Abstract The paper explains and analyzes the nature of hate crimes against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people.
From the Paper "The purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of hate crimes that are directed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Erich Goode argued that there are any number of groups who are categorized on the basis of certain aspects of their behavior, personality, psychological state or even physical characteristics as deviant, leading in many instances to their devaluation and outright victimization by mainstream society. The purpose of this report is therefore to answer two questions."
A paper examining the issue of gay marriages and whether they should be legalized because not doing so would deny homosexuals their basic civil rights.
Abstract This paper is a study for understanding whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages. The paper is divided into three sections arguing three thesis statements. The first thesis statement argues that marriage is a civil right of every individual, as it is essential for the emotional well-being of individuals and denying it to the gay community is discriminatory. Hence, the study begins with a discussion of the argument that denying the civil rights of marriage is discriminatory. The second thesis statement asserts that gays are denied the rights which are associated with marriage and that denying these rights is a violation of their civil rights and therefore a need exists to legalize gay marriages. By way of this thesis statement, the paper offers an understanding as to the rights which are associated with marriage but which are denied to gay couples and discusses whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages taking this perspective into consideration. The third thesis statement argues that legalizing gay marriage is necessary for the security and well-being of the children that gay couples are caring for. Herein, the paper attempts to analyze whether children of gay couples would entail the security required if gay marriages are legalized. Thus, on the basis of the above three thesis statements, the paper tries to formulate an understanding of whether denying marriage to homosexual couples leads to denial of civil rights to the gay community and whether there is a need to legalize gay marriages.
Table of Contents
Introduction
First Thesis Statement
Second Thesis Statement
Third Thesis Statement
Conclusion
From the Paper "Whether the US community is prepared to permit people to marry without the consideration of gender is gaining our notice daily. Religion and civil marriage are two clearly different entities. Certainly this is completely fitting. Certainly, the state must not have the right to order for whom religious organization might carry out marriage services --- akin to the fact that religions institutions must not set terms regarding who might get a license for civil marriage from the state. Latest census data show that the number of faithful same-sex couples in the US has been mounting, as also the number of same-sex couple's upbringing children. Accordingly recognition in the eyes of law is crucial to safeguarding the emotional and financial health of these families. Besides, legal approval should be on a same footing with that of heterosexual marriage ---'separate but equal' is by no means equal."
Abstract The paper describes how homosexual-parent families are very much a part of society. The writer argues that there are many misconceptions about these families, but through examining professional literature and looking at the facts, those misconceptions are debunked. The writer proposes that gay and lesbian parents are no different from heterosexual parents in their commitment and ability to raise healthy, well-adjusted children. The writer concludes that accepting the presence of gay and lesbian parents and providing them with the rights and support they need will be a big step towards improving the well-being of these parents and the children that they raise.
From the Paper "The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association does not recognize homosexuality as a mental disorder, and urge all mental health professionals to counter "the stigma of mental illness that had long been associated with homosexual orientation" (American Psychological Association 2005). Likewise, it has not been shown that gays become bad parents due to a lack of parenting skills or a lack of time. Because gender roles are not clear-cut in homosexual relationships, gays and lesbians are actually able to divide household and family labor relatively evenly, and report higher levels of domestic satisfaction (Johnson and O'Connor 2002)."
Abstract Canada's policies on Gay and Lesbian rights are direct examples of canada's cultural policies, which fit in under the greater heading of multiculturalism. The paper discusses the history of multiculturalism policy, the history of gay and lesbian rights in Canada, and concludes by stating what Canada's policies say about the role of the state in Canada.
From the Paper "Multicultural policy issues concerning French-English relations and Aboriginal policy have continued to make the political agenda since the introduction of multicultural policy in Canada. There have been issues of Quebec separatism and Aboriginal groups continue to launch land claims and fight for self-government. However, for the purposes of this paper, a more recent and current multiculturalism policy will be discussed. Sexual orientation policy, and more specifically, same-sex marriage policy, is a topic on the current Government's political agenda (Brooks, 1998). The issue is a matter of whether or not same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into legally recognized marriages, and more broadly, what the government's role in marriage should be. The topic has been brought to the political agenda through a number of methods, including pressure from interested lobby groups, international policies of western European countries, and most importantly, rulings of the Canadian judiciary. Recent court rulings have essentially forced the Federal government to examine the issue of same-sex marriage. In 1998, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in M.v.H. that the Ontario Family Law Act's definition of spouse was in violation of s.15 of the Charter by not including same-sex partners. The Court changed the definition of spouse in the Ontario FLA to include same-sex partners and urged governments across the nation to update all legislation concerning the definition of "spouse" in order to avoid litigation and similar rulings (Sanders, 1994). As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, the Government introduced Bill C-23, the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Bill that changed the definition of spouse to include same-sex common law partners. In July of 2002, the Ontario Superior court ruled in "the Banns" case that the restriction of marriage to heterosexual couples was in violation of the Charter and declared 2 same-sex marriages performed at Toronto's MCC to be legal. The Ontario government passed on appealing the decision stating that marriage fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government and therefore, only the federal government could decide who can marry. The Federal Government requested a delay in submitting an appeal on the case in order to examine the issue further. In November of 2002, the Justice Minister submitted a discussion paper on the issue of Marriage and the legal recognition of same-sex unions, in which he outlined four possible solutions that the government could take on the issue."
