Dear Editor,
My mom recently asked me to go to a rally to oppose the LGBTQ policy implementation into the education curriculum.
I did, indeed, have an opinion regarding the matter due to the aggressiveness of recent changes. However, for some reason I didn’t want to go.
At first, I thought the reason was because I prefered to stay low-profile and not be involved in public activities. However, after much thought I realized the reason was I am scared because I know it would be social suicide for me.
I fear that, if I were to just show my face in such an event, my picture would be taken and posted everywhere on social media claiming that I’m a homophobe and Donald Trump supporter, or something.
These days, political correctness and activism is on such extreme levels that having an opinion not following the mainstream media results in unjustified backlash and condemnation. I also realized the irony of this matter.
Thirty years ago, if one showed support for the LGBTQ community, they would be condemned.
Now, if one were to suggest a milder approach with LGBTQ integration into our education system, then they are condemned.
Also, I recognize that religion and LGBTQ rights are different. However, LGBTQ rights are a set of beliefs in the freedom of choice between people, and religion is also a freedom of choice in faith people may hold.
While LGBTQ people say that their orientation is part of who they are, religious people also say that their belief makes them who they are.
From this I consider that both LGBTQ rights and religion are a matter of faith, which some people believe and some do not. But both should be respected equally.
So why is it that religion was removed from the education curriculum but now LGBTQ changes are being aggressively implemented in education?
Is that not ironic and possibly hypocritical, since education should be a place void of agendas and subjective values?
After these thoughts, I informed my mom that while people around her age may have similar views, and thus she will not receive unjust backlash for her stated opinions, in my age demographic there are a different set of taboo opinions.
One of them is stating an opinion regarding LGBTQ integration into education contrary to the mainstream.
Run Sheng Zhang
Richmond
