know the facts…
I support gay marriage, not just civil unions for homosexuals but actual marriages — just like the one I enjoyed with my husband. Gay marriage isn’t going to change the way heterosexuals live, it’s not going to corrupt the children and it certainly won’t devalue American culture. I don’t understand the fear and anger directed toward homosexuals and their American civil liberties. It’s racism with another face, another cause but the root is just as inane. Blacks suffered for centuries and continue to suffer all because of a darker skin tone, homosexuals suffer because they are attracted to the same sex instead of opposite sex. So what? Let it go! Gays aren’t going to come into your married bedroom and try to steal your significant other. Just because they’re gay doesn’t mean they want every person of the same sex that they meet.
Because of my adamant beliefs in homosexual equality, I sign every petition I can find, collect all relevant news stories and read them with emotional fervor. When someone speaks out against gay marriage or negatively about homosexuals, I stand up and make my voice heard too. I refuse to succumb to ignorance and fear.
Recently, the news has been deeply disturbing. With the hopeful passage of the Matthew Shepherd hate crimes bill, numerous politicians have been speaking out the gay community. Why?
Opponents of the hate crime bill say that is will take away American’s freedom of speech and that it is attempting to tell the churches what to do. That is not true. The hate crime bill does not take away freedom of thought or speech. If it did, I think we would see media outlets, the ACLU and the KKK up in arms over this, but they’re not. The hate crime bill will not punish thought, it will punish homosexual-hate motivated crimes. Just as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 added more protection to Blacks, the hate crime bill will provide more protection to the homosexual community. People in love should not walk down the street holding hands while stuck in fear that their actions may warrant a senseless hate crime. That’s not fair. That’s not America.
Others will try to argue that the hate crime bill is putting more value on a homosexual’s life and not as much on a victim who was not homosexual. This is simple not true but an ignorant argument used to justify closeted bigotry toward gays. The bill does not put a higher value on one victim’s life over another’s. The bill targets the criminal and his/her motivation. Crimes of lust/passion differ from racially motivated crimes that differ from homosexual-hate motivators that differ from random criminal acts. There’s a reason we have profilers in the justice system because while every crime is different, there are similarities between crimes with like motivators.
The hate crime bill will make those who attack homosexuals just for being gay endure punishment (in some instances) harsher than those who commit random criminal acts or drug induced acts. Obviously, the homosexual-hate will have to be proven in the courts. Someone simply stating they were attacked because they are gay will not fly, it’s not substantial enough.
In the case of Matthew Shepherd, it was in fact a homosexual-hate motivated crime. The men who tortured him pretended they were gay in order to lure Matthew out of the bar. It was a hate crime. Period.
There is much propaganda out there right now. In order to know the facts, one must also know the lies and fallible arguments opponents are using. Check out the links below. Educate yourself and educate others. Equality doesn’t apply to just the majority in this nation, it applies to all Americans.
Filed under: Gay Rights | Leave a Comment
Tags: American civil liberties, christian fundamentalists, equality, freedom, gay marriage, hate crimes, matthew shepherd bill
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