Discrimination isn't new to our society, and so are the rights that the LGBTQ community wishes to receive. It wasn't long ago since the LGBTQ community started, and most of the people gave various reactions regarding this matter. It made most of the members feel harmed and stripped off their human rights, while, others were enraged to the point where they started their own protest.
In the Philippines, most adult Filipinos agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society. The country also ranked as one of the most gay-friendly nations in Asia. In a 2013 global survey covering 39 countries, the Philippines ranked as the 10th most gay-friendly country. It is said that the high percentage of acceptance stemmed from the historical role of LGBT people in indigenous religions, in the late 14th century and early 16th century. Despite this, the LGBTQ community still gets discriminated by most heterosexuals in the Philippines.
For instances, most students, public or not, gets bullied by their heterosexual classmates by getting teased a lot and/or are receiving hate speeches that affects their well-being. For those heterosexual students, they find it fun and is seen as a form of entertainment. However, for those students of the third gender that got teased, they find it depressing. Why? Because they start questioning themselves whether being part of the third gender is a sin or a crime. They begin to think of things that might hurt them even more. They begin to hate themselves. Maybe most of them are able to endure it to some extent, but those who have a weak heart might end up breaking more.
Moreover, discrimination happens not only in the four corners of educational institutions, but it happens everywhere in various forms. Heterosexuals are throwing “playful” yet stingy speeches or words to those members of the LGBTQ community. Parents degrading their children because they did not turn out they want them to be. You see, discrimination mostly come from the place where you hope to be accepted. The place where you wish to be just yourself. Discrimination, it mostly starts at home. When you discriminate your own family, playful or not, it instantly creates a mark in their head that will make them think that discriminating is okay as long as you're just being playful. However, this should never be a case of negotiation. Discrimination is discrimination, especially if you talk about how someone is different from the rest.
Will they be able to live in a place that won't promote any form of discrimination? Is that even possible for them? The answer is yes. It is possible, as long as we'll start thinking carefully and practice being sensitive towards the people surrounding us. Being open is good, but what good will it bring if you're using words that can actually hurt them? What good will it bring if you can't accept those people who are different from you? Let's start being mindful of others, not only to the members of the LGBT community, but to everyone. Let's start promoting peace. All it takes is to take one step at a time.