The Fight For Equality

The Fight for Equality

Homosexuality has existed throughout history. This topic became ever so popular in the twentieth century. Homosexuals are currently the largest group of Americans that federal protection has not been extended too. Gay people can hide, but in hiding they are compromising their freedom. Everyone should have the right to marry, have children, and to hold any occupation that they choose regardless of their sexual orientation.

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or nationality is outlawed by Congress but sexual orientation is not on the list. In some cities and states, gay activist groups are trying to get anti-discrimination laws passed. But conservatives are fighting those laws and proposing ordinances of their own which would prevent sexual orientation from being included. States such as Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin outlaw discrimination on the basis of homosexuality. Sodomy, solicitation, and loitering are the three major areas where police justify their attention towards gays and lesbians. Sodomy is the main area of focus. In twenty-three states, sodomy statutes criminalize certain sexual practices that both homosexuals and heterosexuals engage in. In the 1996 decision in Bowers v. Hardwich the Supreme Court decided that these laws are valid when applied to homosexuals but not to heterosexuals.

Employment discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age by employers. There is also a growing body of law preventing or occasionally justifying employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since homosexuals cannot get married, domestic-partner benefits are the only benefits that they are capable of getting. Having these domestic-partner benefits means that the partners of gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees would receive the same benefits from the company that are given to the married spouses of heterosexual employees. A number of companies have decided to extend benefits only to gay and lesbian employees who can not legally marry. Domestic partner compensations cover a broad range of benefits from medical and dental insurance and can be more difficult to provide, especially when the company is insured by an outside vendor. Some benefits such as bereavement and family leave which do not require any outside negotiation with insurance vendors can be executed right away.

To be eligible for domestic-partner benefits from their company must sign an affidavit saying that they are in a committed relationship. Although most vocal opposition to domestic partnerships is aimed at gay couples, giving them benefits does not undermine marriage. Rather, it solves the injustice that homosexuals cannot marry the people with whom they share their lives, and it creates financial incentives for stable relationships.

A patriotic American who happens to be lesbian or gay can only serve in the military by hiding the existence of a private life. All branches of the military allege that homosexuality is incompatible with military service, and estimates that about one hundred soldiers are discharged every year from the military for being homosexual. Launched in 1994, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a compromise between President Clinton, the military, and political leaders who opposed his promise to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. This policy promises not to ask soldiers about their sexual orientation, not to investigate them for homosexuality without credible cause and to let gays and lesbians serve unless they openly reveal