The Battle Against Homophobia

I never thought that I would see the day that people would be judged, threatened and prosecuted because of a life choice that makes them happy.

But here we are, and it's happening to me...kind of.

The REALLY fucked up part is that it's not happening to me directly, but because I'm showing support for a venture of pride and happiness.

Let me explain...

About a month ago the frat house that I live in was "pranked" by another frat. Their prank idea? To hang a rainbow-colored flag, commonly accepted as a symbol of homosexuality, from our flag pole.

At first I was upset...but then I thought about it. Why was that insulting? When did it become so commonplace to make homosexuality such a negative thing?

For the record, I'm not gay, nor have I ever have been. However, I'll openly admit that I support gay rights...I mean, why shouldn't I? Gay people have EVERY right to be as happy as heterosexuals, and every right to be proud about what makes them happy.

Why is it that people should be insulted for harmless personal lifestyle choices?

After coming to this realization, my roommates and I decided to keep the flag up, to show that we're better people than those who hung it and to make it known that we support gay rights, despite our heterosexuality.

Recently, our household has felt backlash because of the flag.

This past Saturday, at roughly 5 in the afternoon, a group of guys that none of us knew egged the back of our house. When we confronted them as to why they did it and their response was "because you're a bunch of faggots!" They then proceeded to try and fight us, but cooler heads prevailed

That's right. A group of completely random people vandalized our house, all because of a rainbow flag that was hanging in the front and their immense homophobia.

Earlier tonight one of my fraternity's alumni drove past the house, stopped, and stormed up to my window to have a chat. He stated that the flag "offended him" and that it should be taken down. There was no complaint about the Dallas Stars and Saskatchewan flags in my window....why the vendetta against the rainbow flag? Out of respect to his wishes I took it down, but it has recently been raised again, this time in my roommate's window that once again faces the busy street in front of our house.

And that's where we intend to keep it, with the exception of putting it back outside again. This flag controversy has become one that could become very dramatic in the near future, but we feel that such a controversy is almost necessary.

In the short time we've had the flag there has been a strong wave of homophobia and heterosexism directed towards us. Such blind hatred, such bitter judgment, all because of a personal lifestyle choice.

I can't even BEGIN to imagine how much hatred and discrimination homosexual people have to face in their day-to-day lives. The fact that gay people have to face such challenges only to express their true selves and do what makes them happy is a truly despicable thought.

And so, as such, I've thrown my hat into the ring of a battle that isn't really mine to fight. But I've always been a firm believer that people should be given FULL respect and encouragement to do whatever it is that makes them happy (as long as it doesn't harm others, of course), regardless of what makes you happy. Whether it's homosexuality, dressing like a Mime, log-rolling, or anything else, I believe that if it makes you truly happy, then it should be celebrated. and most definitely not prosecuted.

Apparently such a notion is lost on my fellow Calgary citizens and, I'm sure, people from other cities in other countries (homosexuality is a sin punishable by death under Sharia Law). So I'm going to stand my ground and fight for what I believe in, and let it be known that one doesn't have to be gay to be an advocate for gay rights.