A Basic Human Right Essay, Research Paper

A Basic Human Right:

Talking about Gay Marriage

You re all sitting there, secure in your rights as an American. But even in the year 2000 gay and lesbian people living in America today are not protected from discrimination and are denied the most basic rights under the law. Today in America, you can be fired from your job simply for being gay or lesbian. No federal law protects people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Despite different opinions about homosexuality, the vast majority of Americans believe that gay and lesbian people should not be singled out for discrimination or denied basic human rights. A fundamental American value holds that every person should have an equal opportunity to a good job, a decent home and a loving family.

Currently, gay and lesbian people are denied the opportunity to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage in all 50 states.

Making a commitment to a lifelong relationship is a fundamental human need that should not be denied to anyone. Marriage is a basic human right. Adults should be free to make a commitment to the person with whom they wish to spend their life. The government should not interfere in these personal matters. Marriage ought to be a matter of individual personal decision. It is probably the most important personal commitment that two people can make. If two gay people want to get married and take responsibility for each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health, why should anyone else interfere? The decision of whom to marry should be left to individuals not dictated by the government.

In response to the attempts at trying to recognize same sex marriage, the federal government passed the Defense of Marriage Act in September, 1996. This act was written in attempt to permit the federal government and all 50 states to deny recognition of gay marriage performed in any other state. DOMA also permits the federal government to continue denying same-sex couples hundreds of legal rights and responsibilities that come with civil marriage. This is an infringement on a person s OWN RIGHTS. This deprivation of the right to love someone and share the rest of your life with them is just as bad as claiming blacks are inferior to whites, that Protestants are lower than Catholics.

Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson shared a home in Minnesota and exchanged rings to show their commitment to each other. However, their relationship was not legally recognized. When Sharon was seriously injured in a car accident, the hospital refused to allow Karen to visit her. Karen was denied any information about Sharon s condition and was not allowed to make any decisions about the treatment of her loved one. She waited in anguish for hours in the waiting room not even knowing whether Sharon was dead or alive. Finally a priest found out for Karen that Sharon had sustained a serious brain injury. Karen spent nine and half years and over $300,000 fighting a court battle to win the right to visit, care for and finally bring home the person she loved.

In Hawaii, two gay men had been in a committed relationship for 20 years. One Friday night, one of the men had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. When his partner arrived, the hospital refused to let them see each other even though the couple had a legal document stating their wish to make medical decisions for each other. When the man denied visitation finally got to speak to the hospital lawyers days later, they said You can pick up his body at the city morgue. His partner had died three years earlier.

Rights that married people take for granted such as the ability to visit a sick or injured spouse in the hospital are denied to gay and lesbian people. Because their committed relationships are not recognized by law, hospitals and other institutions and even their neighbors do not have to respect the basic human rights of gay and lesbian couples.

So think about that next time you go to visit a sick loved one in the hospital. How would you feel if you couldn t see them, and then was told to go pick up their body at the city morgue?