by Lynette Alice

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

As sad and unjust as discriminating against anyone is, the practice lives on everyday. People are discriminated against in so many ways and for so many different reasons everyone falls victim to it at some time, some on a very regular basis. Discrimination as we think of it in America has mostly been aimed at people of color, those practicing certain religions, and the LGBT community. Of course there are so many more groups of people based on economics, the way they dress, talk, physical or mental challenges, and on and on. One group that usually has been relatively free from discrimination are heterosexuals. Rarely has the heterosexual community found them self on the outside looking in, however this is now a growing trend as the practice of heterosexual discrimination from the LGBT community is on the rise.

This article is prefaced by saying discrimination is wrong. Discrimination is hateful and petty and serves no real purpose but to accentuate the differences in people rather than elevate their similarities. With that being said, in some of the recent cases of gay on straight discrimination, I can understand the motivations and hope that something positive comes out of them in some way rather than what I personally fear will be an increasingly ugly trend. My hope is that any LGBT persons who read this will think logically and fairly about this issue.

To paint a clear picture of what one face of gay on straight discrimination looks like, consider a recent episode in Florida. A woman books a special area of a club for a party. She doesn't say what the party is for, nor is she asked. She is informed that the club doesn't actually reserve areas of the clubs for parties, but that if they wish to have a space of their own it is advisable to arrive early and just physically stake claim to the area. The woman understands, and two weeks later she and about twenty women show up at the club with gifts overflowing from their arms. The man at the door asks a question that seems innocent enough, "You're having a party of some sort?" The woman replies "Yes, a bachelorette party!" This is where the problems begin.

Bachelorette parties have become increasingly common at clubs which are geared towards gay men. There's great music, a lively atmosphere, plenty of shirtless guys that are happy to just dance with anyone, and aren't going to hit on the women. It sounds like the perfect scenario. The problem is the club does not allow bachelorettte parties for heterosexuals. The

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