GAY RIGHTS
Kimberly Abuajah 5/21/2011 Severston AM Lit 1st

 

GAY RIGHTS

Animals are eukaryotes meaning, like most, they are sexual. They reproduce by selecting a mate to donate a cell that will then undergo meiosis therefore surviving their species. This process is the same for humans, but unlike most animals, humans are capable of love expanding their purpose beyond surviving. However, some people have a different sexual orientation than the norm: homosexual or bisexual. Homosexual is when the same sex is attracted to each other and bisexual means a person is attracted to both sexes. Like most events/people that are unfamiliar or out of the norm, homosexuals arent tolerated. Rights are denied and they are perceived as second class citizens and treated like they are unworthy of life. However, sexual orientation does not determine someones status quo as a citizen (let alone a human being) thus equality is just. This issue affects homosexuals, families and our culture. `In the year of 2007, Miami Hospital kept a woman and her children from seeing her dying spouse of 18 years because of her sexual orientation (Parker-Pope). (A hospital visitation law was passed earlier this year). In the year of 2011, White House refused to allow a civilian representative of gay and lesbian military families to be present at First Lady Michelle and Obamas Military Family Initiative kickoff event at the house (McMillan). Our culture, although softening, are strong in being intolerant, even the youth, according to statistics 28% of homosexuals dropped out of school due to harassment (Lesbian). The government has the power to solve this issue. They can pass clearly defined laws togrant homosexuals rights. Although equality rights are already in effect, the government can adjust these rights for the homosexual society, including article 3 which states equal rights of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights and article 26

 

stating that all persons equal before law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of law and article 2 of which states without distinction of any kind (The Universal). People need to know the rights homosexuals are denied and the way they are treated. Out of fifty states, only six states allow same sex marriage [Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont] and only two recognize marriages by same sex legally entered in another jurisdiction [Rhode Island, Maryland and New York], however seven states do allow approximately the same amount of state level spousal rights to same sex couples within the state [California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington], however 1138 benefits are not granted to homosexuals because those benefits are based or marital status (Marriage Equality). Because of this, homosexuals are denied the right to adopt [except for in Arkansas and Minnesota if the same sex couple successfully petitions] (Parenting) although research shows that children in same sex families have been found to be as welladjusted as children raised in heterosexual families (Gay Parents). Opened gays are not allowed to serve their country in the military (Gays). Even employment is hard in the gay community with only twenty-one states prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation (Statewide). These are just some of the rights denied, but not only are their rights unequal to heterosexual, they are treated disgustingly. According to FBI there were 7163 hate crimes in 2009 and 18.5 % were based on sexual orientation, homosexual youth report abuse at shelters (11 facts), and many people are murdered because of their sexual orientation. The unalienable rights enumerated to the people in the Declaration of Independence includes, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, you dont need the Declaration of Independence to be granted the right to love, that right is embodied in everyone. Homosexuality is when a person is attracted to

 

the same sex, and they have full rights to do so. For some, the orientation was present at birth, most times because they feel they were supposed to be born of the opposite sex, for others its a realization as they get older, either way, its their life which the Declaration of Independence gives us the right to have. Homosexuality is an orientation thats tolerably intolerable. This continuation of hate crimes and denied rights has and are continuing to cause a stigma. In 1922 in Japan, Naval Petty Officer Third Class Allen R. Schindler Jr. was beaten to death by two fellow soldiers for being homosexual (Gays). This action helped enlarge the idea that gays should not be allowed to serve our country. In 2004, a study of Israeli soldiers concluded that the 1993 lifting of a ban on gays had no effects on the nations military effectiveness (Gays). This idea that gays should not be allowed to serve in the militaryexemplifies thatthe real problem does not lie in homosexuals; it lies in those who forbid them, ignorance and hatred. Homosexuals are treated as AfricanAmericans were in American history. Fifty-three percent of students report hearing homophobic comments by school staff, twenty-eight percent of gays and lesbians dropped out of high school because of harassment (Lesbians). This ongoing intolerance attaches itself to our culture. This hateful culture leaches itself onto families, destroying them. Thirty-four percent of lesbians reported suffering physical violence at the hands of a family member, twenty-six percent of [homosexual] youth are forced to leave home because of conflict with families and eightypercent of [homosexual] youth report severe isolation (Lesbians).Growing up with this culture leads to justified hate crimes. In the year of 2000, Steen Keith Fenrich was murdered by his stepfather for being homosexual (Cossell). Also occurring in the year 2000, Danny Overstreet became a victim of a hate crime when a homophobic shot out a gay Caf that Danny was in (Cossell). In 2006, a transgender was tortured and sexually murdered for days before being

