Bshs 406 - Sexuality and Development

Sexuality and Development

Maylene Garland

BSHS/406

April 17, 2016

Lateefah Alleyne

Sexuality and Development

Antonio is a 33 year old African American gay male that lives in Washington State. He was asked how he identifies himself to his family, friends, and society. He was also asked how he felt society perceived him and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community today compares to a decade ago. Finally he was asked how he thinks that same sex marriage has effected the community in which he lives. Over the past ten years society’s views of the LGBT community has changed and grown by allowing same sex marriage to be a reality when it was a dream before. (Antonio Russell, personal communication, April 15, 2016)

Self-Identity

Antonio stated that he is a proud African American gay male. He told me that he always knew that he was gay but that he was afraid to say anything because he was raised to think that it was a sin and that he would not be accepted by his family, friends, and his church. He dated girls growing up but he always felt that it was a lie because he was not really attracted to them in a romantic way but more as a friend. He confided in one close friend after high school that helped him come to terms with his sexuality because they did not judge him. This friend helped him to become the proud gay man that he is today. Over the years he has lost people in his life like his church family and some of his actual family. However, he said that he does not regret coming out and finally being able to be himself. He is so much happier now that he is not living a lie and coming out showed who really cared about him and who did not. He identifies himself as being a proud African American male that has overcome so much in his life. He is also gay but that is only a part of him and people should not judge him for who he is attracted to. Every person is different but we all have feelings and should be treated with respect no matter what our differences are. (Antonio Russell, personal communication, April 15, 2016)

Society’s Perception

Society has come a long way on accepting the LGBT community over the last decade. There are more people today than a decade ago that know multiple people in the LGBT community. According to the interview Antonio believes that this increase has helped society be more open to the LGBT community because it makes it more personal. He says that the LGBT community is still not accepted by most religions and is still considered to be a sin. He was raised in the church but never felt like he belonged because he had homosexual urges that he could not explain. He has tried to go back to church since his coming out when he was 19 but has had a really difficult time finding a church that will accept him knowing that he is gay. While society in general has become more accepting of the LGBT community religion has not changed its mind when it comes to this group of people. According to Antonio there is still a large amount of discrimination towards the LGBT community. This discrimination includes derogatory comments, homosexual names, being subjected to slurs or jokes, and being rejected by family members. Antonio stated that famous people who also belong to the LGBT community have helped raise awareness and acceptance for the community by discussing the topic on television on multiple occasions. Our society believes that if famous people do something than it is normal for the rest of the country to also do it. If the media is accepting the LGBT community than the rest of the country should as well. While society has made a huge step in accepting the LGBT community there is still so much more that needs to be done to support this community. Even today it is really hard for kids to tell their parents that they are part of the LGBT community especially when it comes to telling their fathers. (Antonio Russell, personal communication, April 15, 2016)