We do not have to be gay to support gay rights!

My classmate in primary school, maybe in second or third grade, had the best handwriting. My friend was also good at painting and cooking. We usually played with other girls during the break.

The problem was that my friend was a boy. And as most people think, cooking, painting, good handwriting or jumping rope is only for a girl, or for someone who is gay.

Other classmates called him “gay” or by other slangs related to “gay.”

“Hey, he acts gay; don't play with him.”

At the age of 8, it made me wonder about what was wrong with being gay.

I am from Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia, where most people are still conservative and do not want to accept new things. Most of them still think being gay is a disease, being gay is gross, and we should stay away from gay people.

I, by contrast, believe that everyone has equal rights. People do not have to be the same and there is no rule to judge others.

I believe that #EveryoneIsEqual and #LoveIsLove. There is nothing wrong with being who you are.

That is also the purpose of S.A.F.E, Society Alliance for Equality, an organization to raise awareness for LGBT+ rights. We do not have to be gay to support gay rights. We do not have to feel exactly like them. But, at least, we want to know about them.

I, of course, cannot force you to support LGBT+ rights. But, when we know something about the LGBT+ community, we can somehow put ourselves into their shoes.