Gay Rights: Why is Discrimination with Sexual Orientation Different Than with Race or Gender?

Should gays have the right to marriage? This question is the topic of many debates and there is no clear cut answer. I believe that there are a few factors that can help determine what rights gays have in American society. While I do not know about the rest of the world I do know that in America there currently is no legislature defending gays from discrimination. I know that there are many people who feel very strongly that they should have their rights protected and there are also many people who feel they shouldn't have any rights.

I the past there have been laws passed to protect against discrimination because of race and sex. Something these characteristics have in common is that they are natural, people are born with the color skin they have and they are male or female. You have no choice whether you are white or black, or whether you are male or female. However, while many studies have been done no one knows for sure whether you are born gay or you choose to be gay. If it can be proven that homosexuality is not a choice then there is no argument about whether they should have protected rights or not. This does not mean that if it is determined homosexuality is a choice they should have no rights, it will just be harder to get them.

One question that should be looked at is whether or not being gay affects your abilities to do the same things as heterosexual people do. I believe that gays can do the same work just as well as anyone else. If there were an issue that they couldn't they could be discriminated against, but I don't think they have any real disadvantage.

Not allowing homosexual people to marry is a form of discrimination which makes it much harder for gay couples. They cannot receive the benefits that married people get because they can't get married. This affects many things such as health insurance; because they are not married employer health insurance will not cover both people in a homosexual relationship because they aren't technically a dependent. This is not fair and should be changed.

In the end, I believe the reason gays are still discriminated against and not protected by laws is because homosexuality is not understood. I cannot understand why anyone would be gay, but I still feel they deserve to have their rights protected. Whether it is a choice or genetic causes that make someone homosexual they do not deserve to be treated worse for their sexual orientation.