Homosexuality in America

According to The Nation, “ All the crosscurrents of present-day liberation struggles are subsumed in the gay struggle. The gay movement is in some ways similar to the movement that other communities have experienced in the nation’s past, but it is also something more, because sexual identity is in crisis throughout the population, and gay people-at once the most conspicuous subjects and objects of the crisis-have been forced to invent a complete cosmology to grasp it. No one says the changes will come easily. But it’s just possible that a small and despised sexual minority will change America forever.” This quote is relevant to the issue of homosexuality in America because it explains that there is a movement that variously presents itself an as appeal for compassion, as an extension of civil rights to minorities, and as a cultural revolution. Many people choose to live in America because it is known for its many freedoms: religion, speech, press, to bear arms, and the right to a fair and speedy trial. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson mentions, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, America still struggles with the dilemma of sexual orientation and the discrimination that is attached to it. By comparing and contrasting the issue of homosexuality during the late 1980s to contemporary today, we can see that this issue is still present in our lives and is becoming more of a norm. Therefore, we should learn to accept it and not discriminate against it because they too are human beings and deserve to be treated equally in our country.

Homosexuality has existed in most societies for as long as recorded descriptions of sexual beliefs and practices have been available. The main reason why it is hard for homosexuals to come out of the closet or make known their sexual orientation is because of the societal attitudes toward homosexuality which has such a decisive effect on the issue. The two main types of sexual orientations seen in our world today that are becoming a norm are heterosexual and homosexual individuals. In the United States and most other industrialized Western societies, however, adults are expected to engage in heterosexual behavior. Since the norm of sexual orientation was heterosexual rather than homosexual, those who did identify themselves as being homosexual were treated differently and it was difficult for those who have internalized society’s negative attitudes toward homosexuality and who believe false stereotypes about people who are gay. In order for homosexuals to get past the internalized homophobia, they sought help from a therapist or counselor in the course of coming out. With the help of counselors or therapists, many homosexuals develop positive feelings toward their sexuality and do not feel ashamed of their orientation. Moreover, the prevailing public attitude was that homosexuality was a moral failing that should be punished, therefore, making it harder for laws to be passed for homosexuality equality.

Some of the main reasons why there are problems with accepting homosexual relationships are because it does not follow the American dream and can lead to illnesses such as AIDS. The American dream is seen as having the perfect family, which consists of a heterosexual marriage, two kids, a car, a house, and a good job. However, when it comes to the issue of homosexual relationships, it has not been legalized in the United States but some states do at least recognize homosexual couples. A growing number of U.S. employers, organizations, and local governments have begun to offer same-sex “domestic partners” some of the same benefits that they give heterosexual married couples. In addition, partners in same-sex relationships may be less likely to assume gender-type roles than those in heterosexual couples. When it comes to the issue of homosexual parenting, many homosexuals have often found themselves with hostility