Editor: I am a closeted gay 15-year-old male living in Surrey, and I am not surprised that many parents showed up to object this anti-discrimination curriculum. Hate is present throughout Canadian society, and it can indeed affect lives. If given a chance, every individual can contribute to Canadian society.
How can LGBTQ people contribute to the well-being of 91原创, if they are not even given a chance to be included? How is dividing Canadian society on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression going to better our country?
It鈥檚 time for society to show that these parents are wrong and freely engage with them, to show them how the fear of the LGBTQ community is no different from fearing any other group of people for irrational reasons.
Many people think that children are confused and that LGBTQ acceptance is a form of propaganda. Well, I never choose to be gay, I never choose to feel like an outcast. Would any human being in their right mind choose to be homosexual or transgender? I am not a confused teenager or one who is struggling with my identity.
Since I was 11 years old, I began to go through a biological change that every child will go through 鈥� puberty. I began to experience the desires many teens have. My sexual feelings were not malleable, regardless of how hard I tried to change them.
It took me four years to realize I was gay, but my body and subconscious thoughts knew that I was gay all along. I鈥檝e never told anyone about my sexuality, and I do not think I will ever tell anyone. But I applaud the new curriculum鈥檚 attempts to make schools a safer place for LGBTQ people.
Sexual and gender expression is a very important part of anyone鈥檚 life, and our entire society is built around our sexual feelings in many aspects. Everyone should have a chance to express such an important part of life.
Accepting LGBTQ people in schools and society is only the extension of dignity and discrimination protections to a marginalized group of people. I am done sitting back and watching this very recent rise, in labeling of the LGBTQ community as propaganda, continue to rise. I鈥檝e seen it rise drastically online, and I sure will not let it influence my community. If meetings on such things ever occur in Surrey, I will make sure to attend, and regardless of my openness about my sexuality, I will be ready to represent my community and fight for its protections.
I鈥檝e become much more vocal about my sexuality in recent months, and I only just realized how important it is to be vocal.
We are all humans, and it is better for every Canadian if every single Canadian is given a chance to be free, to be accepted, and to contribute to the well-being of our society.
Canada is a haven in the world, and those that live here are very fortunate to do so. Canada prides itself on being open and accepting. Accepting LGBTQ people, is just one step forward to true equality and a truly safe society. Yes, the world isn鈥檛 a place of safety and prosperity for all, but it won鈥檛 hurt anyone to make that vision closer to reality in Canada.
For love is love is love is love. For does love mend our hardships, for does love bring our society closer, for only does love, complete our lives. Canada can only truly become a cohesive society once we embrace our differences, and create a broader view of 鈥渨e.鈥�
The people that encompass the Canadian identity come from all walks of life, with many different skin colours, eye colours, sexual orientations, beliefs, and livelihoods.
If we truly put so much faith in individualism here in the West, it is time for us to judge individuals, rather than the collectives to which they belong. No human being deserves to be judged on something over which they have no control, and definitely no Canadian.
R.S.,
Surrey
Editor鈥檚 note: It is Times policy to include the names of all those who submit a letter to the editor, unless doing so could potentially cause harm to come to the writer. In this case, we feel that is a distinct possibility and have honoured the writer鈥檚 request to be identified by only his initials..
