Monday, November 3, 2008
Homosexuality and equality for homosexuals are issues that continue to be debated in the United States. Throughout the university there are many students opinionated and active in communicating gay rights. Ryan Campbell, Olathe, KS, senior, is the president of a club on campus called Queers and Allies.
“Queers and Allies maintains a wide variety of roles in the KU community, most notably working on activism, educational outreach, and social networking.” Campbell said. “At the end of the day, our goal is to spread awareness that LGBT students are the same as everyone else.”
Gay rights and equality for homosexuals is a debate that has been taken to the highest courts in past years. United States Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that no state could prohibit homosexual activity. Justice Anthony Kennedy defended this under the right of privacy, meaning that people should be allowed to engage in activities in their private domain.
Three states in the U.S. have legalized same-sex marriage. Those states are Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut. Although the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage, many are hopeful for a change.
“Progress will be slow, but I believe that I’ll see gay marriage federally recognized in my lifetime,” Campbell said. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled in Bowers v. Hardwick that, “the constitution does not confer a fundamental right upon homosexuals to engage in sodomy.” Although the Supreme Court overruled this case seventeen years later, homosexuality remains a controversial topic.
Religious beliefs are one argument against gay rights. There are numerous verses throughout the bible that oppose homosexuality. An example of this is in Leviticus 20:13, 23, where it is stated that homosexuality is an “abomination.”
Legal arguments are another reason the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage. The Defense of Marriage Act is a federal law passed in 1996. The act defines marriage as being strictly between a man and a woman, “…even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.”
Same-sex marriage and equality of homosexuals is a discussion political candidates have as well. In the Vice Presidential debate on October 2nd at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, both candidates made their views clear on the issue. “Neither Barack Obama or myself support redefining, from a civil side, what constitutes marriage,” Senator Joe Biden said. The Republican vice presidential candidate stated similar views on the definition of marriage at the debate. “I don’t support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman.” Governor Sarah Palin said.
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Comments
Gay rights debate rages on
According to Leviticus the following are also all sins:
Seriously people - it's 2008 - time to put fairy tales to rest. Logic and Reason should be our only absolute, not some silly ramblings of an ignorant shepherd from 2000 years ago...
Gay rights debate rages on
John- Why is it that when a man and a woman have unprotected sex they dont get a AIDS? Also why do Men who have sex have to use lube? A man and a woman dont need a man made lube to have sex it is natural.
This is no fairy tale these are absolute facts. Men who have unprotected sex DIE of a blood disease called AIDS. Why is this so? Do you have a logical response?
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, Rom 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Gay rights debate rages on
whoa!
"Why is it that when a man and a woman have unprotected sex they dont get a AIDS."
eflowers, you just provided the best argument as to why there should be sex ed classes in public schools.
Anyone is vulnerable to an HIV contamination (technically you don't get AIDS, AIDS refers to the symptoms and infections that you get from the damage of the virus). please, please do some research on the subject...
Gay rights debate rages on
eflowers - are you mentally handicapped, or just roleplaying one?
vladislav - you do realize that less than a century ago majority of people were opposed to interracial marriages? You can't really go by what majority thinks, because there sure are a lot of idiots out there. You need to follow common sense. Nobody's forcing churches to perform gay marriages. It's all done under civil law.
I personally would have nothing against gays marrying under 'civil union' arrangement - but the problem is, ultimately those unions were always treated as '2nd class' marriages (even when it came to hospital visits, and financial matters).
Live and let live is my motto. I don't care what two consenting adults want to do with their lives. It seems only brainwashed religious nuts are intent on sticking their nose in other people's business...
Gay rights debate rages on
What I don't understand is how polygamy can be outlawed while at the same time laws that ban gay marriage are seen as backwards. As far as I can tell, if marriage is defined by the individual, then any and all types of unions should be recognized, not just the kinds involving two people. Seems to me we're sort of picking and choosing what sexual "norms" are while at the same time claiming to "live and let live." If equality is what we're after, we should allow homosexual marriages, and polygamous marriages, and our neighbors to the east should be able to marry sheep if they want, nothing should be off limits, who am I to judge by this logic?
Gay rights debate rages on
em1 - your logic is flawed as far as sheep go - you need consenting adults for marriage. I don't see a problem with polygamy.
vladislav - I absolutely "live and let live". I don't care what fairy tales people were brainwashed to believe in the comfort of their own homes - as long as their christian mythology doesn't get converted into law...
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