Running head: GAY RIGHTS AND GAY MARRIAGE
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GAY RIGHTS AND GAY MARRIAGE
Vanessa Garcia
UTEP
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Gay rights and gay marriage
There are many political issues the United States is dealing with as of today. One
of these issues is gay marriage and their rights. Gay marriage, if you don’t know, is the
marriage between same genders (male with male, female with female). Society has
changed a lot since day one. There have been many laws preventing and banning samesex marriage and gay rights. But there are slight changes as to where same-sex couples
can’t get married and also the rights of the gay community. There are arguments being
made every day on this topic as I present in this essay.
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Gay rights and gay marriage
With time, there’s a moment you come across with your loved one where you
know you’re in love. In that moment you then know you want to be with that person
forever, unconditionally, and the thought of waking up to them everyday sounds
amazing. So you get down on one knee and ask them to accept what you have to offer
for the rest of their lives. The only way to ensure a promise so fragile is by one questionwill you marry me? Some people can’t make those promises due to same-sex couples.
The LGBT community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) still today don’t have the
same rights as heterosexuals do but more then what they’ve started with, like the gay
rights movement.
The modern-gay rights movement in the US is said to have started with
the Stonewall riot and took place in New York City. The riot resulted from a police raid
on an illegal gay bar like many other situations. Because of this, pride marches normally
take place towards the end of June. But another important outcome from this riot was
the gay rights movement. They gay rights movement was to protect the gay community
and criminalization against homosexuality therefore, giving homosexuals civil rights.
(Vandecarr, 2012)
Kerry says same-sex couples are going to be treated the same as opposite-sex
spouses now with the DOMA being dismissed. She explains how foreign and US samesex couples, both have to go through the whole foreign process in which being legalized
into the US through marriage. Because of this equality change, it had been expected to
affect up to 100 applicants. This new policy was followed by a 5-4 vote by the US
Supreme Court that got rid of a law that denied married same-sex couples, the same
benefits that heterosexual couples would have in regards to federal benefits. This law
was called ‘The Defense of Marriage Act’-DOMA, which had marriage only between a
man and a woman. (Cohen.Dougherty, 2013,)
Dylan Mathews, (Mathews, 2103) says “It depends on what area you're talking
about. "What section 3 of DOMA does is that it performs a find and replace of every
instance of 'spouse' or 'husband' or 'wife' appears and changes it so that it's "opposite
sex husband" or 'opposite sex wife'," says Rita Lin, a partner at Morrison and Foerster in
San Francisco who argued Golinski v. United States Office of Personnel Management,
another DOMA case. "The effect is going to vary based on which of the thousand-plus
statutes or regulations are affected."”
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Gay rights and gay marriage
There are 14 states that have legalized gay marriage as of October 21, 2013 as
seen on the map below.
(Torro, 2013)
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Gay rights and gay marriage
Until 6 decades ago, gay rights were never even thought of. Anybody who
proposed or even looked and acted gay was out casted. In 1951 homosexuality was
considered a disorder named “sociopathic personality” by The American Psychiatric
Association (APA). Because of APA police authorities were able to detain anybody who
was under the suspicion of being gay in 29 states. (Lampo, 2013).
When people think of the gay community, the first thing that comes to mind is
LGBT, (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). A lesbian is a woman who likes other
women. Gay means a man who likes other men. Bisexual is someone who likes both the
female and male gender. A transgender person is someone who is born with a specific
sex, and as they experience life they realize that they don’t feel anything like that
gender. So with the help of doctors and of course support from people, they get a sex
change. For example, most cases seen are men transforming into a woman. They’ll go
through surgery to have their genital area removed, and they’ll get implants to have
breasts. For girls, they also go through surgery and have a male genital placed over their
female genital. There’s also surgery for their breasts to be removed, and with
medication called testosterone they transform into a male. Testosterone is a hormone
found in males that give them there deep voice, their sharply structured jaw and of
course the muscles. Because of the transformation, speaking in guy reference, they still
are attracted to the opposite sex but dealing with the sex on their birth certificate,
they’re considered gay- attracted to the same sex. There’s a lot of hate towards
homosexuals, but there’s a lot more then hate and judgment towards transgender
people. Nettles, a 21 year old transgender, was beaten to death across the street from
where she works, Nutrive Fitness Studio and Juice Bar on 148th Street and Frederick
Douglass Boulevard. The police are investigating and called it a hate crime. Surprised
about the news, the owner of the studio, Jenifer, described Nettles as very cheerful and
beautiful, just upbeat. Nettles was taken off of life support after declared brain dead.
