Homosexuality....Is it a Trend?

HOMOSEXUALITY...IS IT A TREND AMONGST OUR URBAN YOUTH?

Homosexuality; attraction to the same sex, will never be totally embraced as long as it is considered taboo; an abomination or a wrongful/sinful act. People tend to view being homosexual as sex, never putting the same word; homosexual in the same sentence as love or relationship.

There are slight differences in the outlook depending on the culture, and the environment. I am a lesbian and I can tell you first hand that the views of homosexuality have slightly changed in my urban neighborhood. The youth have embraced this way of life and lifestyle as part of their culture. There are more and more youths taking advantage of their right to freedom of expression. Some tend to do it with fashion other’s through displays of affection for the same sex, regardless to the social norms, values and morals of their parents as well as society. They are wearing rainbow attire accessories that scream, I’m gay and I’m proud. Rainbow colors represent the gay Lesbian Bi-sexual, transgender culture. In Bridgeport, Connecticut the urban neighborhoods are more acceptable to homosexuality, but not just a few miles away in the city of FairfieldConnecticut it is frowned upon, due to the difference in cultural values.

In urban neighborhoods many teens are using the gay culture as a place to run and hide. Although it may seem odd, some teens are finding comfort in being with the same sex. I believe that these factors play a part in their decision making; no strong father figure in the home or in the child’s life. Sometimes when a boy never bonds with his father and puberty kicks in, he longs for an outlet for his sexual urges. At the same time he is yearning psychologically and emotionally for the love of a father. The longing for a father figure can sometimes result in inappropriate sexual behavior in both young men and young women, including promiscuity, bisexuality, and homosexuality. The same goes for girls. The difference with girls is that they use their mother’s as models. Say a girl watches her mother constantly being mistreated by her boyfriend or the father of her children or even a step father, seeing her mother cry regarding the heartbreak loving this man has caused, constantly hearing her mother say men aint worth a dime. The constant display of men being portrayed as unloving and abusive can cause a young girl to sway from the life of her mother. Childhood molestation or abuse can also play a part in our youth running for the rainbow. The memories of childhood homosexual encounters can follow a person into adulthood/young adulthood, and damage both the victim's sense of self-worth and his or her sexual identity. Victims of these types of crimes often have deep-seated roots of anger and fear that cause additional confusion.

Due to parental abandonment or neglect some kids resort to inappropriate sexual behavior as an attention-getting device, to get the adult attention they crave. For this reason, bisexuality has become a cultural trend among kids today, much as biracial dating was prevalent in their parent's generation (the difference is that homosexual and bisexual relationships are wrong according to God, whereas arguments against biracial dating are often based largely on social prejudice).

In opinion homosexuality in the urban neighborhood has escalated because of these factors. In the urban neighborhoods a lack of fathers, abuse (physically, sexually and mentally) neglect and poor modeling have stricken our urban and low income neighborhoods.

DESIGNATED HANGOUTS…A COMFORT ZONE

The LGBT community has found their own places to be free to live, entertain, celebrate, meet and greet. The only gawking or staring at others you’ll experience is out of respect, attraction and admiration.

In the West Village neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan lies paved in a old grayish cement but is the home of the rainbow; Christopher Street. This area has always been known as the gay communities’ hangout. It was the center for New York’s gay rights movement. Until this day Gay Pride Parade is held on Christopher Street to, The Pier, also known as a meeting and stomping ground for the LGBT community. But lately, our boundaries have been stretched to the spread of gay rights; the same with Gay marriage and the boob tube; television. So I guess you can say there has been a change in the views of today’s society.

A TURN AROUND FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY OR IS IT?

The widespread of homosexuality amongst our teens has caused television to embrace the gay lifestyle. There has been a boom of gay sitcoms, like Noah’s Ark , television series; "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" as well as reality shows like; 'Boy Meets Boy'.  Consumers are tapping into this market. The ad and media world has not been shy about embracing a more gay-friendly attitude. Cablevision even picked up a all gay television channel called LOGO. Its growing syndication has showed that there is a gradual change in the views of homosexuality, but not enough change.