by G.L.F. Gammey

Created on: November 19, 2008

Under United States law homosexuals and lesbians are entitled to act on their sexual orientation without fear of discrimination. They have not had to fight for the right to co-exist within the mainstream public while other racial groups have had an uphill battle in this area. To suggest that gay rights issues are the same as race-related civil rights issues is a gross understatement of what has historically occurred as a result of racial differences. A person's sexual orientation is not easily ascertained unless the person makes a public statement about it, whereas people of a different race can not and should not hide their differences.

People of a different race or gender have had to fight for the same rights that most of us take for granted. African Americans had to battle laws that prevented them from sharing public eating places, public transportation, and public restrooms. African Americans were not even allowed to drink out of the same water faucets as whites and if they were sitting on the bus they would have to give up their seat to a white person when told to.

Historically African Americans were treated no better than animals as a result of the color of their skin. Homosexuals and lesbians have not had to struggle for the right to public education, public transportation, service within restaurants, the right to vote, the right to a job, and the right to own land.

Once the shackles that bound them in slavery were removed, African Americans had to fight against people who took one look at them, noticed the color of their skin, and refused to acknowledge them as human beings with rights.

Personally, I don't understand how or when it became normal to be a homosexual or lesbian. The biggest issue and, really, the only issue the gay rights movement has been concerned about is same sex marriage. Should a state allow same sex marriage? I don't believe that this issue in any way equals the struggle for civil rights in regard to race. According to Webster's dictionary, "marriage is the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband and wife."

Based on my faith in God, I do not believe it is right to act on sexual tendencies with a same sex partner. However, I do not believe that it is right to discriminate based on sexual orientation by prohibiting them from voting, working, owning land, eating in public places, and using the same public transit system that everyone else enjoys. I don't believe it is fair to ask for a change in the laws regarding marriage. Marriage is a sacred union that should be regarded as such.

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