English 2850, GLBT Reflection
Before taking this class, I was completely unaware of so many things within the GLBT community as well as the History of homosexuality. The fact that there was even a history at all, aside from the late 90's films I had seen. Taking this class has opened an entirely new door when it comes to history and GLBT rights, what people have been through in order to be themselves and in order to have to freedoms they have now. There is an entire world out there and a lot of people are unaware of the struggles and harassment the community has been through since the dawn of time. From the world war, to 1477 when Katerina Hetzeldorfer was the first lesbian to be executed. Society seems to have hidden all of the details of what has happened within the GLBT community. This semester has honestly been a life changing one, I've taken classes that have challenged me, as this class did as well. It challenged me to really be able to understand the big picture, I've become a more empathetic person after learning that GLBT people in Iraq have been murdered for acting on their natural emotions, not to mention several other countries that experience similar treatment to this day. It makes you want to become more of an activist, to take advantage of what freedoms you do have in life and this country and to put it to great use, because I guarantee if a lesbian or gay male in Iraq had the chance to make the kind of differences we have the opportunities to here in the US, they would jump on it in a heartbeat. The fact that this type of class even exists; it is something that should be a requirement in our society. Perhaps, we would see less hate as an outcome/result. Education is what teaches us to be a moral fair society, without it we are lost and left with nothing but hearsay and opinions. Taking this class has eternally changed my opinion, and outlook on the way I will look at and approach life.