Post by kitcatxu on Oct 16, 2003 18:23:21 GMT -5
Homosexual relationships are rapidly becoming more commonplace as times goes on. More people are becoming open about their sexuality and it is becoming more widely accepted. However, a lot of people in today’s society feel the need to regulate the actions of homosexual relationships, such as marriage. In most states same sex marriages are illegal. There are, of course, many arguments in favor and against these marriages, but the fact is marriage is a contract. No one has the right to decide which consenting adults can or cannot engage in a contract together. The laws against same sex marriages are discriminatory and unconstitutional as same sex relationships are becoming more usual and are based upon the same values as heterosexual relationships.
The causes of homosexuality are unknown. Many theories, such as chemical imbalances or genetics have yet to be proven or have been disproved. Homosexuality is also not a disease, therefore it cannot be cured. So far, it has never been proven that there is any physical difference between homosexual and heterosexual people. In some cases it is believed that homosexual people can chose either to be gay or straight. If that is in fact true, then the opposite must be true as well. Heterosexual people can either chose to be gay or straight. The real fact is that sexuality is not a choice. It is not learned, just the same as heterosexuality is not learned. It is something that a person is born with and gradually comes to terms with as he or she grows into maturity.
Some people believe that homosexuality has only been around since the nineteenth century, yet there are suggestions that it dates as far back as Biblical times (Cruikshank 57). In the early ages sodomy was equal to heresy, which is why the fear of homosexuals or the non-acceptance often has a base in religion. Today is very different from Biblical times. Homosexuality is very different today as opposed to the way it is shown as a parallel to sin in the Bible with the story of Sodom. There is no reason to equate homosexuality with sin because being homosexual does not make a person immoral. Morality is about making right and wrong decisions based on conscience which has nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with personality and character. A heterosexual person is just as likely to be immoral as a homosexual person.
In today’s society homosexuality is not as hidden as it used to be. People are learning to be proud of what they are. There are now gay movements to get more rights for homosexual people. It is similar to the feminist movements. Females became tired of being treated as if they were insubordinate to men. It is the same for homosexual men and women. They are tired of being treated as a subculture.
The first step they had to take to end the stereotyping is “come out of the closet” and be unafraid to be who they are. In fact, in 1974 a Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill was passed. Homosexual people consider themselves the same as heterosexuals. Since heterosexuals do not feel the need to hide their sexuality, homosexuals also do not feel the need to do the same. A difference in sexual preference does not mean two groups are unequal. While some of society accepts homosexuals for who they are, there are some people who still feel the need to treat homosexuals differently or badly.
These are the people that are advocates for keeping the original sodomy laws. The laws first came into place in early Britain when Church law was adopted as government law. Church laws had sodomy as punishable by death and thus Britain’s law became the same. The same laws transferred to the colonies in America and not until church and state became separate did the punishments become less severe (http://gaylife.about.com/cs/gay101/a/sodomylaws.htm). In the U.S. Supreme Court case Bowers v. Hardwick the ruling was to uphold the state laws against sodomy(Brobst). Today most states have overturned their sodomy laws, however some are sticking with them.These sodomy laws which state that consensual same-gender sex is illegal are completely unconstitutional.
The Declaration of Independence states that all people are created equal, that they are inherently free to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere is it written that these laws only apply to heterosexual people. Homosexual people have every right that heterosexuals do. The state governments are obligated to uphold the laws of the constitution and therefore the laws prohibiting homosexuals to marry or pursue their happiness are unconstitutional.
Homosexual people are often identified by their sex acts (Brobst) instead of their character, the same as with sexism and racism. It is often believed that gay people have many sex partners and are not monogamous. That can be true for both homosexual and heterosexual people, yet it is a horrible generalization against either. However, since monogamous homosexuals are as discriminated against as those who have many partners, it is clear that homosexuality itself and not the sex act is what is causing the problem. Since, as discussed before, homosexuality is not a choice, then there is no way to convince people that homosexuals are not a subculture.
A group of United Church of Christ members formed a gay congregation and the UCC minister refused to acknowledge them saying that gay sex is addictive, selfish, and adulterous (Cruikshank). Adultery is sex between someone who is married and a person who is not his or her wife of husband. It seems obvious that people are quickly running out of legitimate arguments to condemn homosexual people. The only legitimate arguments are that people do not understand that homosexuals are different and they can’t accept the differences.
The Bible openly condemns homosexuality, say it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). The problem with relying on the Bible to mold one’s opinion on the matter is that the Bible is from a very long time ago. Some of the things written in the Bible are not useful for today. They were rules that applied to that time period but no longer apply today. The Bible now is not to be taken literally and instead is more likely taken figuratively. The Bible also gives no reasoning behind it’s condemnation of homosexuality (Rachels 47). There is not set facts to back up that homosexuality is wrong and it is not right to be expected to take something like that on faith. In 1996 President Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act that specifically prohibits same-sex marriages, not just sex. “ This law forbids couples from receiving federal marriage benefits and allows states to ignore same-sex marriages that may be sanctioned by other states” (http://www.cnn.com/2000/LAW/05/25/same.sex.marriages/). Nowhere in the constitution does it regulate who is allowed to be married. To be able to create a law that goes against the right that all men and women are created equally is wrong.
