So this month is pride month and I’d like to shed some light on the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re unaware of what those letters mean, then they mean Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. There are many more who fit in this category but to make it short, the plus (+) sign was added. In celebration of pride month, I thought I’d give my opinion on it and the community from the view of an outsider.

If you are among the group of supporters as I am, then you don’t have to be an actual member of the community to see that there’s so much backlash towards the people part of it. It’s something I will never understand. God taught us to love one another…right? Well, why does someone loving someone else of the same sex suddenly mean they have the right to get stones thrown at them? And yes I’m aware of the bible and all of that, which I will discuss being a Christian and a supporter of the community in another post. For now, I just want to bring attention to the trials these innocent people receive and also shine a light on how beautiful the community is as well.

I’m sad to say that I have not had the chance to go to a rally or anything of the sort, but I’ve seen and heard so many hurtful and harmful things that are said and done to people in the LGBTQ community. Some things even from their own families. My family is extremely religious and I’ve even had to correct my own grandparents from time to time on proper terms to use. I’ve seen on TV  how the community is talked about. I’ve had friends that I know bring up how people are looking at them, especially being black and in the community (a separate post might be up about this as well). In high school, I was curious about being in relationships with girls and even was able to experience it by being in a few relationships with a couple of amazing girls who started as friends and still ended the same. In the end, I realized that it wasn’t the route for me. Note, I said I realized it wasn’t the route for me. I did not say I got out of a phase. Being in love with someone of the same sex is not a phase.

And I repeat.

BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX IS NOT A PHASE.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s a shame because when I was going through that time of figuring myself out, I couldn’t really make it known. Anyone I was dating at the time had to be a secret and I would freak out if a family member found out. It shouldn’t be that way. There are so many people struggling just to be accepted by their families alone. There are transgender men and women out there who have yet to become who they really are because they are afraid, not just of the backlash of this horrific world, but because they are scared of the backlash they might receive from their own families. The simple words “I’m gay” or “I’m bisexual” or whatever category someone might be a part of could get them kicked out of the house or disowned and it’s not right. These people are just like us, not some aliens. Their love should be normalized just as heterosexual love is normalized, which is why I’m so proud that same-sex marriage is now legal. I’m happy to be an ally for this community and yes being shy and having anxiety can keep me from voicing things I really care about, but I will always do my best to support this community in the best way I can. And I will always respect the community. I’m proud to support such amazing people because love is love is LOVE and it will always win.