Erin Zagzoug

LGBTQ Awareness
January 26, 2016

Table Of Contents
1. Introduction
2. My Story
3.Caleb Laieski and Jazz Jennings
4. LGBTQ Facts
5.
LGBTQ Bullying effects
6.LGBTQ Bullying Problems
7. Conclusion
8. Works Cited

Introduction
Have you ever thought about how it would feel if you
couldnt marry who you loved? LGBTQ people can! LGBTQ
marriage only became legal in July of
last year. Marriage isnt the only
problem LGBTQ people face. Theres also
a lot of bullying and disadvantages. You
will read about my own LGBTQ story,
two amazing activists and their
different solutions to LGBTQ problems,
LGBTQ facts, bullying effects and LGBTQ bullying
problems. In conclusion, speaking out about
discrimination against LGBTQ people will help many
people.

My Own Story
I have a story about LGBTQ in my own family! When
my brother, former sister, was in eighth grade, he felt
different from other people and he didnt tell anyone.
Therefore, in ninth grade he got his hair cut short and
he came out as gay (when someone is attracted to the
same sex as they are). Furthermore, in 12 grade, this
year, he came out as transgender (when a boy or girl
feels as though they are actually the opposite sex and
they were born as the wrong gender or sex). As a result

his old name was Katherine, or Katie but now his name is
Dominic, or Dom. In the end he is my brother and I
wouldnt change that for anything. I still love him and
maybe even more than ever.

Caleb Laieski and Jazz Jennings

by Erin Zagzoug

(Left Jazz, 14, right Caleb, 16)

Caleb and Jazz are two LGBTQ student activists that

have different stories. Caleb and Jazzs stories are

similar in several ways. For example, they both have
things to do with the topic of LGBTQ. In addition, they
have helped many people with bullying problems and
other LGBTQ problems. However, they also differ in
several ways. One reason is that Jazz is transgender

and Caleb is gay, two different categories of LGBTQ.

Furthermore they were both recognized in different
ways. Jazz has a TV show on TLC about her story called
I am Jazz and Caleb has been noticed by the President
and got to visit the White House. In conclusion, they both
helped many people and are amazing people.

LGBTQ Facts
LGBTQ is an acronym that means lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and queer. They are regular
people like everyone but, many people think that is
wrong and treat them differently. Consequently, the
legal rights of marriage for LGBTQ people only got
legalized this July. Can you imagine not being able to
marry the person that
you love? According to the
article, 42% of LGBTQ
people report of feeling
unwelcome in their
environment (11 Facts
LGBT Life in America). This
shocking fact reveals that so many people are
uncomfortable in their environment because they were
feeling discriminated or left out. Researchers have

learned that 60% of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at

their school (11 facts LGBT Life in America.) In the end
not bullying LGBTQ people would cause them to feel more
comfortable at school because people wouldnt bully
them. As a result of not bullying, people should feel safe
and happy at school, not fear that something is going to
happen to them. For example, 92% of LGBTQ adults said
they felt more accepted in the last 10 years(11 Facts
LGBT Life in America), the problem is being fixed but it
isnt totally fixed yet.

LGBTQ Bullying
A LGBTQ teen activist was getting bullied, it was a
problem because his friends that are also LGBTQ were
getting depressed and one
even killed himself. If people
stop bullying kids for being
LGBTQ then the suicide rate
will go down. Caleb even had
to get a lawsuit to make sure
he was safe at school. Caleb said Being a youth myself,
I feel that this opportunity will allow me to bring a
young persons perspective to the administration this
means he wants to show kids his age younger and older
that it doesnt matter that you are LGBTQ.Therefore,

Caleb, my activist, made an anti bullying act and

everyone that bullied them was put into place. As a
result, Caleb got to go the White house for an LGBTQ
pride reception. He lowered the LGBTQ suicide rate and
he helped so many people with his anti bullying act.

LGBTQ Bullying Problems

The effects of bullying are significant because they
put people down and hurt people. My activist Caleb was
inspired by other teens and wanted to help out with the
bullying of LGBTQ students.
Kids are walkin around the
hallway plagued by pain in
their heart a world is so
hateful some would rather
die than be who they are
said Macklemore, a famous
singer/rapper, who is very
passionate about LGBTQ. He
made an anti bullying act
because one of his closest LGBTQ friends committed
suicide . Because of these outcomes, it is important that
you help people that are being bullied and never make
fun of someone because they are LGBTQ.

Conclusion
As long as you are happy, does it matter who you
fall in love with? Someday, I hope that LGBTQ people are
fully equal with heterosexual people and dont get bullied
for their feelings. I will not stop speaking out until my
hope and dream is fulfilled. Seeing
how many LGBTQ people feel so
bad that they want to commit
suicide hurts me. They should not
have to feel that way and no one
should. I will read more articles
to solve this problem and maybe
even be an activist myself, like Jazz and Caleb. If
everyone is kind and understanding, we can change the
discrimination to love.

Works Cited
Pecikonis, Linsey. Bullied Gay Teen Meets with President
Obama, Proposes LGBT Youth Advisor. lgbtqnation.com. 17
August 2011. Web. 29 January 2016.
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/08/bullied-gay-teen-me
ets-with-president-obama-proposes-lgbt-youth-advisor/
Gay teen advocate to serve as diversity liaison in
Phoenix mayors office. lgbtnation.com. 24 March 2012.
Web. 29 January 2016.
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/03/gay-teen-advocateto-serve-as-diversity-liaison-in-phoenix-mayors-office/
11 Facts LGBT Life in America. dosomething.org. Web.
1 February 2016.
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-lgbt-life-am
erica
Adam Peck.
Louisiana Republican Introduces Bill to Ban
LGBT Rainbow Flag From Public Buildings.
nationofchange.org. Web. 8 July 2013. 1 February 2016.
http://www.nationofchange.org/louisiana-republican-intr
oduces-bill-ban-lgbt-rainbow-flag-public-buildings-137329
1952

Joseph Neece. Join Jazz Jennings for a chat on msnbcs

Facebook page!. msnbc.com. Web. 22 July 2015. 1 February
2016.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/jazz-jennings-msnbc-faceb
ook-chat
John Riley. Battling the Blood Ban. metroweekly.com.
Web. 12 October 2014. 1 February 2016.
http://www.metroweekly.com/2014/10/battling-the-bloodban-2/
Paul C. 42% of America Hates Gay Kids, Says New
Survey. care2.com. Web. 11 July 2012. 1 February 2016.
http://www.care2.com/causes/42-of-america-hates-gaykids-says-new-survey.html
Natalie Hope Mcdonald. Queer You and Bullied.
phillymag.com. Web. 3 April 2012. 1 February 2016.
http://www.phillymag.com/g-philly/2012/04/03/queer-youn
g-bullied/
Jason Bellini.
Rates and mode of bullying and
harassment of LGBT and non-LGBT youth in the United
States as of January 2011. statista.com. Web. January
2011. 1 February 2016.
http://www.statista.com/statistics/292956/lgbt-and-non

-lgbt-youth-rates-and-mode-of-bullying-and-harassmen
t/