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Not really, ridiculed, yes admittedly and unfortunately, even physical attacks are not entirely un-common, but persecuted the homosexual community is not. The connotations associated with persecution are generally on a massive scale such as the Holocaust, Pol Pot's killing fields or the burning of Christians under Nero. However, it is recognised that in the Middle East and some African communities, being gay is a sin, and a crime. So I'm not saying that gays are not persecuted world wide. Just not in the West, or certainly, anywhere I have ever been.
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You want to read up to where I clearly said 'Social acceptance'. There was a case in my university's union a year back where a gay couple were jeered out of the building for kissing in public. The union had to formally issue an apology and pay compensation. And that's in
Glasgow, the former (I think) Gay Capital of Europe. What about in the USA where in Tennesee it's ilegal for teachers to talk about homosexuality? What about all those places in the world where gay people don't have the legal rights that straight people have? You only need to open your eyes and you'll see the reports and the atrocities still commited in many parts of the world.
Talking about gay people, what about the BT of LGBT? Know what my mother's reaction to me coming out was 'That's impossible, bisexuality doesn't exist!' and that's a pretty widespread fantastical opinion. Transgender people are even more at risk. My boyfriend is facing severe persecution by his parents for his desire of wanting an operation to make him female. This prejudice exists and is
deeply rooted in our society.
And a third point: It is a responsibility of all people belonging to
any minority to show solidarity with anyone else belonging to the same minority. This is simple political prudency here. Solidarity with African and middle eastern people who are persecuted on a much greater scale as you say can be shown back here in the west with a gay pride march.
So yeah. It's pretty fucking important.