People Deserve Better...

Today I felt like curling into a ball and just crying.

The reason I felt like crying is because, while helping a friend look up a political topic for an upcoming QSA (Queer Straight Alliance) meeting, I came across an article about a suicide in Tennessee, the second one in as many months. Again, it's been a result of bullying in schools, and a lack of protective laws that strive to prevent bullying.

No, rather than have laws that would protect not only LGBTQ youth, but everyone, from bullying, Republican Tennessee Senator Stacey Campfield is trying to pass, for the second time, the "don't say gay" bill. A bill that, if passed, will stop teachers from discussing homosexuality with students in grades K-9, even if the student is gay or has a gay family. Because that's what we need: less communication. Less trying to show people that just because you love someone who's the same sex as you doesn't mean you're out to corrupt the youth or push some agenda, but trying to gain the same rights and dignity that seems so minuscule to the straight, white population because those rights and dignities are a give in for them.

I feel sick to my stomach when I think that there are people, kids that are fourteen years old, who feel that killing themselves is the only way to escape the hate and persecution they face everyday for simply being who they are. No one should ever have to feel that hopeless, and it makes me so angry that people can stand by and let things like this happen.

In Utah, the state of my residence, a law was passed a few years back that prevented businesses not possessing a liquor licence from displaying alcohol in any place where it was possible for a minor to see it. Now, it that there can't be beer taps where children could see them. Why? Because they were worried that by seeing the alcohol, children would become curious and it would lead them to experimenting with alcohol. That was how we were going to solve the problem, by not talking about it. By hiding it until parents could feel 'comfortable' discussing it with their children.

How is this method helping?

How is hiding something from our youth and kids supposed to help them? Raising them ignorant so that they get to high school and finally run into these themes all they have is ignorance to go on. Ignorance breeds fear, and fear breed hatred. Not even allowing a discussion of a matter in school? Shocking kids with talk of sexuality, alcohol and drugs when they're in high school isn't going to help the problem. Most kids have had some experience with alcohol before they even reach high school. They're going to have questions about sex and sexuality before then too, and what's going to happen when there's no one there that can explain it to them because it's against the law for the school to and so many parents are reluctant to talk to their kids about it.

Acting like something doesn't exist, like it's not important enough to discuss, doesn't solve anything. If anything it makes kids more confused and more at risk. If we can't discuss homosexuality in schools how are we supposed to educate kids about why it's wrong to bully someone based on their sexual orientation or identity. If my parents had never talked to me about alcohol I would have never known the risks when I did drink. I know what sex is, I know how it works, and I know how to be safe because my parents didn't act like it was taboo subject that was never to be discussed. I know who I am because my parents and teachers were always willing to lend me a helping hand when I needed it.

This bill is wrong, and hatred and stigma are wrong. I'm not saying that homosexuality needs to be added to the school curriculum or that it has to be taught, but we have to be able to talk about it. I was pulled aside by a teacher, who I admire and respect, after class one day my junior year when a discussion on homosexuality had come up. He said I'd looked really troubled and wanted to know if everything was alright. I stood there and just started crying, because I had never expected anyone to ask me if I was alright. I had convinced myself that it was something that I had to deal with on my own. After that, I always knew there was someone that I could trust and talk to if I ever needed it. That is what this law would be preventing, and robbing from students.

We can't sweep it under the rug and act like adolescents aren't being confronted with it everyday. No one deserves to be bullied, and no one should ever feel like suicide is the only way out. These are the problems our lawmakers need to concern themselves with, not whether sexuality can or cannot be discussed in schools.

I want a country that isn't ruled by hate or intolerance. I want a country where I don't have to worry about being discriminated against on something as ingrained as their sexual identity or orientation. I want a world where anyone can stand up and say:

I'm here, I'm queer, and I'm not alone, so get used to it.