HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS

Homosexual Rights

Homosexual Rights

Introduction When people think of gay rights they think that homosexual people want to have special rights, rights that heterosexuals do not have, but this idea is entirely wrong. Homosexuals just want to have the same rights as heterosexuals, nothing more, and nothing less. Homosexuals are a growing minority with nearly a million gays and lesbians identifying themselves as members of same-sex couples. But the total gay population is much larger, since the census didn't provide an opportunity for single homosexuals to identify their sexual orientation, and didn't count gay couples who live apart. There are no legitimate reasons why homosexuals should not have the same rights as heterosexuals. Our country disgraces itself when it accepts homosexuality as a sufficient cause for deprivation of normal civil rights. If a homosexual is United States citizen, they should receive the same rights as all other citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation. Gay men and lesbians deserve the right to marry, to not be discriminated against, and to be in the military.

Marriage is ever changing

Wives are now equal rather than subordinate partners; interracial marriage is now widely accepted; and marital failure itself, rather than the fault of one partner, may be grounds for a divorce. With all of these changes would it not be accurate to say that legalizing and recognizing same-sex marriages is the next step? Marriage is more than a commitment to love one another. “Aside from societal and religious conventions, marriage entails legally imposed financial responsibility and legally authorized financial benefits. Marriage provides automatic legal protections for the spouse, including medical visitation, succession of a deceased spouse's property, as well as pension and other rights. Same-sex couples do not want to get married to rub it in homosexual couples faces, they want to do it in order to be recognized by their country; they would like to be accepted. Homosexual couples will love each other whether they are married or not, so stopping them from being able to marry will not make them disappear. If anything, homosexuals will be more outspoken because they want to feel like they belong in the United States. Many argue that marriage is a religious ceremony, but that is only true if a person wishes to make it religious (Stoddard, Thomas, 1996).

Most people view the military as a way to give back to their country, but is it fair to not allow certain people serve their country? Openly homosexual people cannot be in the military. Although there have been homosexuals in the military, they are not acknowledged and their sexual preference is ignored. Many gay men and lesbians in the military are ostracized for their lifestyle choices and most drop out because of the open discrimination against them, or they are dishonorably discharged. The military has a “don't ask, don't tell policy” where it is made clear that if you are homosexual, no one wants to know (Nava, Michael, and Robert Dawidoff, 1994). Homosexuality acts and acknowledging ones own homosexuality is banned in ...