The causes of homosexuality are unknown. Many theories, such as chemical imbalances or genetics have yet to be proven or have been disproved. Homosexuality is also not a disease, therefore it cannot be cured. So far, it has never been proven that there is any physical difference between homosexual and heterosexual people. In some cases it is believed that homosexual people can chose either to be gay or straight. If that is in fact true, then the opposite must be true as well. Heterosexual people can either chose to be gay or straight. The real fact is that sexuality is not a choice. It is not learned, just the same as heterosexuality is not learned. It is something that a person is born with and gradually comes to terms with as he or she grows into maturity.
Some people believe that homosexuality has only been around since the nineteenth century, yet there are suggestions that it dates as far back as Biblical times (Cruikshank 57). In the early ages sodomy was equal to heresy, which is why the fear of homosexuals or the non-acceptance often has a base in religion. Today is very different from Biblical times. Homosexuality is very different today as opposed to the way it is shown as a parallel to sin in the Bible with the story of Sodom. There is no reason to equate homosexuality with sin because being homosexual does not make a person immoral. Morality is about making right and wrong decisions based on conscience which has nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with personality and character. A heterosexual person is just as likely to be immoral as a homosexual person.
In today’s society homosexuality is not as hidden as it used to be. People are learning to be proud of what they are. There are now gay movements to get more rights for homosexual people. It is similar to the feminist movements. Females became tired of being treated as if they were insubordinate to men. It is the same for homosexual men and women. They are tired of being treated as a subculture.
The first step they had to take to end the stereotyping is “come out of the closet” and be unafraid to be who they are. In fact, in 1974 a Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill was passed. Homosexual people consider themselves the same as heterosexuals. Since heterosexuals do not feel the need to hide their sexuality, homosexuals also do not feel the need to do the same. A difference in sexual preference does not mean two groups are unequal. While some of society accepts homosexuals for who they are, there are some people who still feel the need to treat homosexuals differently or badly.
These are the people that are advocates for keeping the original sodomy laws. The laws first came into place in early Britain when Church law was adopted as government law. Church laws had sodomy as punishable by death and thus Britain’s law became the same. The same laws transferred to the colonies in America and not until church and state became separate did the punishments become less severe (http://gaylife.about.com/cs/gay101/a/sodomylaws.htm). In the U.S. Supreme Court case Bowers v. Hardwick the ruling was to uphold the state laws against sodomy(Brobst). Today most states have overturned their sodomy laws, however some are sticking with them.These sodomy laws which state that consensual same-gender sex is illegal are completely unconstitutional.
The Declaration of Independence states that all people are created equal, that they are inherently free to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nowhere is it written that these laws only apply to heterosexual people. Homosexual people have every right that heterosexuals do. The state governments are obligated to uphold the laws of the constitution and therefore the laws prohibiting homosexuals to marry or pursue their happiness are unconstitutional.
Homosexual people are often identified by their sex acts (Brobst) instead of their character, the same as with sexism and racism. It is often believed that gay people have many sex partners and are not monogamous. That can be true for both homosexual and heterosexual people, yet it is a horrible generalization against either. However, since monogamous homosexuals are as discriminated against as those who have many partners, it is clear that homosexuality itself and not the sex act is what is causing the problem. Since, as discussed before, homosexuality is not a choice, then there is no way to convince people that homosexuals are not a subculture.
A group of United Church of Christ members formed a gay congregation and the UCC minister refused to acknowledge them saying that gay sex is addictive, selfish, and adulterous (Cruikshank). Adultery is sex between someone who is married and a person who is not his or her wife of husband. It seems obvious that people are quickly running out of legitimate arguments to condemn homosexual people. The only legitimate arguments are that people do not understand that homosexuals are different and they can’t accept the differences.
The Bible openly condemns homosexuality, say it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). The problem with relying on the Bible to mold one’s opinion on the matter is that the Bible is from a very long time ago. Some of the things written in the Bible are not useful for today. They were rules that applied to that time period but no longer apply today. The Bible now is not to be taken literally and instead is more likely taken figuratively. The Bible also gives no reasoning behind it’s condemnation of homosexuality (Rachels 47). There is not set facts to back up that homosexuality is wrong and it is not right to be expected to take something like that on faith. In 1996 President Clinton passed the Defense of Marriage Act that specifically prohibits same-sex marriages, not just sex. “ This law forbids couples from receiving federal marriage benefits and allows states to ignore same-sex marriages that may be sanctioned by other states” (http://www.cnn.com/2000/LAW/05/25/same.sex.marriages/). Nowhere in the constitution does it regulate who is allowed to be married. To be able to create a law that goes against the right that all men and women are created equally is wrong.
