• Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
The Volante
The Volante
  • Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
It’s time for acceptance in positions of powerOpinion
Home
Opinion

It’s time for acceptance in positions of power

February 18th, 2019 Nickolas Zeimet Opinion comments

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Hatred for the LGBT community has always been a topic of conversation, especially in today’s political climate. With the U.S. Vice President being a supporter of conversion therapy as well as having a record of opposing gay rights, it doesn’t come as a surprise when other lawmakers share similar negative ideals regarding the LGBT community.

In recent weeks the conversation has been steered toward West Virginia delegate, Eric Porterfield, making the claim that  “the LGBTQ is a modern-day version of the Ku Klux Klan.”

This is, without question, absolutely incorrect and abhorrent. Rhetoric like this should not be spread. LGBT rights are basic human rights and should be treated as such.

While it may seem frivolous to be discussing something like this in 2019, when people in charge are making such cruel and harmful comments, the conversation on gay rights is one that needs to continue.

When we see headlines about Kevin Hart disapproving of the LGBT community, or hear about Porterfield wanting to see if his children “could swim” in response to being asked what he would do if one of his kids were gay—meaning here that, much along the lines of the witch trials, he would, to put it blatantly, drown them for their hypothetical homosexuality—we can’t deny that, while acceptance of the queer community has grown, there are still those who blindly and ignorantly choose to hate.

An article from USA Today states that 67 percent of Americans are in support of gay rights. While this number would place the majority of Americans on the side of human rights, 43 percent are left on the opposition.

West Virginia Republican Party Chairwoman Melody Potter said in a statement in regard to Porterfield, “These comments are unacceptable and we denounce them. They have no place in America.”

Same-sex rights are basic human rights. Wanting to be married to someone of the same gender, wanting to be recognized as the gender one identifies with, wanting to be recognized as a human being is not outrageous, it is not wrong, it is a basic human desire.

At this point in time, one would think that the conversation would be off the table entirely. Members of the LGBT community run rampant in the media we consume. Nearly every show on television has a least one character that identifies as queer; pop culture icons and activists like Laverne Cox or Ellen DeGeneres are constantly shining light on the issues and struggles of their communities. Knowing the struggles that the LGBT community face should only make people want to eradicate these inequalities in any possible way.

Yet here we stand, with people making decisions for the queer community with a lack of understanding of what basic human rights are.

What is the next step? How does acceptance of the LGBT spread?

The Guardian details 13 steps one can take in order to help—from simply encouraging LGBT activism, to taking cases of discrimination to court—but ultimately, nothing can change until those in power who oppose the LGBT are exposed and held accountable for their hate speech and for hateful support of anti-gay propaganda.

The change that so desperately needs to come can only begin if individuals open their eyes and their hearts and recognize that at the end of the day, we are all people first.

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Nickolas Zeimet

Related Posts

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans Opinion
February 23rd, 2021

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans

Two plus two equals tears Opinion
February 22nd, 2021

Two plus two equals tears

Getting rid of your phone addiction Opinion
February 18th, 2021

Getting rid of your phone addiction

Facebook Comments

Latest Stories

Feb 24th 2:49 PM
Sports

Women’s basketball win over Oral Roberts with 21-point advantage

Feb 24th 2:44 PM
Campus

USD Uniting Students Through Athletics

Feb 24th 2:40 PM
Campus

VHS gears up for spring athletics

Feb 24th 2:38 PM
Sports

A.J. Plitzuweit makes two free throws for win against Oral Roberts

Feb 24th 2:34 PM
Campus

Coyotes sweep NDSU over weekend series

Feb 24th 2:28 PM
Sports

Training in it so they can play in it

Feb 24th 2:12 PM
Sports

Volleyball decides to keep masks off the court

Feb 23rd 9:50 PM
Campus

SGA hosts deputy athletic director

Feb 23rd 2:10 PM
Opinion

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans

Feb 23rd 1:57 PM
Verve

AWOL offers alternative spring break to students

Weather

Coyote News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7ERfZmFOg

Advertisement

  • Home
  • Campus
  • State/Local
  • Sports
  • Verve
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Back to top

The Volante

The Volante is the University of South Dakota’s independent student-run newspaper since 1887. Al Neuharth Media Center The Volante 555 N. Dakota Street Vermillion, SD 57069

Advertisement

About

  • About
  • Code of Ethics
  • History
  • Awards
  • Executive Staff
  • Jobs
  • Comment Policy
  • Advertise

Engage

  • Letters to the Editor
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Overheard
  • Subscribe
  • Submit News Tips

Media Partners

  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
© The Volante 2015. All rights reserved.