The issue of gay rights continues to create controversy in American society and among U.S. legislators and policymakers. For much of American history, homosexuality has been a taboo subject and even a crime in itself (Gay 2003). Today, millions of gay and lesbian Americans are open about their sexuality and actively seek the same legal rights afforded to heterosexuals, including protection against discrimination and the right to marry. Over the past twenty years, the American publicÆs attitude toward homosexuality has become more accepting. According to Public Agenda, ôA majority of Americans now say that homosexuality should be considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle,ö (Gay 2003). Many states afford homosexuals greater rights than ever before including issues on employment discrimination, adoption, and marriage.
Despite the move toward greater acceptance of and greater legislation protecting the rights of homosexuals, many Americans and religious-based organizations are staunchly opposed to homosexuality. Many groups view homosexuality as a sin and gay marriage as an assault on the nuclear family and traditional family values. Those opposed to gay rights view homosexuality as a choice and government policy affording it special rights as money spent reinforcing a behavior they find offensive. Gay rights advocates in contrast argue that like race or disability, sexual orientation cannot be changed. They argue that because of this fact homosexuals are entitled to the same protections of any other minority group. Powerful opposition to gay rights continues to exist in U.S. society, ôMany objections to gay rights have religious roots. Most major religions oppose homosexuality as a violation of the law of God, and point to human anatomy and reproduction as proof that same-sex intercourse is unnatural,ö (Gay 2003, 2).
Many opposed to homosexuality blamed the AIDS and HIV crisis in America on gays, citing it as pr...