On the Dilemma of Civil Rights

[Ezzy]

Quote taken from a paper I found when looking up "Boston marriage" on the web.

The key issue in the link with civil rights is the issue of choice.

Is homosexuality something that you are, like being black or elderly or handicapped or female, or is it something you do, like adultery or polygamy or incest?

Those who practice these latter behaviours have certainly been discriminated against, economically and otherwise, but they are not linked to the civil rights movement.

The difference in the case of homosexuality has to do with public perceptions of the inevitability of the behaviour.

On what basis do we decide what is, or is not, inevitable when it comes to sex? ...

When an adult solicits sex with a minor, we don't say, "Let him be--that's just the way he is."

Is the homosexual "just that way," and does this imply that we should extend the same civil rights--even affirmative action--to homosexuals that we extend to minorities and women?


This civil rights question interests me.
Answers of less than one thousand words please?


My personnal answer is YES they should have the same rights under the law as all others.


EZ http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm2/sleep.gif

[Edited by Ezzy on 10-29-2000 at 06:49 PM]

 

[Wizard]

Way to deep for me right now............................

 

[Guest]

Is homosexuality something that you are, like being black or elderly or handicapped or female, or is it something you do, like adultery or polygamy or incest?

One's sexuality is what they are. It is not a choice. I didn't say to myself one day, "Ya know, Linds, I think you should turn bi". It is my belief that we are how we are from birth...be it hetero, homo, or bi. It is up to us to discover what our sexuality is over time. (As apposed to conforming to society's popular belief of heterosexuality.)

~Tiggs~

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Ezzy]

Sorry for the lack of clarity in my post...

The main question I was attempting to raise, was with regard to affording homosexuals the same rights under the law as other minorities?


EZ http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm2/sleep.gif

 

[Tamtam]

i get really mad when people say that sexual orientation is a choice. why would some one choose to live a life in which they would be discriminted against and basically hated? who in their right mind would wake up in the morning and say "hey i want thousands of people to hate me and threaten my life!"? Its not a choose people make its the way they are born and there isnt anything that can be done to change it. People try but it doesnt happen. The Christian guy that appeared on TIME claimed to be an ex-gay but showed up in a gay bar about a month ago. Its something thats inside of you. its not taught and learned. Therefore nobody has the right to take away the liberties that are promised to all people in the constitution.
sorry to go off on a tangent...its just a sensitive subject with me.

 

[Tamtam]

sorry Ezzy if you thought i was attacking you... that wasnt my intention at all.
People even gay people are still just people. as long as a person has or is not currently commiting a crime or endangering the safety of others their is no valid reason to take their rights away. Regardless of sex, race, sexual orientaion, ethnicity, etc. no human being has the right to be denied employment, housing, or education if they are suffciently qualified.
As far as "marriage" goes...why can't two people that love each other not be legally commited to each other. Religions are a different issue. But legally marriage should not be limited to hetero couples. have any of you seen "if these walls could talk part 2" it broke my heart. if you are against gay marriages...watch the movie. if it doesnt upset you then come talk to me please.
ok...im still going off on tangents. im sorry...ill stop now.