My Research Paper: Gay Rights (not revised: score of a 95)
For decades American homosexuals have been discriminated against. They have been stripped from their rights, bruised, and battered with hatred. For what? Are gays any different than anybody else in the country? No. They breathe the same air we do, they eat, sleep, and work like us, they fight for the country, and they are human beings. Why aren't they being treated the same?
Most of the rights that Americans receive when they are born into this country are taken from them when they come out of the closet as being homosexual. Laws that prohibit gays to openly serve in the military were passed. Other laws such as the one that bans gay men from donating blood ("Banned for life: Gay men still can’t donate blood.") and laws stating that gay fornication is a crime of nature and is, in some places, classified as a felony ("United States Sodomy Laws"). All of these laws are against the United States Constitution. Those laws do not follow what is said to be the most important part of the Constitution, “all men are created equal.”
Because of these laws being set in stone and now being enforced by the authorities, the gay population organized parades and protests. There were riots breaking out and protests nationwide. People were being dragged out of bars and known gay hangouts and arrested just because they were excused of being gay or openly gay. Others were dragged into the streets and beaten. In the late 1970's in San Francisco, there were marches and protests against a new law that said gays could not teach or work in public schools. If they were openly gay or allegedly gay they were thrown behind bars (Sant).
Recently in 2012, Michelle Bachmann, a Republican Congresswoman, campaigned against gay rights. Having a lot to do with religion, Bachmann's home town and other religious rural locations were and still are effected. There are no gay support groups and no safe zones for gay students attending high schools in these areas (Erdely 1). They are trapped. Gay students no longer feel safe at their schools. Many students that miss school are afraid of being harassed and bullied for their sexual orientation. In 2011, a teen suicide epidemic occurred in Bachmann's home town. In the school districts that she represented, 9 students committed suicide due to bullying. Out of the 9 students, 4 of them were openly gay. Aside from these 9 there had been many more suicidal attempts in high school and even middle school students (Reporter).
Statistics show that heterosexual students are less likely to be bullied, attempt suicide, and skip school than students that are homosexual. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students are two to three times more likely to attempt teen suicide than other students. 1 out of every 3 gay or lesbian teens have attempted to take their own lives("MBNBD"). These students are also reported to be 5 times more likely to miss school trying to avoid the bullying and constant harassment. Other studies show that 30 percent of all completed suicides in the United States have been related and due to a sexual identity crisis. Not only are kids being physically assaulted and verbally harassed, but they are not telling teachers. Many bullied students have reported to teachers and said that teachers have done nothing in response. Nearly two-thirds (about 60.8 percent) of these kids that were physically assaulted and harassed at school never reported to school authorities. The statistics are all recorded based on surveys that organizations send to school districts. The staff members then have the student body fill them out (Statistics).
The rights of heterosexual and homosexual Americans vary from each other. Again, doesn't the United States Constitution state that all men are to be created equal? For instance a heterosexual couple, man and woman, can get married in any state. They can also adopt a child if they please. If a lesbian or gay couple wanted to get married they would have to select a state that allows them that right and that freedom. Out of the 50 states only 6 allow gay couples to elope. Shouldn't this be up to the persons themselves who they marry? If they want to adopt a child they can't either. Only 9 out of the 50 states allow gay people the right to adopt children. Most states only allow married gay couples to adopt children. Single gay people and unmarried couples are not allowed to adopt. Does that make sense to have laws like that but also have laws that prohibit gays from getting married? If they can't get married then how are they suppose to be able to use their right of adoption?
In recent years the law that banned gays from openly serving in the military was repealed. The law “Don't Ask Don't Tell” was the reason for many men and woman in the armed forces to be discharged from their duties. If they fight for our country, and for our government, and for our people should it matter who they are attracted to? Many places of employment discriminate against sexual orientation. Gays are less likely to get jobs if they are open with their sexuality. Some employers find out that a person is gay and end up tossing the job application in the trash and give the job to someone who is heterosexual. Do gays have a bad work ethic? Can gays not do the jobs that straights can? Are gays to be considered handicap in the work field? Not only is it hard for homosexuals to find jobs that are not discriminating, but it is hard to find housing. Some housing developments and communities will not allow gays to buy homes (“8 Things Gay People Can't Do”). These are whole neighborhoods that are secluding themselves from people simply because they are different. Are gays suppose to live on the streets? Are they not capable of keeping a household together?
The United States is rather open minded in comparison to other countries. Globally there are only 5 countries that allow gay marriage. The United States of America is working on a nation-wide law that accepts gay marriage. Some of the states that don't allow homosexuals to elope, allow them to have a civil union. A civil union is similar to marriage, but is still not labeled as marriage and does not have the same insurance polices. It is a specific type of union for same-sex couples. Civil unions are excepted in many other countries as well. However, the many countries that make gay marriage impossible have strict and sometimes fatal laws prohibiting people from being gay. Many countries in Africa have placed a death penalty on homosexuality. Less scary consequences such as intolerance of the matter and prison time are commonly seen in other similar countries. Uganda has just passed a bill that is actually called the “Kill The Gays” bill. Unlike these countries, places like Amsterdam have been allowing same-sex couples to marry for years. After the first few years of divorces it is no longer a political concern or matter (Sterling).
Gay marriage and gay civil rights should be accepted everywhere. Gays are no different than straights. They have the same blood, share the same air, fight for the same reasons, and are human beings. They are people. Many of the laws that were made to support anti-gay politics and beliefs have been repealed. We no longer have them. The country has a long way to go before gays are thought of just like anybody else, but we are, as a country, making progress. Gays can come out of the closet legally and not be afraid of being arrested and publicly humiliated. By 1973, homosexuality was taken out of the Mental Illness Diagnostic Manual (“Born Gay”). There are now teachers that work in school districts that are openly gay. Even after all this national progress though, gays are still not accepted where they need to be. Children are still being bullied at schools, people are still losing job opportunities, people are still having trouble being accepted into some housing developments and neighborhoods, and people are still hiding who they are from their close friends and family.
The country's media now states that we are very diverse and accepting, cultural wise. Are we? If two people are in love and happy together and want to get married they can't, just because their both male or both female. Gay students are being bullied because of their appearance and sexual orientation. Does that make sense? If we want freedom for all Americans we need to rethink how we are treating each other as a people.
Should we allow people who are bias towards any minority or group to run for leadership in our country? If we do it would bring forth more discrimination and more legal issues in political parties. So why don't we think about the different ways that could potentially change this country for good and for the better. It will take time and it will take us as a people to accomplish this.
If gays have to keep to themselves and can't parade around and preach to people about how being gay is right, in their minds, why are the churches able to do so? People from some religious backgrounds go around to people that are, in their beliefs, against god and preach. They tell them that if they don't believe in god that they will burn in hell and that they are possessed souls. How are they allowed to do this? Why aren't there laws against bantering people for not believing in the same thing as you. There are laws saying that we have the freedom to say and believe in what we want as individuals, but there are not laws that protect people of different backgrounds from being bantered and harassed for being different. If we are going to protect one person we need to protect the other. We want and need a country that treats everyone as equals. Equal salary for the equal amount of work done, equal marriage rights for everyone, equal health care for everyone, and equal rights for ALL minorities, no matter how different or how small.
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