Jones International University Equal Rights for the Gay Community Dr. Craig Jonas Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for HUM201 Peace and Conflict Studies By Samantha Meche Kinder, La 2/24/2012 Abstract In this country there is a flawed assumption that gay people enjoy the same civil right protections as everyone else and there are a lot of stereotypes about gay relationships. Living as a gay individual in this country can be extremely overwhelming and scary. When it comes to marriage between gay couples, controversy is bound to turn up.There are numerous arguments as to why gay marriage is not “right” such as; it offends everything religion stands for, marriage is for procreation, and gay marriage would legitimize homosexuality.
These absurd “reasoning’s” are the stepping stones for the conflict over this issue. In the next few pages I will share how I believe that a lot more open minded individuals could help make this issue non-existent. Equality for the Gay Community Legal recognition of same-sex marriage continues to be one of the most socially and legally controversial issues of the day.The legality of same-sex marriage varies greatly by jurisdiction both in the United States and around the world.
(Sulewski, 2009) The first recorded same sex marriage was between two men, Pedro Diaz’ and Muno Vandilaz, on April 16th, 1061 in Spain. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation in the world to grant same-sex marriages. Proponents argue that same-sex couples should have access to the same marriage benefits and public acknowledgment enjoyed by heterosexual couples and that prohibiting gay marriage is unconstitutional discrimination.Opponents argue that altering the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman will further weaken a threatened institution and that legalizing gay marriage is a slippery slope that may lead to polygamous and interspecies marriages. (ProCon.
Org, 2012) How it all Began The first organized gay rights movement took place in the late 19th century in Germany. In the 1920s and into the early 1930s, there were gay communities in cities like Berlin; sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld was one of the most notable spokespeople for gay rights at this time.He founded the Institute for Sexualwissenschaft (institute for sexual research) in 1919 in Berlin. It became renowned not only for its immense library collection; it also provided medical consultations, treatment and educational services for the 20,000 people a year who visited it. When the Nazi party came to power in 1933, one of the party's first acts was to burn down Hirschfeld's Institute for Sexualwissenschaft, where many prominent Nazis had been treated for sexual problems. (HAEBERLE, 1981) The Nazis launched a campaign in February 1933 that shut down GLB clubs, banned gay rights organizations and outlawed sex publications.
On May 6 while Dr. Hirschfeld was on a lecture tour in the United States, the Deutsche Studentenschaft raided the Institute, seized its extensive list of names and addresses and looted its archives and library. Four days later in the Opernplatz (now the Bebelplatz) the 20,000 books and 5000 images from it were burned along with the works of other 'un-German' books as Joseph Goebbels spoke to a crowd of 40,000 people. (Roberts, 2011) [pic] Burning of Books in Berlin 1933 A step in the right direction Gay marriage is considered one of those topics that has no “easy” fix.
Finding a middle ground within the gay marriage issue would take both parties unanimously agreeing that gays should or shouldn’t receive the same rights as heterosexual couples. The likes of this happening are slim to none, although, some actions have been recently taken toward making it a better day for gays. (Guy, 2012) Passionate gay rights advocate and openly gay Washington state senator, Ed Murray, has introduced a same-sex marriage or domestic partnership bill during every legislative session since 1997.Back then, winning same-sex marriage through the legislative process seemed an unlikely path, but with increasing numbers of Washingtonians supporting same-sex marriage (43 percent in a recent poll, up from 30 points in 2006), Murray’s dream is on the cusp of becoming reality since Washington will soon become the 7th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Since 2001, same sex marriages have been granted and recognized in 12 countries.
Statistics show that 250 million people (4% of the world population) live in areas that recognize same sex marriages. How can we abolish the segregation of homo & heterosexual rightsAlthough, we are slowly moving in the right direction… we are nowhere near seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Opponents of same-sex marriage in the United States ground their arguments on parenting concerns, religious concerns, and concerns about a "slippery slope" leading toward other changes to the definition of marriage. In my personal opinion, how can they foresee just what the legalization of gay marriage will do? When slavery was abolished, I’m sure a lot of the country had concerns of slave rebellions on their white owners but no one knew for sure just how the world would function with the equality of white and black.Here we are facing the same situation just different aspect. Equality for homosexuals is something that needs to happen.
We are all equal, all human, we all bleed, all hurt, all feel, and all love so why should certain groups be condemned for who they choose to be with. Conclusion As you read earlier, gays have been enduring scrutiny since the early 19th century. Although, There have been many breakthroughs for the gay community such as gay marriage is legal in 7 US states and 11 US states recognize civil unions and domestic partnerships.It is also a bit easier for gays in today’s society than 10 years ago but I believe that this country, along with the rest of the world, still have a long way to go. The ability for homosexuals and heterosexuals to coexist is slowly becoming a reality.
With gay night clubs, gay pride parades, and the ILGA (International Gay and Lesbian Association) Public acceptance of same sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace. Since the mid-90s, support for same-sex marriage has been growing by a couple of percentage points each year, according to polls by the Pew Research Center.Younger voters support legalizing same sex marriage considerably more than their elders, and the gradual shift in public acceptance occurred as younger people entered the voting population and the older ones died. (ILGA, 2011) In conclusion, I believe if society would just become a bit more open minded and compassionate that this conflict of gays vs. straights could become extinct. We have come a long way since the first discrimination of gays and we still have a long road but I am confident that we can coexist in harmony.
Samantha Meche Works Cited Gilfoyle, N. F. , & Sheehan, W.F.
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org/about/offices/ogc/amicus/gill. pdf Guy, C. (2012, 02 06). Washington State Poised to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. Retrieved from The Nation: http://www. thenation.
com/article/166100/washington-state-poised-legalize- same-sex-marriage HAEBERLE, E. J. (1981). The Destruction of Sexology and the Persecution of Homosexuals in Nazi Germany. The Journal of Sex Research , vol.
17, no. 3, pp. 270-287. ILGA. (2011, 7 11).
Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise. Retrieved from ILGA North America: http://ilga. org/ilga/en/article/nfx57iF19t Marriage, N. (n.
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pdf ProCon. Org. (2012, 2 7). Gay Marriage. Retrieved from ProCon. org: http://gaymarriage.
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blogspot. com/2011/05/may-10-1933. tml Sulewski, A. (2009, April). Same Sex Marriage.
Retrieved from Suffolk University Law School: http://www. law. suffolk. edu/library/research/a-z/news/samesex.
cfm Honor statement: This assignment/assessment was solely written by me. In no way have I plagiarized (represented the work of another as my own) or otherwise, violated the copyright laws and academic conventions of fair use. I know that violations of this policy my result in my being dismissed from Jones International University and/or appropriate legal action being taken against me. Samantha Meche 2/24/2012
