Help stand up.

Many people are homophobic because they don't understand what LGBTQPA really is, and because they don't understand how people can have sexual feeling to those of the same gender, so they try to isolate them instead of talking to them.

So next time you hear someone saying mean things about homosexuals, even if it's only as a joke, talk to them. Find out why they are talking like that, and help them understand what LGBTQPA really is.

Together we can make a difference. It may be Qliché, but it's true.

Good luck, People :)



-EL

 

Charities that stand up.

If you want to learn more about LGBTQPA, or are yourself and want someone to talk to, you can check out some of the following charities (i've included their mission statements, so you can find out a little bit about them).

http://www.iglyo.com/about/- "Run by young people, for young people, IGLYO is an international membership-based umbrella organisation that aims to empower and enable its Members to ensure representation of LGBTQ youth and student issues. IGLYO’s approach promotes cooperation and joint strategies, and often advocates on behalf of Members to international bodies, institutions and other organisations."

http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home/index.html- "The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is a leading international organization dedicated to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression."

http://www.communityone.ca/- "The Community One Foundation creates a strong, vibrant and diverse community by supporting individuals and groups that enhance the development of the LGBTTIQQ2S communities in the Greater Toronto Area including Durham, Halton, Peel and York Regions."

-EL

Homophobia* on a global scale.

(*Homophobia is a fear of homosexual people.)

Now that the definitions are out of the way, on to what this blog is actually meant to be about.
How the issue of LGBTQPA rights are constantly being violated on a global scale.

Around 10% of the world's population is made up of people who are not heterosexual. This does not, by any means, mean that 10% of the world's population is not "human", as many people would have us believe.

According to http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_suic.htm, 1,488 suicides are commited each year by homosexual youth

LGBTQPA people are being ostrasized just because they don't like the same things that other people like. Some homosexual youths live in constant fear for themselves, not only at school around their peers and teachers, but even at home, where they are scared of their own parents. There have been cases of children being killed by their own parents, just because the parents are disgusted by the idea of homosexuality, and won't accept it in their own children, who they are meant to love their whole life. Sad but true.

No matter where in the world it is, be it in the US, or in Africa, homosexualism is seen as a sin by many of the population, some of whom take it upon themselves to "punish" those who are "sinning" against their god. (Many different religions, so i may be biased when i say this, because i only really know the christian faith. If anyone wants to help me with other religions and their beliefs, just let me know in the comments, thanks.)

The Independant (a british newspaper) published an article on January 31, 2013, about the different ways different countries deal with sexual orientation. 75 countries will imprison you if you are found to be homosexual while only 53 countries have anti-descrimination laws that apply to sexual orientation, and only 26 countries will recognise same-sex union.

In britain, same-sex couples are now allowed to adopt children, have an equal age of consent as that of heterosexual people, a law to protect them from discrimination, and are now even allowed to "tie the knot" (AKA get married).

If you are interested in reading more into this, go to http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/more-than-70-countries-make-being-gay-a-crime-2040850.html.

The pink list was created by IoS, and is a list of LGBTQPA people who others think are influential. The list is then run past a panel of judges. The Pink List was created to "suprise, amuse, challenge, and inspire [people]".(the Independant)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-ios-pink-list-2012-8216187.html

-EL

Information on LGBTQPA

Welcome to LGBTQPA. If you couldn't guess from the title, this blog was created to give you information on all things LGBTQPA, from global issues on the matter, controversial information, or just clarifying what it is.

First of all, I think that it would make sense to explain what LGBTQPA actually stands for. LGBTQPA is the acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Pansexual, and Asexual.
Now that that is out of the way, i think it's time to clear up what each of these terms stands for, which i will now endeavor to do (even if you already know some, if not all of them. you can always just skip over the definitions >.<)

Lesbian: a homosexual woman (a woman who is sexually attracted to other women)
Gay: a homosexual man (a man who is sexually attracted to other men)
Bisexual: a man or woman who is sexually attracted to both men and women
Transgendered: a person who feels trapped in the wrong gendered body (e.g. a person who feels like they are male but were born in a female body)
Queer: an informal or derogatory way of referring to a homosexual man or woman, more often used instead of "gay"
Pansexual: someone who isn't limited or inhibited in sexual preference in regards to gender or activity. (more attracted to personality than gender)
Asexual: a person who has no sexual attraction to either gender.

Until next time (>.<)
-EL