neoconservative ideologies will not help our LGBTTQ youth

A neoconservative government will hamper progressive movement for the LGBTTQ community.  They are not in support of same sex relationships and believe marriage should be between a man and a woman only (Mullaly, 2007).  They do not believe in equality and despise gay and lesbian rights movements (Mullaly, 2007).  If we want our children to grow up to feel free to be themselves and live in a world where everyone is treated equal, than in my opinion stay away from the Conservative party.  In my experience adolescence was a very vulnerable time full of insecurity and doubts, the experience of other LGBTTQ students seem to be the same.  Recent findings by Out In Schools, a program that teaches high school students about homophobia and violence, have stated that 34% of LGBTTQ youth have been threatened with violence at school, 17% have been assaulted, 71% have seriously considered suicide and 46% have even attempted it (Chau, 2011).  Luckily these victims of abuse are starting to speak up and demand help (Andre, Wells, Wells, 2007).  With many programs booming, such as Out In Schools, students may begin to be more accepting and if anything those who identify with LGBTTQ might start to feel comfortable and open about it.  There are many factors lying in the way of ending discrimination and discrimination may always be there but one way to help may be to not elect a Conservative government as they’ve shown no interest in helping the community.

These programs rely on funding and with a neoconservative ideology of less government spending on social programs they’re not the ones we will be able to turn to (Mullaly, 2007).  They believe that the individual is the problem and that nobody should help you but yourself (Mullaly, 2007).  They say that you must be mentally ill or a drug addict to have such problems (Mullaly, 2007) but it is the harassment of the LGBTTQ community that leads them use drugs and alcohol as a relief from the abuse (Andre et al, 2007).  It is not being an addict that led them to the problem but that the people who hold neo conservative ideologies about the LGBTTQ community may have pushed them to a mental illness such as depression which may direct them to substance abuse.  The way I see it is the neo conservatives are the problem not the people who are just trying to live the way they were born to.  I don’t think a neo conservative would ever understand this because of people like John Cummins, BC Conservative party leader, who said that “sexual orientation is a "choice issue" on a talk radio program on CFAX 1070 radio in Victoria, B.C.” (Chau, 2011).  You can imagine the outrage by the LGBTTQ community to hear that apparently they chose to go through this abuse like they chose to refer to themselves as LGBTTQ just so they could enjoy the discrimination that comes with it.  Since the induction of a Conservative government in 2006 there have been substantial budget cuts to equality programs such as Gay pride parades (Debra, 2001).  With a perspective of less government funding and a non-supportive view of the LGBTTQ community, programs to help them would not be very high on their list of things to do.


Fortunately, despite the Conservatives among us, many steps have been made to support the LGBTTQ community.  They include changes to Canadian laws and legislation for sexual minorities that require specific educational policies and practices (Andre et al, 2007).  Many groups and organizations have been founded that offer support and help with socializing, and self-esteem building for LGBTTQ youth (Andre et al, 2007).  A unique camp was developed in 2004 in Alberta called Camp FYrefly which is for those who are LGBTTQ between the ages of 14 to 24 (Andre et al, 2007).  This camp aims to build leadership in order to make positive changes in their lives (Andre et al, 2007).  There is a website managed by the Winnipeg Rainbow Resource Centre called HelpingOut that provides educational information helping students and teachers become aware about LGBTTQ issues (Andre et al, 2007).  Others across Canada include the Pink triangle services, supporting our youth, and the triangle school program just to name a few (Andre et al, 2007).  It seems that progress and changes are happening so let’s not ruin it by electing a conservative government.

Peace N Love

Brittany     

References:

Andre, P., Wells, C., Wells, G. (2007). Victims no more: Trends enabling resilience in sexual-minority students. Education for Social Justice: From the Margin to the Mainstream. Retrieved from
http://www.ctf-fce.ca/documents/Priorities/EN/pd/social_justice/SJC_BackgroundPapers_EN_web.pdf

Chau, C. (2011, May 27). LGBT organization: John Cummins "out of touch with reality". Vancouver Observer. Message posted to news: http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2011/05/27/lgbt-organization-john-cummins-out-touch-reality%E2%80%9D?page=0,0

Debra. (2001). February 16, 2011. April Reign's blog: A weblog of human rights and politics.

Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://aprilreign.breadnroses.ca/


Mullaly, B. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3^rd Ed.). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

Unknown author. (2010). Harper’s new low: prorogation redux. [Photograph]. The trouble with

normal blog.