Introducing LGBTQ+ Struggles
Finding out who you are is an extraordinary journey, and the journey is never easy. It can be a very emotional ride. Some are harder than others, but LGBTQ+ youth might have it very hard. Finding what fits you and experimenting with pronouns and names can be hard, but finding people that support you can be even harder.
When growing up in the LGBTQ+ community, you have higher rates of suicide, the experience of homelessness, and the use of illegal drugs. This is all due to the stigma in society towards queer people.
Brooklyn Owen
In 2018 Brooklyn Owen, formerly known as Seth Owen, was a valedictorian. She was a top student, captain of the swim team, and had a 4.61 GPA. Brooklyn was on her way to her dream college when she found out that the college required a contribution from her parents. The problem was that her parents had kicked her out because they found out that she was gay. Brooklyn’s parents were very conservative and were a part of a baptist church. Brooklyn’s dad found out she was gay and outed her to her mom. They told Brooklyn that it wasn’t acceptable that she was gay.
Her teachers realized that her situation was getting worse, so they decided to make a GoFundMe page for Brooklyn. The goal was $20,000, but they exceeded the goal and raised $50,000! Brooklyn said she is very grateful to her peers and teachers for the support. She says it felt like unconditional love according to her interview on insider.com.
Jordan Steffy
In November 2019, Jordan Steffy finally decided to stand up to his bully. Jordan came out in middle school and started getting bullied because he is gay. His bully stayed with him up until high school. One day he had enough and decided to stand up to his bully. The bully called him a homophobic slur as he confronted him. Jordan responded by punching and hitting his bully.
Jordan stated that he just got sick of it. A classmate recorded it and posted it on Twitter where it got over 3 million views. Jordan says he would take it back if he could, but he is glad he stood up for himself. I don’t think Jordan was ever bullied again after that.
Addressing the Problem
Many queer teens have similar stories to these two students. Being themselves and loving who they love gets them bullied or abused by a parent or close relative. It can get you kicked out of certain programs. It’s sad how often someone a part of the LGBTQ+ community can tell stories about how they got harassed in middle school or got called slurs by their parents, or weren’t allowed to play for a team just because of who they were.
Some kids feel school is not a safe place for them to go. This is because of the bullying or harassment they have to withstand. There are designated safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community because of the ongoing stigma towards them. There are even gay bars. But even then, some straight people invade the bars. There is little way around getting harassed when you’re a queer person.
It is heartbreaking to see people that are just being themselves get bullied or harassed or, in some cases, murdered. It happens if you come out to someone, it happens if you don’t dress to a certain standard, it happens if you’re with your friends or significant other. It’s really sad, but it gets frustrating and annoying after a while. What makes it super frustrating is when straight people will say that none of those things happen, and we just want the attention. Or when straight women go to lesbian bars because it simply isn’t for them, there are safe spaces for us for a reason. Straight people can go out in public with their friends without getting barked at or getting slurs yelled at them whereas, a queer person or friend group will go out to a carnival and have people call them slurs, bark at them, almost or do get into a fistfight.
Some scary things can happen for simply loving who you love or being who you are. All you can do is be careful and do your best to stay safe.
