The Legalization Of LGBT Rights

The LGBT community has made progress towards gaining more rights in recent years, although it has been an uphill battle. In the past year alone Australia, Malta, and Germany have legalized gay marriage, with the legalization of gay marriage in the U.S. in 2015 also being a resounding success. In addition, LGBT rights have also become a greater discussion topic in households, radio shows, and broadcasts around the world. In spite of this progress, LGBT individuals and their allies still struggle for the basic human rights they deserve.

Discrimination feels like a relic of the past--something Americans struggled against and that the United States outlawed in the 1960s. But this was not the case for LGBT individuals. Today, in America, land of

This is due to the influence of media, society, and stereotypes. Gay men are seen as effeminate, lesbians are fetishized, bisexuals are viewed as confused, and trans and non-binary individuals simply do not exist. When there is a gay character on television, they are most likely murdered, and this has become so common that there’s even a name for this TV trope: “bury your gays.” The word “gay” has been used to insult someone so often that it is now synonymous with “effeminate,” “weak,” “disgusting,” and so on. Although some people say that these modest instances of homophobia have no effect, and that those who mention these issues are simply nitpicking or complaining, this is not the case. When an individual is taught that they are not right, that something is inherently wrong with them, a term called “internalized homophobia” comes into play. LGBT individuals start to believe what they see, read, or hear about themselves in the media, and this can lead to extremely serious consequences. Revel & Riot’s article on internalized homophobia puts it thus: “Internalized homophobia can prevent us from leading fulfilling lives. It can keep us in a place of perpetual shame, stress and anxiety. It can keep us from having close relationships with people, or ruin the relationships we do have. It can lead us down a path of bitterness, anger, and loneliness. It can prevent us from coming out of the closet and allowing ourselves the opportunity to be seen and loved for who we are. It can prevent us from ever experiencing love with another person. It can contribute to long-term illness, mental health problems, substance abuse and self-harm.” Does this sound like a type of life anyone should be living: one filled with self-hatred and loneliness? Moreover, this quote shows that the view that society has of an individual can directly