LGBT

LGBT COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

During my high school years in Greece there was never an organized LGBT community that I encountered or knew about. It was a concept and organization that I encountered for the first time here in the United States when I came for college. Honestly, it is still something I am not completely familiar with. I would like to elaborate on my own personal experience in Greece. I had a couple of good friends who were openly homosexual and I can never really say that, within my own school, I ever noticed anyone discriminating against them or treating them in a disrespectful way. I was actually very proud of my school (staff and students) for the way they never excluded people based on ethnicity, religion or sexual preference. Racism was looked down upon from everybody, and there was always severe condemnation by the majority of students, if someone was in any way mistreated. I feel though, that had there been an actual LGBT community at my high school back home, it would've been even better for them, as I feel any group within a school environment, is capable of producing something positive. Whether that be informing the public on specific issues or topics, supporting other societal groups, volunteering or conducting  fundraising activities. Like I said previously, I have had gay friends that I spent a time with in high school and were genuinely some of the greatest individuals I have ever met. I would like to conclude this blog post of mine with something a good friend of mine once told me back home and I will never forget. He was not gay, however we were out one night and had a conversation about the way homosexuals are mistreated and discriminated against all over the world, in some cases even humiliated in the most grotesque ways possible. He literally said:  "Whatever one wants to do in their own bed and own home is absolutely none of my business, and whether straight or gay I really wouldn't like to know either! As long as they are nice to me and treat me well and with respect, I will do the same". I couldn't agree more with him, and what he said that day is something I have come to live by.