This is the year 2012, and we've come a long way since the older days of slavery, women being treated like objects, and inequality. However, there is one issue that is slow in catching up with the time.

What is this issue, you're asking?

Homosexuality.

We're making progress, but the progress is slow, and, in other countries, people are losing their lives and being treated as if their homosexuality is a disease. Homosexuality is not a disease. It is not a choice. When you tell someone that "Homosexuality is a choice", think about the words you're saying. Is heterosexuality a choice? No. If homosexuality was a choice, why would you think people would choose to be persecuted against? Why would you think that people would choose homosexuality, something that, in a lot of countries, a person can be killed over?

The answer is simple. Homosexuality is not a choice. We're born homosexual. It may not make its way to the surface until early or even later in life, but the fact remains. If a so called "converted" gay man married a woman later in life, he was not converted. His society, friends, and family forced him to marry the opposite gender. There are people who are unhappy because they were forced into marrying the gender they were not attracted to. You can delude yourself, thinking that they're happy because they appear that way on the outside. However, I ask that you look deeper. Look behind their smiles. I guarantee you that you'll find a miserable person behind that fake smile they put on.

There is also another issue to address regarding homosexuality; people that use religion against them. Those who go bible thumping, saying that homosexuality is against God, I ask that you consider this. The bible was written thousands of years ago. If we still followed it, we would have never advanced into the society that we are today. Also, consider another point. Didn't God make everyone the way He wanted to? That means that He wanted us to be homosexual, bisexual, transgender, asexual, pansexual. If you say homosexuality is against God, why would He make us this way?

Also, in that same bible, doesn't it mention to not kill your fellow humans? However, people go around committing hate crimes against homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals, asexuals, and pansexuals, and some of those crimes result in death of fellow humans. Those in the LGBTQ community have done nothing to deserve the hate that people put towards us. All we have done is try to live our lives the way that heterosexuals do. We want the same rights that heterosexuals do.

We're not aliens. We're humans, just like the rest of you. Why are we denied the rights that humans are? Is who we are hurting you any? Why does it matter so much that a person doesn't fit in the "norm" of society? This world is painted of many diverse colors. Not everyone is going to fit into the "normal" of society.

As a proud lesbian, I couldn't care less if someone doesn't agree with my sexual orientation. You want to say something about it, here's my middle finger, talk to it. You don't like that I'd rather a woman, here's my hand, bitch at it. You don't like the way I live my life, here's double, fuck off.

Those who are treated differently because you're in the LGBTQ community—don't give up.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel.  Take it from me. I was a closeted lesbian until I was sixteen years old, and after three years of coming out, I'm accepted for who

I am by everyone around me. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I'm like you. I've been there and done that.

From a quote that I read, "I was born gay, but it's my choice to be proud." Please don't feel ashamed for who you are. You were, as Lady Gaga would put it, born this way. Don't change for anyone. You're all beautiful, inside and out, and don't you dare let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Homosexuality is not a sin. Homosexuality is not a choice.

Homosexuality is natural. Homosexuality is NORMAL.

Don't let anyone ever take away your shine.

~ KaixChan