June is here and with that comes a very important time for the LGBTQ+ community, a time for recognition and reflection in the world on how we can all come together and accept each other for who we truly are. Throughout history the LGBTQ+ community has been discriminated against for many reasons and are still treated poorly to this day by people for just being themselves. 

This is why HRI ran a special event this month specifically for the acceptance of this community. This month is a time to recognize the past ordeals we have had and how we can improve our relationships in the future by working together and understanding each other. 

I am in Grade 9 and the number of times I’ve heard the F-Slur just tossed around like another word is surprising because it is not just an ordinary word. It is a word used to discriminate against the community just like any other slur, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t mean harm or don’t use it to insult someone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

One huge issue that took place in the community was the AIDS crisis. AIDS is a contagious STI that rampantly spread throughout the Gay community in the 1980s, and nowadays we recognize that it is able to be spread in all peoples. But at the time it was thought that this very deadly STI could only spread in the LGBTQ+ community. This severely increased the false stereotypes towards the community, and it was very tough for anyone who was openly gay at the time due to the fear of the community. 

Many things have happened in the world that have spread a negative perception about the LGBTQ+ but if we use this month to reflect on our past and how we treated each other we will be able to recognize the faults we have had and leave those in the past so we can make sure the future is a better place.