Pride forever: recognizing LGBTQ+ community issues

Empowering the LGBTQ+ Community, An Essay by Amber

'It takes no compromise to give people their rights...it takes none to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.' ~ Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk, a former member of the San Francisco board of supervisors, was the first openly gay elected official in California. He implied, that there is nothing which justifies anyone from taking an innocent's fundamental rights away. By taking the rights away, their dignity is torn away from them. It takes nothing to give them rights. You also win their respect by doing so. You need not make any political deal to give the people their freedom. Freedom is a basic birthright. It is there when we are born as human beings and it also should be there when we are on our deathbed. No deals will ever match someone's happiness.

LGBTQ+ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation. All countries give people basic rights, it is not based on race, gender, class, social division, wealth, sexual orientation, and education. In other words, nothing gives you the right to take an innocent person's rights from them.

Several times, this has not been the case. This has more so been apparent in the case of the LGBTQ+ community. These people continue to experience various forms of oppression and discrimination, both direct and indirect, throughout the world, despite the social, legal, and political advances that have been launched in an attempt to grant LGBTQ+ people basic human rights.

The LGBTQ+ community has always been repressed and tormented over human history. Even recently they were terrorized. 4 Years back, the gay dance club Pulse in Orlando was the site of a mass shooting by one assailant. With 49 dead and 50 injured, this hate crime is one of the worst mass shootings. It occurred during what was LGBTQ+ Pride weekend. The immediate response from mayors, local authorities, politicians, and the President of the US, who reached out to express outrage and concern, demonstrates the enormous shift toward acceptance and public support for the LGBTQ+ community. Although the LGBTQ+ individuals remain targets for hate and backlash throughout the world, the hard work of activists and allies made it possible, where the perpetrators of violence, not the victims, are condemned as sick.

Although more countries are changing their laws, it's still illegal in several and not socially acceptable in others. It's not safe for LGBTQ+ people who live there. The risks are real: death in extreme cases, the loss of jobs and social ostracism. This needs to stop. We are so used to assuming that everyone is straight that we forget about the LGBTQ+ community hiding in the world like the backbenchers in a class. Although the activists are working 24/7, people are expressing their concern in front of art and poetry, and people are working to make a change, we need more to make a successful difference. 

Name: Amber

Sources:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/

https://www.apa.org/

Picture credits to respective owners

Note from WE-LOG:

LGBTQ Pride Month occurs in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world. At WE-LOG, we work on making a change. These pieces of writing is to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community. You are also welcome to send pieces of your work at welog1018@gmail.com. Don't send scam or hate messages. You will be given full credit, please mention your name. Mentioning your country and sources is optional, although we would highly appreciate it. Thank you and stay safe. Stay Strong!