Obviously discrimination is very prevalent in todays society. But, I didn’t expect someone in my social work class to say what she said. I was taken back slightly. She said “Gay people cannot be discriminated against because they can hide their identity when Black people can’t.” I was kinda confused and at the moment it seemed like it could make sense. When I thought about it again it made less and less sense.
I know that looking straight is a privilege (that I have) but that doesn’t mean I have never been discriminated against or targeted. A few years back at UMBC there was this guy at late night. One of my friends (at the time) was somewhat friends with him when he came to our table and gave us a Christian talk. He went on and on about how religion has impacted his life and asked us questions. Then it got to the gay part of the conversation. He asked “has any of you ever experienced homophobia in your life?” my girlfriend said “yeah, this is my girlfriend” and you could see he panicked slightly. Then he started raising his voice and saying how we will be going to hell and that we are a disgrace and many other things that were really harmful. After looking into this guy, he pulled this with MANY other people on campus and had the campus police called on him several times.
Although we did not have to tell this guy that we were in a relationship, it was obvious since we were holding hands the whole time and our “friend” was standing next to him and she knew about us. Gay people are discredited and pushed into the closet time and time again, socially or legally like the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell bill did to LGBTQ+ people in the military.
Unruly Bodies 
I don’t understand what it feels like to be discriminated against based on my sexuality. However, as a black woman in America I do know how it feels to face discrimination and prejudice. I want to say first of all that sucks what happens to you. As a religious person myself I do not understand how you can take it upon yourself to judge and hurt other people so easily. I hope that he doesn’t get the chance to do that to anyone else ever again. Thank you for sharing your experiences!!
Hey, thank you for sharing this. Yeah, I am not sure what that girl in your social work class was trying to imply there. Is she trying to say that people should just hide their sexual orientation if they are not heterosexual and just live their life in the closet? Also, I am an openly gay male I have definitely experienced homophobia and discrimination. I am so sorry you had to experience that and I agree with the last part you said. It is situations like you mentioned in your post that makes people so afraid to come out the closet about their sexuality and not live their true selves. It is so sad.
Hopefully your peer in the social work class got some education and no longer believes that… Your minority status doesn’t need to be visible for it to be a subject of discrimination, just ask Jewish people / mentally disabled people / poor people / etc. I also wonder what that Christian kid was trying to get at when he asked if you had ever experienced homophobia, when he assumed he was talking to a bunch of straight people. Also, what a decision to talk religion at late night of all situations??
Hello,
I really enjoyed reading your post. It was insightful to see people’s action and their reaction to what you said via your perspective. If one thing can be taken away from your reflection, it’s to never judge someone based on how they look. You should be able to live your life the way you want respectfully. Which is why The Don’t ask Don’t tell bill is disgraceful.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am a gay female but only some of my close friends know. I’ve always been scared to tell my family that I don’t like guys and I’m also afraid to face the discrimination against gay people. But thankfully my friends are supportive and didn’t drop me because I’m gay.