Abstract This paper proposes that a Constitutional amendment to protect gay rights is necessary in order to protect the diversity of the country. The paper argues that those who oppose gay rights are prejudiced and that their arguments against gay rights can be invalidated. The paper discusses why gay rights are important, why the arguments opposed to gay rights are wrong, and why people should care about gay rights.
From the Paper "America is a boldly hypocritical nation. We are "the land of the free" but actively prevent people from living lives free from discrimination, from persecution, and from the kind of hatred that drove people out of Europe. The Declaration of Independence, the legal and spiritual foundation upon which this nation is built, indicates that all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights. Those rights are being infringed upon by the same people that claim to protect them. It appears that gays must revolt to carve those rights out of the nation. African-Americans have been freed from slavery, women have been granted suffrage, racial discrimination laws have been passed, and the fight for gender equality in the workplace has begun. As each new triumph occurs other challenges present themselves."
Abstract A paper which shows how the people actively involved with the gay rights movement may be highly organized and their objectives legitimate, but they are still considered a threat to traditional family values and "normal" sexual lives of other citizens. The paper discusses how the discovery of the deadly disease AIDS was yet another severe setback for the Gay rights movements, as the disease came to be linked to the gays, so much so, that AIDS was termed as a gay disease. Although the movement for the rights of gays has had its share of successes and failures, it has yet to see the movement converted into state legislation. The paper discusses sexual orientation, the HIV factor and the creation of resource centers and movements.
From the Paper "One of the achievements in this field was the creation of a resource center called the Office of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB) Student Support Services, with private funding, by the Indiana University Bloomington. It's principle objective was to serve the community of the university, with detailed information and resources on gays, lesbians, and bisexual issues, as well as offering information, support and referral for lesbian, gays and bisexual individuals. This center also refers students who have been harassed because of their sexual orientation to their GLB Anti-Harassment Team, which then assists the affected individuals, by finding a solution to their situation, and documents the incidents to ward off any future harassment. The benefits which have been highlighted by the opening up of resources centers such as stated above, is the creation of a support culture, which successfully helps those in need and guidance. [4]"
Tags: non-heterosexual, gays, lesbians, Anti-Harassment, Team, Censorship, GLAAD, Ellen, DeGeneres
Abstract This paper discuses issues relevant to the identification and counseling of gay and lesbian high school students. It looks at the importance of counselors and teachers understanding the unique stressors of gay and lesbian students and an often unsupportive, unacccepting, hostile school environment. The paper conducts a research study of high school gay or lesbian students who have been subject to harassment, violence and verbal abuse.
Abstract This paper studies the sexual revolution of the 1960s, which laid the groundwork for changes that were to influence fundamental ideas about intimate behavior in the late 20th century. Yet, while delivering the message of "sexual freedom," the Revolution failed to address specifically homosexual concerns, and thus failed to include a whole portion of the sexually active population of America. The author also studies the simultaneous political organizing of the gay and lesbian communities in America and Australia. The paper conclude that the rights of gays and lesbians were not protected until the 1970s, when laws began to change.
