Caryn Ross
Karen Morris
English 1102-HHH
31 January 2011
LGBTs and other Homosexuals: Humans like Us
All Americans are recognized as equal, free, and everyone gets the same opportunities as the next person. At least, that’s what is said about America from the outside looking in. Everyone knows that that honestly isn’t true. A large percentage of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, also known as LGBTs, and same sex couples experience a sense of hatred and discrimination against them in all types of ways. When they try to do common things such as looking for a home, getting married, or simply minding their own business, they seem to be treated as if they are less than everyone else. There are many people who believe that such bigotry is the correct thing to do, but there are also people who share my beliefs and oppose the hatred against them. All LGBTs and same sex couples deserve an equal, discriminatory-free, enjoyable life that many heterosexuals are able to experience because of their sexual preferences.
Though it’s a frequent activity, no one has the right to have any amount of hate or dislike for another person for any reason. Our country wasn’t built on those principles; otherwise we wouldn’t have lasted this long as a whole. If two people of the same sex or two LGBTs want to get married and adopt children together, that is okay, because they are humans just like us and they equally deserve a family. It’s purely unjust to alienate them from everyday activities, especially when they’re not even bothering anyone, which is usually the case. Same sex couples and LGBTs commonly live a difficult life because of closed-minded people here in America. The least we all could do is get together and love one another as people who matter.
For those kind-hearted humans who fought and continue to fight for the rights of the homosexual world, there have been many changes in laws and other restraints that prohibited homosexuals to do certain things or go to certain places. For example, hospital visitation rights use to be restricted to only heterosexual couples or partners. There was no possible way for LGBTs to visit their loved ones or partners in the hospital, which was cruel treatment to those people just because of their sexual preferences. Just recently, a federal law was passed that officially allowed anyone in the hospital to choose who they want on their visitation list (Dwyer). Thankfully for them, there are no longer any prejudices against them that could prohibit them from visiting with a loved one that may be on their death bed. People who are pro-equality don’t care about the hatred from others. Their main goal is to focus on equal treatment among all people, and not just those who are heterosexual.
Another example of positive reinforcement for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, and same sex couples is the fact that there are sexual harassment programs in many workplaces that help to prevent harassment and even bullying of employees (Sexual Harassment). Sexual harassment is considered as gender discrimination and isn’t being tolerated anymore (Sexual Harassment). Work relationships between certain people, whether it’s a supervisor and an employee or just two employees, can be the cause for chaos and uproar against one another in the workplace.
Among the caring and considerate homosexual supporters are those people that just can’t stand homosexuals. They either have a deep dislike for them, or they fear homosexuals. Regardless, those isolators don’t want to be around them under any circumstances. The fear of homosexuals or hostility towards them is called homophobia (Homophobia). Although many people truly suffer from it, it’s the main reason for a lot of negative treatment done to LGBTs and same sex couples. In Latin America, the hatred was so bad that it was estimated that one man was killed every two days because of his sexual preference in 2005 (Homophobia). The citizens of Latin America have become so violent to people who aren’t considered straight. It’s a sad reality for those men day in and day out, but their governments are diligently working towards protecting their rights and also the rights of other LGBTs (Homophobia).
Homosexuals also face a great deal of discrimination when it comes to something as simple as housing. No one would ever think that a person with great credit, a great job, and no criminal background wouldn’t qualify for decent housing. That’s the life of LGBTs and same sex couples. Some insurance companies even turn down same sex couples, because they’re considered “unrelated” (Johnson). Surprisingly, there is a Federal Fair Housing Act, also known as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, and it bans the prejudice of any type of person in terms of the selling, renting, or financing of a housing space of some sort (Johnson). Yet, many housing and insurance companies don’t seem to want to follow the law.
All in all, homosexuals have a hard time living everyday life. They go through discrimination, hatred, prejudices, and fear of them. They pretty much always have, but hopefully they won’t endure such pain too much longer. Homosexuals’ lives are impacted very negatively with critics who put them down or treat them like less than humans. Although, they are impacted more than positively with supporters and activists who live to help provide equality and spread knowledge about LGBTs and other types of homosexuals to lessen the number of ignorant people who speak about them without knowing the truth about them. LGBTs and other types of homosexuals are humans just like every other person here on earth. Why not begin treating them like such?
Dwyer, Devin. “Hospital Rights for Gay, Lesbian Partners Take Effect.” ABC NEWS. N.p.,19
Jan 2011. Web. 24 Jan 2011.
“Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.” Sexual Harassment Support. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2011.
“Homophobia, prejudice & attitudes to gay men and lesbians.” Avert. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb
2011.
Johnson, Ramon. “Gay Real Estate.” Housing Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan 2011.
United States. Fair Housing Laws and Presidential Executive Orders. Washington DC: ,
2009. Web. 28 Jan 2011.
