Sheila Lindell

Dr. Brown

GWS 220W

April 20, 2012

In Demand: GLBT Rights

                     In 1963 Martin Luther King had a dream that one day his children would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their character (King, 2012). Fast forward, the year we live in people are still being judged by the color of their skin. It is a fact that Martin Luther died fighting for the civil rights of all people. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected into office, also spoke of dreams; his dreams were that all people would be treated equally, despite their sexual orientation. Harvey Milk also died fighting for civil rights. I am sure we all want to live in a place where hatred for skin color, sexual preference or by their wealth. The similarities in the level of discrimination felt by both of these groups of people have been felt for years, but thankfully there are leaders in small communities and globally groups still fighting for the equality of all people. Human rights are rights that belong to all people regardless of your sexual preference. It seems like such an easy concept, equal rights for all people, yet the driving forces of religion and what seems “right” to some keep people on opposite sides of this struggle. What should have been learned by now is that nobody should stand in the way of another person’s dreams.

                     GLBT stands for gays, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and even this abbreviation has evolved over the years and continues to change as more people define their sexual preference as asexual and queer. Initially the gay rights movement in the United States started in the 1970’s (Bull,1990). Gay Liberation Front (GLF) existed initially without the existence of the lesbian scene. Lesbians initially were directing their efforts into influencing other women rather than helping the gay movement through the late 1970’s. It seems as though in the 70’s the term gay was closely related to men rather than woman. One of the biggest movements for gay rights happened in 1969, NYC police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village called the Stonewall Inn, instead of taking it from the police that night, the gays fought back, this was a huge underground movement empowering gay people to stand up and demand rights too. This one event empowered people to come out of the closet, and the as the organizations that grew nationwide. On the anniversary of these riots a pride parade commenced and over 5,000 people initially marched for their right to be out of the closet (Mifflin, 1991). In the United States we have a long road ahead to consider ourselves equal in rights. The basic rights that GLBT in the United States and globally are asking for are the right to marry, adoption, and health benefit (insurance) from employers, family medical leave and death benefits without penalty or death in some countries.

                     Taking a map and looking for a place that a non-heterosexual can live equally as another person is scare. The United States and most of Europe have no rights that say you can’t be homosexual; they just will not acknowledge you as an equal member of society. The African continent is extreme in the fact that most of Africa feels that it is punishable by death. Except for South Africa, which is extremely liberal and allows all people to marry regardless of sexuality, in fact it is written within their constitution (Seager, 2009).It seems so ironic when most of Africa either punishes one or kills for who you are. Where would the worse place to live be, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Here a person can die for being gay or lesbian. In Iran more than 4,000 GLBT have been killed since 1979 for their sexual orientation (Seager, 2009).  The Netherlands were the first country to recognize equality, although a triumph, it was only eleven years ago that this recognition came to fruition (Seager, 2009). Looking to our friends directly north, Canada, They pride themselves with their belief in equal rights for all individuals. The CCLA made it possible for all people, regardless of sexual orientation to marry in the 1980’s (Canadian Civil Liberties Association, 2012). Canadians believe that not allowing one to marry whom they wish is discriminatory. The fact that marriage is allowable makes the right to adopt legal and included is the health and death benefits legal. No person will be denied their rights as their sexual preference does not matter in Canada; the fact that they are human is enough.

                     The United States has recently allowed the church and state to be the front runner of controversy politically speaking involving civil rights. The extremeness that people have for this one issue, marriage, has become scary to watch and live through. Our national government is allowing its individual states to decide marriage rights, a stance that should be by a unified government. Our government is to ultimately stand as one and in that we should reflect the beliefs of more liberal countries. Currently six states allow same sex marriage, Iowa being one of the most shocking states to date to allow it. It will continue to be a huge debate in the upcoming 2012 presidential elections.  With the National government allowing its states to decide the fates of individual’s civil rights, it could be reflective of Africa one day. Extreme states allowing killing of a lesbian while another states allows a lesbian equal rights could be a reality. The need to understand religious viewpoints is imperative at this point. The similarities in Christianity and Islam are what need to need explored with regards to homosexuality. The term abomination is the ultimate of betrayal and condemnation; it is frequently used to scare people to “behave” (Holben, 1999). Religions believe that homosexuality is the act that one performs when in reality it is what the person is.  In Leviticus 18:22 it is stated that if a man lies with a male as a woman, both of them have committed abomination. This reading alone could send a person straight into purgatory. Translations over time and the preaching on this reading have been misread. What we need to remember is that in Biblical times people didn’t know what created others, the man’s seed is what cause procreation, to spill this seed is an abomination because obviously without seed no procreating can happen (Karslake, 2007). Without remembering the times and the meaning then, things can be misconstrue over the years. In the Qur’an (7:80-83), homosexuality is clearly condemned by the Prophet Allah. It is felt by Muslims that it is there duty to stop the promoting of homosexual behavior, even to the point of extinguishing them. Those two readings alone can get a person killed depending on the state or country they reside in. Without the approval of Allah and God there can be no thought of marriage for a couple of the same sex. Without the approval of marriage, there can be no adoption, legal rights and such. It really does come back to the religious view of the country, an awakening that if there is a God and he loves all people and who died for our sins, why would he think it was wrong to love one another, even if you were the same sex? One thing to remember these books are another man’s interpretations, skewed or not depending on who is interpreting; the world could be different in their beliefs (Winer, 2009). However, it is always funny to see the men who are watching porn; they will watch two women and enjoy themselves yet deny that they can be a couple. Please do not get off on porn involving two women if you are not willing to allow that sort relationship to be legal, a double standard I’d say. Biblically in Romans 6:19, it speaks of lawlessness leading to lawlessness, and how holiness is right, perhaps porn should come with a Biblical warning on the packaging.

