I Believe In Equality
Disclaimer: As with everything on theSprout, the views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of theSprout.
I honestly hate it when someone tells me they think that the government should be focusing on stopping violent hate crime and the death penalty for LGBTs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people) in places across the world, instead of or before they tackle LGBT marriage. What? We can't do both at the same time? That's like saying you can't have a broken foot and an infected ear. It's ridiculous.
Yes, of course the fact LGBTs can be abused, imprisoned, executed and have their rights infringed in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (amongst others) is important and disgusting. But so is the fact in the free and democratic world, LGBTs also have their human rights infringed upon.
Marriage is an important part of many cultures and religions and more importantly it is considered to be the ultimate act of love for someone. Why should someone be excluded from that and unable to express their love for the topical subject of sexuality?
No, civil partnership is not the same and it is not good enough.
Oh, you think it's a sin? It's against the Bible? I'm sorry, I didn't realise we still lived in the Dark Ages. I thought this was the 21st century? Sorry, fundamentalist, my mistake. I have many friends of different religions and cultures that accept me for who I am; A-Transgender-Girl-Loving-Abomination. What makes you so special that you can't do the same?
Everyone should be free to believe in what they want. There are many good reasons to believe in religion or a deity; hope, community. Using it as a mask to hide behind so you can abuse people with your bigoted and outdated views, is however not one. I get asked a lot if I am religious and what do I believe in? No, I am not religious. What do I believe in? Well, I believe in equality.
We're all human. Get over it.
Click here for some of theSprout's LGBT articles
Info Law & Rights Discrimination
Info Law & Rights Your Rights Human Rights
Info Family & Relationships Being in a Relationship Marriage
TheSproutDirect.co.uk LGBT Excellence Centre - Young People's Trans Network
Info Family & Relationships Being in a Relationship Same Sex Relationships
Related Articles:
IMAGE: afagen
2 Comments – Post a comment
CeefaxOfLife
Commented 48 months ago - 22nd May 2012 - 15:25pm
We are...
SamuelPatterson
Commented 48 months ago - 22nd May 2012 - 21:10pm
Surely if you think that all people can believe in whatever they want, you have to allow some people to continue their beliefs that LGBT people are 'an abomination'? Otherwise, you're just being hypocritical.
You don't have to be religious to have ridiculous views, you just have to be incredibly confident in your views.
Of course, I don't mean to imply that such views are correct, but you can't allow people to believe in what they want, and then criticise them for it. You can either accept that all people have different views even if they're absurd, or you can try and force people to adopt your views.