Love Life: Homosexuality slowly gains acceptance in homophobic society

"Being gay is just a small facet of who I am, and it doesn't even begin to skim the surface," said Lorraine Ramirez, a senior English major.Why do people stop at the surface and attach labels or stereotypes, rather than getting to know the person? Perhaps they have been heavily influenced by society's beliefs and customs and are following the example set by a homophobic society.A source who chose to remain anonymous described his coming out experience and how he was eventually able to express his personality in public and gain some acceptance from his classmates."I came out my freshman year; every time I would pass by them [his peers] in the hallway or cafeteria, they would point, laugh, and call me joto [gay]," he said.However, towards his junior year of high school, he was able to show his character and overcome his label."I felt a sense of belonging; I was no longer a taboo," he said.Why didn't he come out of the closet until he was 15? Why did this individual have to wait two years to be accepted? Research shows that statistics regarding the number of homosexuals are inconsistent because people are afraid of identifying themselves as gay in a society that does not accept them. The Kinsey Study reports that 10 percent of the U.S. population is homosexual; however, another government study claims that one percent of the population or 2.7 million citizens is gay.In addition to being afraid to admit their sexual preference to the public, homosexuals also face the possibility of being rejected by their families."I was shunned, ridiculed, and put down by my own family," said Ramirez. The chance of being rejected by one's own family is impossible to imagine, much less bear, so does one really choose to disappoint them? Is being homosexuality a choice or automatically part of a person?Nature versus nurture is an argument that has concerned Americans for many years. Theories support both sides, but more interesting is the opinions of those who identify themselves as homosexuals. "I have been attracted to women since I was young, but I didn't accept it until I turned 15 because it has never been the social norm," said Sarah Saldivar, a freshman soccer player.The anonymous interviewee added, "I knew I had an attraction towards guys when I was about three years old."Although the comments of the interviewees might spur debate as to whether or not it is possible to be born gay, another dilemma arises when debating whether God would do such a thing. Saldivar offers a simple answer."Only God can judge me," she said.I agree. It doesn't matter how strong one's faith or beliefs are in one's religion because at the end of the day, I am no one to judge my peer. Whether gay, lesbian, white, black, brown, or transsexual, a human is a human and therefore should be treated as one.If we continue to live in a world that bases all acceptance on appearance or relationship preference, we will always have a vague impression of who people really are. We will be too worried about the exterior and not place our attention on what really matters: a person's inner-self.