Does it really matter what our significant other's gender is? Does it really matter in what gender we find love and happiness
with? Well, according to the national government it does! According to The Constitution we are all equal and have certain
inalienable rights guaranteed to us. The Constitution does not, however, protect the rights of same-sex marriages/partnerships in
a manner that is satisfactory to the gay and lesbian community.
Through the years the gay and lesbian community has been deprived of their basic civil rights and liberties. They are
discriminated against by the very ones who vowed to protect their constitutional rights. The "moral" majority has fervently
sought out ways to keep the gay and lesbian community in the closet, promoting a 'don't tell, don't ask" lifestyle. One may
speculate that this is because the weaker part of society is easily threatened by the thought of gays and lesbians living happy
lives among the heterosexuals.
When it comes to gay and lesbian rights, the media plays a very important role. Not only is the media a means of
communication, it is also a mode of artistic expression. Presenting homosexuality to the public has been made possible through
this mode. One example is the sitcom "Ellen", which became the first series with an acknowledged gay central character last
Spring. Only in America has this declaration turned into a media epic that played out over seven months. The reason for this is
mainly because of all the attention it attracted in newspapers and magazines in trying to predict the public's reaction. This
episode not only created a change in the media's stereotyped notions of masculinity and femininity but it is also a validation, on
the part of the media, of social change. Unfortunately, this change still requires much of society's cultural acceptance.
"The extent to which the act makes a difference in the lives of today's young and frightened gay Americans
will determine whether it is a landmark in the history of cultural civil rights or of show business hype", says Frank Rich, a writer
for The New York Times. Amanda Bearse, who plays "Marcy" on Fox's "Married...With Children." stated: "...this is an
imprtant message to convey to America: that gay people often have to struggle with who we are because our society demands
that the heterosexual way of life should be everyone's way of life." Therefore , this gives the viewers of the show a lighthearted
glance into what it is that gays and lesbians go through after coming to the realization of being gay.
There are still antagonists out there such as Jerry Falwell, who publicly urged Chrysler Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and
General Motors (frequent advertisers during the show) to abandon this part of their advertising campaign.
North Dakota is the first state to sign into law the legalization of the confinement and forced testing of people suspected
of having HIV. According to the law, emergency personnel (including police officers, firefighters, patients, health care workers
and others may secure a curt order confining individuals to whose blood they have been significantly exposed. Persons may
be confined for up to five days and no criminal charges need to be filed to be imprisoned.
"Hate crime laws are of great importance in determining violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people," stated
Kerry Lobel, executive director of the NGLTF. She continued to say that: "hate crime laws excluding sexual orientation send
a dangerous message that while hate crimes are wrong, anti-gay bashing is acceptable."
As of April 16, 1997, the NGLTF tracked 227 gay or HIV-related state legislative measures. Over half
are considered unfavorable or hostile. The remaining are considered favorable to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community.
In April of 1997, California's Dignity for All Students Bill passed in the Assembly Education Committee. Speaking for the bill
were numerous gay and lesbian youth and a mother whose son took his own life because of severe harassment and abuse from
his classmates at school for being gay. The bill would prohibit bias based on sexual orientation in school employment,
curriculum and the treatment of students on campus. A measure that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientaton
n schools is pending in Connecticut, and in Rhode Island there is a measure that would repeal a law passed last year that
lets parents take their children out of AIDS education and sex education classes.
On December 17, 1997 New Jersey celebrated a class-action victory granting same-gender couples equal status with
heterosexual couples in adopting children in state custody.
"The American public, the courts, and public policy makers are understanding more and more that not only do our families
exist, but that they are loving, healthy, nurturing environments, and that we make excellent parents," stated Kerry Lobel,
executive director of (NGLTF).
Recently, in Texas, a state adoption worker improperly removed a foster child from the home of a lesbian couple simply
because they were lesbians. The child had since been put back into the care of the women. In the Hawaii same-gender
marriage case, the state's major argument was that gays and lesbians do not make suitable parents. The court's rejection of this
arguement is an indication of the ongoing shift in public opinion on this issue.
According to the compiled documents of Professor lee Badget of the University of Massachussetts, Amherst, nearly as
many lesbians and gay men have children living at home as do heterosexual men and women. Both of the studies that were
conducted showed that many gay men and lesbians are parents.
The purpose of this page is to keep helping to raise public awareness of all the hardships that gays and lesbians (together with
other interest groups) have endured throughout the years. We should realize that, pertaining to the media, the often
outrageous antics of gay public figures happen for attention and little else. The gay community will continue to be in the public
eye until they are heard and appropriately represented. The fact that we all deserve these rights should be indisputable
and should carry a lot more weight than it does. Although everyone may not be accepting or approving of some of these
antics, they are done in desperation---- when nothing else will do. Some of us are curious to know: at what point in time
did the pursuit of happiness lose it's importance?
The collaborators on this page have been Lily M. Ortiz, Candescey Blackett, Malika Broomes, Stephanie Michelle Hodges, and Vivian.
http://www.glaa.org/archive/1998.html
Carter, Bill. "'Ellen' Goes On Gently", The New York Times 20, Aug. 1997, late ed.: C18
Mifflin, Lawrie. "Title Character in 'Ellen' May Come Out As Gay." The New York Times 16, Sept. 1996, late ed.: C14
Bearse, Amanda. "Sexual Identity and the Sitcom." The New York Times 27, Sept. 1996, late ed.: A23
Blumenfeld, Warren J., ed. Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price. Massachusetts: Beacon, 1992
http://www.ngltf.org/press
Last Modified: 4/2/98 6:24:32 AM