This is National Coming Out Week, a time for those who feel they belong to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community to share their identity as something to be proud of. Some of you may be wondering, “Why does the gay/queer community need this?”

I think that’s valid in this situation. I think that’s a genuine question that deserves a response. So, to illustrate my answer, allow me to transport you to a world I constantly inhabit: a world of extreme cynicism.

Ahem. Let us begin.

So … you’re coming out as a heterosexual, are you? Are you sure about this? Have you considered the implications?

Have you thought about the process? Telling your friends? Sitting down with each individually to tell them the shocking news? It sure is going to be awkward telling friends of the opposite sex. I’m not sure if they’ll be comfortable around you anymore, what with the perpetuated and stereotypical notion that you’ll only want to get into their pants.

My goodness, what about your parents? What will they think? Surely you know about the young men and women tossed out of their homes, disowned, beaten, or killed for this.

Remember the moment you decided you were straight? That defining time in your life when you decided that this was not a phase? That you could face the discrimination that comes with this chosen lifestyle?

Now, I’m not trying to sway you here, I’m very proud of you for coming out — It must be incredibly difficult for you. But, that being said, are you … are you sure this couldn’t be a phase?

I just don’t understand why you feel you have to be this way. Why you have to go down this route. It’s so dangerous.

For example, did you know that worldwide, 85 percent of the annual human immunodeficiency virus infections reported are caused by heterosexual contact according to The Hopkins HIV Report, published in May of 2000? With the obvious promiscuity, focus on sex and abundant drug use in the heterosexual community, is this something you really want to be flaunting, as many open straight people do?

In a study conducted in 1992 by Dr. Carole Jenny and in subsequent studies, it was shown that heterosexuals comprise more than 99 percent of those who molest children. Is it possible that a childhood experience corrupted you into this lifestyle?

Along with these troubling statistics, Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology shows that 50 percent of first marriages, 67 percent of second and 74 percent of third marriages end in divorce. As a heterosexual yourself, I’m wondering if you can tell me why straight relationships are so unstable?

All right, this is getting pretty ridiculous. Enough with the sarcasm and the attitude, it’s time to be serious again.

Let me explain what it is I am not trying to do. I am not trying to say that being in the LGBT community is any harder or less difficult than being part of any other minority.

I’m also not trying to say that anyone need give a seal of approval to those in this community. Sometimes beliefs — religious or otherwise — dictate that you not do so. I understand and respect that. No church or institution should be forced to promote behavior they disagree with.

Key word there of course is “forced.” I sincerely hope and wish that churches and other organizations would simply come to accept those of the LGBT community on their own, but I’m not going to make them.

Still, all of these things we cannot do should not prevent us from acknowledging the struggles facing this community. It should not mean we cannot fight against discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice.

It does not mean we cannot admire the bravery and courage of those who “come out” and openly announce who they feel they truly are.

It shouldn’t matter whether you’re gay, straight, transgender or anything else on whatever gender or sexuality spectrum you possess. But until society at large actually thinks that and coming out is no longer seen as a noteworthy event in a person’s life, I’ll gladly stand up and point out the fallacies of the mindsets we currently possess.

Straight populations shouldn’t see the LGBT community as something to oppose. For that matter, the situation shouldn’t be vice versa either. Coming Out Week is not about boasting, bragging, arguing or fighting. It is not about holding one life up above another. The event is meant to spark discussion. As shown in the alternate dimension picture I’ve crafted above, a lot of people take their stance for granted and don’t analyze their own position.

All I’m asking is that you inform and analyze. That you look before you leap.

— Sophie Prell is a junior in pre-journalism and mass communication from Alta.