Equality of Homosexual Rights Most American politicians believe that everyone should be treated equally especially because it is stated in the United States Declaration of Independence. Our founding fathers wrote these words to protect all individuals. Those Americans who abide by the rules and who are upstanding citizens have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, Americans who are not the typical heterosexual are restricted from their rights even if they are faithful citizens. Gay and lesbian couples are discriminated against and unfairly treated because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination against gay and lesbian couples must be confronted so that those who are trustworthy citizens have the same rights as heterosexual citizens. In this paper, I will argue that homosexual individuals should have equal rights as heterosexuals because (1) hate crimes against homosexuals continues to occur, (2) the discrimination in the workplace is on the rise continues, and (3) the inability to have same-sex marriages is unfair. I believe that this unfair discrimination is unconstitutional and should be addressed immediately. The Executive Branch, in my eyes, plays a big role in the equality of lesbian and gay rights. I believe that the executive branch could provide protection and has ability to help these individuals. Homosexuals are no different than heterosexuals except for their sexuality. Lesbian and gay individuals are victimized by hate crimes and prejudices in our society. In the 1969 Stonewall Riots of gays in Greenwich Village, a lesbian and gay political movement against discrimination of their lifestyle led to homosexuals fighting for their rights (Carter, 2004). This movement and... ... middle of paper ... ... New York, NY: Hereck, G. M. (2006). Legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the United States. American Psychologist, 61, 607-621 Human rights campaign 2013 annual report. (2013 ). Retrieved from http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRC_2013_ANNUAL_FINAL.pdf Hunt , J. (2012, June ). A state-by-state examination of nondiscrimination law and policies . Retrieved from http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2012/06/pdf/state_nondiscrimination.pdf Nadal , K. L., Riveria , D. P., & Corpus, M. J. H. (2010). Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics, and impact. (p. 217). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Obama, B. (2013, January 21). Inaugural Address. Tilcsik, A. (2011). Pride and Prejudice: Employment Discrimination against Openly Gay Men in the United States1. American Journal of Sociology, 117(2), 586-626.
Abstract On June 26, 2015 a divided Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples could now marry nationwide. At the time of the split ruling there were 9 supreme court justices, 5 of the justices were Republicans, and the remaining 4 were Democrats. In high profile cases it is except that the justices will vote along party lines. When the 5-4 ruling was reveled by the following statement. “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right (Corn,2015).” written by
For many generations, especially in North America, homosexuality was not accepted in any way, shape, or form. Many believed that it was a medical illness that was curable, when in reality, people were, and still are, ignorant and could not come to terms that everyone in this world is different from one another. For many instances of being treated unjust, many individuals in the gay community did not want to “expose” themselves and remained in the “closet”. As means to make gays and lesbians proud and take a stand for who they are, a movement spread across internationally. This movement is known as “The Gay Liberation” movement which occurred between the late 1960s and the early to mid 1970s (“Gay Liberation”). The Gay Liberation movement urged individuals of the gay community to “come out,” revealing their sexuality to their loved ones as a form of activism, and to counter shame with gay pride (“Gay Liberation”). The Stonewall Riots are believed to have been the spark that ignited the rise of the Gay Liberation movement; it influenced the way the gay community is viewed socially and how their rights are politically present day.
Gay marriage is a hotly debated issue in today's society. Andrew Sullivan and William Bennett offer opposing views in the June 3, 1996 edition of Newsweek. Sullivan's article, “Let Gays Marry,” offers several arguments supporting the issues of same sex marriage. Bennett counters in his article, “Leave Marriage Alone,” that same sex marriages would be damaging to the sanctity of marriage. Each author presents several reasons for the positions they defend and bring up valid points to defend their opinions. William Bennett and Andrew Sullivan share a mutual respect for the values and sacredness of the bond of marriage. Their disagreements stem from who they believe should be allowed to marry.
