Playing college basketball for two years has really made me
more aware of the fact that although someone’s sexual orientation might be
different then mine, they are people and deserve respect. I’m from a small town where no one to my knowledge
was openly homosexual and if they were I can almost be positive they would’ve
been looked at because of their orientation and not the person they are or
their achievements. It’s just how conservative
my community is.
At first it was really different being around openly lesbian
girls, playing on a team with them, and hanging out around them. At first I’ll admit that it was awkward for
me. But I got to know them and realized
that they were there to play basketball just like me. I guess I feel like people that aren’t around
homosexuals or give them a chance have a negative view point and I was the same
way. Just like people that are straight,
homosexuals aren’t attracted to everyone of the gender they prefer, they have
certain things they like in a person just like straight people. It disgusts me when people feel awkward
around homosexuals, but then again I guess I was pretty much the same way at
one point but I’ve come a long way.
I think coming to college and having a couple good friends
that are lesbians (even my roommate), has given me the opportunity to see them
as any other person. And I can’t even
imagine how hard it is for them to deal with the hatred that they receive on a
daily bases for just being true to themselves.
College does open you eyes to a lot of new situations you have never been in. My community is mostly conservative as well. I mentioned on my discussion board post that our softball coach was a lesbian. Although she did not make it known, a player found out and told her parents. The parents sent an email to our athletic director saying that they were afraid her lifestyle would influence their daughter. This disgusted me because they did not know my coach as a person. She was not one to push her lifestyle or even talk about it. She was the most knowledgeable coach I have ever had and the one that has pushed me to be the best I can be. Sometimes people judge people based on sexuality or race and use that as an excuse not to like them or get to know them. I agree with you that it must be extremely hard for them to deal with the hatred.
ReplyDelete-Courtney Cox
I too come from a conservative community where such lifestyles as being openly gay would not be to highly thought of. I come from a large family which is have all stayed very close. One of my family members is gay and when he officially came out and told his brothers and sisters (my uncles and aunts) and his parents (my grandparents) there was a lot of backlash. One of my uncles is ultra-conservative and for a period of about two years or so he and his family would not attend any family functions at all. Later they began showing up again but would go out of his way to rudely not include my uncle and his partner. As I got older I gained more knowledge of the situation and I found it very unsettling that my uncle would be treated so differently within his own family.
ReplyDeleteMoving on into playing sports in High School I had a few teammates that were gay, but as we discussed in class we were all okay with it and treated them the same as anyone else. As Alyssa mentioned they aren’t attracted to everyone of the gender they prefer. I would say growing up being used to knowing people who were gay going into college I was totally fine and accepting of anyone. As both Courtney and Alyssa have said I too can’t imagine the hatred and such that they have to deal with on a daily basis. For as much as our society has grown in acceptance homosexuality is still the biggest secret within our society and sports.
-Tony Fritsch
It's a big step coming from a community where homosexual individuals would be looked at and treated different to college where I feel the fact that someone is homosexual is not important at all. I've never had anyone close to me come out to being gay but I do know an individuals who gets his sexual orientation questioned because of the way he acts in some ways. People have come up to me and expressed their opinion on why this individual is gay but I've known this person since I was in middle school and though he may not act like their sex sometimes doesn't mean that they're gay. Like Alyssa said in the article, "they are people and deserve respect," if people can get their minds around this concept then it will be easier for people to accept homosexual individuals.
ReplyDeleteI think its not just one specific community but the entire the United States that directs some type of hatred toward homosexuals. I feel too that homophobia is a very dumb concept, like Alyssa said most gay people are attracted to a certain type of person, mostly someone who is gay also and unless someone is hanging out at a gay bar or something homosexuals will not try to hit on them. There is a general assumption nowadays that female athletes are homosexual, and while there are some that are this assumption is not fair to the majority that are not homosexual. This idea is very sexist, its just like saying if a boy likes to do ballet then he must be gay. I think it is time that people grow up and drive a wedge between sport and sexuality because it should not matter.
ReplyDelete~Max Householder
I agree with Max. I too feel its not just one community or small community but just our whole society. At a young age we are exposed to the ideal human. What we should look like and what we should act like. So what if someone is different. Who is anyone to tell someone else they are living their life correctly? I feel our whole society is just ignorant when it comes to sexual orientation and it starts with not only older citizens to accept homosexuality but also educate and let the youth know homosexuality isn't a bad thing either.
ReplyDeleteComment by Jared King
I agree with Jared's comment about learning about the ideal human and how relationships are supposed to be at a young age. We are taught a certain thing and the social norm can be seen from a very young age. I haven't been exposed to openly gays or lesbians until college also, but it is the way society is starting to change that it is accepted more now then ever before. I also agree that people are ignorant when it comes to a person's sexual orientation. As the younger children in this day in age grows up, they will be exposed more to homosexuality and it will hopefully fade out as a "problem" in
ReplyDeletetoday's society.
Mike Harrington
I think that this post has generated a lot of good discussion and I agree with a lot of it. As Alyssa stated, I can't imagine the hatred that gays and lesbians have to go through just for being themselves. It's not like one day they just wake up and decide whether they want to be gay or straight. I think they are born this way, it just takes time for them to come out until they feel comfortable. One of my friends in high school came out to me and told me she was a lesbian. At first, I have to admit it was a little awkward, but she told me that just because she liked women, didn't mean she would hit on me. As others stated, she had her own preference of what she liked in a women and was not attracted to every women that she saw. I also agree that college has opened my eyes a little bit more because I see it more often than what I was used too. Homosexual people have feelings just as everyone else, and they deserve to be treated just like anyone else.
ReplyDeleteHeather Cox