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Christina Leon
John Kubler
English 114B
5 May 2014
Whats fair or whats right?
Through out the years it seems as though there has been more and more talk about LGBT
rights. It slowly has become socially accepting but there are still individuals that wont
acknowledge it. It doesnt come as a surprise anymore when you hear that someone is gay,
instead you most likely accept it. Especially for the newer generation, they find that being gay or
lesbian is completely okay. Times are changing, new laws are forming, and people just want to
have the same fair rights as every other U.S. citizen deserves to have. However, is it the right
thing to do? Although America has come a long way, people still dont socially except a wide
variety of American citizensGays, lesbians, transvestites, and so onbut is it fair to push them
into accepting something they dont believe in?
This issue has become a really hot topic for quiet some time now, however the only
problem is coming up with a solution that makes both side happy. On one hand, people pro
LGBT right argue that anyone deserves the right to get married because love is the only thing
that matters (Balanced politics). On the other hand, people against LGBT rights state that
LGBT marriages and rights are sins and should not be recognized (Balanced Politic).
However, my side of the argument falls right in between because I believe that everyone has and
deserves to have their rights, but since I believe in God, I feel like its biblically wrong. Being
that I'm in between I'm able to see both side of the argument, agreeing with some point and
disagreeing with them as well.
As I had mentioned before America has become a beacon for freedom, in fact many
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countries are extremely strict and have many rules and regulations with their citizens. For
example, in the book Persepolis 2, Marji came from a country where being gay was taboo and
could be punished by being jailed or even sentenced to death. Since her country was so strict
about gay rights she had never had met any homosexual people. However, after moving to
Austria she actually encountered many gay menone being a boyfriendand it turn out she
actually did mind them, in fact she lived with a couple of them. To her it was odd how her
country didnt accept homosexuals but in other countries it was acceptable. She didnt look
down on any of the gay men and pass judgment upon them; instead she treated them with the
same respect as any straight man. Just because someone has a different sexual orientation than
youre used to, you shouldnt disrespect and restrict them from being happy just like how Marjis
homeland would. Homosexuality might be a little hard to understand at first but when you
interact with a homosexual person, you will come to realize that the only difference is who they
are attracted too.
Growing up I have always been raised in a Christian church and have some strong
religious beliefs but just because I'm a Christian doesnt mean I hate people that like same-sex.
In fact God says to love thy neighbor and thats what I strongly believe in. I wont condemn
someone that cant control who they are attracted too. Sure the bible also says a few things about
homosexuality but it says more things about being loving, caring, and meek. It says in the bible,
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall
leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh and I
do believe this to some extent (Mark 10:6-9). I believe that a man leaves his parents to be with
the one he loves and wants to take on those responsibilities for whether it is a man or a woman.
It makes Christians look bad when they say God hates gays; and thats not true because God
loves all his children no matter what.
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One major news story that has been in the media lately was about a gay couple trying to
order a cake for their wedding at a bakery but the baker denied them service because he didnt
believe in gay marriages. Their was many people mad and furious on both pro and against gay
marriages that the governor, Jan Brewer, of Arizona got involved. Because of the many protest
that were going around the governor passed SB1062, which is a bill that states that business is
great in Arizona and no one should be denied service because of their race, gender, or sexual
orientation (Morrissey). I find both sides of the argument to be correct because no one should be
shunned service if they werent doing anything wrong but then again no one should have to give
service if they dont want too. I dont think its fair that the bakery should have to bake a cake for
someone that goes against his beliefs, he has rights as well and they shouldnt be stripped away
from him either. Sure, its wrong to be cruel to reject service towards gay people but he
shouldnt be forced to tolerate it and accept it. Its against his first amendment rights and his
beliefs and he shouldnt have to bend them for the greater good of big business.
Something that many people struggle with is seeing gay couples act affectionate towards
each other. Growing up most people were used to seeing men and women as couples. However,
nowadays you do happened to come across a homosexual couple every now and again. When
they start being affectionate and touchy most people start to feel uncomfortable because this was
not something they were raised to see or believe. The newer generation however seems to not
mind it at all. Youtube sensation, Fine Bros, documented a number of kids seeing how they react
towards gay proposals. All except one thought it was nice and that gays should have a right to
get married. Although, one young boy was taught that being gay is bad from his parents. It all
depends on how we are raised and how often we around homosexuality.
Personally I have nothing against LGBT people. If someone were to tell me that they
were I wouldnt mind it, in fact I would treat them he same as I would treat anyone else. It
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bothers me how cruel people can get towards them like they were to one of my really good
friends. My friend, Justin, and I were at the mall shopping together; he needed to buy an outfit
because he was going to meet his boyfriends parent for the first time. As we were walking
some guy coughed faggot and we both looked at him with disgust and asked why would he say
such a thing. He got up really close to Justins face and said because you people are whats
wrong with America. I pulled Justin away before anything got too out of hand and told him that
the guy was dumb and not to listen to him. I could see the hurt and pain in his eyes because he
knows that a group people dont accept who he is as a person. People are wrong to make them
feel like there an abomination and that they should all go away. Just because a person likes the
same sex doesnt mean they should be treated any different.
Individuals on the pro side might argue denying them is a violation of religious
freedom (Balanced politics). This argument is somewhat in valid because gay acts are a sin in
the bible. When it comes to gay rights, religion doesnt really back them up because it say a
number of times that gay action upon a man is wrong and sinful. Like I mention earlier not all
Christians, Catholics, Jew people and so on hate LGBT people, in fact we love them just as much
as the next person.
Individuals on the con side argue "it would further weaken the traditional family values
essential to our society (Balanced politics). This argument is unacceptable because a child that
grows up with two loving parents has a pretty good future ahead of themselves, whose to say that
two same sex parents will be an issue. As far as traditional family goes, there is no such thing.
Many families today are broken with either a single parent or two-divorced parent finding a
traditional family is hard to come by nowadays. I think that in some cases same sex parents do
a better job at raising a family better than some of the parents we have today.
In the end I find myself lying in the middle of this situation because I'm not completely
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for gay rights but I'm not completely against it either. I think there needs to be some sort of give
and take towards this situation. Denying someone a right to marry the person they love is wrong
but forcing someone to accept it is not fair either. I feel as though people need to be more
understanding and polite towards gay people but I dont think they should be forced to change
their beliefs. Likewise for gays, they all shouldnt expect people to be 100% accepting towards
them and they should acknowledge that instead of being mad and upset about it. Either way both
sides are right to a certain extent and they both need to have respect for each others beliefs and
actions.