Homosexual Equality In Australia

“Although sharply divided, public attitudes toward gays and lesbians are rapidly changing to reflect greater acceptance, with younger generations leading the way” (NORC University of Chicago, 2010, p. 1). This push for international acceptance of the LGBT people could not come any sooner. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals as well as transgender individuals from around the world have almost all experienced some sort of discrimination in their lives. This is why there is such a gap between heterosexual and LGBT people. There are hundreds, if not more, reasons for why some people will not accept LGBT individuals and couples, whether it is religion, family values or simply the fact that some people find LGBT people unnatural. This is why the common sufferings

Prior to 2005, Canada didn’t always have a positive outlook towards the legalization of same-sex marriage. In fact, homosexuality was considered a taboo and crime prior to the 1960’s, in which the person being accused would usually be admitted to jail for years at a time with death sometimes being a possibility during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. All throughout the 20th century, homosexuals have always been victims of violence and discriminated against based on their sexual orientation since many same-sex stereotypes carried fear and ignorance. For instance, one stereotype individuals used to believe was that homosexuals were “sex-crazed maniacs”. Thus, homosexuals were usually removed from government and law enforcement. Despite this negativity in

For Australian law to be effective it must be dynamic so it can reflect changing societal views, which law reform can help attain. A significant area of recent social change is the acceptance of same-sex relationships in Australian society. To mirror this, current law reforms have been somewhat effective in achieving just outcomes regarding the recognition of same-sex relationships in Commonwealth law. The combination of official recognition of same-sex relationships to an extent, attempts at removing discrimination in legislation, and the delay of justice denotes this. Considering the achievement of justice and the protection of individual’s rights, it is evident that law reform has significantly improved recognition of same-sex relationships, but there are more essential responses that need to be enacted.

Canada’s laws are presented to be unbiased and non-discriminatory. The law promises every individual the right to life, freedom of expression, well-being and uses sparkly language to prove that no one is above the law despite sexual orientation (Canadian Human Rights Act, 1985). However, this is not the case in regards to homosexual individuals. This paper will discuss how homosexual suffer from discriminatory laws in their everyday lives. The discriminatory laws further lead to myths, ideologies and labels that are imposed on homosexuals (Fedders, pgs.787-789, 2006). Also, in this piece of writing two cases will be introduced to further prove how the law can be discriminatory even though it appears to be sparkly with persuasive language

Only recently, the Australian Government introduced reforms to de-facto relationships. This meant that same-sex couples are entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same obligations as opposite-sex couples (Property Relationships Act 1984 NSW). The legislation of Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws- General Law Reform) Act 2008 removed discriminatory treatment of same-sex couples. These acts included laws about tax, superannuation, Medicare, workers compensations, employment entitlements and family law. Homosexuals are discriminated against in terms of marriage, donating blood and are also victims to abuse due to their status. A study conducted by the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby revealed that 84% of participants aged between 14 and 21 had been treated unfairly because of their sexuality and almost half had suffered verbal or physical abuse. With these inequalities present, it is difficult to achieve equality and fairness around this group. Although Australia proposes the ideal of egalitarianism, it is hard to justify whether it is present or not.

In the past decades, the struggle for gay rights in the Unites States has taken many forms. Previously, homosexuality was viewed as immoral. Many people also viewed it as pathologic because the American Psychiatric Association classified it as a psychiatric disorder. As a result, many people remained in ‘the closet’ because they were afraid of losing their jobs or being discriminated against in the society. According to David Allyn, though most gays could pass in the heterosexual world, they tended to live in fear and lies because they could not look towards their families for support. At the same time, openly gay establishments were often shut down to keep openly gay people under close scrutiny (Allyn 146). But since the 1960s, people

Although equal right for all may seem accomplished, specific group in the United States still feel restriction still present for them. The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community feels the restrictions they have against them, while some of the straight community feels they are all treated as equals and that LGBTQ people should not have laws that are directly in their favor. The Institute for Policy Studies is acknowledging the struggles LGBTQ people face in the United States like their right to the basic rights all citizens should possess. The Heritage Foundation claims SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) laws threaten other citizen’s freedoms like free speech and religious liberty.

