Homosexuality is God's way of making sure the truly talented aren't burdened with children. -Sam Austin
There's nothing wrong with going to bed with someone of your own sex. People should draw the line at goats.
-Elton John
In Ancient Greece, homosexuality was an accepted practice. Ever since the beginning of Christianity homosexuals have been discriminated against. For centuries after the arrival of the Puritans, they would have to hide and/or deny their sexuality from others and themselves. Afraid from being shunned, chastised or even execution if anyone but themselves or their secret lover were to find out. In some cases however, some or allot of people would know, but just deciding to push it to the back of their minds. It wasn�t up until the 1980�s when Rock Hudson, famous for his film roles as a handsome, romantic ladies man, died of AIDS. He was gay even though the general public didn�t know this until he was diagnosed with the disease. Only after HIV and AIDS arrived in North America, was homosexuality more prevalent in society. Gay men and lesbians started to �come out of the closet� and be more open with their sexuality. But most of society still was not ready for �The Gay Revolution�.
Statistics say that the number of unmarried couples living together (domestic partners) has increased by more than 400% since 1970. In fact, 3 million of the U.S.A.�s 93 million households consist of unmarried couples. At the same time, the number of �traditional� (a mother, a father with children) has declined dramatically.
Unfortunately, in many countries such as Canada and the United States, same sex marriages are still not legal. Without the right to marriage, these couples don�t have access to family health coverage, medical and bereavement leave, child custody, tax benefits and pension plans. Finally, on December 19, 2000, the Netherlands became the first country in recent history to legalize same sex marriages. Citizens of the Netherlands or those who have residency permits, can now be legally wed and adopt a child with the full privileges enjoyed by any heterosexual couple. Even in some provinces and states, gay and lesbian couples can now register and obtain most of the same benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy. Many local governments such as Seattle and Tacoma Park, MD, in the last few years have set up Domestic Partner (DP) plans. Even some companies such as Ben and Jerry�s Homemade Inc. and Levi Strauss offer Domestic Partner plans to their employees. These include all the benefits that a family or married couple can enjoy. But because homosexuality is not considered as acceptable as it should be, many homosexuals will not register for the plan because they don�t want publicize their sexual orientation. Which is really sad that a person cannot feel comfortable in this world about who he or she is, even despite the consequences of not having a DP plan. As a matter of fact, 70% of Seattle's city employees who are taking advantage of the DP benefits, are heterosexual. In Berkley, CA, the figure is 84%.
The main reason why the government will not legalize same-sex marriages is because of religion. The Bible says that it�s a �crime against God�. This is bull, if two people being in love is a sin, so be it. That sick idea should not be interfering with our legal system and other peoples lives. Those people will just have to get over it. Up until the 16th or 17th century, the Catholic Church accepted same sex marriages, says John Boswell, a well-known author. He says that they considered them �life brothers� or �life sisters�. On the other hand, Gerad V. Bradley a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame, president of the fellowship of scholars and a regular columnist for the Catholic Dossier is quoted as saying that same-sex marriage would mean �the demolition of marriage�. It�s bigots like him that are polluting the minds of people with sayings like these.
Tradition just cannot justify discrimination. not long ago, marriage was limited to members of the same race and religion. Married women were virtually the legal property of their husbands, the equivalent of livestock. We have over come (somewhat) this bigoted and ancient way of thinking. No longer are women considered property, no longer are African-Americans slaving away for Whitey, no longer are Natives starving in what was once their country. There is still allot of pain and suffering in this world, most of it being the stupidity of man. I hope one day the world will correct the wrong of discrimination towards gay men and women, they are people just like us. They love just as much as any other heterosexual. After all, just like John Lennon once said: �We all shine on/Like the moon and the stars and the sun... �
We're here, we're QUEER, get used to it!