LGBTQ+

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Found using my already existing knowledge on the matter, and with the help of LGBTQ+ Definitions, I have found that the title LGBTQ+ represents those of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning sexualitues, in addition to a few more categories, such as aromantic, pansexual and asexual; some of the less represented sexualities. I chose to write about this group first off because I couldn’t relate well with most of the other social group options, and secondly because three of my immediate family members are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The members of this social group are many times misunderstood and underrepresented, and as a result, are chastised for standing up for their beliefs.

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The people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community are often suppressed by society, as what they stand for is seen to be out of line and disorderly. The people as a part of this social group simply wish to be seen as an equally represented aspect to society, but despite great efforts to achieve this, there are many who are just as aggressively working against them, postponing their success in achieving this goal. For example, in History.com’s article of the Stonewall Riots, it says how in the 1960’s, and years before, it was an unwelcoming time for members of the LGBT community. As it stood then, in New York, and many other states, simply expressing homosexuality in public was illegal. From the Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ+ members have made great progress, but there is still much work to be done. My mom and stepmom, who are happily married, and my brother are all a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Personally, I do not share this with them as I am heterosexual, however I do live with them, and from my brother especially, I am enlightened on how they are treated in society, and what pros and cons they face just in expressing who they are.

As I explained earlier, there are multiple different groups or branches in the overall title LGBTQ+. From this larger social group, I also highlighted that these subgroups, despite sharing the LGBTQ+ name, differ from one another. In the podcast Identity Across Generations, you can see how members of even the same subgroup can differ from one another, given the generation they are a part of. Along with the unique traits the people in this social group possess come the unique challenges they face. As you already know, the LGBTQ+ community as a whole is commonly looked down upon, and in this regard, those who are a part of it are discriminated in a way. This is the most apparent challenge that this social group faces, but it does not end here. In addition to the general challenges that the vast majority of LGBTQ+ members deal with, each individual subgroup has its own stereotypes and challenges on top of those already in place.

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Just as any social group that is heavily stereotyped in a negative way, the LGBTQ+ social group needs society to not just acknowledge them, but embrace them for the diversity they bring. I find it odd how, while same sex marriage is legal in the US for example, it is still seen by a large portion of the population as unnatural. So as a result of this, we have a sort of taboo in society. It sounds great in writing- ‘same sex marriage is legal across the US’- but if you were to observe how people truly react to something like this, you will find that many are still not willing to have an open mind on the subject. If we simply continue to allow laws to change, we will not accomplish anything, unless the people change with them. And with a statement like this, it applies to not just LGBTQ+ rights, but the broader spectrum of issues such as these.

If we are to truly solve this problem, and others like it, we need

to try and understand what the people in these social groups feel, given the stereotypes they are branded with and the way they are treated. We need to see things from their perspective and expand our version of what is normal. The LGBTQ+ social group is only one of the many that are underrepresented in society, there are countless groups of people who suffer from false claims and the refusal to be accepted as equals. As a species, we need to understand that diversity is inevitable, and instead of attempting to extinguish these new and already existing social groups, we should appreciate them and their beliefs for their contribution to better our world.