(Mays, 2013)
For every marriage, there is going to be a fight. May 18, 1970, Richard Baker and
James Michael McConnell, both applied for a marriage license, and got denied because
they were both men. Richard and John sued Nelson (The Hennepin County District Court
clerk). The case was named Baker v. Nelson. The couple got rebuffed again, by the
Supreme Court of the US, not impressed by the argument. (Grow, 2008)
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Gay rights and gay marriage
Cassidy lampbell- born as Lance lampbell was nominated for homecoming queen
at Marina High School. Cassidy said she has always felt trapped in the wrong body ever
since she was a child. She has made transgender well known in California and now Gov.
Jerry Brown has allowed transgender students to participate in activities such as sex
segregated programs and also facilities to which they are most likely comfortable in.
Cassidy’s mother is proud of her accomplishment but sill scared for Cassidys safety.
(KTLANews, 2013)
A great reason why homosexual couples want to get married is because of all the
legal consent into which they would share. (Nadya, 2013) says that every person has
their rights, so as a civil-right they should be allowed to marry whoever they want to. If
a couple is unable to marry, then they wouldn’t have the same benefits as heterosexual
married couples do. For example visitation rights at the hospital when their significant
other is injured, joint tax benefits, or even health care benefits. Gay supporters argue to
allow homosexuals to improve their love and show their commitment that heterosexual
couples do. Another problem would be that two of the same gender people aren’t able
to have children together. People believe that a homosexual home is no place for a child
to be raised. is a difference in children being raised by homosexuals rather than
heterosexuals; even with in most states, a homosexual couple is able to adopt even if
they can’t marry. (Mingo,2011)
Everyone is going to have different views and aspects about homosexual
marriage. Republican Gov. Tom Corbett believes that if gay marriage were to be
legalized, then siblings should be able to get married. He first compared gay marriage to
young kids getting married. He supports the fact that marriage should stay between a
man and woman. (Harrisburg, Associated press, 2013)
The big question here is can a transgender person, being a part of the gay
community genre, get married legally. Because of a legislation passed in 2009, authored
by Stte Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), it is allowed for a sex change document to be
passed when trying to get a marriage license as long as it isn’t the same sex as the sex
change. Proof has to be present in order for the process to continue, for example proof
of reassignment surgery. Rep. Kolkhorst and Senator Tommy Williams introduced
another bill in 2011. The bill would have eliminated the court order of a sex change
being viewed and instead it just being eligible. The bill got dismissed and failed. Senators
Donna Campbell and Jane Nelson sponsored SB 1218 which is a bill that was almost the
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Gay rights and gay marriage
same but instead, only having to show a photo ID to grant a marriage license. Of course
photo ID is always required when applying for a marriage license, but this bill passed
and made things more secure. For example, if a photo ID says female and the person in
which there trying to marry, ID says male then there marriage application would
automatically be accepted in Texas. (Salmon, 2013)
Friend’s movement is an organization made for anti-bullying. It was launched by
Ronnie Kroell and Elliot London. This organization is aiming for global awareness of the
anti-bullying cause. The campaign is trying to encourage youth to stay away from words
like ‘fatty, freak, and faggot’ and instead, trying to be a friend. Jase Peeples interviewed
two gay twins and they explained how it was being bullied in high school. They both
experienced going down the hallways and being called “Faggots” and numerous of
names. They would take different routes to avoid the name calling and bullying. (Peeple,
2013)
Suicide reports are increasing with the result being because of bullying. In 2010,
four young men committed suicide due to anti-gay bullying. The media make this case
well known to everyone in the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), who
convinces the media to examine more into the topic and try to make a difference.
Reports on anti-gay bullying leave out ways to help the situation and instead leave only
the details of the case. (Ferraro, 2010)
Everyone around the gay community is straight and rarely gay also. Everyone
thinks of their significant others as being their loved ones, but also the opposite sex.
When teens go home to their parents, it’s always expected for them to be told their
dating. But when it’s a boy teen they expect them to be dating a girl and vice versa. Kids
will bull anybody that’s not exactly like them. Being gay and out to the community is
challenging because most people look down on them. Going to school can be hard when
someone is being bullied, and when they don’t speak up about the issue, they end up
going into depression.
Salvatore Cordileone from San Francisco Archbishop gives us reasons why gay
marriage should be Illegal. He tells us in answers being questioned by USA today. His
first question- what’s the biggest threat posed by allowing Homosexuals to marry? He
responds by telling a story about living in a residence at the cathedral in Oakland, and
going more inner neighborhoods, he saw nothing but violence, murder, rape, drugs, etc.
He says that giving Homosexuals the right to marry will cause a bigger disruption, and
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Gay rights and gay marriage
being a child of two of the same gender parents, is not fair to the children at all.
Cordileone is then asked, if the Supreme courts were to opens the gates for gay
marriage in California or anywhere in that case, what would be the results? He answers
that no matter what the Supreme Court rules over; the debate will never be over. He
goes on saying, “We will have a bitterly polarized country divided on the marriage issue
for years if not generations to come.”
