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Homosexual Rights and Benefits

Crystal D. Gillespie

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Stevens-Henager College

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HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS

Crystal Gillespie – Final Paper (Second Draft)

Philosophy 221 – Tracy Greenwood

Should homosexuals have the legal right to marry and enjoy the same
benefits as other married couples?

Homosexuality, what does this word truly mean? The true definition of homosexuality is

the “sexual desire or behavior directed toward a person or persons of one’s own sex” [ CITATION

Dic10 \l 1033 ]. The true definition of the word marriage is explained as being “a legally

recognized relationship, established by a civil or religious ceremony, between two people who

intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners” [ CITATION Bin101 \l 1033 ]. Marriage is a

legal and official bond between two people in love; a happy time praised among many and loved

by almost all people of the world. Marriage shouldn’t be judged by the gender of the two people

in love. Homosexuals should have the legal right to marry and enjoy the same benefits as other

married couples.

Homosexuals should have the same rights as anyone else because homosexuality is not a

choice, but a way of living for so many people in this world. There have been many theories on

how someone “becomes” homosexual. “There has been some supposition that homosexuality

stems from biological factors. These include genetic factors, prenatal factors, differences in brain

structure, and hormonal imbalance.” [ CITATION Joh09 \l 1033 ]. “In the book, Homosexuality,

Birth Order, and Evolution: Toward an Equilibrium Reproductive Economics of Homosexuality,

Edward M. Miller suggests that the birth order effect on homosexuality may be a by-product of

an evolved, biological mechanism that shifts personality away from heterosexuality in later born

sons” [ CITATION Wik101 \l 1033 ]. There are also psychological theories for homosexuality.

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Sigmund Freud hypothesized that everyone has the potential for being bisexual at birth. “Freud

believed that the child passes through a series of stages of development and in each of these

stages, a different erogenous zone is the focus of the child’s striving” [ CITATION Joh09 \l 1033 ].

There are so many more theories but there isn’t one person that can explain just how

homosexuality occurs. This brings me back to my point that homosexuality is not a choice,

people are just homosexual. Think about it, who would choose to be homosexual, to deal with all

the jokes and harassment? Homosexuality is normal; it is not some type of nasty disease like

some people like to think. It also is not some weird stage that people go through and it is

definitely nothing to discriminate against. Homosexuality should not be pushed aside or

avoided; it is part of everyone’s lives. We should not just tolerate homosexuals but instead

embrace them as if they were anyone else, because again, they are no different than anyone else.

It is part of our future and homosexuals are part of our world, whether we like it or not, so they

should have the same rights as anyone else has.

The Declaration of Independence clearly states “that all men are created equal” [ CITATION

Dec761 \l 1033 ]. The Declaration of Independence also says that all men have certain rights that

cannot be taken away from them; these rights include the “pursuit of happiness” [ CITATION

Dec761 \l 1033 ]. If all men are created equal and everyone has certain rights that cannot be taken

from them, homosexuals should be included in this. They have rights as humans and citizens as

well as anyone else. Section 1 of Amendment 14 in the Bill of Rights states:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction

thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State

shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge {reduce} the privileges or immunities

of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or

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property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the

equal protection of the laws. [ CITATION The10 \l 1033 ].

We have prevailed over so many things in the past, such as segregation and women’s rights, so

why can’t we prevail over homosexual marriage? These are just some of the documents written

in the past that prove that homosexuals are just like everyone else, except for that one little

factor, and why they should be treated just the same as anyone else.

Homosexuals are not treated differently in all places of the world. Canada legalized

same-sex marriages in 2005 and is by far the most progressive country in granting equal rights to

their homosexual residents. “According to the 2006 Canadian Census – the only time the

government has collected data specifically counting same-sex married couples – there were

nearly 15,000 married homosexuals in the country” [ CITATION Tay08 \l 1033 ]. Celebrity

homosexuals are praised for being openly homosexual. Celebrity homosexuals should not

receive any different attention than any other homosexual, we are all created equal, and so we

should be treated equally. Many years ago homosexuality was considered to be a sin, and still is

to some people, and was even illegal, but we have come a long way since then. As I mentioned

earlier, in Canada almost all the provinces are for homosexual marriage and it is legal and some

of the United States are attempting to make it legal. In 2009, there were six states that legalized

homosexual marriage; although, not everyone is so forgiving when it comes to homosexuality.

In some places there are great penalties for being homosexual or participating in homosexual

activity. Such places as Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iran and Saudi Arabia have a death penalty for

such acts [ CITATION Hom09 \l 1033 ]. The death penalty for being your true self is simply bizarre.

Homosexuals should not have to be afraid to be themselves and show their true selves.

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In his Capital Commentary, James Skillen, the President of the Center for Public Justice,

states that “…marriage should continue to be recognized, as it has been for centuries, as an

enduring, covenant bond of love between a man and a woman that legitimately bounds sexual

intercourse and the consequences of procreation” [ CITATION Jam03 \l 1033 ]. He also states that

“Homosexual relationships do not entail sexual intercourse and do not have the potential for life-

generation. Consequently, such relationships do not constitute marriage and cannot give rise to

families through procreation.” [ CITATION Jam03 \l 1033 ]. The definition of marriage stated

previously has nothing to do with reproducing, it is about love, and it is about two people who

want to be in a relationship with each other. There are many homosexual couples that have

children, whether it is by adoption or by a surrogate mother. Homosexual families are no

different than any other family when it comes to raising children.

Marriage is a right for everyone, including homosexuals. People should not be able to

judge loves boundaries and there is no reason, or excuse, to show hatred toward anyone

including homosexuals. Homosexuals are just like anyone else, they live their lives just like the

rest of us, other than that one simple fact of them sleeping with someone of the same sex. That

one little fact should not stop homosexuals from receiving the same rights and privileges as

everyone else in this world. Homosexuality is part of our world and always will be, whether we

like it or not, let them have the right to marry the one that they love. Love is unconditional and

love makes a family, not the sex of the partners. Everyone has the right to love whomever they

please, and everyone also has the right to be treated equally. Everyone in life deserves to be

happy, no matter whom they are. Homosexuals are just the same as anyone else and they

deserve the right to marry who they want. They should not be treated differently than anyone

else just because of their lifestyle, because to them it is not a choice, but instead a way of living.

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Homosexuals should have the same rights and benefits as anyone else, especially when it comes

to marriage.

References

Besa, J. J. (2009, September 10). A Comprehensive Research on Homosexuality. Retrieved August 24,

2010, from Scribd.com: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19603006/A-Comprehensive-Research-on-

Homosexuality

Bing Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from Bing:

http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+marriage&FORM=DTPDIA&qpvt=definition+

of+marriage

Declaration of Independence. (1776, July 4).

Dictionary.com. (2010). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/homosexuality

Holt, T. (2008, August 14). ProQuest. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from ProQuest:

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1646129211&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=49285&RQT=309&

VName=PQD

Homosexuality. (2009, March 23). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from Scribd:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13572663/Homosexuality-

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HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS

Skillen, J. W. (2003, October 20). Marriage and Homosexual Rights. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from

Center for Public Justice: http://www.cpjustice.org/stories/storyreader%241114

The Constitution of the United States. (1866, June 13). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html

Wikipedia. (2010, July 22). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_order