This is a letter to everyone who has ever thought that they are of higher caliber than anyone who doesn’t identify as heterosexual.

I’m not trying to be rude, but you’re pretty much the reason why the queer community feels like it doesn’t matter. Because of you, they have to defend their given right to love whoever they want, regardless of sex or gender.

Let me ask you a question. What does hating on the LGBT+ community do for you? What benefit do you receive from it? Does it make you happy to know that you’re making an entire group of people afraid to express who they are? Does it make you feel good to know that people like you are the reason senseless murders like the Pulse nightclub shooting are occurring?

I get it, some of you are extremely religious, whether you’re Christian, Catholic, Muslim, or Jewish, and want to stick to your beliefs that the only acceptable sexuality is heterosexuality, but guess what? Most religions that condemn gay people are also the same religions and beliefs that strictly teach you that you’re in no place to judge others for what they do, say, or believe—that’s for God to judge.

By putting yourself out there and outwardly saying that the queer community is “wrong,” you are actually insulting your God by investing so much unwanted authority in yourself.

In other words, don’t try to be God. You don’t make the rules and you are no better (or worse) than anyone because of your sexuality and self-identity.

It's something that a lot of countries have to work on. Homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in many places, especially in predominantly Muslim countries. It's sad, especially because it isn't directly written in the Quran anywhere that homosexuality should be punishable by death—that's a decision up to the lawmakers of the different Muslim countries.

The same goes for premarital sexual intercourse and adultery. Take Turkey, for example. 99 percent of the country's population is Muslim and there aren't any anti-LGBT+ laws enforced there. In Islam, it's actually recommended to repent for your sins instead of being punished for them because God is seen as a forgiving figure. This includes even the smallest sins, like wasting food.

Learn a bit from your books, people. You don't have to support gays, but you have to accept them for who they are and love them for whatever they choose to believe. It's sort of hypocritical for you to deny the same rights you have to the LGBT+ community. At the end of the day, you're honestly in no place to judge anyone for their beliefs.

I'm straight, but I know what it feels like to be an outcast. I'm a Muslim and I wear a hijab. People look at me and immediately associate me with lots of derogatory things. The thing is, we are all the same. We're all equal here. Regardless of sexuality, gender, race, size, or religious belief, we're all the same.

As long as people who identify as queer are not hurting others or themselves, there’s really no point in shutting them out so harshly. By doing so, you’re creating a toxic environment for people who are simply trying to live their life the way they please. It’s sad to see that the LGBT+ community has to defend their GIVEN right to love whoever they want.

If you really don’t support homosexuality or any other non-heterosexuality, that’s fine. Just keep it to yourself.

Most (if not all) of this hate stems from religion anyways, so if you sincerely can’t stand someone because they aren’t straight, be quiet and let your God do the judging. If you think they’re sinners, just remember that everyone sins in different ways. To you, queers might be sinning, but aren’t you sinning as well for judging people so harshly?