Are gays treated equally
...y population? It should be an agenda for the entire population of the United States. America is a society of government by the people, for the people. In today’s society, laws should reinforce the belief in equality of rights and privileges for all citizens. History has shown other groups of people that have been legally suppressed, but one would hope that a modern society is free from the injustices of the past. The gay population is certainly being denied rights which they are entitled as citizens of the United States and as fellow human beings. So has America really come a long way or have the suppressions of equal rights just been shifted to another area? Gay marriage has been an uphill battle. Many lawmakers and individuals believe marriage should be for the union between a man and a woman. The most upsetting story was when President Bush stepped before the public and backed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. He mentioned the few judges who were handing out licenses for gay couples and stated that, “their action has created confusion on an issue that requires clarity” (Bush, 1). Bush has classified himself as a “compassionate conservative,” whatever that means. I cannot believe that President Bush would try to amend the constitution like that. His beliefs on gay marriages are complete bigotry. He is trying to add discrimination to our constitution. Some thought that Bush was trying to help himself in his last election, but this is not something you tamper with on hopes of winning an election. Marriage traditionally includes the right to reproduce. It might be argued then that same sex couples cannot reproduce and do not need marriage to have a union. If one uses this argument against same sex marriage does the same hold true for infertile couples? Should they not be allowed the sanctity of marriage? With the many aspects available regarding infertility, gay couples as well as infertile straight couples are capable of producing families. Gay and straight couples alike could enjoy the benefits of adoption, surrogacy, and in vitro fertilization, if the law allowed it. According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, a family is “the basic unit in society having as its nucleus two or more adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children” (Marriage Laws, 1). Despite this definition, which appears to be all inclusive, lesbian and/or gay couples, with or without children, do not fit the image most people raise when thinking of a family. Despite the evident disparity between this definition and the socially accepted norm, gay and lesbian couples still consider themselves families. So in all actuality two adults of the same sex could abide by these rules, too. What makes a heterosexual couple better parents than a gay couple? Hopefully, someday good parents will be looked at by their parenting skills, not their sexual orientation. The movie Kramer vs. Kramer helped society look at what makes a better parent. The movie asks the question why someone is a better parent just because she’s the mother. In this movie, society made steps toward realizing that the mother is not always the better parent just because she’s the mother. Perhaps one day the issue will not be heterosexual couples are better parents simply because they are not gay. In 1978, the United States Supreme Court declared marriage to be of “fundamental importance to all individuals” (Marriage Laws, 2). It was also described as the “basic civil rights of man” and the “most important relation in life” (Marriage Laws, 2). The right to marry is part of the fundamental right to privacy. Having said this, with the acceptance that there are actually gays and lesbians in this world, we should come to understand that all beings are entitled to love. They are encouraged to love, encouraged to flourish and prosper, even that of the gay and lesbian community. We are all beings of the same origin. We have the same basic needs, the same basic wants, and I thought the same basic rights. But today, certain individuals want to stand out against the race of homosexuals. I want those who look at these homosexuals as wrongdoers to open their eyes, mind, and hearts, to feel the same compassion and equality for the gay population. I want everyone to understand why I believe they are discriminating against homosexuals. What makes a married couple love each other? Is it the fact that they are a man and a woman? Or should marriage be between two individuals who love each other? It may only be a word in the English language, but it is a very powerful word. With the word “marriage” comes insurance benefits, rights of survivorship benefits, pension benefits, and social security benefits. These benefits are automatic for heterosexual couples. Gay couples are given none of these rights automatically. Some states allow for life partners and same sex partner benefits, but in most cases a will is a necessary document for these benefits to take place. Pension benefits are only transferable to legally married couples. Massachusetts’ highest court ruled that it is illegal under the state’s constitution to ban gay marriages, but left it up to the state Legislature to decide whether the state should amend its Constitution to legalize gay marriages or unions. The decision was made public following months of debate...