Dear 21st Century Guy (that seems to be from the past),
I understand that you don’t see yourself as someone who discriminates, and I appreciate that we can have honest conversations about this. That said, I’d like to challenge some of your beliefs with facts that might offer a different perspective.
You mentioned that “if everyone were gay, the human race wouldn’t survive.” While this may have been a concern in the past, technological advances like artificial insemination and surrogacy have made biological reproduction independent of sexual orientation. More importantly, homosexuality has always existed in human societies and nature, yet populations have continued to grow. Additionally, if homosexuality were unnatural, why would two men or two women be capable of experiencing natural physical pleasure together?
You also argue that people are “influenced” into being LGBTQ+ by media and trends. If that were true, then by the same logic, wouldn’t a lifetime of exposure to heterosexual culture have made every gay person straight? Historically, LGBTQ+ representation has been scarce, and even today, the overwhelming majority of movies, music, and media still portray straight relationships. If visibility alone determined sexuality, we wouldn’t have had openly gay figures like Alan Turing—who, despite contributing immensely to computer science, was chemically castrated for being gay—or Bayard Rustin, a key advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., who was marginalized due to his sexuality. Why would anyone choose to face such persecution if being straight were an option?
Finally, you say that LGBTQ+ people should live their lives privately, without the need for parades or activism. But the reality is that, throughout history and even today, people are denied basic rights, employment, safety, and even their lives just for being who they are. Pride events exist because, for most of history, LGBTQ+ people were forced to hide. And protection laws aren’t about special treatment—they’re about ensuring people aren’t attacked simply for existing. Take the case of Roberta da Silva, who was set on fire and killed just because she was a trans woman. These are not isolated incidents; violence against LGBTQ+ people is a documented reality.
I’m sharing this not to argue, but because I believe you care about fairness and human dignity. I hope this gives you something to think about.
Dear 21st Century Guy (that seems to be from the past),
I understand that you don’t see yourself as someone who discriminates, and I appreciate that we can have honest conversations about this. That said, I’d like to challenge some of your beliefs with facts that might offer a different perspective.
You mentioned that “if everyone were gay, the human race wouldn’t survive.” While this may have been a concern in the past, technological advances like artificial insemination and surrogacy have made biological reproduction independent of sexual orientation. More importantly, homosexuality has always existed in human societies and nature, yet populations have continued to grow. Additionally, if homosexuality were unnatural, why would two men or two women be capable of experiencing natural physical pleasure together?
You also argue that people are “influenced” into being LGBTQ+ by media and trends. If that were true, then by the same logic, wouldn’t a lifetime of exposure to heterosexual culture have made every gay person straight? Historically, LGBTQ+ representation has been scarce, and even today, the overwhelming majority of movies, music, and media still portray straight relationships. If visibility alone determined sexuality, we wouldn’t have had openly gay figures like Alan Turing—who, despite contributing immensely to computer science, was chemically castrated for being gay—or Bayard Rustin, a key advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., who was marginalized due to his sexuality. Why would anyone choose to face such persecution if being straight were an option?
Finally, you say that LGBTQ+ people should live their lives privately, without the need for parades or activism. But the reality is that, throughout history and even today, people are denied basic rights, employment, safety, and even their lives just for being who they are. Pride events exist because, for most of history, LGBTQ+ people were forced to hide. And protection laws aren’t about special treatment—they’re about ensuring people aren’t attacked simply for existing. Take the case of Roberta da Silva, who was set on fire and killed just because she was a trans woman. These are not isolated incidents; violence against LGBTQ+ people is a documented reality.
I’m sharing this not to argue, but because I believe you care about fairness and human dignity. I hope this gives you something to think about.
Best,
Gabriel Barboza