From the Paper "The organizations had their roots in the 1950s, when Senator Joseph McCarthy carried out the most famous modern witch-hunt in America. McCarthy strove to persecute homosexuals since many of the gay civil rights' founders were formerly Communist radicals - notably Harry Hay, who was a Communist Party leader of 20 years and who made the first call for a gay civil rights movement in 1948. [Heidendry, 103] In response to the climate of persecution, in 1950 Hay founded the "Mattachine Society" in Los Angeles, and in 1953 W. Dorr Legg founded "One, Inc." Both these groups were determined to "aid in the social integration and rehabilitation of the sexual variant" - fancy parlance for making homosexuality acceptable in the eyes of most Americans. [ibid, 103] In 1955, the first lesbian activist group, "the Daughters of Bilitis," was founded in San Francisco by Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. [ibid., 105] The FBI harassed all three groups and accused them of being communist fronts, while the Post Office was barred from circulating the literature of "One, Inc." by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. [ibid., 104]"
Tags: homosexual, lesbian, San, Francisco, U.S., American, Australia
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that a commitment to equity in education means a commitment to social justice, which has been an important slogan of the Ontario Ministry of Education for more than 10 years. While one is accustomed to such references applied to the advancement of women or visible minorities, the same general ideal is to apply to persons who are gays or lesbians during their experiences of education. The writer notes that this may be difficult for various schools and educators to assimilate with regard to students who are not heterosexual or espouse support for gay and lesbian fellow students, and notably in Roman Catholic settings that have not been influenced pervasively by contemporary Roman Catholic views on homosexuality, at large. However, the writer maintains that more Ontario Ministry statements on equity and social justice can be expected to refer to matters of gender and sexual orientation in the next years, part of a general social adjustment meant to fully include gay or lesbian persons. The writer concludes that with regard to Roman Catholic education in Ontario one recognizes the need to see equity as social justice realized in more schools' approaches to the gay student.
Outline:
Introduction
Promoting Gay-Accepting School Cultures
Cultural and Pedagogical Lag
Equity, Social Justice and the Gay-Lesbian Student
Skeletons in the Closet
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper "The presence of a few gay or lesbian students should be accepted by those who work in Roman Catholic high schools, at the very least, and with teachers and guidance counselors prepared to counsel occasional students to report questions concerning homosexuality including those to state that they realize they are gay. A pastoral message of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops addressed the needs of the parents of gay or lesbian children in a manner demonstrating the hierarchy's acceptance of this phenomenon and the first reactions adults may have to the news that a child is not heterosexual. The general approach is one instructing adults to accept the person who is different, seeing that the person feels supported and does not succumb to depression, alienation or the dangers of these results, directing counseling so that the person does not feel rejected. The general suggestion is that homosexuality is not condemned as much as its lifestyle that may indeed take form if a child is ostracized. In the last years, the Roman Catholic Church has supported research into homosexuality as a human condition and in awareness of gay and lesbian persons who may become vagrant, addicted to drugs or an uncaring promiscuity, if they are rejected by their families and friends."
Abstract This paper examines the issue of discrimination against gays and lesbians. The primary focus of this discrimination is the workplace, and the experience of gays and Lesbians is compared to challenges faced by other minority and ethnic groups in the past. Timely and relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature to develop an appropriate background for the issues involved is presented. A discussion of controlling legislation and a description of various types of discrimination that can take place in the workplace is followed by an assessment of current and future trends regarding the discrimination gays and Lesbians encounter. A summary of the research is presented in the conclusion.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Controlling Legislation
Types of Discrimination
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper " The move to reverse the long-standing practices of discriminating against anyone in general and gays and lesbians in particular can be traced to the years immediately following the end of World War II, during the era of the Red Scare. During this scary period in America's duck-and-cover history, it was easy to be fearful of almost anything and everything and homosexuals were no exception. "Although immoral conduct was grounds for dismissing homosexuals from the civil service by Theodore Roosevelt's administration," Lewis (2001) reports, "federal employment of homosexuals did not become a political issue until the Cold War, when heightened American fears about national security led to increased restrictions on all federal employees" (539)."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth study of the topic of identity formation and how a non-traditional sexual orientation, such as being gay or lesbian, changes the development of one's identity. The paper examines the complex process of choosing a non-traditional sexual orientation. This includes the detailing of the many stages that the individual must face, and the many years that are often involved in the search for one's identity. The author looks at many different factors in society that affect the search for identity, including family life, friends, work and employment situations, age, environment and how they can have a negative or positive affect on the individual's lifestyle choice. The role of the social worker in helping the person deal with the problems that the individual faces in both their personal and professional life is also examined in great detail.
From the Paper "Considering general social and cultural attitudes about homosexuality, and the persistent view that the gay or lesbian identity is "abnormal", social workers must always be aware that many parents of homosexual individuals will feel a degree of shame at producing and rearing a "faulty" homosexual child. This is closely linked to the pressure of societal attitudes and concern with how others perceive their parenting, resulting in many parents becoming labeled with a similar socially stigmatized identity to that of their homosexual child. The social worker's role is to understand that many of these parents are likely to be concerned with feelings of guilt and self-blame, such as "Where did I go wrong"? or "If I had done this differently, then ... ", rather than with attempting to understand and empathize with their child's situation (Armesto, 2001). A great deal of this reaction is rooted in the family's racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural backgrounds, which often increase the family's anxiety and stigma with their disapproving and "sinful" view of gays and lesbians and the mythical beliefs that they promote as the causes of homosexuality. On the issue of self-acceptance, many studies indicate that it is the individual's network of friends, rather than the family, that plays the most significant role in gay and lesbian identity formation, indicating that the empathic understanding and support that is offered by members of the same sexual minority group, who have "walked the way", is a particularly influential and valued source of social support."
