The medias effect on homosexuality

The medias effect on homosexuality

By Jayshawn Pickett

The media portrays homosexuality as being totally wrong, and being the worst thing possible. People tend to judge homosexual individuals just because of their beliefs and what they consider to be morally right or wrong. This day and age you tend to see people being tortured and beaten just because they love someone of the same gender. Judging and individual because of whom they love is wrong and makes you look bad as a person, we all should be treated equally. Discriminating on someone’s sexual orientation should be frowned upon everywhere because it is very similar to racism and sexism. Our country isn’t as harsh towards homosexuality as countries such as Uganda and South Africa. There have been many videos released with homosexuals being burned to death and being shot at point blank range in other countries. Here in America homosexuals are often ridiculed and criticized which is not as harsh as other places. I still wish they were treated as heterosexuals but I realize that everyone has different opinions.

We are slowly accepting homosexuality as a whole. Some states have legalized same sex marriage and several celebrities and professional athletes have also came out about their sexuality. Over the years many more people have “came out of the closet” and have publicly displayed their sexualities. “There is a large generation gap on the issue [of same-sex marriage],” Smith said. While 64 percent of those under 30 back same-sex marriage, only 27 percent of those 70 and older support it” [1]. Homosexuality is viewed differently by older people because they tend to associate it with being a sin. Even though all sins are equal in the eyes of god, they see it as one of the worst sins known to man. Back in their day no one was really publicly open about being gay but times are changing.

Other countries are terribly cruel and do inhumane things to them. They don’t see them as individuals but as something less than dirt. “Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases” [1]. In Africa, being gay is punishable by law and you could even be hung for it. If law officials suspect you are a homosexual they have the right to arrest you or kill you on sight.

[1] "​Americans Move Dramatically Toward Acceptance of Homosexuality." NORC at the University of Chicago. http://www.norc.org/NewsEventsPublications/PressReleases/Pages/american-acceptance-of-homosexuality-gss-report.aspx (accessed January 31, 2014).

[2] aruhanga, Catherine. "Ugandan MPs pass life in jail anti-homosexual law." BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25463942 (accessed January 31, 2014).