MUNITY East 2019 Pre-Conference Issue: Two Sides of The Same Coin

Tackling The Marginalization of the LGBTQ+:
PRIDE
&
At the end of a joyous date, two women, Melania and
Chris, were beaten on a night bus in London after refusing
four teenagers’ demand to kiss one another.
Photos of them covered in blood spread like wildfire
all over the internet. However, incidents like this are
not news to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQ+) community.
The reason is simple: the marginalization of
the LGBTQ+ community continues to be the norm.
In its extreme, marginalization gives rise to heartless
assaults, which causes people like Melania and
Chris to live in constant fear.
Through the global fight for equal rights by the
LGBTQ+ community and their allies, governments
and other individuals have come to recognize the
need for both cultural and federal reforms to tackle
marginalization on the basis of sexuality.
Pride parades, which garner the majority of their supporters
online, are pivotal to fostering social acceptance:
they enable individuals of the LGBTQ+ community
to march for their convictions, whether about
issues such as same-sex marriage legalization, discrimination
in housing, or denial of family rights, and
then press for, namely, the passage of effective protection
legislation against discrimination. To be clear,
Pride events have long carried a number of political
and social implications; though the root of Pride parades
was less of celebratory nature, modern Pride
parades have evolved into convivial congregations
for both LGBTQ+ and heterosexual persons, who
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unyieldingly support the illegalization of discrimination.
Withal warranting the condemnation of social
marginalization on a legal level, Pride parades defy
heterosexism and boost confidence in the LGBTQ+
community. To this end, Pride parades embolden
LGBTQ+ proponents to dress in flamboyant costumes
and proudly display their rainbow flags, acts
that bespeak fearlessness. Naturally, such a display
of social activism warrants society to tackle sexuality-based
relegation, whether it be through increasing
public awareness or enforcing laws.
Likewise, popular media play an equally imperative
role in exposing social marginalization. With social
media platforms, people are given the opportunity
to generate content that promotes the integration of
the LGBTQ+, utilizing hashtags such as #loveislove
and #lgbtpride. As popular media bridges the gap
between people of distinct cultural backgrounds, celebrities
are also able to transmit messages of equality
to their international supporters; whilst some may
take part in Pride parades, others may wage online
campaigns or speak at political forums. Chiefly with
social media and music platforms, prominent celebrities
can increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people
and provoke more discussions about LGBTQ+ rights
in society. An example of popular icon would be Lady
Gaga, who composed songs widely regarded as “gay
pride anthems.” By way of infusing Pride beliefs into
citizens’ day-to-day activities— in some cases, with
music — pride celebrities bring marginalization is-