Importance of LGBTQ+ Education Essay Sample

Can people justify belittling or shaming someone just for who they loved?  LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy has always been a topic that’s up for debate in society. Because of the great amount of people opposing homosexuality, legislature has been passed in an effort to reduce their rights and limit dicussion of sexual orientation in an elementary school setting, which is in no way acceptable. It is important to educate people of all ages, elementary to high school, about this topic because it encourages diversity, helps people feel accepted, and prevents future violent acts.

The education of the topic of LGBTQ+ is important for all ages because it encourages diversity. When people are educated about the different sexualities in the world, it helps them to discover their own and it helps spread awareness throughout the world. In a recent article opposing the Florida “Don’t say gay” bill,  it says “This is an issue of equality. This isn't taking anything away. This is creating a world where we can all be our beautiful, unique selves.” (Florida's LGBTQ law is 'intentionally vague,' says group challenging it.) This quote shows how knowledge of identity can help people live to their fullest potential and be true to who they are. The use of the phrase “unique selves'' especially displays diversity and how everyone should be themselves and resist social norms.  In my experience, I have also witnessed this situation happening in real life. My stepmom works at an elementary school where some kids have come out as gay and confessed their feelings to other children. All the kids know that this is normal since they have been taught about homosexuality and how they can discover themselves. Overall, this encourages diversity because knowledge of sexuality helps people find themselves and normalizes the variety of people present in our society.

Teaching people of all ages about homosexuality is important because it helps people feel accepted. When education is provided about sexual orientation, it validates people and lets them know that they are normal and have no reason to be ashamed. An educational article about LGBTQ+ bills states that “‘None of us should have to feel persecuted by our own government. None of us should have to feel like political refugees in our own country,’Rey said in an interview. ‘That's literally what I feel like. I moved my whole family because of politics.’” (GOP lawmakers push historic wave of bills) This demonstrates how restricted speech leads people to feel uncomfortable, and certainly not accepted. If the people were more educated and allowed to speak freely, it would eliminate discrimination and promote acceptance.  In another source that shows how free speech can promote safety and acceptance, it says “To have schools that are safe so that young people can grow up and self-actualize. So that they are not experiencing stigma and feeling bad about who they are. Because there's nothing wrong with LGBTQ people. We are kind and smart, and we contribute to society, you know?” (Florida's LGBTQ law is 'intentionally vague,' says group challenging it.) This reveals how proper education regarding gay rights is crucial because it provides a safe space and teaches that they are important and loved. When they know this it allows them to feel accepted which every person deserves to feel.  

People of all ages need to learn about the topic of LGBTQ+ is important because it prevents future violent acts. As previously stated, being uneducated causes discrimination. Discrimination can slowly increase and get worse until it becomes violent. In The Laramie Project, it says “they did do violence to Matthew-- …but you know, every time that you are called a f**, or you are called a you know, a lez or whatever…d***. Do you realize that is violence? That is the seed of violence.” (Kaufman 515) By referring to discrimination as “the seed of violence”, the author uses a metaphor to show how discrimination grows into something much larger. It shows how it grows gradually and a seed may be planted without someone even knowing it. I have also observed that people who aren’t educated on types of sexualities usually single out these people that they don’t understand.  As previously proved, this judgment can accelerate into brutality and go unnoticed until it is much too late. Therefore, if people start at the root by enforcing education, people will understand homosexuality more and it won’t grow into violence.

In conclusion, the education of all ages about LGBTQ+ topics is extremely important because it expands the variety of people, creates a safe environment, and discourages cruelty towards homosexuals. A variety of people benefit from knowledge because they can discover themselves and feel comfortable in their surroundings. It also stops violence by starting from the source of the violence and preventing it from the beginning. Some people may say that it is not necessary for schools to be teaching children about homosexuality because the parents should be able to make that decision for themselves. An example of this is Family Life Education (FLE), because parents are able to opt their children out so that they can teach them themselves when they feel the time is right. However, parents should not get the option to have children be hidden from the types of people in society because it is necessary to understand what is going on in the world around you. We are striving for a world where everybody can feel confident in who they are, and there is nothing anybody can do to stop it.