Liberation
Liberation is the act of setting someone free from oppression, imprisonment, or slavery. I believe that regarding sexual orientation as something that develops over time can even be liberating to oneself. Meanwhile, I do also how being born in a society that assumes gender and sexual orientation, being deemed a certain gender can also be liberating.
Often I hear stories of people “coming out of the closet”. This is the moment in which they decide to reveal either their gender identity or their sexual orientation. While most people may describe this process to be scary and stressful, they are ultimately relieved and feel “free” after the deed is complete. This is because while someone may have been pretending to be straight their entire lives to abide by social standards, they are finally liberated. This is because they can now live their truth and be exactly who they really are. I have seen friends struggle with their identities because they felt that they had to hide who they truly were (sexually) in order to be accepted by the rest of society. After building up the courage to express their true identity, they felt as though they were free from the imprisonment of themselves. Instead of hiding their sexual orientation through means of how they dressed or acted, they later felt free.
When a person is born, they are either assigned the male or female gender. I believe that if a person is born with male anatomy, grows up to use the gender pronouns of he/his, and is attracted to women, that is a liberating act. This is because he is set free from oppression. His anatomy and biology make him a man who is attracted to females, being set free from the abuse and ill-treatment that other people within the LGBTTTQQIAA community face. For centuries, transgender people have been targeted for hate crimes. Gay people are openly attacked for liking and wanting sexual relationships with the same sex. Just a decade ago, American citizens were not legally allowed to marry someone whom they loved if they were the same sex as them. This is why I believe that being born the gender you will identify as and being straight can be liberating in a sense. This is because it can protect you from the harassment that others face.
Hi Anastasia,
ReplyDeleteI want to ask you for further clarification about a sentence from your post: "I believe that if a person is born with male anatomy, grows up to use the gender pronouns of he/his, and is attracted to women, that is a liberating act." I'm not sure I understand what the "act" is that you are referring to here. The trajectory you described doesn't seem to highlight any acts in particular. Furthermore, I'm not totally sure I follow how this connects to the question of whether it is more liberating to consider sexual orientation something that one is born with or something that develops in one's life?
Perhaps in your second paragraph you are suggesting that what is most liberating is being out about one's sexual orientation, regardless of whether one was born with that orientation or it developed--is that what you had in mind?
Take care,
Dr. Nora
Hi Dr.Nora!
DeleteI tried to argue two sides to answering the question.
What I attempted to state with that quote was that a cisgender straight man is liberated by society. This is because unlike homosexual man, a straight man is "liberated" or freed from the abuses and harassment of society.
Meanwhile, a non-straight man takes his liberation into his own hands, liberating himself from the lies of pretending to be straight.
They are liberated in different ways. Straight people are given a "free pass" from the judgements of society. Meanwhile, members of the LGBTQ+ have to search within themselves for acceptance and liberation.