GAY, LESBIAN, AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS
© Copyright 2004 Video Gamer X Publications

The 20th Century marked great change in terms of the equality of citizens of the United States, from women getting the right to vote by way of ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution to the black Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 60's. In general these groups have been granted equal and appropriate freedoms, and outspoken prejudices have long since diminished, although in some ways they still exist, significantly subdued often lingering as a result of cultural differences between ethnicities. However there remains one human minority that continues to receive unequal attention in comparison to others. Homosexuals and transgendered persons often face some of the same discriminations that once faced other minorities in the past by Caucasian people. As individuals these people do share the same rights as all citizens in the United States, however in regards to such issues as marriage and adoption a pairing of two same sex individuals is not considered acceptable. The civil rights movement of the 21st century is directly related to the choice of sexual relationship.

Same sex relationships are nothing new or uncommon; in fact this has been something that has been part of human civilization since likely before written language. There have been periods throughout history when such actions were either shunned, ignored, or revered. Homosexuals have always been in a statistical minority of the population in comparison to heterosexuals and this fact has left such a minority of individuals often at a disadvantage or susceptible to ridicule and an undesirable position of moral questionability. For centuries religion has played the part in setting the standard by which sexual relationships are deemed appropriate to occur, and branded homosexuality as an immoral and abominable act, even as far as saying that it is direct representation of evil or the handiwork of the devil. In general fully Christianized, Muslim, and Jewish societies pander to this view and the clergy of these religions site passages from their religious texts as "proof" of homosexuality's vile moral stature in the eyes of God.

Homosexuality was expressly prohibited in the Law of Moses. In Leviticus 18:22 it was written, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." - The Bible, New International Version

And Similarly the King James Version of the Bible, states in Leviticus 20:13, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."

Death was sometimes required for other acts such as gathering sticks on the Sabbath, (Numbers 15:32-36), improper eating of ritual offerings (Numbers 18:32), ineligible persons acting as priests (Num 3:10). As well some other notable currently inapplicable and ethically improper "laws" brought forth by the Old Testament include the stoning of non virgin brides to death.

The following are other examples from other religious texts regarding homosexuality.

"When a man mounts another man, the throne of God shakes." - The Hadith, Sayings of Muhamad

"We also sent Lut : He said to his people : "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." - The Qu'ran 7:80-81

"What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk." - The Qur'an 26:165

Religion has shown little tolerance to such individuals and lifestyles due to the often expression of temperance and physical self denial as a trial and requirement toward becoming closer to God and what is viewed as being pure. Many of the edicts and commandments of ancient religion have little if any application to the modern determination of ethics. Although the roots of our laws do in fact derive passively from such things as The Ten Commandments and the Code of Hammurabi many of the acts that required the death penalty or various forms of torture just are not applicable to today's standards of conduct throughout most countries of the world. As well homosexuals are not considered to be possessed by demonic forces by most people except for extremist zealots or very conservative cultures.

Among the various groups including Jews, the mentally ill, and the handicapped, deemed unfit for life and procreation, gays and lesbians, were often jailed and executed under obscure German law by the Nazis or sent to concentration camps to endure the same kind of torture and deplorable squalid conditions most often vilified by post World War II civilization. Those who pursue eugenics often are the first to claim homosexuality as a disease that must be culled from society to make a "superior" race.

It has been shown that propensity toward homosexuality is likely written into the genetic code. One of the first successful scientific studies that was done on homosexuality was reported on in 1993. By examining the family histories where homosexuality among males had a high occurrence on the maternal side of the family tree. It was determined that there was a genetic factor being passed from generation to generation from mother to son however more evidence needed to be shown to prove this as being an accurate correlation. Dean Hamer and his co-workers at the National Cancer Institute in Washington DC in 1993 studied 32 pairs of brothers. Two Thirds of them shared the same genetic material. Since previous research hinted at the gene being passed down maternally, Hamer examined the DNA of these homosexual brothers to discover the region of the X chromosome identified as Xq28 that was common between these brothers. He found a relationship between the gay brothers and the probability of inheriting the identical genetic sequence on the region of the X chromosome as much higher than the heterosexual brothers of the same homosexual males. Although this was a breakthrough it was only the discovery of a region on the X chromosome that passed this trait rather than a specific gene.