The struggle for equality has been intense, and still continues to this day. With this being said, much progress has been made in establishing respect and external acceptance for all individuals sense of identity. For example, in 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Same Sex Marriages, marking a pivotal point in the civil rights movement for the LGBTQ community. For many, this act helped to support their sense of self, a right that been denied for so long. The United States effectively validated the LGBTQ community, giving this group all rights granted to all other citizen’s, However, the creation and acceptance of this community has not had positive benefits for all members. The Gender Binary has been changed, but many distinctions

Since the beginning of time, people have been living in a world full of hatred, violence, and hostility towards one another because of physical or social differences. While we strive to create an ideal world for future generations, people still tend to discriminate against others on a daily basis simply because of their skin color or gender. One of the most despised groups of individuals in the past has been the gay and lesbian community. Gays and lesbians were not socially acceptable to society at one time, but over the years they have made significant breakthroughs in history that have opened up the doorways of gaining the same rights and opportunities as others. Along with the many triumphs of the Gay Rights Movement, there have also been many setbacks.  Bottoms v. Bottoms is one of the most renown Supreme Court cases that further demonstrates the struggle for equality for gays and lesbians.

In Journal of Human Rights published in 2014, after the Equalities Act of 2010 enacted, the United Kingdom sees sexuality and gender identities as “protected characteristics,” with legal imperatives to address discrimination, and in Canada in the early 1990s, there were an opposition against gays and lesbian rights, but after sexual orientation recognized in 1995, gradually by 2013, gays and lesbians have equality rights. (Browne, 2014)

Difference is a quality that allows for individual experience. However difference is not appreciated by all of humanity. Throughout human history difference has been shunned, denied, persecuted and destroyed. The population that is determined to be ‘different’ changes over the decades but the methodology and discrimination remains the same. In this paper the sufferings and trials of homosexuals and victims of racism will be examined in an attempt to determine if homophobia is morally equivalent to racism. This paper will be examining the historical context, modern discrimination and various social movements along with the counter-arguments of limited historical documentation, concealed sexual identities and lack of elaborate social movement in an attempt to prove that homophobia is the moral equivalent to racism.

The realization of the homosexuality in the modern western world as a cultural, sexual and a social category has been a result of complex power relations that surround sexuality and gender. The acceptance of homosexuality in the society has met its fair share of resistance and skepticism. The view that homosexuality can be in the same league as heterosexual has led it to be viewed as a normal behavioral and moral standard (Gallagher & Baker, 2006). Inasmuch as the skeptics may not want to accept the existence of homosexuality studies show that the habit is rampant today with many gay people coming out in the open. Of interest is the political acceptance of homosexuality with passing gay rights so that it can be recognized by law. This move has given homosexuals the ability to engage in legal entities like marriage (Gallagher & Baker, 2006).

Australian culture is vital in the process of socialising the public’s views and beliefs. Through social stratification and labelling different groups as superior and inferior, Australian culture has been manipulated into believing that homosexuals are deviant to the rest of society.

Homophobia, as a community problem is variably seen in different communities more so in the inferior groups such as the Latino or the African American groups as research findings have stated. Various human rights organizations internationally have been persistently condemning the laws and beliefs

“Forty-two years after Dr. King was murdered, we are still a nation of inequality. People of color, women, gays, lesbians, and others are still treated as second-class citizens. Yes, things have changed but we have still not achieved equality among all humans. And nonhuman animals continue to be chattel property without any inherent value” (“Gary L. Francoine Quotes”). Homosexuals in high school in the last few years have seen multiple discriminatory actions by their classmates. “45% of gay males and 20% of lesbians report having sexual experienced verbal harassment and/or physical violence as a result of their sexual