Society tries so hard to fit everybody into a stereotype or a label, and are so quick to think in black and white. Why does this have to be the way that we live and view people? Specifically with sexual orientation. It seems as if the LGBTQ orientation list is getting longer and longer. When did people start caring so much?

I do not see the importance of identifying yourself as bi, straight, gay or lesbian, because sexuality is constantly changing and it is a fluid thing. I know there are people who are most definitely into the opposite sex, people who are most definitely into their own sex and the people in the middle, but that shouldn't exclude the people stuck in between this spectrum of sexuality.

When people ask me if I am into women or men, I never give them an exact answer to their question. I answer with this analogy: I do not like vanilla and chocolate ice cream equally. I prefer to have chocolate ice cream BUT (and there is always a but) if I see a scoop of vanilla ice cream and there isn't any chocolate around, I will take the vanilla because I still want ice cream because it makes me happy.

Simple right? Not so simple when you aren't talking about ice cream, but people you want to date. I also think it is ridiculous that if you are anything but straight, there is a societal pressure to "come out of the closet." Coming out is a very awkward thing and it shouldn't have to be such a huge deal because straight people don't have to proclaim their straightness. People also shouldn't be afraid to express their sexual orientation if they decide that is what they want to do.

Sexual orientation is not a defining characteristic. The only thing sexual orientation changes is who you are attracted to. The only time I will need to know somebody's orientation is if I am looking to date and even then, all I need to hear is that somebody likes me for me. There doesn't always need to be an explanation. I think this concept is partially what causes such divide in society because we don't view people as human, but as gay, or as black or white or fat or skinny. Labeling doesn't only apply to sexual orientation, but I think it is hard for people to realize this when norms cause us to claim such a strong identity.

People need to see things are a spectrum of colors, and not just black and white. I think this can cause progression and result in a world where people are people and they treat each other as such and not with whatever label is placed upon them by pressure.