History repeats itself and, unfortunately, so do our mistakes.
Fifty years ago, people were being bullied, called ugly names, and harassed for something that they couldn’t change: the color of their skin. There were court cases and rallies, tragedies and victories.
But it’s not the 1960s anymore. It’s the 21st century and, although we’d like to think that our society has risen above that sort of craziness, it’s happening again. This time it’s not about race; it’s about sexual orientation.
Just look at the fights to end slavery, gain women’s suffrage, and achieve civil rights,” senior Samantha Rood said. “Gay rights are the next big issue in society.”
I’ll give Americans some credit here for the progress we’ve made so far on this issue. Over the past few years, America as a whole has become more accepting of alternative lifestyles.
“It’s much more open,” social studies teacher Mr. Matthew Cooper said, “open as a discussion and open in the idea of accepting it.”
While I acknowledge that our society’s stance on marriage equality has come a long way, we’ve still got a long way to go. The first thing that has to change is the way we talk about people.
“I still hear the same kind of derogatory statements made,” social studies teacher Mrs. Katie Quartuch said. “That is still very prevalent, especially here at Southern Lehigh.”
As a high school student, you may feel like you can’t make a difference on this issue. Well, I have news for you: you can. Start by standing up to derogatory comments against the LGBT population.
Participate in Day of Silence. “Like” and follow advocacy groups on social media. Support a friend who’s struggling with sexual orientation. There are a million little things you can do to make a difference. Actions like these may seem small, but they show that pro-equality is on the rise.
History often repeats itself, but it doesn’t have to. This doesn’t have to go the same way the Civil Rights movement did. We have the power to change it. And we will.
