SOME PEOPLE ARE GAY. GET OVER IT.

(This is an article I recently wrote for my school magazine, but I quite like it, so here ya go...)

This slogan was originally launched in November 2007 by Dr. Who and Torchwood star John Barrowman, as part of a campaign to tackle homophobic bullying in schools.  Transport for London has been showing their support by putting up hundreds of new posters carrying this slogan on their double-decker buses. 

But although it may seem like homophobia is not that big of an issue in our society anymore (it still is of course, but there has been a lot of progress), most of us have a habit of turning a blind eye towards what might be happening on the other side of the world. Let’s take a look at an example.

In 2011, Lin Yan attended the Chuanwei Psychological Counselling Centre in Shenzhen and spent $1700 on three months of so-called “conversion therapy.”

The details aren't really the happy-unicorns-and-rainbows type, but an in-depth article can be found in a copy of The Economist (March 15^th-21^st) if you're interested. Part of Mr. Yan’s treatment included electric shocks, and he suffered from anxiety, insomnia, weight and hair loss as a result of the ‘treatment’. And what was all of this even for? Since 2001, China has classified homosexuality as a mental disorder, and Mr. Yan endured three months of “mental torture” simply because he was afraid of not being accepted.

Fortunately, Mr. Yan decided to stop his “therapy” and accept his sexuality. He came out to his parents and even though it has taken his mother many months to come to terms with it, she has eventually accepted his sexuality and even joked that if he brings a boyfriend home, he should at least be rich and handsome!

However, not everyone has a story similar to that of Mr. Yan’s. Millions of people continue to live in places that outlaw same-sex relationships and prosecute people for being gay. In five countries and in parts of two others, homosexuality is still punishable with the death penalty, while a further 70 imprison citizens because of their sexual orientation. 

Nevertheless, change is on its way. Almost 500 gay pride events took place in 2012. People all over the world are continuing to voice their opinions, and an increasing number of countries are gradually legalising gay marriage. England have recently legalised gay marriage, and the first same-sex wedding took place a few minutes after midnight on the 29th of March. In fact, British scientists have been investigating the use of stem cells that could potentially allow same sex couples to have children.

Because after all, falling in love is not a conscious decision. Love is not a crime, nor is it limited by the boundaries of gender, sex, religion or prejudice.

For more information, visit www.lgbt.co.uk or www.interpride.org

If you are a young person struggling with sexuality, please visit one of the following sites:

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk

www.thetrevorproject.org

www.childline.org.uk

-Priya

P.S. Stephen Fry produced an awesome documentary about this issue - it’s called “Out There” and you can watch it on YouTube.