I expect the same respect in return which I give to others. I think respect is very little to ask for . It takes more energy to hate. We must find the voice to overshadow the silence GLBT people have faced in the past and continue to face everyday. It all starts with one person stopping a slur, an inappropriate joke, or any other visible oppression.
Silence ultimately equals death.
Each voice that breaks the silence brings us closer to a life of justice and respect for everyone. I feel silenced because as a grad student that has a partner, my partner does not have the same opportunities to participate on campus that heterosexual couples receive. Recently I showed interest in wanting to do a paper focusing on the sexuality of an author and my professor told me that doing a paper on the author would be acceptable but that her sexuality had little to do with her writing. It s hard being an ally even in the music school. My instructor is gay and everyone respects him for his playing ability but then behind his back they all make jokes about him being gay.