Gender, Sexual Behavior And Sexual Orientation Essay

One of the most awe-provoking aspects of humanity is its richness in diversity. Humanity if characterized by diverse cultural, economic, social, political as well as cocktails of various walks of life. It is this degree of richness and diversity that makes the world unique, and life worth living. Right in the complexity of the differentiating aspects, life has found a way of uniting people from all walks of life. However, man has found a way of being used to his own way of doing things so much so that they assume a false conviction of righteousness. This is the genesis of acts of intolerance and conflict amongst individuals and communities.
Gender, sexual behavior and sexual orientation are some of the thorny issues affecting the world today. Minority groups (LGBTs) such as lesbians, gays and bisexual are receiving mixed reactions from communities around the world. In Uganda, for instance, homosexuality has been illegalized. The country has seen violence against, and even prosecution of LGBTs; a situation that has led to an exodus of LGBTs from Uganda. Those that are not able to escape are forced to keep to themselves and not to publicly pronounce their sexual orientation.
On the other hand, countries such as the U.S. and Sweden have been seen to protect the rights of LGBTs. Here, no one feels intimidated to practice or pronounce their sexual orientation. These countries have even gone ahead to provide asylum to LGBT refugees from countries that are hostile to them. This is a commendable initiative to ensure that human rights are protected be it at home or abroad.
It is this kind of hostility and intolerance in some countries that call for an urgent action to arrest the situation. The world is coming from a past where human rights for all were not guaranteed (especially in very conservative communities around the world). For example, Kilodavis writes (in his book entitled My Princess Boy) about her son, Dyson, whose ways of doing things is not in tandem with stereotypical gender positions. In expressing himself, Dyson wears girl’s clothing. However, the world is now increasingly becoming a global village. Interactions of people from all walks of life call for respect and acceptance of other people’s ways of doing things. Further, information flow and communication is a possibility in the world today. People from all corners of the world are now able to get informed about happenings in the world today. In addition, people are now more informed about their rights and would want to go to any length to have their rights protected.
People should strive towards protecting and up holding rights of minority groups such as the LGBTs. However, it is paramount to ensure that this is not done at the expense of majority groups. If someone lives in a conservative society, they should not go out displaying their sexual behaviors and orientations publicly. The community will eventually learn to accept minority groups, but this will happen gradually. Change is a difficult process and, at times, it may face rebellion.
Strategic lobbying and public awareness should be done so that to the world is sensitized on the importance of tolerance and acceptance of the minority groups. International human right organizations should work on ensuring that robust international frameworks that safeguard the protection of human rights are instituted and implemented. Countries should then be required to be party to such frameworks, and ensure their full implementation. In so doing, conflicts will be reduced and everyone will enjoy their rights and freedoms in accordance to existing legal frameworks.