Imagine a government that denies 1,138 rights and benefits to a certain group of people who have not broken any laws. Would you support this government? In the United States, same-sex couples face exactly this kind of discrimination. Since the 1920’s the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans) community has been fighting for equality, starting with the Society of Human Rights in Chicago, the earliest known gay rights organization (“American” 1). The movement transformed completely from a couple of activists to a widespread protest in the 1969 Stonewall Riots. A gay bar in New York, called the Stonewall Inn, experienced a late night police raid for supposed bootlegging of alcohol. However, after the officers began frisking lesbians and assaulting gay men, the crowd rebelled and refused to be arrested or subdued. Three days of rioting occurred throughout New York streets with cries of “Gay Power!” and “We Shall Overcome!” This powerful uprising sparked the gay liberation movement and pride in sexual orientation (“American” 1). Recently, a spotlight has been thrown on gay marriage, or as Liz Feldman puts it, “marriage. You know, because I had lunch this afternoon, not ‘gay lunch’. I parked my car; I didn't ‘gay park’ it.” Advocates of same-sex marriage emphasize the disparity between the religious aspect of marriage and the civil portion that establishes economic and legal ties. The church can set their own standards in their private domain; however, the government represents a diverse population and should remain unprejudiced in administering its civil policies (Roleff 68). Government action is exactly what the LGBT community needs in order to attain their goal of equality. A boost in civil unions and same-sex marriage legalization is sweepi...
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...ceful impact on mental health. A 2010 analysis published in the American Journal of Public Health determined that after their states banned gay marriage, LGBT people suffered a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol disorders, and a 248% increase in generalized anxiety disorders (“Gay” 3). Some may disagree with homosexuality; however, the mindset and rules about gay marriage are changing. A May 2013 Gallup poll showed 53% of Americans in support of gay marriage (“Gay” 3). The definition of matrimony is headed towards a positive evolution and you can be part of it. This map shows where same-sex orientation is legalized or punished (See Fig. 1/World Homosexuality Laws/World). The severe hate and discrimination that LGBT members face on a daily basis must end. Help change the future by voting “yes” for the legalization of gay marriage in your state.
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?
People of LGBT community keep on facing numerous discrimination and hatred from our society throughout their life. Our society is often unknown and ignorant about the right of LGBT community, therefore, confused about how to respect or welcome them into our society. Because of our unfamiliarity and of lack of knowledge about this LGBT community, sometimes, our occasional effort to respect this community turns into a discriminatory statement towards that community. For instance, our president Donald J. Trump’s statement on LGBT society just points a finger on us of how much we actually know about this society when he states, “There can be no discrimination against gays. I’m against gay marriage”. It shows how confuse we are about the rights of LGBT society that even our president couldn’t make it clear whether he is against discrimination or against the equality of this particular society. There are several other instances when our view on this society as a monstrous one creates many societal discriminations. In many instances, LGBT couples don't offer to enjoy the societal advantages like any other opposite-sex married couples, and consequently, go through several societal discriminations and denied many societal rights and justices. Furthermore, in
Currently, only 13 countries offer rights for members of the LGBT community. Within those countries, few offer equal rights such as health care, marriage rights, and adoption to LGBT members. Many people around the globe would agree that these rights, along with all other rights granted to heterosexuals, should not be granted to these members of the LGBT community. One prevalent notion is that being gay, or being included in the LGBT community, is unnatural. This notion is simply incorrect; everyone, no matter their gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation does, in fact, deserve the same liberties as their heterosexual counterparts. Being a member of the LGBT community has no negative effect on the lives of others unless those people view heterosexuality in a negative light, allowing it to bedevil them, and ultimately change the way they live their life. Being gay is completely natural. Though some would argue that homosexuality is unnatural, others would disagree, being that research has been conducted. The conclusion was that the way people think and feel towards others is s...
President George Bush strongly opposed gay marriage along with most of America 's past and present legislators and politicians. For instance, Minnesota state senator Paul Koering openly came out the closet and admitted being gay when in the past he had voted against the attempted marriage amendments for gays to be legal to unify. Today, more than 35 states have legalized gay marriage. Homosexuals are adopting children because they cannot have one. They take children who were once starving and living in the streets, or abandoned, and take good care of them. I 'd rather see a child with a loving gay couple than to see it sleeping in the street with nowhere to go. Government officials in both state and national offices oppose these laws because if they allow same-sex marriage to occur, they will lose large amounts of votes and supporters will be appalled. The future looks grim for gay marriage with the conservative republicans holding office. Furthermore, legalizing same sex marriage can cause a chain reaction of hostility and violence. Many anti-gay organizations, some resembling the infamous Ku Klux Klan of the 1920’s, will form and be on the doorstep of same-sex couples. This may also perhaps create an international clash and cause other countries to view America more immoral than we already appear which makes gay marriage legalization even more difficult to
basic civil rights protections for GLBT people.” (Currah, Minter p.9) Many of the LGBT population feel like their personal freedoms and liberties have been violated as lawmakers in some states and countries infringe on their personal rights. Passings of legislature that marginalizes the LGBT population is not only unjust and inhumane but it causes sociological and societal implications that question that persons beliefs about themselves leading to the dangerous climate facing the group from within themselves and the population around
The many different forms of discrimination that LGBT face can have adverse affects on their lives. The states that a person live in and how that state chooses to protect the rights of a LGBT has a connection to how mental illness may affect them. According to the American Journal of Public Health, “The association between lesbian, gay, and bisexual status and psychiatric disorders was stronger in states with policies that did not extend protections than in those states with these protective policies.” (Hetzenbuehler, Keyes, & Hasin, 2009) The effect on a person’s mental health due to environmental stressors…………….. State-level policies were associated with a greater prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, defined as having 2 or more disorders. Specifically, individuals living in a state with policies that did not extend protection to lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals had 4.76 times the odds of a comorbid psychiatric disorder than d...
