Yunior Ortega

ENC 1101/ Syretta Massey

December 9, 2015
Argumentative Essay
Although gay marriage just recently became legal here in Florida, there are other
states in which still do not of approve of such thing. Until 1990, U.S. immigration law
authorized the exclusion of gay people. Today, an individual cannot be denied entry to
U.S. territory based on their sexual orientation (Rank, page1). However, gay rights are
still being violated today because we as a whole are prevented from doing certain things.
For example, there are still 13 states in which ban same sex marriage. This causes many
of the LGBT community to have to move to another state in order to make them feel
accepted by their community. There have been many cases in which same sex individuals
have been prohibited from not only being married but from being able to adopt kids. With
all the problems going on in the world, the least of the worries should be whether or not
to allow individuals to be happy with one another. Nonetheless, gay rights are being
violated because there is decriminalization happening due to an individuals sexual
orientation. Since the LBGT community is going through so many issues, there are many
organizations that help raise awareness and equality amongst everyone. Ever since the
beginning of time there has been the possibility that one day the same sex would love
each other. And so it got to the point where the same gender fell in love with each other
but had to always keep it a secret due to how society will portray them.

According too Ashley Colin, LGBT/Q protest movements particularly in the

1960s and 1970s, were closely tied to other social movements, including civil rights,
womens rights, anti war, and poor peoples struggles.
Complete sexual liberation for all people cannot come
about unless existing social institutions are abolished,
and they mobilized around suck claims (Colin, pg.1).
Some issues with same sex people include barring the
state from approval or disapproval of the forms that

Figure 01.

love and family may assume; equal economic security for all family and household
structures; freedom of gender expression in work, private, and public spheres; and an end
to workplace discrimination on the basis of gender, gender expression, and sexual
identity (Ashley, Page 1). Discrimination amongst gays has always been an issue even
today. They have been denied marriage in many states and there are still 13 states in the
U.S. which do not allow for same sex marriage, leading those in that community to leave
their homes in order to be accepted somewhere else. However, there are many people
who portray us gays as unacceptable due to religious reasons or just for the sake of it.
Homosexuality should behave in a way, that is acceptable to society in general and
compatible with the recognized institutions of home, church, and state. (Colin, pg.2)
According to Colin, gays should behave in an acceptable way, which for the most part
many of us do. Now what really matters is that we are happy with whom we are with.
In todays society, the current state of gay rights has improved. There are 50
states in the U.S. which allow for same sex marriage; therefore gender equality is
being advocated to every community within the states. People are starting to see things

differently because of the amount of gays that are together. Currently, there are still 13
states which do not allow gay marriage. However, outside of the US there are many states
which do not approve of this and are abusing of the gay community. According to
Goetting, Marriage is a sacred obligation and upon it society may be said to be built.
It is also a civil contract he said (Goetting, page 2-3).
Nonetheless, there are many organizations who are taking action. For example,
the ACLU is one of the biggest ones who want gender equality for everyone. The purpose
of this nonprofit organization is to advocate the rights of the LGBT community as well as
bring awareness to the world about human rights. In addition, they advocate for LGBT
people to have equal opportunities to build families regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity. They cater to everyone in the LGBT community as well as adults in the
regular community so that they are aware of what is going on. They are also catering to
public schools to make them bias free for LGBT students
and help students start gay-straight alliance clubs. This
organization, the ACLU fights in legislatures, courts, and
the streets for nondiscrimination laws that specifically
protect the LGBT people. There are many ways in which
they get their message across. One of the ways is that they
Figure 02.
sell ACLU clothing attire so that you can show your pride and advocate your rights. Also,
they fight and go to court and bring cases to that action can be taken. They host events
and do a lot of advertising through their website and flyers, campaigns, and even have a
donation website where you can donate to support all of their work to protect liberty

across the country. Their discursive practices ensure that the LGBT people can live
without discrimination and equal rights (aclu.org).
There are many things that should be done to try and advocate for gay rights. For
instance, we can raise awareness by hosting events and bringing the local community. By
doing this, more people are aware of what is happening and learn that everyone, no
matter what gender you are deserves the right to be happy. Also, the people who are on
television should be doing something about it, such as raising awareness, or showing
issues that are happening in other countries so that everyone can see it and hopefully a
change can be made. These solutions would be effective because it is a great way to bring
out issues that are happening worldwide to the LBGT people. Television is watched
everywhere and so this would be a great way advocate the issue and make sure change
occurs because everyone deserves to be happy no matter their sexual orientation. There
should be more awareness as to what is happening to the LGBT community and how
their rights are being violated He said (Goetting, Page 5).
So why should be care? One of the most important reasons why we should care is
because every day that goes by there are more and more relationships of the same sex.
People are starting to figure themselves out and whom they are attracted to. They are
starting to experiment with other genders and see how it makes them feel. So we should
care because everyone deserves to be treated the same no matter who they are with. As
long as LGBT people are happy, their rights should not be denied because they are with
someone of the same gender.
Sexual orientation has nothing to do with ones rights, which is why gender
equality is still an issue today. It might no be as bad as it used to be but there are still

states which deny many rights to those who are gay. There is discrimination because
someone is gay, they lack freedom of expression and always have to be hiding from how
society is going to see them; which should not be an issue since we are all the same.
According to Indra, Unpacking and revisioning such categories as relationships, many
that are typically viewed as natural and self-evident, is a necessary first step, leading to a
deeper understanding of who we are, and of general relations of power and process
(Indra, page 2). This shows that as long as we understand ourselves and who we are
everyone has the right to be happy and not be discriminated. Another reason why we
should care is because in other countries there are people being abused because of their
sexual orientation. No one should be abused because of their preference; it is something
you are born with. So abuse should not be happening to anyone, especially because it
causes suffering and makes that person feel as if they serve no purpose since they are
being forced into being someone their not.
To wrap things up, gay marriage is still an issue, maybe not for your state but for
others that are being forced to leave their home country so that they can be happy
together and raise a family. Gay rights are being violated because there is
decriminalization happening due to an individuals sexual orientation. Many are being
abused in other countries and so the least we can do is try to bring awareness to help
those who are having their rights violated. However, there are many things we as a whole
can do in order to bring awareness to everyone so that we all get treated equally and share
the same rights. There could be many organizations in which try to make a change, but
without the support of our local community there will be no changes made unless we all
put in some time and effort. One thing is certain; the ACLUs discursive practices ensure

that the LGBT people can live without discrimination and equal rights, freedom of
expression and personal autonomy (aclu.org).

Annotations

"American Civil Liberties Union at Grand Valley State University." American Civil
Liberties Union at Grand Valley State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2015.

"Gay Rights Movement In America 1950's to 1960's Timeline." Timetoast. N.p., n.d.
Web. 06 Dec. 2015.

Ahsley, Colin P. Gay Liberation. New Labor Forum (Sage publications Inc)
24.3(2015): 28-32. Academic, Search Complete. Web. 6. Dec.2015

Rank, Lorrie. "Gays And Lesbians In The U.S. Immigration Process." Peace Review 14.4
(2002): 373-377. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.

Goetting, Nathan. "Gay Marriage Is A Fundamental Right." National Lawyers Guild

Review 70.3 (2013): 137-144. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.

"LGBT Rights." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2015.