I wouldn’t say that all people hate gays and lesbians. In fact, I would use dislike for the majority of people who have issue with the gay and lesbian community. This is hard question to answer because so many people have their reasons from religious to societal.

The main reason I would say that there has been slow acceptance of the gay and lesbian community, is oppression. It is very difficult to find a society in history that did not have some oppression. Oppression is the unjust and sometimes cruel use of authority in order to gain control over an undesired group. Unfortunately, most minority groups experience oppression from the majority group and even other minority groups seeking some power. Groups that are oppressed in the United States are the elderly, poor, women, people of color, persons with disabilities, minority religious groups, the GLBT community, etc.

Throughout the history of the United States many groups have asked for and fought for (legislatively and through protests) their rights. Right now the GLBT is mobilizing and asking for their voice to be heard.

When a minority group asks for their voice to be heard; it can lead the majority group to feel uncomfortable, almost as if they will lose their status if they afford the same rights to the minority group. It has to do with power and control.

Here is an example: Most High Schools have a hierarchy. In order from top to bottom:

Jocks/popular kids
Class clowns
Overachievers
Drama kids
Anime/goth/emo kids
Teacher’s pets
Nerds/geeks
New people

Each group oppresses the one beneath them in order to keep their status. The same could be said for groups in the United States. If everyone in High School were treated equally, then no one person would have power and everyone would intra-mingle seamlessly. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Unfortunately, we, as people, are taught the lesson of how to oppress and/or what it is like to be oppressed at the same time our brains are forming and we are learning how to behave in society. Right now the GLBT community are the “new people”.

Eventually, the GLBT community will make the strides it needs to be a more socially acceptable group but that will not happen without some resistance. And those resisting the most will use any tool they can to make sure that their status remains the same, whether the excuse is that it is against their religion or that it breaks up the marriage family system.

I know that it can feel very personal to know that there are some people out there who actively hate or dislike the community that you are a part of. This can hurt down to the core of who you are as a person. Just try to remember that you are cared about by millions and millions of people who have no problem with the community or you, but just don’t raise their voice as loud as the people who don’t.

You are loved. But if you begin to feel that you are not a good person because of some of what you hear in the media, please ask for help from the community. You should value yourself but it can be hard to do that when you are hit with messages that would have you think otherwise.

Part of the tactic of the oppressors is to bully the community and lower the self-esteem of the community. If you were ever bullied in school, you probably know that you could just be walking down the hall minding your own business and someone will pick on you. Now imagine if you were waving your arms and doing a little dance. They would surely pick on you. That is what is happening now.

Here are some ways to keep your self-esteem in check:

· Hang out with friends who encourage, respect and value you as a person.
· Do activities you like and are good at and celebrate every time you master a new task.
· Only allow yourself to speak nicely to yourself.
· Look in the mirror and only pick out things you like to focus on.
· Name your inner-negative voice and tell it off.
· Smile-smiling makes people wanted to smile at you and getting a smile back feels good!!!

Take care of yourself!