The human sexuality will always be a topic to be debated on in almost every society (Ochs 19). This includes homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality. Different persons hold different views on the sexuality orientations and styles and that is why the debate will never come to an end. Actually, there is a time when one could be graded to have a mental disorder when they mentioned that they are attracted to persons of their sex (Rust 30). However, the American Psychological Department managed to dismiss this because a psychological disorder is characterized with distress to an individual or others which is not the case in these sexual minority cases. Thus, we cannot overlook that these persons in the sexual minority group are still struggling for understanding and acceptance. To survive, sometimes they come up with symbols that help them identify each other or campaign for their rights. Others do it openly while others hide them because these symbols bring about versed emotions (fox 90). To encourage the development of a greater understanding of heterosexist privilege and the role discrimination and prejudice play in our lives every day, I conducted an activity that entailed wearing a bisexual symbol for seven days for seven days. Here is the symbol:
In the seven days I wore this symbol openly a lot happened and different persons expressed themselves differently. The most powerful moment in my wearing the symbol was in day three when I attended a basketball match. I knew Jonah would be there and he has been making efforts to date me for quite some time. As usual, he was all over me until he saw the symbol in my arm which really shocked him and he seemed to be genuinely perplexed and hurt. I thought that is the end until I saw him, our pastor and his parents coming to our home to pray for me the same evening. They were convinced that I have either been bewitched or possessed by an evil spirit that they were determined to do away with to save me and my sexuality. I found the part really interesting.
The actual experience
I wore the symbol to church, while vising my friends, at home and all over. The first reaction was the gossip that went round in school that I am bisexual and I have decided to be open about it. Some of the teachers and lecturers to whom I am always been friendly called me for advise and direction and offered to give me time to meditate if that is the right path I wanted to take. Some of my friends told me that their parents had warned them for being in my company if those are the things I do and advised them to stay away from me before I could become bad influence to them. The interesting part is that I did not lack friends as others did not care what I was and they could still hang around me while others come to congratulate me for coming out clean, confessed they are either bisexual, gay or lesbians and they are scared to come out because of the discrimination and lack of protection by the law. Honestly, I felt so odd wearing the symbol for the seven days as I knew people were judging me. In one way or another I was stimulating a reaction or a debate and I hated it. Another aspect that I did not like about wearing the symbol the all week is the thought that my parents were silently affected and did not like it at all that I was wearing a symbol that was provoking reactions in the neighborhood and beyond. My pastor did not care to know if it was just an activity as he still talks to me about the same sex marriage and discourages me and prays for me never to follow that path to date.
During this period of wearing the symbol there are a number of things I learnt. To begin with, I noted that bisexualism is slowly being accepted in the society and it has its own strong champions. I realized so by the number of people who approached me about being in their shows since I have accepted my sexuality and I am open about it. Secondly, I learned that so many individuals remain to refuse the support and awareness of the individuals who chose an alternative lifestyle. Actually, this must be the reason to why it is so difficult for bisexuals to come out. However, it is important to note that a person accepting themselves and their sexuality is the first imperative step (Fox 23). One accepting themselves is not all because there is also family and friends. In many cases, these persons who are close to an individual can decline to accept their sexuality and these must be a very difficult phase. In my case you have seen a friend, his family and the pastor coming to pray for me and how the pastor has continuously been a constant adviser against ever wearing such symbols or even trying being bisexual.
The most difficult part in doing the assignment
The most difficult part in doing the assignment has been selecting a powerful moment in wearing the symbol. This is so because in the seven days of wearing the symbol so much happened. Other persons were belittling and others judging that singling out a specific moment in all events are really difficult. Additionally, expressing everything that happened during the seven days is also very challenging as some actions were so mean that one can not only fail to write about them but they cannot tell anyone the experience as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that our society has a nature of accepting the traits that are coming up after they are given some pressure. Think of it; a few decades ago, not going to social functions like funerals and weddings was shameful and one could even be labeled as a witch. That is not the case today (Ochs 54). Again, a few years ago, being a single parent was odd and very shameful and people could ridicule and avoid them, which is not the case today. In the same way, homosexuality is slowly being accepted and bisexualism is not left out. Furthermore, homosexuality is evident is every society, social group, state, country, religion and race (Fox 11). Therefore, discriminating against these persons is judging their lifestyle which is purely their choice and everyone has their own choice at the end of the day. From my experience of wearing the symbol for seven days, I have realized that the issues these persons go through in relation to being accepted in the society, getting admission in the military, and having their legal rights to be couples need to be resolved soonest possible. It is a high time that everyone realizes that homosexuals and bisexuals are just like anyone else. In fact, some of them are very good law abiding citizens and they need to be recognized for who they are and not their sexuality.
Works Cited
Fox, Hunk. Development of a bisexual identity: Understanding the process. Boston: Alyson. 2011.
Ochs, Rust. Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals around the World. Boston: Bisexual Resource Center. 2005.
Rust, Patrick. Bisexuality and the Challenge to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty, and Revolution. New York: NYU Press. 2011.
