I grew up in a semi-religious but open household and have many religious fanatics on certain sides of my father's family. Although I still never officially came out to the rest of the family, I have stated many times that gender means nothing in love or that I don't care what gender a person is or what gender they are prior. I know for a fact that I would be alienated from certain parts of the family because of my view of love. My story is not as bad as some families'. Teenagers are thrown onto the streets because they enjoy same-sex relationships or incessant bullying from peers or family. Suicide is the only option young adolescents can think of. Often the LGBT community is discriminated against due to religion, fear and others think it is unnatural. Religion is the main factor of discrimination against the LGBT community. Anti-gay clerics often cite homophobic passages from the Bible, defending their religion and their right to be against their LGBT neighbors. Some groups are more tolerant and accepting of their neighbors. According to an interview with Redman (2006), one reverend said, “Even though some of our toughest opponents come from faith, so do some of our strongest supporters” (p. 198). Religion often plays a role in politics and legal issues in court. Even though our country is supposed to separate church and state, that doesn't stop the justice system from allowing religion to play a large role in deciding a bill. Freedom of religion should not trump the life, liberty, and happiness that our ancestors decided to found our country on. However, because people fear the unknown and refuse to participate in their education, the cycle continually goes in circles. natural world. Works Cited Bennett-Smith, M. (July 9, 2013). Homophobia, sexual prejudice motivated by fear of unwanted sexual advances from gays and lesbians: Study. HuffingtonPost. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/homophobia-fear-unwanted-advances-study_n_3566556.html Byfield, L. (2002). In a few years, the Bible will be banned. Report / Newsmagazine (BC Edition), 29(13), 9. Douglas, K. (2009). Homosexual selection. New Scientist, 204(2737), 48-51. MacFarlane, G. and Markwell, K. (2004). HOMOSEXUALS, NATURALLY. Nature Australia, 27(12), 52-59Newman, E. (2011). LGBT people fear being treated in long-term care facilities. McKnight's Long-Term Care News, 32(5), 22. Redman, D. (2006). “Where All Belong:” Religion and the Fight for LGBT Equality in Alabama. Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law and Justice, 21195-212.