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The Question of Gay Marriages

2009 protest in San Francisco: California voters approved Proposition 8 in 2008 to reverse a ruling that gay couples had a right to marry

Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

Ask just about anyone. They’ll all tell you they’re in favor of equal rights for homosexuals. Just name the situation, and ask. They’ll all say, yes, gays should have the same rights in housing, jobs, public accomodations, and should have equal access to government benefits, equal protection of the law, etcetera, etcetera. Homosexual activists have done a great job advancing their cause with slick moralistic slogans about equal rights, discrimination, and so forth. As we will see, few, if any, of the pro-gay marriage slogans tell the truth. They sound good to a passive audience, but upon closer analysis, they are exposed as half-truths and deceptive distortions. The activists have been able to get away with that because our fast-paced lives and sound-bite media provide the perfect environment for propaganda to replace truth

Recently Lawsuits over gay marriage have escalated on the nation’s two coasts, energizing advocates on both sides and bringing the legal battle over same-sex marriage closer to the U.S. Supreme Court. Final arguments in a constitutional test of California’s ban on such unions were held a month ago this week. A verdict in the case heard by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco could come any day. Last Thursday, a federal judge in Boston raised the stakes in this fractious area when he declared part of a U.S. law that refuses to recognize state gay marriages are unconstitutional. The law denies gay and lesbian couples federal benefits that go to heterosexual couples. A benefit to heterosexual society of gay marriage is the fact that the commitment of a marriage means the participants are discouraged from promiscous sex. This has the advantage of slowing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, which know no sexual orientation and are equal opportunity destroyers.

These benefits of gay marriage have changed the attitudes of the majority of people in Denmark and other countries where various forms of gay marriage have been legal for years. Indeed, in 1989, when the proposal to legalize marriage between gays first was proposed in Denmark, the majority of the clergy were opposed. Now, after having seen the benefits to the partners and to society, they are overwhelmingly in favor, according to the surveys done then and now. Though many arguments against gay marriage are based in homophobia, even people who otherwise support the rights of gays and lesbians have advanced arguments against gay marriage. One main concern is that allowing two people of the same sex to marry will devalue the concept of marriage. Those against gay marriage argue that marriage is between one man and one woman and allowing gay marriage would destroy the traditional family, which defenders of this idea value.

Others argue that marriages are for procreation. This argument is related to the idea that same-sex couples are not appropriate parents and shouldn’t be allowed to assume a family structure. To resolve this matter the high court needs to give this resolution.

Reference: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-13-gay-marriage_N.htm?csp=34

July 20, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Equality for All: Expansion of Family and Medical Leave Act for Gay Workers

Hilda Solis, U.S.A Labor Secretary, will announce on Wednesday that homosexual workers will be given wider option and extended benefit under the Family and Medical leave Act providing them opportunities to enjoy the same benefits as other family and heterosexual couples. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to take care of loved ones or themselves.

President Barack Obama issued some major changes in the existing policies of the Family and Medical Leave Act without creating a dramatic nuisance or controversial outbreak despite the continuous opposition of the republicans. The U.S.A. Department of Labor through President Barack Obama’s advocacy regulated another provision which allows a gay federal employee may take leave to care for a child with a gay partner. President Obama gradually lay down the regulations for the equal treatment of the gay and lesbians in the community.

Some of the other changes in the policy of the Family and Medical Leave Act; gay partners of federal workers will now receive long-term health insurance, access to day care. President Barack Obama also authorized child-care services and subsidies; more flexibility to use family leave to attend to the needs of domestic partners and their children and relocation benefits. Hospitals must allow gays to visit their ill partners. Federal child-care subsidies can be used by the children of same-sex domestic partners. Federal Housing Authority loans can no longer consider the sexual orientation of applicants. These changes empower every citizen of the country thus allowing the community to grow as one unit which creates consistency and equality.

With the earnest effort of President Obama’s Administration; the implementation of these policies are still pressured by some of the gay and lesbian activist. One of the issues is the slow action of the administration to repeal the Federal Defense of Marriage Act and bring an end to the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In defense, administration officials are quick to note their legislative successes. President Obama signed a federal hate crimes bill into law that for the first time provides protections against crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation.

For decades, gays and lesbians struggle to fight for their rights, to give them equal treatment and consideration because after all, we are all human living in the same world; it is just like the Blacks who place a huge effort fighting for their right to be treated and respected as valued human being; these amendments and regulations of the Family and Medical Act breaks the barriers of discrimination, false promises and sustains hope among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.

According to Shin Inouye, a White House spokesman, “The president and his administration remain committed to achieving equality for all, and it’s clear that we’re moving forward.”  The Department of Labor together with the whole system of President Barack Obama’s administration never ceases to fulfill the needs of the country. Some people believe that gays-lesbians do not deserve these rights because they contradict the true sexual identity of a human which we are born with–a man or a woman. Some people think that everyone, be it a man, woman, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, is worthy of such respect and equality as long as we, all act responsibly and remain value-oriented. No matter what people think or believe, we all contradict and affirm our individual perspectives and views on life and existence. President Obama’s policies reflects the sensitivity and nurturing capacity of a leader, a role model who does not only protect the community but maintains the value of respect and upholds  the right of every citizen for a justified and equal service and treatment this country has to offer.

Resources

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062104709.html?wprss=rss_nation

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062104709_2.html?wprss=rss_nation

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_gay_rights;_ylt=Alg8VEd.Sg.OYE26UUSGFFhv24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTM4MTNsbGl1BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNjIyL3VzX29iYW1hX2dheV9yaWdodHMEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM2BHBvcwM2BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDYXBzb3VyY2VzZ2F5

June 23, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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