Gay Rights
Every family has one, the uncle that always brings fat and ignorant women home for Christmas. No one approves, yet no one says anything. Why, because it is his life. No one has the right to judge him simply by whom he dates or doesn’t date. Just because he likes fat women, does that mean he deserves fewer rights? Of course not, no one would ever try and take any away from him. How is that any different from the aunt that brings home another woman for Thanksgiving? How can she be discriminated upon simply because of whom she is dating?
Homosexuals should be entitled to all the same rights as straight people. They are no different than the rest of us. They simply choose to date different kinds of people. We should all be able to date whomever we want without fear of discrimination. Instead however, many homosexuals are denied the rights we take for granted. For example, in Colorado they have a constitutional amendment that forbids laws protecting homosexuals from discrimination. In other words, discriminating against homosexuals in Colorado is not only perfectly legal, but the state government is against trying to create an equal opportunity for all.
Colorado is not the only discriminatory government however. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, voters have repealed gay rights laws or enacted anti-gay rights measures in more than 45 communities nationwide since the 1970’s. In Normal, Illinois, the City Council rejected a proposal to add homosexuality to the city’s anti-bias ordinance. Last March, only two days after the Lansing, Michigan, City Council approved a civil rights ordinance that included protection for gays and lesbians, a group calling itself the Majority Opposed to Special Treatment gathered hundreds of petitions to rescind the law.
Whatever happened to all men are created equal? It seems to me that the people of America consider all men, exactly the same as they are, to be created equal.
Freedom of choice is “the right to exercise one’s freedoms in any manner may choose except where such act may obstruct or prevent other from exercising their freedoms, put oneself or others in danger, or exceeds a statutory limit (BusinessDictionary).” Same-sex marriage is not legal in every state but more and more states are beginning to allow same-sex marriages. I am not a homosexual but I do not disagree with other people being homosexual because it is their choice. Marriage is a choice everyone has to make. Homosexuals, unfortunately in most states, do not have this choice. Is this fair?
After the Stonewall Riots, the 70s and 80s saw the rapid growth of gay-rights organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign which demanded social and legal reforms. These groups encourage gay men and women to campaign for government positions, leading to the elections of prominent gay rights activists like Harvey Milk and Barney Frank (Levy). In 1993, the Supreme Court of Hawaii indicated a belief that denying marriage to same-sex couples could be sex discrimination, becoming the first state to address the issue. Although voters a...
"The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute... The principle requires liberty of taste and pursuit; of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character; doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow; without impediment from our fellow creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them, even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse or wrong." This quote from John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, lays out the philosophical groundwork for the right to privacy. Although the United States Constitution does not explicitly guarantee this right, the Supreme Court through landmark cases such as Roe v Wade, Griswold v. Connecticut, and Eisenstadt v. Baird have judicially established privacy rights under limited zones relating to marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, childrearing, and education.
Throughout American history, we have seen the United States become more progressive in their social issues, such as the abolishment of slavery, women’s suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement. But as time has passed, we have encountered another group that is being discriminated against: homosexuals. Some states try their best to give equal rights to homosexuals so that they are respected as equally as everyone else. But in many states, such as Kansas and Arizona, private companies and businesses are given the right to turn down homosexual couples if it interferes with their religious beliefs. These two states also included places like hospitals where homosexuals can be denied from medical attention. These laws are very inhumane and are very hurtful to a large population of people today. But what if the people in states such as Kansas and Arizona think it is okay to have these laws instilled?
As granted by the United States Constitution, everyone is entitled to equal rights. The Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Gay rights are forgotten many times and equal rights for same-sex marriage are often ignored. For this reason, federal authorities have left policymaking regarding this topic up to individual state governments. Many people throughout the United States, and across the world, have extremely different views on the subject; some because of religious reasons, others because of family, others because of how they were raised. The policy of gay marriage and equal rights is an extremely touchy subject, and is much deeper than what it may seem.
As a United States citizen who was born in the new millennium, I was brought up with the idea that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This statement was one of the main sources of fuel for the Civil Rights Movements in the mid 1950’s/60’s in the United States. Minority groups have often been mistreated in the United States culminating in movements much like that of the women’s suffrage movement, civil rights movements and now a movement toward equality for the LGBTQIA. In the last few decades a new minority group, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and allies, and their struggle to attain their right to the pursuit of happiness. This small makes up roughly 4 percent of the US population. Though many say that gay marriage will weaken the moral foundation of our country, it should be legalized, not only because banning it is unconstitutional, but also because strips people of their human rights
America and many of the countries of this world have based their constitutions around basic human rights and rights achieved through the actions of their forefathers. We have strived, since the early colonization of our land, for equality and refuge for unjust prosecution. Despite this, in our advanced, 21st century society, there is a group of people who are still denied a basic natural right. The gay and lesbian community have been fighting for equality since the founding of the Society for Human Rights located in Chicago, formed in 1924. For 89 years these people have been denied their natural rights to be happy and wed in holy union. Historically people have fought, and won their freedoms and rights, and traditionally, gays and lesbians
Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. An upstanding citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the rights of an American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Gay and lesbians are constantly denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even if they are upstanding citizens. They are held at an unfair disadvantage simply because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must end because gay and lesbian couples are law-abiding citizens too, who should be offered the same rights as heterosexual couples. Same sex marriage should be legalized because it is their civil rights, it encourages strong family value and leads to the increasing number of child adoption, and the same sex marriage also brings a lot of financial benefits.
Although The United States is known as the land of the free, equality for all, the Constitution masks the fact that this country is all but equal and free. Dating back since the beginning of its’ rise, the country's government system fails to seek equality for everyone. Even though not all members of society are treated unfairly, the majority of women are not provided the same opportunities as men.
In America, are all men created equal? No, in America not all men are created equally. Some people are rich, and can live lavish lifestyles, while others are barley getting by. America is an extremely segregated nation with many social classes.
Everyone should be able to get married, adopt a child, go to school, or get a job without having to worry about being discriminated against. However, this is not the case. In most places same-sex couples cannot even do any of these things, and if they can they get discriminated against while doing so. Homosexuals and same-sex couples absolutely are the most discriminated groups of people.
Gay rights have been an issue for many years now. Many People believe they should have their rights and many people believe they should not have their rights. Gays need their rights because they are like every other human being; gays have two legs, two arms, two eyes, etc. The only difference about gays is their interests, but other than that they are like every other person. What happened to “All Men Are Created Equal”? This is stated in the constitution. Gays have been around for a very long time, and they’re not going anywhere any time soon.
I also believe that a person who is homosexual should be given the same rights as any other heterosexual person because after all, we are all human beings. Many may say that “oh yes, the Bible condemns it” but the Bible also said to “Do unto others as you would like them do unto you.” I think that we as humans have developed this negative behavior to when it comes to difference. Some may compare homosexuality to incest and molestation and rape but such a comparison is quite unfair, as with incest, molestation and rape, there is no free consent to it.
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.
As the years have passed, homosexuality has become a very controversial topic. The fact that day by day they fight for equality just to be happy, I think it is an injustice that many people refuse to give them the rights they deserve.