Homosexuality has existed since the beginning of time, and yet for thousands of years this marginalized group has never fully felt integrated into society. Maybe it is the current administration, or just the feelings of the deep South finally reaching the entire country again, but it feels as if a new era of potent homophobia has swept over The United States, when homosexuality used to be normalized and celebrated in ancient civilizations. In 500 BCE, ancient Egypt paid no mind to same gender relationships, in fact, they celebrated them. This was mostly because they did not believe in sex as binary and confined between opposite genders. Thousands of years ago the now belittled minorities flourished, and then societies began to, and continue to, shoot down this group of marginalized people and try at every point to minimize their rights as citizens. For example, five states in the South, including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas, still have laws that permit discrimination in restaurants, stores, and hotels against homosexuals. These laws exist only in these states, and yet they continue to try and spread their anti LGBTQA+ agenda even further. These state lawmakers are also trying to create more laws that would allow for religious exemption, which would then cut off the government’s ability to censor people on any of their religious beliefs.

These states, and laws, may seem very of the past, but homophobia continues to also effect couples living in Northern, considered “more accepting” areas. Since 2017, the year President Trump took office, hates crimes of any sort have increased by 3% with those specifically pertaining to LGBTQA+ individuals making up 60% of that number.

These individuals either fear for their lives every time they leave their home openly with their loved ones, or they fear the hateful words of strangers that may be thrown at them while they walk the streets (Thoreson, 2019).

Even for those people who claim to support gay rights, their internalized, societal homophobia continues to be projected onto homosexuals. Articles published on snapchat or any other form of pop-culture news entitled “10 Secrets You Didn’t Know About Gay Men” or “Characteristics of Your Gay Best Friend” unintentionally isolate the community, and make gay men and women feel even more “other” to the rest of society. Where are the articles about one’s heterosexual best friend?

In a time where bigotry and hatred have taken new reign in our culture, acknowledging one’s privilege and helping marginalized communities live equal lives is a must. Hatred and acts of violence must be called out and punished. In order to destigmatize homosexuals and their lifestyle, education programs must be implemented early on in the lives of children.