too am stereotyped and misunderstood. The differences in opinion on this particular issue make it hard for me to develop close relationships with those who oppose homosexuality.