GLBTQ Rights

I chose to focus on the topic of GLBTQ rights because it is an issue that has become both increasingly prevalent in my life, and increasingly controversial in our society. It is important to me because my uncle, whom I am very close to, and many of my friends do identify as GLBTQ, and the threat of some basic human and civil rights being taken away from them is one that makes me extremely angry and confused. At the base of these issues, I feel, is the problem of some leaders of our country wanting to combine the values and influences of organized religion with the direction of our nation's government, something I feel to be completely misguided and contradictory to the original purpose of the creation of our country in the first place. With those religious values and influences comes the threat of other freedoms and rights being taken away, including some of mine as a woman; however, I choose to focus on the issue of GLBTQ rights in order to narrow down my focus, and also because the rights they have on the line are, in my eyes, more crucial and retrogressive for our society in the realm of civil rights. Listening to my uncle talk about the fact that his biggest fear is growing old and dying alone, because he may someday be unable to legally marry or adopt a child based solely upon his sexual orientation, is one of the most heartbreaking things to hear. This is just one example of the pain I see these threats causing my loved ones every day. I am never afraid to speak out against any adversity, intolerance, or misunderstandings I come across about these issues. I already focus on them in my day-to-day life, and am passionate about them, so I choose to concentrate on them for this assignment.