It not only
amazes me how closed minded we are as a society, but it amazes me that there is
so much ignorance within a community that is so unbelievably small. It is
estimated that one in ten of all individuals belongs to the LGBTTQQIA community.
It is because of ignorance that our community separates into groups because
that ignorance turns into hate. Our community to too small to survive that kind
of division.
Last week I
attended the third reading of the Pride Coalition in front of the Student
Senate here at UCF. The reading was a motion to make LGTBQ Services and agency
instead of an office. It asked for more funding so that the office can reach
more students and touch more lives. It asked for money to allow people to make
a living from helping people in our community.
One might
think that if you are a member of a communal family you stand by those who you
love and share experiences with. You would think that you wouldn’t turn your
back on the people who stand with you and struggle just as must in the fight
for equality. I can say without hesitance that I am truly hurt by what I
witnessed at this reading.—betrayal.
One member
of the senate, a member of the LGBTTQQIA community turned his back on his
family when he read his pre-prepared speech saying there was no need for the
office to be turned into an agency. He said there was no need for funding to
allow the office (now agency) to reach more people and save more lives. He said
we are no more of a minority than any other race or disability and that we deserve
no other special treatment.
Betrayal is
something I experienced that night. I didn’t know it was that easy to turn your
back on your family, your friends and your community. However, in spite of his
efforts it was voted through 26 to 14. Despite the ignorance in that room,
people were able to look past what he said and make the correct decision.
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