Taiwan was the first Asian country to legally acknowledge LGBTQ couples and has a history of strong support for LGBTQ rights. The country passed laws that protect and allow LGBTQ couples to wed. However, discrimination in Taiwan still keeps popping up everywhere, and it starts as early as junior high school.
Although Taiwan has created many laws to protect LGBTQ couples, they are not enough to completely stop discrimination. This is why Taiwanese officials should create laws to protect LGBTQ kids still in school.
The incident of the Rose Boy
Teachers almost never hear about their students being LGBTQ, so many don’t know how to react to LGBTQ students. But not knowing what to do is not an excuse for teachers to ignore their students when they are in need of help. If adults keep ignoring LGBTQ children, these kids could become depressed and even possibly commit suicide like the Rose Boy.
The incident of “the Rose Boy” started out with rude comments and harassment. Rose Boy was an openly gay high school student. When the boy was at school he would wait until class started to go to the bathroom because homophobic boys would pull down his pants to harass him. Rose Boy continued to get harassed and the teachers he asked for help either ignored him or thought he was exaggerating.
Then, one day he went to the bathroom after class had started but never came back. The teacher went to check on the boy and found him dead on the bathroom floor. The school claimed that the boy had a heart attack, but therapists and experts believe that he ended his own life, or that the bullies killed him.
A student in school who is still dependent on adults, who gets bullied and is ignored when asking for help, is four times more likely to commit suicide than straight kids because they feel like they will get no help from adults such as their parents or a teacher. This is why LGBTQ+ students need more protection.
Laws and regulations that could protect LGBTQ+ kids in school
To prevent future harm to LGBTQ kids, schools should begin teaching kids at the age of five that there is nothing wrong with people of the same gender having feelings for each other. Government officials or any adult with authority could give speeches about how people should not judge others because of their feelings.
There should also be laws protecting not only adults but also kids that are still in school who face discrimination or severe bullying.
Penalties are necessary for both children and adults if they discriminate against or assault an LGBTQ child in school. For children, their penalties would range from minor fines to suspension from school. As for adults like teachers, penalties could range from heavy fines to a short period of time in prison.
Establish laws to protect LGBTQ people
Although Taiwan has made many changes to protect LGBTQ people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people are still getting hurt and judged. This is why government officials have to seriously consider establishing laws to protect LGBTQ kids.
We all need to think about what we say and the effects of our words before we discriminate against LGBTQ people.
Dear Kira…..
I am blown away by the sense of compassion that came through your words. It is not easy to witness injustice, and it is most compassionate to be able to do so and to stand up for those who could not yet for themselves.
I am really happy how you are using your voice. It may not be an easy road, but it is worthwhile to speak your truth of what you think and feel. I see that you are sensitive enough to have empathy for those who suffer, and also strong enough to express your points of view based on what you learned.
I am very very proud of you.