Regardless of genetic traits, there can be psychological and personal influences that could be determining factors in a male or female to choose to be homosexual, transgender, or bi-sexual. As an expression of independence and individuality, in many ways people seek to explore the limits of their own bodies and seek to broaden the depths and flavors of endorphin induced pleasure that they can endure, and as the barriers between what society deems natural and unnatural blur the apprehension toward engaging in such activities has diminished substantially. Humans do not engage in sex for just reproduction but most often for recreation and entertainment or an expression of passion and love. Physical attraction to the opposite sex is not only a physical experience but a mental one as well. If there is a psychological attraction to the same sex then the likely component of physical attraction can also exist.

When I examine the whole controversy surrounding homosexual marriage, I have to just wonder about the worthlessness of protracted debates over the issue. To me it resonantly proclaims, "who cares?!" in my mind. What is the point in making it so difficult for two homosexuals to be married legally the same way two heterosexuals are married? The strongest opposition to this is the Christian lobby and they claim that because the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, these people don't deserve equal rights as man and woman married couples. That makes absolutely no rational sense at all especially within the existing framework of a non theological bounded legal system. What people do privately in their own bedrooms or who they love should not be an issue of law when the law is designed to be fair and unprejudicial. Whether it be a union between two men, two women, a man and a women, or a man and a transsexual, these essentially should be classified identically. If these two people decide to commit to a long term relationship they should have every right to symbolize that union and promise with matrimony and be afforded the same legal and tax benefits of doing this that heterosexual couple's enjoy should they choose that option. I see no logic in fighting this issue governmentally and tying up legislative and judicial processes in fighting it or preventing same sex marriages or civil unions from happening.

There are some who may be born and begin their lives wondering who or what they truly are. These people identify psychologically with the mannerisms and behaviors of the opposite sex; however they themselves are physically assigned to a gender that does not seem natural or appropriate. Studies of transsexuals have shown that many have felt as though throughout their entire lives they have felt like another person inside the wrong body. Thanks to the advancement of science, hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery is possible and such conditions can be resolved. However transgenders can be objects of unsupportive ridicule from the public and as with homosexuals Christianity is equally unkind to such individuals who they claim are defying the work of God will. I personally consider the courage and fortitude honorable that a transsexual must maintain to face the hardships both mentally, physically, and socially throughout their transition. People who choose to exhibit their true identities that differ from what they are physically born to look like in the face of a very unforgiving world are in many ways champions of individualism.

Homosexual partners adopting children has been a hot potato issue that few politicians like to openly comment on. Under normal circumstances a child grows up with the influence of two parents, the mother, and the father, and of course the behaviors of both of them and the lessons and guidance provided by the parents most often greatly assist in the formation of the individual that becomes an adult. Obviously science has not yet made is possible for two people of the same sex to produce a child, however I feel this may someday not be the case. The only option left is adoption. Due to the intolerance of current society during this time in history it is probable that a child raised by same sex parents would not enjoy the same freedoms and lack of prejudice that a child born of a father and mother would receive. Chances are the child would be treated appropriately and cherished by his prescreened same sex parents but many ignorant people would harass and shun this child associating it with sin and something considered dirty by Christians and most of western society. It would appear that same sex parents would not be in the best interest of the child's emotional and psychological development, however if this were to occur in a community or society where children in this type of family were commonplace then I would see no difficulty in allowing an adoption of this nature to transpire. Again, I foresee that this will be something far more likely in the era of society toward the end of the 21st century into the 22nd rather than now when we are still conflicted between the morals of religion and the morals of rationality.

I have a rather controversial yet compelling theory about the future of this issue. It is entirely possible that the distant future of civil unions or marriages will in fact involve polyamories of groups of individuals consisting of humans and perhaps even artificially intelligent lovers such as androids and synthetic humanoids. Physical expressions of love and human sexuality will blur between genders especially when advanced technology and medicine allows for the virtually spontaneous alteration of gender from male to female. Sex roles may no longer be a result of random chance but rather personal adult preference. As well with parents genetically engineering their children sexual intercourse between a male and a female will no longer be a requirement for reproduction. More than likely such things will occur in a totally different kind of society than anything we are familiar with today. Those people of tomorrow will look upon the debate of today and wonder about how narrow-minded we once were.

Despite a person's choice of sexual affection, true love, or gender each and every human being has been granted the opportunity to live their life and personally experience everything that they choose to encounter or take into themselves as thoughts, feelings, or memories. It is not by the law of government or religion that governs the identity of a person's heart and mind, rather the true manifestation of the will to be an individual and to travel the path of self discovery and understanding of purpose here in this place at this time. Each individual person has the ethical right to manifest themselves in whatever image or form he or she chooses. May there be tolerance and acceptance for all; that we are on the shared journey together to reach the same ultimate destination.

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