Discrimination based on sexual preference is wrong, must be seen as counter to the equality assured by the U.S. Constitution, and cannot be countenanced in law or ethics. The manager in human resources should not discriminate against potential employees based on gender preference. A number of arguments have been advanced as to why such discrimination would be ethical, but these arguments are countered by close analysis.
Homosexuality has been identified by some as immoral. Those who believe that this is so make the claim that homosexuality is wrong and that society must promote the heterosexual martial ideal which is damaged by tolerance for homosexual behavior. If we do not deny the acceptability of the homosexual lifestyle, these critics say, the foundations of society will be threatened (Prager 60). Critics claim that homosexuality is not inborn but is something that is chosen as a lifestyle. They thus fight against legislation such as the recently proposed "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" by noting that homosexuality is not and should not be equal in the eyes of the law with racial discrimination. Title VII is the legislation that outlawed racial discrimination, and critics say proposals to include gays and lesbians cannot be placed on an equal footing with title VII:
It cannot express a national moral consensus that homosexuality and homosexual practices are irrelevant to an evaluation of character. The issue is not one of status as with race but one of lifestyle choice and behavior (Federal Document Clearing House 1).
However, there is evidence that homosexuality is not a choice but an inherent characteristic, and the emphasis critics place on choice colors the argument to make it seem that homosexuals are merely willful and can be brought around to a different sexual orientation in time. Discrimination becomes a form of punishment by which this change is to be effected.
Yet punishing people for a "crim...