Throughout history people who manifested an attraction for others of the same sex usually have gone through a lot of maltreatments, discrimination, and have often been regarded as “sexual deviants.” Relationships between people of the same sex have been present since the beginning of history. Their lives have not always been easy, because they have been persecuted and sometimes even forced to go through a psychiatric evaluation. At the same time, in order to gain their rights and dignity, they had to take their fight to the legal system because as George Chauncey, a professor of history at Yale University mentioned, “although most people recognize that gay life was difficult before growth of the gay movement in the 1970s, they often have only the vaguest sense of why: that gay people were scorned and ridiculed, made to feel ashamed, afraid, and alone” (290). However, discrimination and maltreatment were not the only reasons homosexuals had to take their struggle to the courts. An American professor of history at Yale University, who has testified in a number of gay rights cases, has exposed the ins and outs of the legal system in the second half of the twentieth century. During this time, a great number of states had created laws, which authorized the indefinite detention of homosexuals in mental institutions, and conditioned their release upon proving that they were cured from homosexuality (Chauncey 294). This past history, together with studies conducted by some prestigious institutions have lead society to understand that the right to homosexual marriage is economically, ethically, and morally correct, because it would benefit the economy and society by increasing the federal budget and creating a legal status for homosexual c...
“Equal rights for lesbians and gay men may be the greatest civil rights battle of the 21st century” (Avery 2007, p. 71). Homosexual couples have been fighting a losing battle for years, and their struggle has recently taken the spotlight once again as a burning topic. Over the years, many people have come to support equal love. However, many Americans still advocate the one man-one woman institution of marriage. The fight for equal rights in general has always been a complex issue. African Americans, women, and many other minorities have had to fight for the rights that they hold today. There are many factors involved in gay activism such as support, attitudes, roles, and the implications of the movement. Social psychology takes a particular interest in gay rights and these factors in particular, as it is a current, controversial topic within American society.
"Timeline: Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Gay and lesbian people should have the same rights as everyone else in America. They are being driven away from their rights due to some rumors that Christian observationalists have assumed because of their own religious morals. I feel as though gay and lesbian people should have their rights because they are not as horrid as they assumptions that Christian officials have made them out to be.
The fight for gay rights was never an easy task. Those involved suffered many tragedies and withstood a great deal of anguish because the world didn’t accept them for who they were. Still, there were parts of the Gay Rights Movement worthy of celebration. Despite the fact that homophobia and the mistreatment of the LGBT community still exists today, various actions throughout the decades have furthered the fight for tolerance by opening more opportunities, increasing the amount of support, and creating more equality for those involved.
In a current study done by Blashill and Powlishta they sought out to examine factors that are involved in the negative reactions to gay males. Results indicated significant main effects for gender role and sexual orientation, indicating that males who display femininity, regardless of sexual orientation, are typically viewed negatively (Blashill & Powlishta, 2009). In addition, gay targets are evaluated negatively even in the absence of information about gender role characteristics (Blashill & Powlishta, 2009). In another study done by ...
For many years has the gay rights movement been fighting, since before Stonewall Inn on 1969 and after. Many teens struggle to find out who they are and because of the encouragement and support they meet from people who support gay rights, they come to peace with who they are regardless of what others think, including their families. Many still believe today that homosexuality is a sin and that it’s unnatural but even though it’s regarded as a sin, the LGBT community has fought long and hard to earn their rights and they should have them, the fact that they have a different sexual orientation shouldn’t matter because we’re all human, and we should all be equal.
In today’s society, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community has been more accepted then in years prior, especially in the 1960’s and years prior to that, when anyone in the LGBT community would be horribly ridiculed, if not tortured. However, there still lies a long road for the LGBT community, as it pertains to human rights, equality, and particularly, marriage equality. Each individual has their own perception on marriage equality, whether it is based on moral basis, or on a humanistic (humane) basis, which is the belief of not denying anyone the right to be who they are, and therefore love who they love. However, as a society, we must examine the facts, as well as ourselves, as we address the debate for marriage equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.
"Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement." PBS. WBGH Educational Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.
If the constitution promises equality before the law, what justification can there be for clearing rights to any member of society? More specifically what justification can there be for clearing rights to gays and lesbians? Lots of questions come to mind when the topic of gays and lesbians having equal rights as any other citizen in society would have. Should gays and lesbians have equal employment opportunities? Should they have the right to adopt a child, and should they have the right to marry their own sex partner. Well of course they should have the right to do all of these things just because they are human beings also.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.
I want you to become aware of what we have done and take action to stop people to be happy, to respect their way of thinking, acting, and living. My purpose in writing this paper is to present my points of view on how society has changed as the years go by. Also how homosexuals have fought for many years and all the different struggles they have managed to get the rights they deserve and one day had which were then taken away because they became themselves and also because of the ignorance of some people.