LGBT Civil Rights

The United States of America was founded as a secular sanctuary for ideals like freedom, equality, and tolerance – few will argue against that. Over its history American culture has radically evolved as it strived to meet the ideals its nation was based upon, making changes like ending slavery and providing legal equality for women and minorities, changes that at the time seemed absurd but today are unquestionable merits that define what an “American” is. The quest to reach the ultimate utopian society continues today as true Americans fight the evils of ignorance, stubborn bigotry and the fear to change that still manifest themselves in a large portion of U.S. citizens, preventing this nation from moving forward. One of the outstanding minorities still left to be granted the ideals of freedom, equality, and tolerance are homosexuals trying to obtain the right to marry the person they want to spend the rest of their life with, regardless of gender. Same-sex marriages should be recognized in the eyes of the U.S. government in accordance with its responsibility to provide all American citizens equal freedoms.

Gays should be allowed to have the same rights as everyone else. They used to not be allowed to adopt children in some states. They get abused verbally, mentally, and physically by their family and friends. There are some people who disagree with the thought of gays getting married. They can’t get jobs because of their sexual orientation. Some people accept the fact that they want to love who they want to love. What’s important is that gays are mistreated wherever they go.

Gay marriage has been an issue for a very long time and since some states are legalizing it, many worry that it would soon be added as an amendment. The topic of gay marriage brings up religious, legal, and many other issues. In "What's wrong with Gay Marriage?" by Katha Pollitt, the author supports gay marriage and wants it legalized. She states that there is no problem with gay marriage and it's all a matter of separating the church and state. But in “Gay ‘Marriage’: Societal Suicide,” by Charles Colson, the author opposes the idea of gay marriage and states that it will destroy society. Marriage is intended to unite a man and a woman together to bring children into the world, but due to the same-sex marriage,

The Supreme Court legalized Same Sex Marriage on June 26, 2015. Same Sex Marriage is all the homosexual people in United States now can legally marry. Homosexual people has hard time with their family, people who didn't come out not dare to tell their family, so they will find some who is hetersexual and marry without telling the truth. Once hetersexual person find out about it or homosexual person sick to live with it , they will be divorce. The article “ 10 reasons why Gay Marriage should be legalized” the article stated “More than 50% of married couples in America get divorced. Allowing gays the opportunity to get married will increase marriage rates because less couples will get divorced due to incompatibility or infertility.” We can see from the evidence that half of people in America get divorced. Once they passed the Same Sex Marriage Law, the situation will become better also the percentage of getting divorced would be decrese. American people rejoice with wild excitement not only because this, it also prove that human has improved. To homesexual people is accomplishment of equal rights. The article “ 10 reasons why Gay Marriage should be legalized” the article stated “In the 50's, interracial marriage was illegal. But now, modern society understands this to be an unjust law that denied equal rights to couples who loved each other.” Mind

The United States’ Declaration of Independence reads, “[We] hold these truths to be self evident, that 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” and Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address furthers, “[the] [United States’] fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” But in the United States today, not all are equal. Within the majority of the United States, same-sex couples cannot be married or reap the benefits of said marriage. Marriage is basic to the recognition as equals in society and any status short of this becomes

     A debate is raging in America about who people have a right to marry. In response to lesbians and gays asking for the right to marry, many legislators are writing laws to ban same-sex marriage in their respective states. Even President Bush supports a Constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage (prez.bush.marriage/). Opponents of such legislation do not want discrimination passed into law and are protesting at every opportunity. One must understand the reasons that people want to ban same-sex

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.

While some states have began to embrace the civil rights of all American people and allowing both hetero- and homo-sexual couples to marry, some states have done quite the opposite and banned same sex marriages and unions. Not all Americans feel so strongly about legalizing same sex marriage. Those against same sex marriage believe marriage has been defined as being between a man and a woman. However, that has not always been true, as explained in the beginning of this paper, the ancient people commonly wed the same gender and them and also had same sex sexual relations (ProCon.org). In fact in the first century Nero the Emperor of Rome married at least two of his lovers who were men (Chastain 19.) It was not until Christianity became a wide spread religion that sodomy and homosexuality became immoral. Those who oppose the legalization of gay marriage also believe that same sex marriage will threaten the institution of marriage. Marriages since 2011 have been at a new low, with only 52 percent of adults being married (Yen). However gays are fighting for the right to marry who they love, while heterosexual couples take that for granted. Divorce rates are currently lingering around 40-50% that is without gays being able to be married in many states. By allow homosexuals to marry their significant others, it will allow for a stronger bond and maybe bring back life into the deteriorating world of marriage. In states that do allow for same sex marriages, their divorce rates are

