GLBT Civil Rights Summary

Opposition to Gay Civil Rights is Largely Choreographed and Funded by a Single Special Interest Group

The Christian Right is entitled to their religious beliefs. They are not entitled to impose their notion of morality on the rest of society. The vast majority of US citizens would not want the Christian Right to determine what movies or television shows they can watch, what music they should listen to or what books and magazines they can read. The Christian Right should not be the arbiter of civil rights in our society.

Sexual Orientation is Neither a Preference nor Choice

Every responsible peer reviewed and published scientific study has concluded that sexual orientation is formulated at a very young age. People do not choose to be gay any more than people choose to be heterosexual.

According to the National Mental Health Association (Mental Health America): "You can’t raise a child to be gay. Nor can parents or therapists change a young person’s sexual orientation, just as they can’t change their eye color, race or height."

Homosexuality is NOT a Disorder nor a Disease

Medical science has concluded that both heterosexuality and homosexuality are "normal" forms of human sexuality.

It should be noted that the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association (as well as many other scientific organizations) have reached these conclusions to their economic detriment. Removing homosexuality from the status of treatable disorders operates to substantially decrease the size of the potential patient pool.

It is prejudice that is unhealthy for gays - especially for young people.

Sexual Orientation Cannot be Changed

The APA: "All major national mental health organizations have officially expressed concerns about therapies promoted to modify sexual orientation. To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective. Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons."

Robert Spitzer who is often used for reference by Focus on the Family was actually a leading proponent, in the early 1970's of declassifying homosexuality as a disorder.While he has suggested that "some highly motivated individuals can change their sexual orientation," he has also said:

"For the vast majority it is not possible for them to change their sexual orientation . . . It may help 5,000 people, but harm 500,000,” He has also said that “the Christian Right", with its intolerance of, and opposition to homosexuality, will use his findings in its campaign to prevent gays and lesbians from gaining civil rights protections.

The Christian Right also likes to hang its hat on "Researchers" Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse. Of course, both of these guys are with Christian organizations; Wheaton College and Regent University respectively, Their research has never been published nor peer reviewed (by recognized mainstream academia).

Sexual Orientation is NOT a "Lifestyle"

Simply put, people are not - and should not be - defined by their sexual orientation.

The GLBT Community does NOT Have a Sinister Agenda

The so-called "Homosexual Agenda" is a contrivance of the religious right to deny gays equal civil rights. It is also a dog whistle. The not so subtle implication is that gays want to recruit and molest children. Of course, the FBI confirms that gays are less likely to engage in pedophilia and it is unconditionally impossible to "recruit" others to change their sexual orientation.

Gay People are Not Seeking "Special Rights" or Privileges

Gay people want what everyone else wants - and deserves; Equal Protection Under the Law! Nothing more.Nothing less. The notion of special rights is a construction of the religious right. It is easier to convince people to deny special rights than it is to deny equal rights.

The Quest for Gay Civil Rights is NOT an Attack on Christianity nor is it "Anti-Christian"

Asserting otherwise is a transparent straw man. Christians and othes are free to practice their religion as they please.

Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage is NOT an Attack on Marriage nor is it "Anti-Marriage." Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Does NOT Devalue "Traditional Marriage"

Massachusetts had the lowest divorce rate in the country before same-sex marriages were legalized and has an even lower divorce rate now. As an issue of logic, the marriage of committed adults of the same sex has no bearing and no effect, whatsoever, on heterosexual marriages.

Joel Belz, publisher of the evangelical magazine World, wrote recently, "We may not like to admit it, but when you leave God’s design out of the argument, there’s really no reason any longer to limit marriage to a man and a woman."

The Effort to Deny Gays Civil Rights Has Economic Origins

Manufacturing dreadful consequences of gay civil rights has been an effective tool for fund raising by religious right organizations. Focus on the Family, alone, has an annual operating budget of $150 million, much of which is spent on distortions and lies about GLBT people. Creating this controversy helps to keep their coffers full. So-called "values" leaders don't seem to put much stock in the value of truth.

The Effort to Deny Gays Civil Rights Has Political Origins

Homophobia has been an effective means of driving religious conservatives to the polls where they are most likely to vote for the more conservative party and candidates. The GOP and the Christian Right have an alliance of convenience. Republicans gain votes while the leaders of the Christian Right increase their political power and the donations that they receive.

The Effort to Deny Gays Civil Rights Has Origins In Religious Dogma

People who believe that the Bible is the literal word of God often accept the idea the God considers homosexuality to be an abomination. Science clearly supports the fact that sexual orientation is not a choice - any more than eye color. That creates a quandary; If sexual orientation is involuntary, then why would God create gay people whom he condemns? It becomes essential for the Religious Right to assert that sexual orientation is a choice. This has created an entire industry comprised of widely discredited "researchers" who claim to prove that which has already been determined to be false. Real research starts with a hypothesis and allows the results of scientific testing and observation to determine the outcome. The junk science embraced by the Religious Right starts with a conclusion and then manufactures "evidence" which is often illogical and the product of selective observation (discarding anything that doesn't fit) in order to support a preordained outcome.

The Recent Decision in California to Legalize Same Sex Marriage Did Not Defy the Will of the People

While it is true that Californians did vote to outlaw same-sex marriage in 2000, it is also true that their elected representatives have twice passed legislation that would have changed the law. Unlike the deliberative Court that heard arguments and received briefs, one person, the Governor of California, was able to capriciously veto that legislation for political purposes. That Governor has now stated that he does not support a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

Furthermore, it is the job of the courts to prevent oppression by the majority over minorities.

The United States is a Secular Nation and We Enjoy a Secular Society

We are emphatically not a "Christian Nation." Our Founding Fathers were quite specific about the division of Church and State. They did so regardless of the fact that 99% of the population was Christian. For example, in 1776, it is estimated that Jews comprised less than 0.06% of the population of the United States of America. That minuscule minority of the citizenry was given equal protection under the law.

Gay Couples Make Good Parents

The published and peer reviewed scientific research is clear. Children raised by gay couples are as healthy and happy as those raised by heterosexual couples.

Gay Couples Have Committed and Stable Relationships

In spite of the stigma and bigotry, survey data indicate that between 18% and 28% of gay couples have lived together 10 or more years.Research indicates that the relationship goals of gay couples are virtually identical to married heterosexual couples.

Gay Men and Women Serve With Valor and Distinction in the Military in Defense of Our Nation

Gays are discharged from the military for being gay but never for misconduct. In almost all cases, unit personal were fully aware that their comrade in arms was gay and they were entirely indifferent to his or her sexual orientation. The notion that gays and straights showering and bunking together creates a problem is a manufactured controversy that is unsubstantiated and completely without merit. The time has come to acknowledge that sexual preference is insignificant in contrast to intelligence, patriotism and aptitude.

At a time when our military has lowered intelligence test standards and knowingly ignoring multiple felony convictions in order to meet recruitment needs, it is moronic - if not disgraceful - to prohibit gay men and women from openly serving. In Great Britain, the Royal Navy actively recruits gay men and women to serve in very close quarters at sea.