The Gay and Lesbian Community, Essay Example

It is practically impossible to watch the news on television or go online without seeing stories about homophobic behavior. Sometimes this behavior is deadly, such as in the case of Jessica Durto of Portland, Oregon. This story caught my attention because the victim in this case was so young.  Durto and her boyfriend Brian Canady beat Durto’s 4-year-old son to death, and Durto’s behavior appears to have been motivated at least in part by homophobia. In a posting on Facebook,  Durto told Canady that her son Zachary was going to grow up to be homosexual, and that “he walks and talks like it

Some of the most inspiring members of the LGBT community are those who serve as examples of how normal their lives are. Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres is one example. She came out at a time when it was still not common for celebrities to publicly acknowledge their homosexuality. Since then she has built a successful talk show and married actress Portia DeRossi. Ellen’s example shows the public that members of the LGBT community are no different than anyone else. Ellen also supports a number of charitable organizations and causes, including Stand Up to Cancer, The Gentle Barn, Children’s Health Fund, and countless others. Her example inspires me to become a leader and to devote myself to the ideal of helping others.

Las Vegas Pride is an organization that first began promoting LGBT-pride parades and other events in 1983. Since then the organization has become a leading group in the challenge of promoting LGBT rights in Nevada.  http://lasvegaspride.org/about.html

The first policy initiative is to set up a special medical screening process for inmates age 55 and over, to ensure that as much information as possible is collected about their health care needs. Older inmates staying for more than 30 days, whether on hold for court appearances, transfers to prison, or serving their entire sentences in county jails, would be housed in separate age-appropriate cell blocks to assure the best possible medical care and to avoid victimization from younger inmates.

The Bill introduced to Congress would be designed to review the sentences of all non-violent offenders over a certain age (for example: 55 years or 65 years). Inmates who fit the criteria would be eligible for early parole. A specific parole team would be developed to help transition inmates into the community, offering assistance with living arrangements, enrollment in health care programs, and other assistance designed to ease the burden on the community of releasing these inmates.