This week was the LGBTQ leg part of the course that I wasn’t able to attend due to my other class at Miramar. So many wonderful stories written from my peers in their reflection blogs. Someone wrote about speaking with 2 elderly men and one of them explaining how they waitlisted at the north park apartment complex that we visited last quarter because the list was about 500 applicants long! That is so insane and makes me feel so sad because during that time that they are waitlisted where do they go? They do not have a home and have to make do with whatever they can. Another interesting conversation that I read was that a lot of gay men were, “going back in the closet,” and hiding who they really are when they began living in senior community centers because of fears of being judged or not feeling safe. This is truly hard to hear; it breaks my heart to know that individuals do not feel safe or comfortable enough that they have to resort to hiding again – especially at an older age.
There are still so much that needs to change in terms of the type of support and acceptance that the lgbqt community receives. One of my peers wrote how in the Hispanic community there are still some judgment and intolerance within that community towards gay individuals. Even though we have come a long way there is still so much more that needs to be done. Speaking up in situations or environments where comments are being said or actions are being conducted that are not okay is a huge way in being allies and supporting the community. Especially a movement that needs to be heard.
There are still so much that needs to change in terms of the type of support and acceptance that the lgbqt community receives. One of my peers wrote how in the Hispanic community there are still some judgment and intolerance within that community towards gay individuals. Even though we have come a long way there is still so much more that needs to be done. Speaking up in situations or environments where comments are being said or actions are being conducted that are not okay is a huge way in being allies and supporting the community. Especially a movement that needs to be heard.