Over the break, my friend and I were chatting about our classmate who became lesbian in high school. If you have read some of my previous posts, you may know what I think about homosexuality. Some say that I am biased because I'm a follower of Christ, but today I will approach it from a secular point of view.
I have known multiple people who, when young, clearly showed interested in the opposite gender. A few years later, they say that they are not or never were.
My Opinion of Why People Identify as LBGTQ
1. Attention
Unfortunately, some people were never shown or given much love as a child. And in countries where boys are valued over girls, you can see why a girl would suddenly want to be a boy...to show that they were "just as good." Others simply need someone to care about them, and they do not care what gender it is as long as they can get that "feeling" they were looking for.
2. Self-Deception and Confusion
I can tell you that this is a fact: a lot of people, upon hearing about homosexuality, suddenly think, "Wait, I think I have been attracted to someone who was the same gender as me before! Does that make me homosexual? Maybe..." So they will think: "I don't know where I stand on this issue." or "I am confused." As they think about it more and more, they become more and more confused. At some point, they decide to make a decision. And while they may feel uncomfortable at first, they slowly become more and more used to it. At one point, they stop feeling that it is different because they surround themselves with people who went through the same exact thing they did. Belonging, don't we all want that?
3. Refusal to be "Boxed In" by Gender Norms
This tends to be the case for that male or female who likes to prove people wrong, who becomes stronger in the face of opposition. They think, "Who says a girl can't do X, Y, Z?" "Who says a guy can't do X, Y, or Z?" As they attempt to prove to the world that they can be "whoever they want" (which is true--we all have free will), they slowly become more accustomed to homosexuality. Rebellion that goes wrong.
4. Previous Heartbreak
This is the one that is the least bit funny. There are times when someone, in attempt to prove that they are no longer "have feelings" or are "in love" with their ex, pretend to be homosexual. Some eventually realize that pretending to be so is an insult to their ex, and they will "revert" to being heterosexual. Some don't. They have lost all belief in the opposite gender and choose to be homosexual, because "that girl/guy treats me better." You can see this as a need for acceptance and love.
These are the 4 main reasons, but there are also many factors that play a role, including: lack of financial resources, sudden loss of a family member, a need to "restart," and more.
Really, there is just so much pain going on in the world right now. Some people hurt and they know it. Some people hurt and they pretend not to know it. Some people hurt and they DON'T know it, because they are already numb. Some people just give up. Culture never points us in the right direction.
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So how will you be treated in Germany if you are LGBTQ?
Great, for the most part. In bigger cities such as Hamburg, there are even gay pride parades. I'm not going to lie though, if you look different on the outside due to being LGBTQ, someone may call you out for it and quietly judge in their minds. But then again, whenever you think they will care enough to call you out on it, don't mind, because in about a millisecond they will go back to thinking about themselves.
I have known multiple people who, when young, clearly showed interested in the opposite gender. A few years later, they say that they are not or never were.
My Opinion of Why People Identify as LBGTQ
1. Attention
Unfortunately, some people were never shown or given much love as a child. And in countries where boys are valued over girls, you can see why a girl would suddenly want to be a boy...to show that they were "just as good." Others simply need someone to care about them, and they do not care what gender it is as long as they can get that "feeling" they were looking for.
2. Self-Deception and Confusion
I can tell you that this is a fact: a lot of people, upon hearing about homosexuality, suddenly think, "Wait, I think I have been attracted to someone who was the same gender as me before! Does that make me homosexual? Maybe..." So they will think: "I don't know where I stand on this issue." or "I am confused." As they think about it more and more, they become more and more confused. At some point, they decide to make a decision. And while they may feel uncomfortable at first, they slowly become more and more used to it. At one point, they stop feeling that it is different because they surround themselves with people who went through the same exact thing they did. Belonging, don't we all want that?
3. Refusal to be "Boxed In" by Gender Norms
This tends to be the case for that male or female who likes to prove people wrong, who becomes stronger in the face of opposition. They think, "Who says a girl can't do X, Y, Z?" "Who says a guy can't do X, Y, or Z?" As they attempt to prove to the world that they can be "whoever they want" (which is true--we all have free will), they slowly become more accustomed to homosexuality. Rebellion that goes wrong.
4. Previous Heartbreak
This is the one that is the least bit funny. There are times when someone, in attempt to prove that they are no longer "have feelings" or are "in love" with their ex, pretend to be homosexual. Some eventually realize that pretending to be so is an insult to their ex, and they will "revert" to being heterosexual. Some don't. They have lost all belief in the opposite gender and choose to be homosexual, because "that girl/guy treats me better." You can see this as a need for acceptance and love.
These are the 4 main reasons, but there are also many factors that play a role, including: lack of financial resources, sudden loss of a family member, a need to "restart," and more.
Really, there is just so much pain going on in the world right now. Some people hurt and they know it. Some people hurt and they pretend not to know it. Some people hurt and they DON'T know it, because they are already numb. Some people just give up. Culture never points us in the right direction.
------------
So how will you be treated in Germany if you are LGBTQ?
Great, for the most part. In bigger cities such as Hamburg, there are even gay pride parades. I'm not going to lie though, if you look different on the outside due to being LGBTQ, someone may call you out for it and quietly judge in their minds. But then again, whenever you think they will care enough to call you out on it, don't mind, because in about a millisecond they will go back to thinking about themselves.
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