Can Education Reduce Prejudice against LGBT People?

Every student acquires new skills through the privilege of learning. Whether in school or pursuing your career, gaining new skills and improving your knowledge is a constant process. Reflect on when you were a five-year-old, learning how to socialize and make friends. No one is naturally born with these skills. Instead, we all had to know social norms, behaviors, and conventions.

With the rise of freedom of speech, more individuals have been expressing their sexuality. With that came the sudden increase in LGBT hate crimes. These crimes target individuals through bias against their sexual orientation or gender. However, such aggressive activities result in deterioration within society. It reduces respect, safety, and connection in a community. At the same time, it increases miscommunication and violence. But can education reduce prejudice against LGBT individuals within society?

Learning About the LGBT Community

As a student, being taught something in class repetitively integrates it into your mind. Hence, school systems should provide examples, lectures, and courses on the LGBT community. Reading and writing samples also encourage you to perform independent research. It would be best if you choose your lgbt essay topics online to provide inspiration for your following essay. This free resource provides you with numerous LGBT issues that work to enrich your existing knowledge. Remember that the more you learn, the better you understand a topic. Educating yourself about the LGBT community is no different.

That said, learning about the community is not limited to classroom education. Professors and schools are responsible for making their students increasingly socially aware. However, the burden will inevitably fall on your shoulders. Hence, resources include reading books, talking to someone within the community, joining rallies, participating in events, and consuming media inclusive of the LGBT community.

How Education Lowers Prejudice & Bias Against LGBT

Altering the law within the country does not terminate the issue at hand. Consider the rule of permitting same-sex marriage in the United States. While it assisted individuals within the LGBT community to get married, the only benefit was facilitating the process. However, it neither ends nor minimizes prejudice and violence against LGBT people. That said, education has the potential to significantly lower crimes. It does so by increasing awareness. Below are the topics and means by which it could do so.

Legislation Decisions Won’t Stop Prejudice, but Empathy

To have empathy for someone, one must understand their point of view. Doing that is a challenging task, but not impossible. Hence, education in this context can be in the form of communicating with a member of the LGBT community and asking them questions you have in mind. However, be mindful of your phrasing, and avoid any accusations. Instead, approach the topic with an open heart and mind.

Accelerated Acceptance is an American poll of people’s acceptance of LGBT. Results showed that 36% were uncomfortable seeing same-sex couples holding hands in public. This is proof that passing laws within the country will not remove prejudice. However, what will reduce it is learning, empathizing, and attempting to understand.

LGBT-Inclusive Curriculums

LGBT-inclusive curriculums assist both its members and others who want to comprehend it. For example, having education about sexual activity within the LGBT community is vital. It provides adequate knowledge, making its members safer and more aware. As for non-LGBT members, including an integrated curriculum allows them to learn about other aspects of the community. Instead of passing judgment, it will enable them to understand the community. That includes knowledge of their feelings, pronouns, identity, stories, and sexual orientation. This also encourages a more open environment where individuals can discuss the topic. This eliminates any misunderstandings and presumptions.

Reducing the Effects of Stigma and Discrimination

Through the study of social sciences and psychology, one knows the impact of discrimination on an individual’s mental health. LGBT news often includes several LGBT members dropping out of high school. Intolerance can cause students to drop out of school and act out. The “Free & Equal” United Nations campaign is set to provide the ultimate atmosphere. Motivating LGBT members to remain in schools and pursue their education is its core. It encourages all LGBT supporters to join the movement. Doing so minimizes the amount of LGBT members dropping out of educational institutions.

Conclusion

The bottom line is education is a powerful tool, regardless of the learning objective. Hence, there is ample bias and misunderstanding about the LGBT community. That makes integrative learning a stepping stone in the right direction. Even if your school curriculum does not include it, pushing yourself to learn is fundamental.

In other words, put yourself in the shoes of an LGBT member. Imagine being discriminated against, misunderstood, and bullied in some communities. Not only does that hinder your academic life, but it takes a toll on your mental health. At the end of the day, each soul is equal, and there should not be a divide between anyone.