                     According to the American Civil Liberties Union, 11 states allow GLBT people adoption privileges. Although It must be noted that four states completely outlaw same sex adoption. Why it is that adoption is ok but marriage is not. One reason, same sex partners are more likely to be ok with adopting children with special needs than others, it is also the fact that there are children needing adoption and instead of foster care it is better for these children to be in forever homes. Why are people uncomfortable with GLBT adoption? It could be the fact that the child is exposed to only one sex parents. If a boy is raised by 2 mothers it is believed he will not succeed. Rebuttals to this statement could be that in the home of two loving adults, it will not matter. How many men are raised out of single mother homes, is this any worse than 2 mothers? Should a country that doesn’t want birth control given to young woman, allowing them to procreate on accident, take away their child because she is now a single mother raising a son? It is sad thought that a child raised in a same sex household will probably be the subject of teasing him/herself due to the fact his/her parents are same sex. In this world of bullying that is a bad thing for a child to have to deal with. However, if we lived in a world were all people were treated equally that fear may not have to be a worry. How about the children who run away from their homes as juveniles who are questioning their sexual orientation and their parents have alienated them, a perfect match might be the same sex couple waiting to be a loving forever family. Once again the countries that are open to same sex marriage are allowing those couples the right to adopt. The Netherlands, South Africa and Germany are a few to name and of course Canada fully allows adoption privileges too. Current research has shown that knowing two parents are better than a single parent, even if the couple are gay (How Does the Gender of Parents Matter, 2010). It has been proven that parents who are committed and stable are better than one. It has always been stated that it is better that a child be raised by a mother and a father but as of yet, no research has proven this hypothesis. This article alone proves solid relationships are the foundation for a child, not the sex of parents.

                     Currently employers have to decide if they are to allow a partner to be on any insurance, or rather, recognize the fact you have a relationship even though it is not lawfully ok in some states because of your sexual orientation? Some employers are allowing people to include their partners their benefits. The ironic part however, is that it is usually better to be covered individually by most companies rather than a person plus one on health care coverage. Take note that health care is controversial on its own and depending on the country one lives in as to whether or not they receive medical care. However that being said in the United States alone if equal marriage was allowed it would not be an issue, insurance would have to be issued.

                     One thing to be proud of is the amount of groups and individuals who continue to fight for equal rights, internationally. Small wins by many will keep the dreams alive. Recently a rule was changed to allow a transgender woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant (Long, 2012). It was through the organization GLAAD, which a Vancouver transgender woman will be allowed to compete in Canada for Miss Universe this year. This is a shared victory for woman and transgender people both. It was stated that everybody should participate in every part of society. The Human Rights Campaign is another group that is fighting for marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. In recent polls they conducted it has been founded that 53% of Americans support equality in marriage. The campaign helps to get the beliefs out to the general public about what GLBT couples want, through advertising and it is through their positive promotion that the word is getting out about equality. Internationally there are many groups; ILGA is a group that works in over 100 countries to promote equality for gays and lesbians, they regularly petition governments and keep the word out about equality.

                     The civil rights of gay people but especially women are constantly being thrown to the wind, it seems as though woman are a piece of meat that can be treated wrongly in this misogynistic world. However, the continual fights for our rights is what needs to happen, we should not and will not sit down and take it. Freedom should be for all no matter your sex or your sexual preference. Remember the dreams of those who chose to believe and speak out for what they believe; we should not let those dreams die with them. A world that allows love to be free to all without fear of prejudice or even death seems like an extreme dream. Perhaps that is where the saying goes something about rose colored glasses, but what a wonderful place it could be.

Works Cited

How Does the Gender of Parents Matter. (2010, January 20). Journal of Marriage and Family, pp. 3-20.

Canadian Civil Liberties Association. (2012, March 26).

Bull, C. a. (n.d.). Perfect Enemies:The Religious Right, the Gay Movement and the Politics of the 1990's. New York: Crown.

Holben, L. (1999). What Christians think about homosexuality: Six representative viewpoints. Bible Press.

Karslake, D. (Director). (2007). For The Bible Tells Me So [Motion Picture].

King, M. L. (2012, April 17). Martin Luther King Jr. Online.

Long, C. (2012, April). Miss Universe pageant allowing transgender women. New York.

Mifflin, H. (1991). The Reader's Companion to American History.

Seager, J. (2009). Lesbian Rights. In J. Seager, The Penguin Atlas of Women of the World (pp. 26-27). New York: The Penguin Group.

Winer, M. C. (2009). Patenting Marriage: Same-Sex Marriages vs. the Right Wing. Retrieved from religion.lilithezine.com.