Switched-On :: Blog

June is LGBT Pride Month, and I wonder who can truly say that they knew that? I mean, aside from attending a Pride parade because you can, whatever your sexuality, it seems that having Pride and showing pride are entirely disconnected. Such a shame, right? Like for any month where you show pride for what you are, it is a shame that some think that it should be confined to a month; but to not use such recognition on a national scale is even more so. The issues aren’t under the radar, everyone else is just looking over the rainbow. I’m not saying sashay with a rainbow flag because you think you should, I say do it because you know what it stands for. My hometown Pride Parade will be held on June 26 this year. I’m pretty sure open minds are on the list of items allowed. Don’t be a drag, or a queen, just be who you are, and let everyone else have the same. Though just because this is LGBT Pride Month, don’t feel pressured about issues like coming out, or same-sex marriage. This month is about support, unity, not alienation. Though, who wants to join an alien nation? Learn a bit this month about the LGBT community and I’m sure you will.
- Eric

The first Rainbow Flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, who created the flag in response to a local activist’s call for the need of a community symbol. (This was before the pink triangle was popularly used as a symbol of pride.) The design may have been influenced by flags with multicolored stripes used by various left-wing causes and organizations in the San Francisco area in the 1960s. The Rainbow Flag originally had eight stripes (from top to bottom):
• hot pink for sex,
• red for life,
• orange for healing,
• yellow for sun,
• green for serenity with nature,
• turquoise for art,
• indigo for harmony, and
• violet for spirit.

- Trianna

This year has seen a rapid rise in exposure for bullying of homosexual teenagers. Numerous cases have been brought to mainstream attention of kids in middle school, high school, even in college, culminating with perhaps the most high profile case of the Rutgers freshman who committed suicide after a campaign of abuse perpetrated by his roommate, including secretly broadcasting him and another boy by webcam. This has led to a response from a primarily Hollywood-centric group based around a video series called “It Gets Better.” And I would like to say that that’s complete bull that the idea being given for comfort is essentially “it may be awful now, but later you can disengage with that element of society entirely.” I want to sound a call for an effort to fundamentally change every aspect of society, to create an expectation of not only not participating, but of actively promoting tolerance and respect. By saying “it gets better” we are in effect saying “we can’t change it.” Let’s not be so passive. Let us grow in grace and tolerance.
- Chad

As I meet more people who are involved in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual/transgender, queer/questioning) activities, it made me wonder about the parents mentality toward their children’s sexuality. Most of the people I’ve met seem to have struggled to some extent to tell their parents about their sexuality. Acceptance or not, the process to revealing the possibly ‘undesirable’ truth is often the hardest part. It’s great if the parents end up being accepting about your choice — but what if they aren’t? Then comes the quarrels and expressions of disappointment. Personally, I find it hard to even tell my parents if I’m not doing so well in a class so when announcing something that is even less socially accepted I can only imagine how hard it may be. Most parents seem to have high expectations for their children in terms of behavior and obedience — which I think makes it extremely difficult for communication sometimes. However, communication is necessary; you can’t hide the truth for life (I mean, you could try, but you’d likely to be unhappy) and as time passes, the acceptance of the LGBTQ community will undoubtedly be easier in my opinion as more and more people are becoming open about their sexuality.
- Vivian