Struggle for Equality: A Perspective on Homosexuality

The Declaration of Independence states that; we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. These words were written over two-hundred years ago, and even then, the people believed in the importance of equality. All men are created equal, and therefore there should be no discrimination. It’s 2016 and people are still being beaten, raped, or murdered for loving someone of the same gender as them. Some cultures and religions have explanations for homosexuality, and others just think it’s wrong, but who would choose to be outcasted, unloved by their families, and bullied for their whole life? Since June 26, 2015, gay people were granted the right

(“LGBT Rights in Russia”) Homosexuality has been declassified as a mental illness since 1999 and although gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in the military, there is an unofficial "Don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. (“LGBT Rights in Russia”) In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, which was followed up with a report from the UN Human Rights Commission documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people, including hate crime, criminalization of homosexuality, and discrimination. (“LGBT Rights in Russia”) Following up on the report, the United Nations Human Rights Commission urged all countries which had not yet done so to enact laws protecting basic LGBT

A survey of two- hundred employers showed that 18% would fire someone who was gay or lesbian, and nearly 30% would refuse to hire anyone who was LGBT. A study by the University of Maryland revealed that lesbians earn an average of 14% less than straight women who share the equal age, education, skills, and residence. Results like these are a direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was invoked by the United Nations General Assembly. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it states that “every person has the right to work, and to just and favorable conditions of work” and “everyone, without discrimination, has the right to equal pay”, which is exactly what employers are disregarding. They are taking away people’s right to work and be treated fairly, simply based on sexual orientation, which has nothing to do with how productive an employee may