Is LGBTQIA+ being forced on society?

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Subject classification: this is a philosophy resource.

Subject classification: this is a psychology resource.

Nowadays, being homosexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, etc. is relatively no longer considered strange. Everyone is allowed to be who they want to be. But does the whole movement of LGBTQIA+ (abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) sometimes go too far? Do people have to accept everything, no matter how unusual or unique something is? Are the norms and values of this movement being imposed on society?

LGBTQIA+ is being forced on society

Pro

• Pro These days, everything seems to be about LGBTQIA+. Take, for example, the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics. The LGBTQIA+ community is a focal point during the Paris Olympics.
  • Objection Is that forcing, you, personally, to become gay or lesbian? How could it?
    • Objection It's more that it's being enforced in the sense that everyone has to consider everything and that everything has to be normalized. For example, people don't celebrate being heterosexual or cisgender. You can be yourself, but keep it to yourself and don't bother others with it.
      • Objection Unlike heterosexual people, those who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ have been historically oppressed and still are, in varying degrees, oppressed in many countries today hence a need to recognize and/or normalize it. Recognition in this case isn’t about enforcement, but rather, general awareness of it.
        • Objection They are not oppressed in countries like Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, France (the place of the Olympics) and Sweden.
  • Objection People have the choice not to look at things that do not appeal to them. If people have issues with the LGBTQIA+ movement, they can simply turn off the television.
    • Objection But you just can't avoid it anymore. Almost everywhere, there's something to see, hear or read about LGBTQIA+. There are also LGBTQIA+ flags visible everywhere, such as on the streets, on schools, at government agencies, at sporting events, and so on.
      • Objection Is that recognition of a long-oppressed group or "forcing something on people"? Still no evidence of the latter.
        • Objection It's more about the feeling that it's being forced on people, even if that might not be the intention. Of course, these people should be acknowledged, but do it in a subtle way without flamboyantly highlighting how different they are. This also leads to polarization in society. It's the LGBTQIA+ community versus the heterosexual cisgenders. It's better to live and celebrate together without explicitly highlighting what sets us apart.
          • Objection These people should not be acknowledged, as they suffer from a mental illness, such as gender dysphoria. They would be better helped by a psychologist.
            • Objection Not everyone who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ has a mental illness. Regardless, choosing not to recognize them can cause those who do have gender dysphoria to instead stifle their discomfort and prevent them from seeking professional help as it may be seen as weird or not a legitimate concern.
            • Objection Even if these people had a mental disorder, they still have their own inner experiences where they feel the way they feel. It's better to acknowledge that rather than to problematize it. They can certainly go to a psychologist, but that won't necessarily change how they feel. People should learn to accept themselves and learn to live with their feelings, so they should be recognized by society.
              • Objection One can acknowledge it without making it a major subject or theme of politics, culture, and public expression. People can learn to accept themselves without making large public or media events as in the example. In countries like France, there is no notable oppression of LGBTQIA+ people or anything alike that would make this argument reasonable.
• Pro The number of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ+ doubled in 12 years and a 2021 survey should extremely high rise of LGBTQ+ between recent generations.
  • Objection That is because it is now more socially acceptable. This is people doing what they want, not being "forced" to do something. This could be seen as an argument that LGBTQ topics are gaining more recognition, or that there are more LGBTQ people, but certainly not that anything is being forced on anyone.
    • Objection This many people weren't unadmitting LGBTQIA+ people before.
      • Objection This does not refute any of the reasons listed as to why people are naturally now admitting on surveys to be LGBTQIA+.
        • Objection It is not disputed that there are reasons why people do not admit being LGBTQIA+ in relevant data collection methods. However, this does not explain the overall rise, in particular the pace of the rise.
    • Objection The question is not whether or not they are forced to be so, the question is whether this phenomena (culturally, and so on) is being forced upon society, e.g. by a minority that gets disproportionate cultural amplification.
• Pro LGBTQIA+ are a constant major subject of contemporary politics when there are nearly no issues in Northern countries like Germany or Sweden and they already have all the rights they need while other subjects due to which many people prematurely lose their lives or suffer don't get much or any political or societal attention.
• Pro Support for LGBTQIA+ is being required by governments and employers in some parts of the world and opposition is illegal and/or would cause a person to get fired in some parts of the world. For example, a baker in Colorado has faced multiple legal challenges for refusing to make cakes for LGBT clients. In another example, employers such as supermarket chain Kroger often expect employees to participate in LGBT Pride celebrations, and there are significant challenges for those who refuse to do so, such as the two Kroger employees who were fired for refusing to wear an apron with a pro-LGBT emblem. In the United States, critics of LGBT and/or the LGBT movement enjoy some protection under the United States Constitution, and some other countries such as India and Russia have similar freedom, but these protections do not exist in all countries. LGBT "hate speech" is illegal (with criminal penalties) in the European Union and Canada, and in some cases any criticism of LGBT could be considered hate speech. For example, protesting an LGBT pride festival could be treated differently legally than protesting any other kind of festival that does not embrace any sexual orientation. Beyond decrees from governments and employers, people are often subjected to intense social pressure to support LGBT and to not criticize LGBT.

Con

• Con It is good that LGBTQIA+ is being promoted. This allows everyone to be themselves, even if they feel they were born in the wrong body. By giving attention to LGBTQIA+, it becomes socially normalized, which is positive. This encourages people to come out of the closet sooner and to be who they want to be. This way, we develop a more inclusive society where everyone feels at home.
  • Objection You are right about that, but it can also go too far. For instance, the normalization of pedophilia continues to advance. There is an attempt being made to normalize pedophilia as a mainstream lifestyle choice.
    • Objection Pedophilia has nothing to do with LGBTQIA+.
      • Objection It is related in some way. For instance, there is a known case where a pedophile sympathizer support LGBT education for children. By teaching children about LGBTQIA+, pedophilia will gradually become more normalized as well, because people can't help having this disorder and it could be something they are born with.
        • Objection This is a hasty generalization that fails to establish a consistent connection between pedophilia and LGBTQIA+.
• Con In some parts of the world, the exact opposite is true. It is illegal to be gay in 64 countries. In Russia, there is a ban on "LGBT propaganda." Beyond the decrees of governments, LGBT around the world are subjected to social pressures and hate speech.

See also

• Should same-sex marriage be legal?
• Should sex change operations be guided by mental health specialists or psychologists?