Law& Human Rights in America: Gay Rights
SSP 245
Kenta Payne
10/01/2012
Gay Rights
Prof Blagojevic
“Gay people are born into every society in the world. Being gay is not a western invention, it is a human reality.”
Secretary Of State Hillary Rodham Clinton -December 6, 2011, Geneva. Switzerland
In the aftermath of World War II (1939-1945), a delegation made up of sixty-five countries in six continents came together with the concept that all are created equal and are entitled to the highest level of respect, opportunity and dignity- regardless of race, sex, origin, religion, disability and sexual orientation. This concept, which would go on known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), brought forth the powerful idea that human rights are a birthright, which is granted upon individuals born into any society. It also prevents future atrocities which serve as a threat to these rights, and it fully protects the inherent dignity and humanity of all people. Within the years since the passage of this declaration, we as a global society have made great progress in ensuring that human rights become a human reality, however, sixty-three years later, a group of people are still denied the potential rights most of us exert today --- the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT). They are at times disowned by their families, terminated from their places of employment, persecuted by the public, and are subject to arrest, imprisonment and the death penalty. Gay rights is a very big issue to me because as an openly gay male, I find it hard to deal with the fact that individuals have to disclose their sexual orientation and gender identities to avoid facing public scrutiny, discrimination and judicial punishment just for being who they are. I also find it hard to deal with the fact that religion is used as a weapon to bring oppression towards the LGBT community. In my point of view, these are unfair practices which stem from the period of American segregation, and the South African
Kenta Payne
10/01/2012
Gay Rights
Prof Blagojevic
“Gay people are born into every society in the world. Being gay is not a western invention, it is a human reality.”
Secretary Of State Hillary Rodham Clinton -December 6, 2011, Geneva. Switzerland
In the aftermath of World War II (1939-1945), a delegation made up of sixty-five countries in six continents came together with the concept that all are created equal and are entitled to the highest level of respect, opportunity and dignity- regardless of race, sex, origin, religion, disability and sexual orientation. This concept, which would go on known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), brought forth the powerful idea that human rights are a birthright, which is granted upon individuals born into any society. It also prevents future atrocities which serve as a threat to these rights, and it fully protects the inherent dignity and humanity of all people. Within the years since the passage of this declaration, we as a global society have made great progress in ensuring that human rights become a human reality, however, sixty-three years later, a group of people are still denied the potential rights most of us exert today --- the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT). They are at times disowned by their families, terminated from their places of employment, persecuted by the public, and are subject to arrest, imprisonment and the death penalty. Gay rights is a very big issue to me because as an openly gay male, I find it hard to deal with the fact that individuals have to disclose their sexual orientation and gender identities to avoid facing public scrutiny, discrimination and judicial punishment just for being who they are. I also find it hard to deal with the fact that religion is used as a weapon to bring oppression towards the LGBT community. In my point of view, these are unfair practices which stem from the period of American segregation, and the South African
Cited: 1. Edwards, Jocelyn: “Uganda anti-gay bill draws, church, donor lines” June 20, 2012. “Reuters” (online) 2. Muhumuza, Rodney: “Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill won’t contain the death penalty” November 30, 2012; Associated Press (Online) 3. Karimi, Faith: “Ugandan newspaper publishes “gay list” calls for their hanging” October 20, 2010; Cable News Network (online) 4. “Iran: Discrimination and violence against Sexual Minorities” December 15, 2010; Human Rights Watch (online) 5. Tutu, Desmond: In Africa, “a step backward on Human Rights” March 12, 2010; The Washington Post (online) 6. Lopata, Jim: “Martin Luther King’s Dream Includes Gays” January 12, 2012; Boston.com (online)