His third question being- Why is this so important to the children? He answers,
when culture abandons the ideal of marriage staying between a man and women,
children, women, society suffer as well as men with the thoughts of not being useful and
being told they aren’t important to the family-life. He goes on with evidence that two
men cannot make up for a mother, or vice versa. USA Today asks there next question“Is it particularly difficult for you to play a leading role against gay marriage in a place
like San Francisco? Does it change your relationship with gay congregants?” Cordileone
answers with his love for San Francisco ever since being a little boy. He allows there to
be disagreements, but he also acknowledges the people who admire his teachings at the
church. He announces that he hopes one day for him and his opposing subject to one
day respect and love each other, being because it is in his job description.
Salvatores next question was- “Do you have friends or family members who are
gay? How do you balance your public policy positions with those relationships?” He said
growing up in California, he has family member who are gay, and despise their
differences they still love each other and understand one another. He states, “When you
know someone personally, it's much harder to rely on stereotyped or media-created
images. It's a lot harder to be hateful or prejudiced against a person, or group of people,
that one knows personally. When there is personal knowledge and human interaction,
the barriers of prejudice and pre-conceived ideas come down.” (Cordileone, 2013)
Speaking up about a problem, can always help others view your perspective. On
June 28, 1969, walking out of Stonewall Inn, located in Greenwich Village, a group of gay
men started getting harassed by police and finally took charge and a riot broke out. The
men were soon joined by other people from the homosexual community in which led to
throwing objects at the policemen while shouting “gay power”. More police showed up,
at the time it was legal, and started beating the gay community as they left. The next
day the crowd returned, bigger than it was the night before reaching up to 1,000
people. Protesters rioted outside of the Stonewall Inn, for hours, until the police showed
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Gay rights and gay marriage
up. The rioting continued for days with protesters fighting for their rights throughout
New York City. After a while, the riot cause there to be discussions about the issue with
the LGBT group in lead. (Leadership Conference, 2009)
According to all of this information, gay rights are very important. The fact that
gay people in the U.S. are human and citizens should be a reason to automatically be
given their rights. They should not be seen anymore different than anyone else living in
the U.S. Gay Marriage will always be an issue or even being gay in that matter. But just
like colored people, it will take time for people to get used to homosexuals. Even up to
date, colored people are looked down upon in many different states. No one should be
bullied or even have to fight the struggle of hiding who they love everyday of their life.
The main issue with society is only seeing their point of view, but never stepping
into the shoes of the person on the other side of the argument. So how is someone
who’s homosexual supposed to get down on one knee and ask them to marry them if
they live in a state where it illegal? The ones in this paper are answering that question
by fighting for their rights.
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Gay rights and gay marriage
References
Lampo, D (July 8, 2013), “Why Gay Rights Are Civil Rights”. Retrieved from
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-gay-rights-are-civilrights-and-simply-right/
Grow,D (September 11, 2008), Minnesota's Gay Community Purposely Moving Slowly
on Gay Marriage Efforts. Retrieved from
http://www.minnpost.com/search/apachesolr_search/Minnesota%27s%20Ga
y%20Community%20Purposely%20Moving%20Slowly%20on%20Gay%20Marri
age%20Efforts%2C%22
Mingo,N. (August 19, 2011), Pros vs. Cons of Gay Marriage. Retrieved from
http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/familysummer2011/2011/08/19/pros-vscons-of-gay-marriage/ online article
FoxNews. (October 21, 2013), Christie withdraws same-sex marriage challenge, as NJ
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. (October 14, 2013), Gov. Tom Corbett: Gay marriage is like
marriage of siblings. Retrieved from
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/901759_Gov--Tom-Corbett--Gaymarriage-is-like-marriage-of-siblings.html
KTLA News.(September 11, 2013), Transgender teen nominated for homecoming
queen in Huntington Beach. Retrieved from
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Gay rights and gay marriage
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-transgender-homecomingqueen-huntington-beach-20130911,0,1531016.story#axzz2iTdAUVAd
Mays,J (August 23, 2013), Killing of Transgender Woman Shocks Harlem Community.
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Peeples, J. (interviewer) & Lane, G and Lane, R. (interviewee). (2013). Retrieved from
Advocate Web site: http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-morebullying/2013/08/25/gay-twins-share-their-personal-bullying-story
Ferraro, R. (October 1, 2010), GLAAD ourns the Loss of Four teens to Anti-Gay
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, http://www.glaad.org/releases/100110
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V7AodA0EAdQ
(October 21, 2013), 14 States with Legal Gay Marriage and 35 States with Same-Sex
Marriage Bans (Dates reflect when laws took effect)
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
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Toro,R. (April 26, 2013), Where Gay Marriage is Legal. [online powerpoint slide]
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Mathews,D. Junes 26, 2013. The Supreme Court struck down part of DOMA. Here’s what
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