1

Jennie Cheveres
Mrs. Allison
Period 1
October 30, 2014

Preamble Essay

Youre human, just like every other person on this earth, yet no one is the same - our
world is full of diversity. But just because we choose to be different, doesnt mean we should be
alienated. For instance, people who are married to the same gender are being denied rights for
being unlike others. What happened to our unalienable rights that are stated in the Declaration of
Independence? Equality is incorporated into freedom, the freedom we are entitled to. The
freedom that we fought for in the Revolutionary War. If we battled so hard for this, why deny us
this Constitutional Right, now? The Preamble has changed the way we view controversial topics
such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights (LGBT).
The Meaning of the Preamble
The Preamble is essentially the icing on the Constitutional cake. Its the outermost layer
of the Constitution that introduces the main ideas such as unity, justice, and liberty. This article
is an essential piece to one of the most important documents in U.S. history. What would a cake
be without the icing? Simply, a bland cake. The Preamble sums up the important ideas in the
Constitution.
The first line of the Preamble, We the people of the United States, is referring to
America as a whole. No matter what your background is or where you are now, we are one on
the same team. In order to form a more perfect union refers to the Articles of Confederation
and its weaknesses. Our goal is to improve our government and become more united.

Establish justice means to have a court system that brings just treatment to all. The line
Insure domestic tranquility translates into making sure our country is at peace. Our law
enforcement makes sure citizens dont create any unnecessary disruption. Our armed forces
provide for the common defense by protecting us when our country is threatened. On the other
hand, hospitals are an example of how the government promotes the general welfare. Doctors
and surgeons have the important duty of keeping citizens healthy. Secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity means to protect the rights that we are entitled to and our
future generation as well. Lastly, we reference the Constitution to this very day, which pertains
to the line do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Marriage Equality

There is still a battle for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community with the
topic of human rights. They are being refused their unchangeable rights for differing from the
common citizen. In recent times, America has been taking a step in the right direction. Same
gender marriage is being brought justice as a Constitutional right. As of today, 31 states approve
of same gender marriage. (lambdalegal.org) The other
19 states are not afraid of voicing their opinion that
marriage is only between a man and a woman. (See
figure on left) These states made same gender marriage
completely illegal. Some of these states that approve of
gay marriage are Utah, Indiana, Oklahoma, Virginia,
and Wisconsin. Other states have been hopping on the
bandwagon as well. This includes Arizona, California,
Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. The states are taking
baby steps with accepting the new law. On the positive side, the LGBT community is now able
to marry whoever they want in these states, despite the discrimination that follows.
LGBT Discrimination
The LGBT community faces harsh discrimination for being who they are. Its gotten to a
point where teenagers are scared to come out because they face being bullied. Teens that have
come out have been driven to commit suicide due to the excessive amount of bullying they
endure daily. Its a harsh, but true fact. In addition to this, people can be refused jobs and
benefits for being a member of the LGBT community. Many people believe that being
homosexual is a mental disease, but nothing is farther from the truth. Its something that you
dont choose - its something you are just born with and theres nothing wrong with that.

Nonetheless, people who assume that its a mental disease taunt and attempt to cure the
person.
Parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender kids send their children to counseling or
mental hospitals. These parents refuse to accept their child and scold them for being different
rather than comforting them when they need help the most. Some families completely disown a
child once they come out. They kick them out of their house and block them out of their world
completely - like they never existed. Despite the bad, there are some parents out there that love
their children no matter what - even if they are gay or lesbian.

LGBT Rights
The LGBT community is now being granted the rights they shouldve had beforehand.
The Dont Ask Dont Tell policy applies to closeted gay, lesbian, or bisexual soldiers serving for
the U.S. military. The policy protects those who have yet to come out from being harassed by
other soldiers. This means that those who are already open about being homosexual may not
serve. Although its not completely fair, it protects closeted soldiers from being assaulted
physically or verbally for being homosexual. President Barack Obama has signed a Prevention
Act for LGBT Discrimination. (whitehouse.gov) The act prevents members of the LGBT
community from being ridiculed or tormented. It helps promote the general welfare of the
LGBT community by keeping them happy and safe. This also forbids same gender couples
being denied rights such as adoption, parenting, and donating blood. The President has also
signed a memorandum that grants government employees that are lesbian, gay, or bisexual with

these rights as well. (see figure on right) The support of same gender marriage throughout
America has also reached an all time high at 55%. (gallup.com)

Conclusion
In the end, everyone should have the rights stated in the Preamble - no matter who they
are. This document has changed peoples perspective on topics that are normally at the bottom
of our priority list, such as human rights. President Obama, a supporter of same gender
marriage, states, Treat people
the way you want to be treated.
(whitehouse.gov) In response,
America has been fighting for
the LGBT communitys rights as
a union. The Preamble is a
historical document that we still
use and appreciate to this day. In conclusion, everyone should accept people with differences the
way they are. Despite the fact that theyre different from the common man or woman, they are
still human and we must take a stand to accept one another as one big family.

Works Cited

"Pending Marriage Equality Cases." Lambda Legal. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.lambdalegal.org/pending-marriage-equality-cases>.

"SAGE - The Issues - Marriage Equality." SAGEusa.org. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.sageusa.org/issues/marriage.cfm#sthash.KvzKladp.dpuf>.

"States | Freedom to Marry." States | Freedom to Marry. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.freedomtomarry.org/states/>.