Abstract In this article the writer points out that in 'Life Beyond the Closet', Seidman shows how gay personal and pubic life has changed considerably over the past several decades, to the point that the closet is gradually fading and losing its viability. The writer maintains that especially since the 1990s, concurrent with a shift toward multiculturalism and tolerance in general, gays have secured civil rights and a sense of entitlement to basic freedoms and liberties. However, the writer discusses that normalizing homosexuals and making homosexuality mainstream falls short of achieving true equality and justice because normalization equals assimilation. Further, the writer points out that Seidman shows that gays and lesbians have a long way to go before becoming first-rate citizens of the United States.
From the Paper "Gays have become part of the mainstream and proudly visible on television and the media. However, normalizing homosexuals and making homosexuality mainstream falls short of achieving true equality and justice because normalization equals assimilation. Without challenging the oppressive social institutions that create homophobia, prejudice, and sexism, normalization is simply not enough. Furthermore, being out of the closet can be dangerous: Seidman notes that hate crimes against gays increased fourfold between 1991 and 1998, and since the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, there has been a 70% increase in gay and lesbian military discharges. Gay liberationism remains necessary in order to confront the underlying issues that fuel homophobia, sexism and other lingering injustices in American society."
Abstract This paper takes a look at counseling gays and lesbians. It looks at this group from a cultural standpoint, going through the history of the culture and the discrimination it has faced, as well as the continuing discrimination it experiences. It looks at how counselors can be more sensitive to the issues that face gays and lesbians who seek counseling. Some of these issues include how family dynamics affect the counseling relationship, sexually transmitted diseases, and how the discrimination against this population can affect the client. This paper also looks at the steps counselors can take to become more aware of this population and how they can increase their multicultural awareness towards this group, all in the hopes of providing the best client-therapist relationship possible.
From the Paper "Attitudes toward homosexuality are complex and multifaceted (Davies, 2004). Many people have mixed feelings about gays, lesbians and bisexuals. There is a lot of controversy over what causes people to prefer one sexual orientation over another. Some professionals believe it is organic, while others think it is a learned behavior. Many factors also contribute to the treatment of gays, lesbians and bisexual (LGB) clients. To understand many of these issues the history of the population, discrimination factors, and current problems facing this group need to be looked at."
Abstract This paper discusses how being elderly and gay in Toronto is not a positive experience. The paper explains that the experience is much the same for elderly gays in all cities and that elderly gay men are cut off from younger gay men and also from society. The paper points out that gays and lesbians in Canada have their own gay village right in the downtown area of Toronto and that this area is also known as the gay ghetto. The paper then looks at how the experience of elderly gay people is even worse than the discrimination that results from homophobia and it all has to do with ageism, which puts elderly gay men into yet another ghetto. In conclusion, the paper shows that elderly gay men are also faced with the issues of homophobia and ageism and the process of growing old in Toronto does not seem to have any advantages.
Outline:
The Gay Ghetto
Older Gays, Ageism, and Social Isolation
Other Problems of Elderly Gay Men
Conclusion
From the Paper "Gays are mainly found in two areas of Toronto. The first is the Gay Village; the center of that village is Church and Wellesley Streets. The Gay Village is a symbol of exclusion or how gays and lesbians are separate from general Toronto society. Homophobia still exists very strongly, and gays and lesbians are still struggling for equality with the rest of society. In the village, gays and lesbians found "an urban neighborhood that is populated by, and reasonably tolerates, a large number of queers" (Editorial 1). They accomplished something remarkable with the rundown urban neighborhood when they rented apartments that other people rejected and opened businesses where no one else would consider doing so."
Abstract The paper illustrates how language serves a purpose to the gay and lesbian community to assist them in recognizing themselves as a group in a world of opposition and ridicule of their status. The paper quotes several words and descriptively explains how the word is utilized in gay society. The paper then summarizes the situation with examples on how language has been used negatively with the resultant necessity for this group to formulate their own vocabulary.
From the Paper "This usage appears to have grown out of political activism. The need to combat homophobic oppression - including internalized homophobia - was perceived, and a concrete way of doing this was to hold a public parade in which pride in one's alternative sexual orientation was expressed. Out of this activity, the word "pride" acquired a whole new meaning - a meaning that is useful for this community in overcoming the societal prejudices it has to deal with."
Tags: homophobic, gay, pride, lesbian, language, word