James Howe in his book Addie On the Inside said “Another Thing I 'm Sick of Hearing: If I started that gay rights group, I must be gay. So if i start an animal rights group, what does that make me? A giraffe?” The non-supporters of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Queer) community often think that if you support LGBTQ rights you’re gay yourself. This is wrong, LGBTQ rights can be supported by anyone, and their rights are an acute issue in society. There are thousands of LGBTQ couples who still cannot get married in certain states. There are many LGBTQ couples that would like to adopt children and enjoy their lives, but instead they’re being shunned for being who they are. So with this I think that LGBTQ couples should
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
Wight, Richard. "Same-Sex Legal Marriage And Psychological Well-Being: Findings From The California Health Interview Survey." American Journal Of Public Health 103.2 (2013): 339-346. CINAHL Complete. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.
In conclusion I argue that banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. It is discriminatory because it denies homosexuals the many benefits received by heterosexual couples. The right to marriage in the United States has little to do with the religious and spiritual meaning of marriage. It has a lot to do with social justice, extending a civil right to a minority group. This is why I argue for same-sex marriage. The freedom to marry regardless of gender preference should be allowed.
“It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married” (Procon.org), said Barack Obama the 44th and current president of the United States. The gay right movement started in 1969, riots, struggles, and problems followed after. In today’s society, it has been showed that people are opening up to gay rights. There has been effort in protecting the gays and discrimination against gays is now considered a hate crime and is illegal. However, gay rights still to this day struggle with state and federal legal circumstances. Same- sex marriage needs to be legal, couples who choose to be of the same-sex should be allowed to celebrate their commitment with each other the way heterosexual couples get to, both publicly and society acceptable.
“Self pity becomes your oxygen. But you learned to breathe it without a gasp. So, nobody even notices you're hurting.” Every person who identifies as any of LGBTQPIA, (or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer, Questioning, Pansexual, Intersex, and Asexual) can connect directly to this quote by Paul Monette, who wrote it specifically for this group of people. Thousands of people daily are shamed for being a part of it. They are taught to despise themselves for who they are. “Gay Pride” is a common LGBT phrase for a reason: to teach people who are a part of the LGBTQPIA community that they don’t have to be ashamed of themselves. LGBT rights need a lot of work, but before we can make the commitment to do so, we need to make these groups accepted in all of America, not in only a few rare “safe places.”
The first sustainable gay rights organization was founded in Los Angeles in 1950. This organization was founded by Harry Hay in an attempt to change the public’s opinion on homosexuality. There was hope to eliminate discrimination against this group of people in its entirety and to, “assimilate homosexuals into mainstream society” (“WGBH American Experience”). Homosexuality is best defined as a sexual attraction to one’s own sex. This topic stirs up a lot of controversy as to whether or not these specific individuals should be granted the same rights as heterosexuals including things such as being married, having children, and even joining the military.
Same sex marriages can bring financial gain to the government and could help in boosting the economy. Government revenue from marriage originated from the marriage licenses, higher income taxes on marriage penalty and reduces the cost of state benefit programs. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn in 2012, announced that gay marriage in New York City had contributed $259 million to the city’s economy after same sex marriages are being legalized. Besides that, there would be a decrease in the rate of suicidal when the society could accept them for who they are. By accepting the, they negative attitudes towards LGBT people will reduce and this could help them to avoid being exposed to violence like bullying, teasing, physical assault and suicide related
Why isn’t gay marriage legal yet? How does gay marriage affect people that aren’t gay? Why does it matter to those people? Why can’t gay people have the same rights as straight people? Gay marriage should be legal worldwide. Gay marriage or same-sex marriage is when a man and man or women and a woman get married. Same-sex marriage impacts society in different types of ways, some people are affected by it because they think it is against the bible, others seem to have no impact or problem with same-sex marriage. However for the gay community it affects them, because in some states they are not allowed to marry the one they are in love with it. Also it impacts them because there are groups of people against same-sex marriage and the gay community is constantly being judged by people opposed to same-sex marriage. Seventeen states have legalized same-sex marriage; Thirty-three states banned same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage provides a more stable environment for children of gay couples. Legalizing same-sex marriage does not affect or harm heterosexual marriages. Marriage is a union of love, not a union of genders.