Gay is OK | Sianna Kazarnowicz | TEDxPascoCountySchools

Being gay is OK but still unaccepted by many....

Sianna Kazarnowicz is an 8th grade student from Bayonet Point Middle School in Pasco County Florida.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Picture this:

You're out in a public place;
let's say, the mall.

You see two men walk past you
holding hands.

You look around and you see people
scowling at these men,

pointing and whispering harshly.

So you ask someone next to you
why they're scowling.

And they reply,
"Those two guys are gay. Ew."

Situations like this happen way too often.

Homosexual marriage was recently
made legal in every state of America.

But is it fully accepted by society?

No, it isn't.

The fact is, it needs to be.

Since I was five years old,
I've had two moms.

That's right. My parents are lesbians.

Five years of being happily married.
Eight years of being happily together.

To some, this fact may seem cute.

But to others, it's disgusting.

My own mother said
she can't even go out in public

and hold hands with her wife without
getting dirty looks from strangers.

Sad, isn't it?

In an article titled

"Most Say Homosexuality
Should Be Accepted by Society"

by pewresearch.org,

it says that as of 2011,

58% of Americans supported homosexuality,
45% supported same sex marriage,

but only 14% said that children being
raised by same-sex parents is okay.

Seriously?

14% is not a lot.

I'm even going to bring our Declaration
of Independence into this.

One famous line from the document is:
"All men are created equal."

And even today, in our modern society,
why does this not apply to gays?

And I'm not just speaking
for gays and lesbians.

I'm speaking for everyone
who isn't hetero.

Bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals,
and transgenders all have a hard time

fitting into our society.

And in my opinion, it just isn't right.

No one should have to feel
so out of place and so hated

just because of someone they love.

Love is love.

It shouldn't have to matter who it's with.

And don't get me wrong, making same-sex
marriage legal is really awesome.

But, honestly, what's the point?

What is the point, if gays and lesbians
are still afraid to get married

because they're terrified
of their families disowning them,

their churches shunning them,
and being shut out by society entirely?

And, come on, what about the bullying?

People use the word "gay" as an insult,

like "oh man, that's so gay,"

like it's the worst possible thing to be.

So then that makes people who are actually
gay feel like who they are is wrong.

Think about that. Seriously.

Made fun of. Laughed at. Beat up.

People even commit suicide over this.

For what? Just because
of someone they love?

It sounds pretty dumb, doesn't it?

People opposed to homosexuality often say,

"Oh, God hates the gays because they're
all sinners and going to hell."

I'm sorry but first of all,
saying this is hypocritical

because people who say this are also
sinning by hating on the gays.

And second of all, please point out to me
where in the Bible it says this,

because it doesn't.

God doesn't hate anyone.

Okay, now I need you
to picture something else.

Imagine if the situation was reversed.

Imagine if we lived in a society
where being homo is norm

and being hetero is considered weird.

And let's say that you're hetero.

You have to sneak around
with your boyfriend or girlfriend

because you're terrified
of what others would think.

Just because you're a boy in love
with a girl or a girl in love with a boy

you're afraid that the homosexual society
isn't going to accept you.

And how do you feel?

Rejected? Unloved?
Unimportant? Utterly useless?

Well, guess what, this is how many
homosexuals, bisexuals, pans,

and transgenders feel every single day.

But you know what?

They don't have to feel this way.

If we as a country can learn to accept
people for who they are,

no one would have to feel so rejected,
unloved, unimportant, and useless.

People can be loved by their families,
joined by their churches,

and accepted by society.

We need to be happy for the gay community,

happy for them, that they know
who they are and who they love,

even if it is the same sex.

Homosexuals are human beings,
people just like everyone else,

and don't need to be treated
any differently.

So remember to wear rainbows
because Gay is OK.

Thank you. (Applause)