The Rainbow Flag

By Kyle Arbiola and Michael Rodillo

Gay rights has been a controversial topic all throughout this country’s history. Seeing that this country is being more open-minded slowly but surely is a refreshing sight. If you were homosexual a couple hundred years back you would be prosecuted and tried, sometimes even executed in front of crowds of people. Back then people thought that homosexuality was a disease or a mental disorder; they found it wrong and disgusting to be attracted to the same gender. There were even medical treatments for homosexuality to treat them of their wretched “disease”. Imagine if your sexual preference, a part of who you are, was seen as a such a terrible and malignant thing. Would that make you feel inferior or below those that are straight?

Fortunately, our country is becoming more tolerant with each passing day. Just last year on June 25th, 2015, the United States Supreme Court passed a bill that allowed and protected same-sex marriage in all fifty states. This was a very big step forward for the LGBTQ+ community, as it allows them to marry their soulmate without any restrictions.

We went around asking students what their opinion on gay marriage is and the results were fantastic. Teenagers today are so passionate in what they believe in—it truly is inspiring.

Enrique Plascencia, a straight male, told us, “I think that everyone can marry who they want or have a relationship with whoever they want. It’s their life and their belief. You can’t change that.” He also went on to add, “The only problem for this is discrimination because most people weren’t born to accept the gay community.” As of today, young children in different parts of the planet are taught to discriminate those who are homosexual, especially in places where religion is prominent.

“As far as rights go, I think we are doing a better job granting equal rights as more countries have begun to approve of same-sex marriage,” says Kim Hernandez, a  homosexual female, “but as far as the treatment for the LGBTQ+ community, it isn’t equal.”

Sadly, this unsettling information is true. Across the globe, there has been backlash regarding gay marriage. Many riots and protests have broken out like the one in Rome last year where three-hundred thousand people marched against gay marriage.

We as a country have finally come to our senses and more closely accepted homosexuality and same-sex marriage. As riots break out we fought back, but not with violence. There are all kinds of festivals, conventions, and events that embraces homosexuals and same-sex marriage. As time goes by, hopefully people will see that we are all equal, no matter someone’s sexual preference. We will stride for acceptance for all the different peoples around the globe. Though it may not seem like it will happen; just remember how far legalizing gay marriage has taken us as a people.

 

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