This is the help me earn my Understanding Yourself and Others badge. This is the Technology #1 in the Intrest Projects for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts book. This was made with the help of my sister Connie and my mother.
I would like to make a note here that this issue is mostly my opinions and, for the record, I am striaght. This is for all my sisters and brothers in the world who just might not be though. So, this page is dedicated to them.
Homosexual Teens
Homosexual -adjective feeling or involving sexual attraction to people of one's own sex. -noun a homosexual person.
As teenagers, young adults face many new challenges and situations that help to determine who they are and who they will become. Sexual orientation is only a part of this growing awareness that must develop. There isn’t much information for homosexual or bisexual youth in today’s society, however, unless you count stereotypical examples of what the lifestyle is. Humans are, by nature, herd animals that chose to separate themselves in social castes. As a gay or lesbian, teens will find themselves outcast in the eyes of peers and accepted by others. But even such an acceptance can be misguided. The show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is a prime example of the way most people believe homosexuals should act. Because of prejudices and fear of not being accepted, many adults decide to stay in the closet, thereby leaving a void of suitable role models. Some aspects of the world we life in today figure deciding your sexuality the same as deciding if you’re going to be a part of the human race or some strange and almost always unnatural species newly formed. Few will openly criticize, but resentment will always be there for some reason or other. Homosexual teens will have a harder time trying to break these social bounds trying to separate these two lifestyles as though we could not live cooperation together. Because of this, many will stay in the dark, feeling shunned and confused as to exactly what feelings they may have. Some will go seeking out others, which makes them vulnerable to attack and abuse. Caution should always be used in every situation, especially those dealing with relationships in such turmoil years no matter your preference. Life in the world will always be troublesome, but it’s better to live than not. Because young gays and lesbians are afraid to make their sexuality known, they often seek for role models and companionship outside their school systems and neighborhoods so as to avoid years of torment from their peers. Often, homosexuals must hide from even their parents and families, making their seclusion feel complete and perhaps going so far as to leading to thoughts of suicide. Remember, humans can only survive and be truly happy in groups. For the health of all, acceptance and knowledge is the only way to bridge the gap. Already America has overcome racial segregation, women’s inferiority, class severance. Sexuality should not be a further argument, it seems so meaningless. It does not give the depths of a person’s soul, saying you’re gay or lesbian or bisexual should not carry any more meaning that the people you’d consider for dating. Yet in some people’s minds, homosexuality is the most sinful and sickening thing under the sun. Perhaps if we can quit tip-toeing around the issue of sex in general people will see its about more than procreation or an exchange of body fluids and by no means should be a reason for scorn. Homosexuals should be aware of things happening in their communities and society, for even now there is change trying to take place once more. ‘Coming out of the closet’ is easier if the world is more ready to accept in friendship and not in predetermined social orders. Do not flock like sheep, but break from the pack. Whether homosexual or straight, teens have enough problems on their hands with deciding future careers and schools. Raising awareness is the first step to easing the pain and disarray of feelings hidden bisexuals and homosexuals feel toward a straight society. Falling into social constraints is to live unnecessarily in shackles. You are encouraged never to stand for any form of abuse, to work toward a better tomorrow and love each other as our greatest idealism. It is a teen’s responsibility to learn that prejudices is the greatest of crimes and to always be a sister or brother to another.
Hopefully, vague as this article was, it might provide a bit of insight and somehow help out other teenagers. Perhaps this page will be expanded to deal more specifically with further issues facing teens today.
References and inspiration for this page from a number of places, but most noteworthy at the moment is Conversations with Gay and Lesbian Youth.