Ryan Hennigan
It always seems to be in obscure places like Oregon where things like men getting pregnant happen. As most know by now, Thomas Beatie, a married man who used to be a women before a sex change, has become pregnant through artificial insemination.
One can only imagine the complete chaos an event like this occurring in Pembroke would cause. Enough negative hype has been casted by the gossip created by this issue alone. If this happened in Pembroke, it would greatly affect and disturb the community.
On a national scale, the issue is being perceived as a celebration of human rights and a story of a couple overcoming prejudice and oppression. The doctors refused to allow the man to become pregnant due to concerns over health and religious beliefs, but Mr. Beatie turned to home insemination. However, if the event were local in the Pembroke area, the perception would most be much more negative.
In reality, Pembroke is largely a town of white Catholic or Protestant citizens. By nature, the citizens are rather narrow-minded in their views, turning away from ideas that don't appeal to their traditional Christian beliefs.
Generally, homosexuality is not an accepted idea in Pembroke; especially among the youth at Pembroke High School.
"I hate gay people," bluntly said a senior.
Students that "come out of the closet" at PHS are looked upon with shame and are shunned by others or verbally harassed. This is why students that realize their homosexuality in their high school years often do not confess it to others until later in their lives.
Although the man is married to a woman, Mr. Beatie was born a woman and is, therefore, a lesbian by nature. This fact alone would inspire discriminatory speech and abuse in Pembroke. Most residents would not even want a couple like Mr. Beatie and his wife to be their neighbors.
Furthermore, based on their religious beliefs, the people of Pembroke would be highly against sex changes and artificial insemination (in addition to homosexuality). Christians believe that God created humans in his vision; and therefore a person's natural state of being should not be tampered with.
As sad as it is, there are only two simple solutions to this issue. Either Pembroke as a whole changes its narrow-minded views, or pregnant men stay far far away from Pembroke. With Pembroke having a lack of diversity and being so set on its traditional values, it is unlikely that people such as pregnant men would be welcomed in Pembroke any time soon. The best course of action to create acceptance for people like Mr. Beatie at PHS would be for an organization such as the Gay/Straight Alliance Club to take large measures such as large demonstrations for the benefit of homosexual acceptance.
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2 comments:
Oh Ryan... Where to begin?
First - a sensational quote like the one from the senior should not be identified - if only to save him from his own ignorance. His identity has been withheld here for his own good.
Next - if you choose to use such an inflamatory quote for your opinion blog, you have to take at least partial ownership of the quote. No, you did not say it, but you chose to include it in material intended for posting. You own it now.
And- if you do choose to use such a quote, you should at least balance it with some insight from advisors, sponsors or members of the GSA.
Also- unintentionally, you seem to become a part of the sheltered, small town cartoon you seem to be criticizing. You are painting the whole town with huge, clumsy strokes and making sweeping statements about people who are your neighbors. Don't be so blunt especially about a topic as incendiary as this can be.
Good, interesting peg and attempt at a gripping lede (although people from Oregon may not feel obscure).
I applaud your attempt to handle an issue like this, but sometimes subtle strokes are better.
Things are starting to get hairy
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