Conversion Kills

 

If you were to ask any gay individual about their “coming out” experience, it would most likely be a lengthy story riddled with mixed emotions including doubt, fear, reluctance, shame, confusion, and even anxiety. Yet, at some point in their life, they made the conscious decision to present their true colors to the world, trusting in the fact that their friends and family would continue to love them, accept them, and appreciate them for exactly who they are. Sadly, this is not always the case. While some families are accepting, others are not. Often time’s parents may get angry and choose not to speak to their child, and in extreme cases some parents even disown or send their children to gay conversion camps.  The brutality of these camps has long been kept under wraps. The story of Raymond Buys, for example, is just one of many that depict the atrociousness of these camps. The horrifying torture, cruelty, and treatment these people face while forcibly attending these camps projects a global message of un-acceptance, ignorance, intolerance, and hatred.  This message is the wrong message! Being born a certain way is not a sin, it’s not wrong, and definitely not a crime! Nobody can be forced to change who they are by any means. In short, anyone who’s Gay, should be proud to have been born that way!

Every Man For Himself

 

        “Don’t Talk To Strangers!”  A common phrase that every parent wants their child to remember with the hopes of ensuring his or her safety. However, in today’s society the term “stranger” has been modified and directed more so towards adult males. In the longstanding fight for gender equality, women were once considered to be inferior to men, being unable to vote or obtain industrial jobs. Now, the tables are turning, and the modern man is facing a new type of discrimination. Pedophilia! Whether it be sitting next to a minor on board a flight, or taking a few scenic photographs at the beach, society has created such a negative stereotype of men in general, that even the most ordinary of actions are perceived as intimidating, and even posing a potential threat. Let’s look at the facts; statistics show that the vast majority of sexual offences involving a male perpetrator were done by a relative to the victim as opposed to a total stranger. By allowing this kind of discrimination, frame of mind, and injustice, as a society we are at risk of alienating the male gender by categorizing men into such negative stereotypes including pedophilia, terrorism, theft, and many others.

-AS

The Human Race

 

    

The world, as we know it, has made many drastic changes as it has evolved and grown over the last few hundred years.  Women’s rights have progressed tremendously, marital freedoms have advanced, and religious tolerance has expanded. It’s true that the human race has come a long way in terms of its ideas of acceptance, but let’s not be fooled into thinking that the evolution of acceptance is anywhere near its end. 

     The year is 2013, and the concepts of racial diversity, religious diversity, and cultural diversity are not new to the world. However, it seems that intolerance, disrespect, and ignorance are still a big issue. Why? Every day, news is reported and stories are spread about racism in the workplace, or children being bullied at school because of their ethnic or religious backgrounds. Even verbal abuse and threats in public are still a common occurrence. THIS HAS GOT TO END!

     I have attached the following video with the hopes of spreading an understanding about where racism comes from and how it started. However, what I’m more interested in is where does it end, and why hasn’t it already?

                                       

-AS