A Disease, A Crime?

McConnell- 1 Michael McConnell AP Language & Composition Dr. Charles Johnson Draft 00 A Crime, a Disease. Society may take solace in restricting the freedom of their peers. The question really begged is why? We hide what we do not understand, or refuse to believe. Society believes that homosexuality is wrong, and immoral. Why as a society do we instantly shun anything that a religious authority tells us to? Are my gay friends really going to hell? There are many questions that we ask, and all of them have interesting two sided answers. If you were gay, you would be afraid of being rejected, at least, at first. And because of being rejected by your peers, a sense of security, a barrier, a…closet is formed so that you feel secure. More importantly, with the proverbial closet in place, our peers leave us alone, and we are included, not talked about with scorn. “Homosexuality is immoral and wrong!” a message given to us at a young age by our religious leaders, parents, and friends but what is so wrong about it? The church tells us that homosexuality is an unnatural and it’s “against Gods Plan.” This cant be true. God made man, and man was born into his sexuality so by that logic, god made gay men. Homosexuality is NOT against God’s plan, it is part of it. Another talking point of those who believe the first statement points to Anal Intercourse, the practice of sticking a penis, or other objects into the anus for sexual pleasure. The point of the argument says that it “causes undesired effects for the person who is taking it.” Yes, there are some risks to anal intercourse, but there are risks with any sexual encounter a person has. STDs, unwanted pregnancies, or physical harm (due to kinks, or fetishes like S&M) are some risks that individuals take on when they have sex, anal sex is just another form of sexual pleasure, it is not immoral or wrong, it is just another way to please your body, granted it is not for everyone. The final straw that broke the camel’s back comes from

McConnell- 2 today’s media. The media via comedy programs, sitcoms and other televised programs make fun of gays and lesbians who put the idea in a persons head that it is wrong to be gay. It also implies that it is OK to make fun of them. If you think that is correct, you’re wrong. Society, or the lower rung of society, makes most of the gay community afraid of themselves. As a result many of them do not tell people who they really are. If you do not say that you are gay, you do not have any problems. The Boy Scouts of America kick out gay and adult youth. They argue that these ex members do not exemplify the points of the scout law, and the ideas instilled in their heads by the scout oath. “…and to be mentally awake and morally straight.” That is the last line of the scout oath, national in Texas believes that it is to be interpreted as not to be gay. But on the contrary, scouts are taught that it means “to be clean in your indoor, and outdoor manners, and to do the right thing all the time regardless.” There is no anti-gay message here, so why were these people kicked out? When confronted by this point the national council disputed that it also was the fact that “Homosexuals are not good role models for our youth, the future leaders of our country.” That is just wrong, its bigotry in a pure form. A person’s sexual orientation does not guide how they are as a person, fully. Therefore, it cannot be inferred that they are not good role models and leaders solely on their own sexual orientation. It is not just the BSA that discriminates and is homophobic against these people. Some jobs specifically do not hire openly gay people, especially religious based jobs like pastors and youth ministers. Parents do not want their children to be subjected to the homosexual lifestyle – a mistake that cannot be avoided in today’s world. To dash sprinkles on this macabre cake, we have our school peers and even our own families. If a person is gay, they are prevented from being open about their sexuality. It is as if they are guilty of something and “chose” to be gay. One teen sarcastically told the writer that “yeah! I chose to be like this! Yup…I chose to be looked down on by my friends, to be talked about behind my back, and I chose to see my mom cry when I told her, oh and I chose to have my dad disown me, he was my idol for

McConnell- 3 so long.” Is it a choice? Homophobia causes more problems for the people it effects, than those ignorant enough to hold it as a belief. Scientists have recently submitted evidence that says that homosexuality and bisexuality are genetically based. According to this research no person completely chooses to be Gay, Bi, Straight, or Lesbian. In 2008 scientists at Harvard first found a “Gay Gene” in mice and primates. Later, the same scientists found the same gene in humans – it was only a matter of time. Also, doctors have discovered that there are distinct differences, geometrically, in the gay and straight brain. Gay men have distinctly asymmetrical brains which are similar to female brains. Likewise, Lesbians have brains that resemble male brains; one side of the lesbian brain is bigger than the other, which influences their likes and dislikes (cars versus beauty products). When asked when he first started to be attracted to boys, one gay teen said “the same day that you started to like girls, is the day I started to like boys.” According to his statement, when he reached puberty he was given more female hormones than male hormones which influenced his sexual behavior – he was chemically gay. This all starts in the brain and before that the DNA. People are born gay. Psychologists agree with this point they say that 80% of gay tendency is genetic (a recessive gene), and 20% of it is environmental (whether it be at home, or elsewhere). Being gay is not a choice, which proves that homophobia is an irrational fear based on ignorance. Due to someone’s self proclaimed ignorance, many people today have psychological problems, years of therapy, and millions of dollars wasted…all because science did not rationalize another part of human life – gay life. What causes the most suicides in gay teens today? Homophobia does. Society cannot fully expand and become accepting if individual’s social liberties are violated. We cannot expect to advance, to thrive, or be happy while someone is being persecuted. What is the cause of sadness today? Discrimination and intolerance are the cause. What is the effect? Physical and psychological damage and

McConnell- 4 massive ignorant propaganda are the effects. Homophobia is wrong. We will not understand something until science proves it. So, as societies we must take solace that homophobia will disappear, or be replaced. We can only hope and pray that the words of our founding fathers will be extended to all people. The constitution guarantees “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” While homophobia remains in the nations conscience, no citizen will be guaranteed anything.