Family Acceptance of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adolescents (Essay Sample)

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Family Acceptance of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adolescents
Introduction
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual tendencies have attracted significant amount of controversies from numerous societal institutions. Even though some individual have generally accepted these tendencies in the society, many other people have viewed them as repulsive. The general perspective of the majority of the public consider lesbianism, gay, and bisexuality as awkward, absurd, inhuman, and sinful sexual orientations that do not conform to the traditional and acceptable standards of proper social behavior. Consequently, the public has always met those practicing the three sexualities with rejection, discrimination, and hostility. However, some institutions have lived to the reality of changing times, and have embraced the practices, even by those who are heterosexual. Many other institutions and governments have rose to the support of lesbianism, gay, and bisexualism. For example, some families have welcomed and accepted their adolescent members who belong to the three sexual categories. Contrastingly, other families—especially the conservative ones—have also renounced and rejected their members who are lesbians, gay, or bisexual.
Purpose
The arguments surrounding sexual orientations that stray from heterosexualism are evident in almost all communities around the world (Patterson and Anthony 230). The governments, religions, cultures, and other social and leadership constructs have engaged either directly or indirectly in to topic. This issue, therefore, has largely influenced the lives of those affected. Most lesbians and gays suffer considerable amount of discrimination, hostility, and stigmatization. Most importantly, family being the primary and most important unit and institution of an individual’s life play poses as a core factor that the fate of a lesbian, gay, or bisexual relies (Patterson and Anthony 236). This literature examines family dynamics, perspectives, and ties that influence the lives of members who belong to the LBBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community. Families from strict and conservative backgrounds and cultures have always repelled these sexual practices, and only support heterosexualism among the adults who are ready to marry or married. This discussion, however, focusses on the supportive and unifying nature in family dynamics that accepts their adolescent members that are either gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Point of View
Sexuality is a complex issue that people have discussed and argued over throughout history. The same phenomenon reflects on the contemporary world, especially among the youth. Raising a child and growing up to be an adult are challenging tasks for parents and adolescents respectively. One crucial aspect in these challenges is forming or realizing a person’s sexual identity. Nearly all adolescents experiment and explore their sexualities as a normal part of development, which could be with members of same or opposite genders. Experimenting sexuality with members of same sex causes anxiety and concerns among many adolescents and for others, even fantasies or thoughts may cause discomfort and anxiety. However, these behaviors do not always imply that an individual is bisexual or homosexual. Adolescents need to discover their sexual orientations. When the outcome falls places the adolescent as a member of the LGBT community, no matter how hard it could be to the family members, parents and siblings should remain supportive. Some of the causes of sexual orientation that are different form heterosexuality are beyond individual control. It could be physiological or hormonal.
Many homosexuals and bisexuals first notice and experience their sexual feelings and thoughts during adolescence (Patterson and Anthony 231). Parents and the elder members of a family should understand that sexual orientation does not constitute mental disorder. Even though the causes of bisexuality or homosexuality are not completely understood, it is clear that sexual orientation has never been a question of rational thinking. An individual has never had the choice to be either heterosexual or bisexual. Teenagers, however, have the choice to express their lifestyles and sexual behaviors, irrespective of their sexual orientations. Family members should always express supportive energy both emotionally and psychologically to members who are lesbians, gay, or bisexual. Stigmatization and rejection of such persons may adversely impact their health.
Central Agreement
Family acceptance for the Bisexuals and transgender individuals form the first step in ensuring protection of the right to freewill in the society. Such individuals who are adolescent in most incidences have been under the influence of peer pressure, which come the social interactions. Women, play a critical role in raising of children, from infancy to adult hood. The right to free will is itself enshrined in the constitution. Therefore, embracing individuals who ascribe to such sexual orientation should not be intimidated. Cases of isolation against such individuals have backing from the religious and cultural inclinations. By virtue of family being the basic social unit in any population, mechanism should be put in place to create awareness and education to champion for the society acceptance. The concept of behavioral change is one of the best tool, which would be deployed to make it possible for acceptance to be realized in the society. Some learning institutions, such in developed countries have enacted legislation for protecting the right of Bisexual and LGBT community.
The LGBT community movement has gained ground in most nations, inspiring hope to individuals who suffer silently from fear of the society condemnation. In some countries having intolerance to liberation, has contribute to violence against members who publicly confessed their sexual orientation (Knox and Caroline 277). Moreover, several persuasive factors exist which warrant the acceptance of LGBT community. First, such individuals contribute economically to the development in the country. For, example some LGBT individuals through entrepreneurship have created employment opportunity in the economy. Such contribution should be appreciated instead of blind backlash, which are retrogressive. Secondly, issue of sexual orientation in the society normally borders an individual personal choice. Cultural or religious coercion, tendencies that label LGBT persons as social rebel...