Joe Mcelderry - L.O.V.E

  

I've been listening to this great new uplifting track from Joe McElderry called L.O.V.E. and the message of the video, "be who you wanna be" really speaks to me as a member of the LGBTQ+ community because it reminds me that I can be who I want to be, and that there is nothing wrong with being a gay male. What I also like is that the video and song can be enjoyed by everyone, not just members of the LGBTQ+ community

I really hope that this track gets plenty of airtime, and becomes an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community, as I think it is a great track that deserves to become one of the classic gay anthems.

Homophobia

Recently my boyfriend and I where traveling on a train, and when we got on the train we were subject to some unacceptable verbal homophobic abuse from some younger people already sitting on the train.

In this day and age I believe that homophobia, along with bi-phobia and transphobia is completely unacceptable in this country and I think the time has come that the government needs to take a stand and make it clear that this is unacceptable behaviour. In my opinion it is time that:

1. Every pupil in secondary school is taught about the LGBTQ+ community, and that homo / bi / transphobia is not acceptable in modern society, thus paving the way for them to understand some people are different, and there is nothing wrong with that.
   
2. Every person living in the UK understands that there are members of the LGBTQ+ community living all over the country and that, regardless of what they think of gay people etc. they should show tolerance, as members of the LGBTQ+ community show tolerance to those that hate them etc.
3. Homo / bi / transphobia needs to be eradicated, and if a homo / bi / transphobia crime has been committed, a proper punishment needs to be dealt out by the relevant authorities, rather than it being brushed under the carpet as an unimportant crime.
   

In modern society I believe that we ALL need to get along with each other and show tolerance towards everyone, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation etc. Everyone living in the UK should have the right to live in the way they want to, as long as it's not breaking any laws etc.

It is time that the government:

1. Enacted a law banning LGBTQ+ conversion practices etc. This needs to be done without delay and include all parts of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgendered people.
   
2. Ensured all publicly funded secondary schools are teaching about LGBTQ+ rights etc as requited by the national curriculum. No publicly funded school should refuse to teach LGBTQ+ rights just because it's against their religion, or parents don't want it taught etc.
   
3. Made sure that LGBTQ+ hate crimes were properly investigated and if the person committing the crime gets punished, is given a punishment that reflects the seriousness of the crime and makes it clear that LGBTQ+ hate crime is unaccepatble
   

I long for the day when members of the LGBTQ+ community can go about their daily business without living in fear of being attacked, hold hands with their loved one in public and live in a world where they are accepted for who they are etc.