 

brutally murderedkilled by a hoard of fourteen boys between ages ten and sixteen raised to hate faggots(Cossell). Gay life partners of fourteen years were shot and killed together in bed while sleeping; they were parents (Cossell). Of those very insufficient cases mention, their lives being ended short was justified by their killer: they were gay. From an outside view, America seems to be tolerant. America has many gay campaigns, a pro-gay TV shows mostly aired on an American pro-gay TV channel, Logo, and they alsoallow gay porn. (Gay porn America allows but marriage, they do not. Doesnt make much sense, but so doesnt the hatred.) Many third world countries forbid homosexuality. This is not a new issue; however this act of not accepting homosexuals is due to the many religions and the concept of fertility. In almost every ancient culture studied, archeologists find fertility statues. Homosexuality goes against this culture, and like most foreign ideas and objects, homosexuality is rejected. In Irans case, homosexuality is exiled; two teenage homosexual boys were hung for their sexual preference (Cossell). People dont look up to America on this issue. People look up to their religion and/or the culture they grew up with. America was founded for the spread of the gospel. Most of our laws were written with the Bible as a back bone. In the Old Testament of the bible, gays were stoned for being gay. Thus, America has many Christian protesters ready to knock buildings down to make sure homosexuals arent given rights because they belong in hell. However, Christianity is a loving religion, and in the New Testament, stoning people and judging people became wrong, but hatred and culture gets in the way of this knowledge, pressing people down in ignorance. America is seen as a land of the free. So why arent homosexuals free? Well, it doesnt matter the answer because America being founded by Christians is the excuse and its always has been the excuse since the establishment of the Ku Klux Klan, since the kidnapping of Africans forced to live their life as a slave thousands of miles away from home,

 

since the genocide of Native Americans, since the Salem Witch Trials and since the city on a hill. Intolerance for so long is almost irreversible. Homosexuals are condemned globally for their choice in love and that is how its been for a long time.A man stated, Gay marriage should not be allowed due to the traditional duties imposed on married couples, [kinship system] (Schulman). So what? If homosexuals are missing out choosing their lifestyle, so be it, it shouldnt concern the community. Accepting homosexuals doesnt hurt anybody, even for religious people, it is not a sin to accept. Jesus, a prophet in the religion of Christianity, Muslims and certain Judaism, ate dinner with sinners; he didnt condemn them, nor take away their rights. One of the commandments says to love thy neighbor. Accepting and educating people about homosexuality and their rights, gradually can decrease hate crimes. Also, in terms of free enterprise, allowing gays to marry would mean more marriage license profits. When homosexuals are approved the permission to adopt, that would lead to families, which would then lead to more family consumption. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thats what the Declaration of Independence gave to America, better yet, ENFORCED to America because those three gifts are God-given, birth-given. Who are we to take that away out of hate? Out of ignorance? Out of no reason at all? Homosexuality is a sexual preference of love and it harms no one. Its the hate or the intolerance that has harmed the world time and time again. Homosexuals have the right to be who they are, homosexual. With that, they should be given the same rights heterosexuals are given. We are all humans. Give homosexuals their rights.

 

Works Cited "11 Facts about Gay Rights." Dosomething.org. Web. 4 Apr. 2011 Belge, Kathy. "A Look at the Difference between Civil Unions and Gay Marraige." About.com. Web. A Apr. 2011. Cossell, Robb. Gay Hate Crime Faces and Stories. TrueHateCrimes.com. Youtube, 2007. Youtube.Web. 20 Apr. 2011. Fisher, Max. "Liberals Hail Obama's Order for Gay Hospital-Visit Rights - National."The Atlantic Wire. 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. Gay Facts and Statistics in 2011.Fact and Statistics.The Gay Law Report. 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011 Lesbian and Gay Statistics GayFamilySupport.com. GayFamilySupport.com N.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. Marriage Equality and Other Relationship Recognition Laws.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 25 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. McMillan, Dennis. "Republicans Have No Shame regarding Dont Ask Dont Tell." San Francisco Bay times. 14 Apr. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. Parker-pope, Tara. "NY Times Advertisement."The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. Parenting Laws, Joint Adoption.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 12 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011.

 

Schulman, Sam. The Worst Thing about Gay Marriage.Weekly Standard Vol. 14, No. 35. 01 Jun. 2009: 24. SIRS Researcher.Web. 19 Apr. 2011 Statewide Employment Laws and Policies.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. Statewide Hate Crime Laws.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 1 Jun. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Welcome to the United Nations. N.p. N.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2011

 

Bibliography "11 Facts about Gay Rights." Dosomething.org. Web. 4 Apr. 2011 Belge, Kathy. "A Look at the Difference between Civil Unions and Gay Marraige." About.com. Web. A Apr. 2011. Cossell, Robb. Gay Hate Crime Faces and Stories. TrueHateCrimes.com. Youtube, 2007. Youtube.Web. 20 Apr. 2011. Fisher, Max. "Liberals Hail Obama's Order for Gay Hospital-Visit Rights - National."The Atlantic Wire. 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. Gay Facts and Statistics in 2011.Fact and Statistics.The Gay Law Report. 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011 Hospital Visitation Laws.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 25 Jan. 2011. Web.21 Apr. 2011 t. Lesbian and Gay Statistics GayFamilySupport.com. GayFamilySupport.com N.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. Marriage Equality and Other Relationship Recognition Laws.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 25 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. McMillan, Dennis. "Republicans Have No Shame regarding Dont Ask Dont Tell." San Francisco Bay times. 14 Apr. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. Parker-pope, Tara. "NY Times Advertisement."The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 18 Mar. 2009. Web. 4 Apr. 2011.



Parenting Laws, Joint Adoption.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 12 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. Schulman, Sam. The Worst Thing about Gay Marriage.Weekly Standard Vol. 14, No. 35. 01 Jun. 2009: 24. SIRS Researcher.Web. 19 Apr. 2011 Statewide Employment Laws and Policies.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. Statewide Hate Crime Laws.Human Rights Campaign.The Human Rights Campaign. 1 Jun. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Welcome to the United Nations. N.p. N.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2011