To be an advocate means to publicly voice an opinion about a cause. It could be a cause that you are very passionate about, or have had prior experience with. For as long as I can remember, I have been an advocate for adoption because through experience, my dad was adopted. I am also an advocate for organ donation due to my mom undergoing a kidney transplant. What do you advocate? Unfortunately in American society, we have stigmatized them, along with different social and minority groups. Here are examples:
"i support research to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, so I must have the virus."
"I stand with women and abortion/reproductive rights, so I must have had an abortion in the past."
"Marriage equality should happen, so I must be a member of the LGBTQ+ community."
No. No. And no. This is not what our founding fathers had in mind when they said we could simply and freely stand up for what we believe in. Being an advocate means so much more than being falsely included in a group. It is about expressing your opinion and beliefs and values and standing by them without fear of what the other side will think of you.
Our culture has told us that if you don't side with the majority, then you are looked down upon and seen as weird. But what is the majority? Could the majority be the state of Alabama's Electoral College voting primarily for Republican candidates? Or what about Christianity being practiced nationwide? Yes, those are large groups of people, but if you don't abide by these rules of society, you are ostracized or excluded from being described as Americans.
I believe America was found by immigrants, so we should not be cruelly treating Native American people by building a pipeline on their sacred land. We also shouldn't have to discuss which restrooms people use.
A challenge I see daily is colleagues being automatically set into a group just because they are gay. Because they are black, mixed, Asian, etc. Being an advocate for something you believe in is rewarding. Not only are you speaking up but you are in turn helping other people who might have the same thoughts as you do. Advocating for transgender rights opens you up to seeing their perspective of things on a daily basis. This also rings true to a same sex couple trying to adopt a child.
Being able to advocate for something and not listening to the stigmas of society helps you and the things you are advocating for. Although a campaign to stop an issue doesn't necessarily make it go away, it does bring notice to communities and starts conversations. Such as an issue like child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, it happens everyday. But advocating for it to stop brings awareness, and possibly lets you talk to people who have undergone abuse as a child.
Advocating is a personal choice. Only you can stand up for what you believe in.
What do you advocate?
