Final Blog Post.

It seems like we finally made it to the end of the rainbow!

With the cultural reporter project coming to an end, I'd like to finished up with some closing points.

 

Studying the LGBT culture over the past few months has made me realize how much more we have in common than what we don't have in common. "Human emotions are the same throughout the world. Knowing that someone laughs, cries, and is scared the same as you creates an empathy that is important to understanding other cultures" (Danielle 2010). I feel this quote is very true when it comes to the LGBT culture. Gaining a intercultural relationship is important in itself, but I feel everyone should experience a friendship with a person from the LGBT culture once in their lives. It is a very rewarding experience to involve yourself in any type of intercultural relationship. 

"Empathy is the capacity to 'walk in another person's shoes'" (Martin & Nakayama 2010). One important thing to do with any other culture is to imagine yourself in their shoes. I feel this process may be easier for other minority groups, but no one can really know what it feels like except for those experiencing it. I focused my video mostly on Minority Identity Development so that people from other cultures can really have an insight on some the LGBT's identity development process. 

Because the coming out process is sometimes a very personal things among the LGBT people, I chose to create a survey asking what it was like, and the stages they went though.

Link To Survey

Many of the answers were outstanding, and some were almost hard to believe. 

Next I will post a few questions I asked relating to the Minority Identity Development, and some answers I received.

Stage One: Unexamined Identity

Was there ever a point in your coming out process in which you participated in "gay bashing", such as saying things like "that's so gay"?

Answer:

"It made me feel worse about myself, but I feel its the only way to safe guard my secret. Its a lose-lose situation."

Stage Two: Conformity 

Was there ever a point where you followed the social norms of straight people, instead of exploring your own? 

Answers: 

"A lot during school, I wanted to fit in. Stopped me from ever being happy though."

"I let people believe I'm talking about a guy instead of a girl sometimes."

Stage Three: Resistance & Separatism 

How was your process of rejecting the social norms, and accepting the values and attitudes of the LGBTQ community?

Answer:

"I slowly started telling my friends that I was gay and starting hanging out with more gay people as I went to a gay youth group. That experience really was monumental in helping me meet members of the community and learn to love myself."

Stage Four: Intergration 

This stage is basically the final coming out of your sexual identity, could you write a little about your coming out process and the emotions attached to this?

Answer:

"Before I felt like the world wouldn't accept me for who I am, but so far almost everyone that mattered in my life has reacted positively. It made me feel more confident and better about myself. It was one of the best decisions I made in life."

There were plenty more questions and answers where that came from, some very heart wrenching, but I saved the most for the final video.

link to final video

Overall I would love to end this project knowing that one day we will look back on the hatred of the LGBTQ culture as outlandish as racial segregation. This was an amazing experience, and I don't regret a second of it.

Danielle. (2010). Culture, communication, and intercultural relationships. (p. 396). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Martin, J., & Nakamaya, T. (2010). Striving for engaged and effective intercultural communication. (p. 469). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. 

Arnold, M. (2011, 12). Minority identity development survey. Retrieved from http://www.surveybuilder.com/s/JiaBk4jJAAA?source_id=3&source_type=web

Cultural Report Two; Application of Intercultural Theory.

The intercultural concept I am choosing to examine is Minority Identity Development. Minority identity is a sense of belonging to a non dominant group, aka the LGBTQ's. Coming out of the closet isn't just something you decide overnight, it takes time. There are many stages LGBTQ people go through in their lives, and I thought the minority identity development was perfect my culture. 

• Stage one is described as the Unexamined Identity. In this stage people do not, and have no interest in exploring their identity. "Gay people may try very hard to act 'straight' and may even participate in 'gay bashing.' (Martin & Nakayama. 2010. Identity and Intercultural Communication. p.173).
• Stage two is described as Conformity. In this stage many people of the LGBTQ culture often try hard to make sure no one really finds out who they are. They follow the social norms of the majority group, and shun those of their own. For example, there is a term called Beards. A beard is a man or woman who is used as a cover for a gay partner. For example the famous actress Fran Drescher's husband of 21 years came out that he was gay just after they divorced in 1999. He had confirmed to the majority for so long instead of living out his life the way he wanted to.

