LGBTQIA + Discrimination

What is the problem?

The LGBTQIA+ community is being harassed for loving who they want to love and being who they are. They can't function with this going on! We need a solution!

We had no laws prohibiting hate crimes against those who identify as LGBTQIA+ before Matthew Shepard's Murder. Later, (in 2009), President Obama signed a modified form of the legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ people. BUT it does not protect LGBTQIA+ from physical harm.

New Leadership in Kabul, Afghanistan has put up laws and rules against the LGBTQIA+ community. The fear of arrest and execution is so immense, Balkhi, an Afghan lesbian, tells CNN that she can not sleep because of the constant fear. A Kabuli Judge says “the only two punishments for Homosexuality are: being stoned or being crushed under a stone wall.

In Virginia, we have laws against LGBTQIA+ discrimination for practically everything. The only two problems with that are 1. People break them constantly with NO consequences. 2. If a discrimination case gets to the supreme court, our country: "The land of the free and the home of the brave" has no FEDERAL laws against LGBTQIA+ discrimination.

What are some solutions?

One solution to LGBTQIA+ hate is going to anti-hate classes.

In some workplaces, they have LGBTQIA+ anti-hate training. I don't think it's a permanent solution, but I do think it will help. I was surprised to hear this, but many people don’t even know the amount of hate going around.

I also recommend that the school board should have conferences about starting anti-hate groups. Here at Walton, we have an example of one: GSA (Gay straight alliance) Where students can

come together and speak on these issues.

Most Employers & Educators start this training in workplaces or schools, such as UVA. ( University of Virginia)

How can teenagers get involved?

Teenagers can start spreading kindness around the LGBTQIA+ community and put posts up on social media about how we should support this community.

Teenagers can help by getting into groups and putting posters and cards around their schools to help people understand the community and help the community in any way they can.

Citations:

• “Matthew Shepard -- Britannica School.” Eb.com, 2018, school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Matthew-Shepard/475798.

• Westcott, Ben. “Fighters of the Taliban Badri 313 Military Unit Stand Guard at the Airport in Kabul on September 14.” CNN, 18 Sept. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/09/17/middleeast/afghanistan-LGBTQ-evacuation-intl-hnk-dst/index.html.

The love that someone from the community gives, is something that no one could ever understand. Everyone can love someone endlessly but people from the community except differences in people better than everyone else which causes them to love people more than anyone could imagine. They know how to accept differences where no one else could because they don't judge people because they are different. Everyone in the community have the biggest hearts filled with nothing but kindness and love for everyone.

They were born with the life of loving someone that people don't like to accept. People say that everyone in the community is 'different'. They have to live with that word for the rest of their lives even though that isn't always true. They are the same as everyone, the only thing that makes them even slightly different is the amount of love that they can hold for someone. They know what it is like to be known as different, they know how to love their 'difference' and show people how amazing it is. They know how to accept difference, they know how to love anyone for being, them.

The love that someone from the community gives, is something that no one could ever understand. Everyone can love someone endlessly but people from the community except differences in people better than everyone else which causes them to love people more than anyone could imagine. They know how to accept differences where no one else could because they don't judge people because they are different. Everyone in the community have the biggest hearts filled with nothing but kindness and love for everyone.

They were born with the life of loving someone that people don't like to accept. People say that everyone in the community is 'different'. They have to live with that word for the rest of their lives even though that isn't always true. They are the same as everyone, the only thing that makes them even slightly different is the amount of love that they can hold for someone. They know what it is like to be known as different, they know how to love their 'difference' and show people how amazing it is. They know how to accept difference, they know how to love anyone for being, them.

Every group in the community is different and unique in their ways, loving who they want however they want. They all are living beings, every living being deserves to have your respect until they do something unthinkable. Being who they are, being in the community doesn't mean that they lose respect. They are being who they are, they are showing the world who they truly are without any filters, and people only lose respect because they drop the filters.

They haven't done anything harmful to you, they haven't done anything to hurt you and they deserve to have your respect. They are still living beings and they deserve to be treated the right way.

They love who they want to love and people take that as a reason to make them feel hated and un-respected just because people don't like the fact that they are uniquely different.

Studies show that the LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately represented throughout the American criminal justice system. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people have higher rates of incarceration, are more likely to enter the juvenile justice system, and face unbearable challenges from the minute they enter the system.

Ways To Help

Don't let slurs slide. When someone says something that is a slur to the community, don't let it slide when someone says it. Slurs have more meaning then you would think. Lots of these people probably don’t consider themselves homophobic, or against people in the community, but every time friends, family and neighbors stay silent, it empowers those who are and diminishes and harms LGBTQIA+ people. Every time you say a slur, you are using your words as harm instead of physical harm. Your words may not hurt you but they can easily hurt others around you, don't say anything without thought and make sure to stop others from saying anything rude.

Create Safe Spaces. LGBTQIA+ people still face very real dangers for openly displaying their sexual orientation or even coming out in the first place. While overall violence against the gay community was down according to data released in 2015, murders were up and violence against transgender people rose an alarming 13 percent. It’s particularly hard for LGBTQIA+ youth, 40 percent of whom say they don’t live in a community that accepts them. This can be helped by creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ people to be themselves. This can mean creating physical spaces or making an inclusive environment in everyday places.

As important as it is for allies to show support for LGBTQIA+ rights, sometimes their over-enthusiastic support can drown out and diminish the people they’re ostensibly fighting for. Ending discrimination requires elevating oppressed people and providing a platform for folks whose voices and options are marginalized. It’s important that LGBTQIA+ people tell their stories, share their thoughts and set the agenda. Sometimes your voice is too loud and the only way to get your point across is by letting the actual community raise their voices. Their voices are sometimes the only sound that will get the point across.

Something that helps is just learning about the community. Sometimes knowledge is more powerful than most people would assume. Knowing more about the community helps when you are near or around someone because you have more knowledge that can help you protect them. Sometimes when you have knowledge of something then it gives you a better chance of being able to protect it/them if you need to. Having knowledge of the community helps you so you can raise your voice and be able to say the right things to help them. Knowledge of the community is important, internet searching, true type of knowledge because you learn about the real part of the community and you know how to communicate with them and help them better.

You can create a safe space for everyone in the community. You can create a safe space anywhere, in your home, in a library, at school/work. Helping them have a place to go where they can let out emotions and talk about their day. A safe space can be for meeting people, talking about something, or just chilling out away from everyone. These places can be made anywhere for the community and they can help people feel better because they can get away from people and just relax. These places cane be made up of many different things such as couches, books, and you could even have desks with different activities. These places are meant to feel safe, and homey and just make you feel calm and help you collect yourself.

People in the community need all the allies and support they can get and sometimes, even the smallest of things can help in bigger ways than you would think. There are so many different ways to help and everything given to the community is always helpful. We have to do something and do something quickly, we have to take action!

-Factual Charts-

-The charts help you see the facts, the truth behind everything going on. People of all ages go through discrimination all the time and we need to find a solution to help-

Page made by: Nikki T., Levi M., and Lilly L.