Gay Rights Advocacy Group

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Gay Rights; An Equal Opportunity…
There is an ongoing battle for gay rights. The right to wed in particular. There was a constitutional ruling on keeping church and state separate, well isn’t gay marriage technically a battle of church and state? No where in the constitution is marriage stated to be a union of a man and a woman, actually no where in the constitution is marriage mentioned at all. However the bible does specify against “gay” or homosexual marriage. Parents speak and teach their kids marriage is a union between a man and a woman because that’s their religious or personal beliefs. Not because that’s what’s written in the U.S. Constitution, not because its “law”. Often its joked “GOD made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” Well weather homosexual behavior is genetic (which science states it is) or a learned trait (which I argue its not) GOD made “Steve” also.
So what exactly does gay marriage accomplish for the homosexual community? Equal rights and opportunities! I.E. (social security benefits, hospital visitation, insurance benefits, retirement savings, family leave, home protection and persons) I am a 21 year old gay male who resides in the state of New York, and marriage to me is more then a title on paper. It’s stating I am an equal citizen, not because I’m “gay” or “straight” but because I’m an American, and even more I’m human. Whenever I’m asked the question “you’re gay?” I respond “No… I’m also gay, I’m Korean, intelligent, 21, adopted, a middle child, and I’m also gay, amongst other things.” People fail to realize homosexuality is a lifestyle and a part of who we are as people not a label.
Have you ever heard the saying, “there’s only one race, the human race?” Not so long ago African Americans were not considered equals, Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. did not just fight for “African Rights”, they fought for equal rights. Why is the only time America seemed to be accepting of gays and was able to over look that “label” was when the unfortunate Matthew Sheppard incident happened (GOD rest his soul). Are we as people that close minded and ignorant? Is ignorance really bliss? And if it was your son or daughter who was a homosexual wouldn’t you want then to have equal opportunities? Or would you shun them out of your house? And if you shunned them away what kind of a parent would you be?
Massachusetts is the only current state acknowledging homosexual marriage, New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont have Civil Unions and California has Domestic Partnerships. However none of the above mentioned states have changed since enacting the new provisions to the marriage clause. So why then should any other state change because of homosexual marriage? It’s a simple one word answer (CHOICE). Well did you know there is a clause in the constitution called the Full Faith and Credit Clause. It states…
Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Section 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
In other words, if I get married in a state which allows homosexual marriage or unions then that union must be acknowledged by every other state in the Continental United States. The reason why… Because I’m an American!
A portion of the government acknowledges that homosexuals have the right to equal rights, so why can’t you? Congress said keep church and state separate, so then keep them separate. Who are we to redefine marriage? To me marriage is a commitment between two people who love one an other unconditionally, marriage is one person saying to another your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it, your life will not go un-witnessed because I will witness it. No one gets married just and solely because one person is a man and the other is a woman. So define marriage, between two people or between a man and a woman? In our constitution marriage is not defined so who are we to define it? Marriage should be its own definition only to be defined by love. If one marries for any other reason its probably the wrong one.
One should ask himself why do I oppose homosexual marriage? Does it directly affect me? The truth is homosexual marriage only affects you if you are a homosexual, relative of a person who is or the friend of a person who is. I am a 21 year old young adult who believes in equal rights. I have been abused, picked on, harassed and beat up, why? Because I am a “faggot” and it took me 5 suicide attempts to realize I love who I am. The Bible says Judge not lest yee be judged, well we were all created in the image of the heavenly father weren’t we? And if homosexuality was a choice don’t you think kids would choose the heterosexual lifestyle before suicide? I may have. Homosexuals kill themselves every day because their not “accepted” and because their tired of being harassed and abused. Are you part of the reason for unnecessary and increasing homosexual suicides…?
Dear Mom and Dad,
I killed myself because I’m gay and I know you couldn’t accept it.
Love always your son or daughter.
I vow to never be the parent of one of those letters, do you want to be? I may only be 21 and a little naive but I know the reality of life, and that reality is I’m no better then anyone and there’s only one race… THE HUMAN RACE.
By Ted W. Plenge