• Stage three is the resistance and separatism of the culture. "Sometimes the move to this phase happens because individuals who have been denying their identity meet someone from that group who exhibits a strong identity" (Martin & Nakayama. 2010. Identity and Intercultural Communication. p.176). I think this is why its so important that we have LGBTQ resources in schools and universities. WIth these centers LGBTQ peoples can find others who can relate to them more so than the majority of heterosexuals. 

• Stage four finally is integration. In this stage the person has finally accepted their identity. I feel this stage of integration relates the greatest to transgender peoples. The most shocking identity acceptance I've seen are in children whom believe they are the opposite gender. In the following video there is a young child who was born a certain way, but strongly believe their identity belongs to the opposite gender. This part one of the video shows the parents thoughts of their son becoming a daughter at such a young age.

Tyra part 1 Transgender children and their parents speak out

Based on this concept there are many stages to coming out in the LGBTQ community. Advice I would give to future intercultural communication is to realize that the LGBTQ community is very different than others. It takes time for them to correctly identify with who they really are, and how hard it is to identify with that. For example some homosexual people say things like 'who would choose to be bullied and tortured throughout their whole life.'

Another thing I think people need to take into account is the seriousness of coming out. " Many young LGBT people are undermined when they try to talk about their sexuality and gender identity, by parents, teachers, and even doctors dismissing their feelings as a phase" (AVERT). I think people coming out can tell from a very young age that they are different from others, and should most always be taken seriously when entrusting someone with something so fragile like their sexuality. 

I have already interviewed a few members of the LGBTQ community, but in my next blog I will dig deeper into the thoughts of these individuals. 




Sources:
Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2009). Intercultural Communication in Contexts. New York: McGraw-Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOFGSHGJlc
http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=vi
http://www.avert.org/coming-out.htm

Mariah's Cultural Reporter Blog

The most interesting culture I've seen in my life would be the LGBTQ culture. I chose to study this culture because its always been something I've been fascinated with, but have never experienced much in real life. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgendered, and Questioning. From watching channels like Logo, I feel I get to see a sort of perspective into the culture, but because it is television it can get very one sided. Television can make the gay culture appear many sort of ways, good or bad. For example they may make the gay culture seem over sensitive, or they could appear very loving, mostly depending on what show you are watching. Overall I am just very excited to dive in to this culture and get to know more.


Over the years I've followed many internet famous gay men. Some of them men include, Matthew Lush, Chris Crocker, and Perez Hilton. All of which are some of the most interesting people I've ever seen.  These men truly create a culture among them, and its simply beautiful. And although this community seems big, there are many in it who feel very small. 


The it gets better project began in September 2010 after the many suicides of bullied gay teenagers throughout the nation. It was created to show young adults in the LGBTQ community that they are not alone, and it does get better.

When watching videos like this I'm almost brought to tears. It makes me realize how loving and caring the LGBTQ community is, despite the stereotypes given. 


LGBTQ is a culture because they are not just your average day people, they are a tight knit, loving community. They share so many qualities with one another. They all are at some point confused and scared, and most all need help, but some may have a harder time finding it than others. Many clubs, and groups are formed among high schools and universities. These groups help the LGBTQ community grow as a community, and help individuals grow as humans. 


One big problem for me, because I enjoy the culture so much, is how gays are treated in public. In this video a hidden camera shows homosexuals being treated wrongly at a restaurant. All are actors, including the waitress, except for the bystanders who are being tested on what they would do in that situation. 

I was very surprised to see how many people stood up for the couples. It was nice to see how people cared, even if it wasn't their life choice, or culture. 


Diving into this I'm honestly excited. I realize our school has a very large QAC (Queer Ally Coalition), and that will help a lot while doing my project. I also have made a few gay and bisexual friends since I've gotten here. So far they break many stereotypes I've had before. In the end I can't wait to begin this project and dig deeper into this wonderful culture. 






http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a4MR8oI_B8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhl9MLno424