Student Life October 2019

LGBT+
BY LEANNE ARNOLD
Identifying as part of the LGBT+
community has its up and downs. I’ve
met some amazing people who are into
similar things as I am, however, I have
also experienced some hate too. When I
was younger, I was stared at, shouted at
across the street, and told I was disgusting
by people who didn’t have any clue who
I was just from holding a girl’s hand. I
understand that the LGBT community has
come a long way since when I first came
out, and I’d be shocked if I experienced
now what I did then. However, there is still
a large amount of discrimination towards
the LGBT community. I often get stared
at on a night out when I’m dancing with
my partner, I still get hit on by lads and
when I tell them I’m a lesbian it seems to
encourage them. If that isn’t complete
disrespect, then I don’t know what is.
It annoys me that still today people think
it’s appropriate to act a certain way with
me because I identify as a lesbian. Even
more so, the fact that guys think it’s okay
to try even harder with me when I have
stated that I’m clearly not into men.
I know it’s not going to drastically
change anytime soon, that would be very
ambitious to believe. I was just wondering
whether other people within the LGBT
community experience stuff like this?
If you do and wanted to have a rant or
discuss it in an article please do message
me at leanne@student-life.co
I just hope that people may read this and
think twice about how they act, not just
with people who identify within the LGBT+
community but with others as a whole.
I think the world would be a much kinder
place!!!
86 • 86 OCTOBER • MY LIFE 2019 • • STUDENT LIFE LIFE