First and foremost, I do no believe there is a comparison between civil rights and gender/sexual orientation (gay individuals). To compare the two in any shape or form is to diminish, underestimate, depreciate and compromise the severity of the crimes committed against black people at the hands of their white slave masters. Civil rights were not just about granting freedom to black people, but it was about restoring the general dignity of humans regardless of their race. The humiliation black people suffer was catastrophic, it threatens the existence blacks in America. A whole generation of black people was stripped of their human dignity, ripped apart and mutilates like cursed animals. To disenfranchise an entire generation in such a way just because of the color of their skin meant that an entire generation of people was at the verge of extinction.

Gay rights and marriage equality has always been a major issue. Not only in the United States, but all throughout various cultures in the world. One of the main reasons why it is not widely accepted is due to religious or cultural reasons. Thankfully, more people have become more accepting of it and keeping an open mind about it. As of June 26th, 2015, gay marriage has has finally been legalized in all 50 states. However, there are still people who do not agree with it and still try to vote against it. Some Americans even want laws made to ban same-sex marriage and relations again. Although the legalization of same-sex marriage has been accomplished, most people continue to fight against those who still discriminate against the LGBT community.

According to the data bank of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (organization founded in 1950 and that has led the fight for equal rights and social justice in The United States of America for over half a century) the origin of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement can be traced back to the Stonewall Inn, a little gay bar in New York. (Civilrightsorg, 2016)

In our Declaration of Independence the founding fathers clearly stated that everyone is entitled to “the pursuit of happiness.” A basic right and something that most people strive for, is the creation of a happy and stable family. Same-sex couples are being left aside this civil right. They can’t pursuit their happiness thru marriage because this contract that goes beyond the emotional connection between

For many years, homosexuals have been discriminated because of their sexual orientation. There are parents who teach their children to look down on homosexuality and that it is seen unnatural. But that was before, now the new generation is still growing so they make their own decisions. This generation is more open-minded and more accepting to new ideas. Homosexuals should be able to live with the same equal rights as everyone in America since this is the country considered the “Land of the Free” or the “Mixing Pot.” African-Americans fought for equal rights and Hispanics fought for equal rights; then why can’t homosexuals also fight? If America wants to live up to their reputation then homosexuals should have

The business world is an ever changing environment; there are new laws, regulations, and tax codes passed all the time that effect how we do business here in America and abroad. It is important that we keep abreast on those changing laws to protect our companies as well as the employees that work for us. The last few years have opened up many hot topics of debate when it comes to rights being extended to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. There is no shortage of passion, no matter what side you stand on, when it comes to same-sex marriage, transgender bathroom rights, legalized adoption for same-sex couples, and non-discrimination laws being extended to cover LGBT individuals. While all of these seem like topics that should not affect the workplace drastically, that could not be further from the truth. “A new decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Baldwin v. Foxx, extends Title VII’s protections to cover sexual orientation for federal sector employees and may lead the way for courts to recognize similar protections in the private sector. The EEOC also now maintains that gender identity is protected by Title VII,2 and some courts have agreed” (Muñoz and Kalteux, 2016, p. 43). The job of a Human Resource Manager is to keep up on the changing laws, and to make sure that the company they work for is compliant in upholding them.

Lastly, the legalization of gay marriage would be expanding true equal rights to include another minority. How can two institutions be exactly the same if they cannot be called the same thing (i.e. “marriage” versus “lifelong partnership”)? To refuse a gay couple to be married is literally denying a minority their rights as a United States citizen and as a human being. It’s denying them their right to “the pursuit of happiness”, their right to a home and family, and their right to respect, not to mention all the legal and social benefits (such as tax benefits) that a heterosexual husband and wife receive. The rejection is unfair and unjust.