It is common knowledge that the gay community has long faced societal prejudice. Due to this, most #gay people would rather hide their true self than come out as “gay.” Some think that it was religion that first discriminated against gay people. Christians labelled them sinners according to their doctrines in the Bible and Muslims labelled it a taboo to engage in the act because of Islamic laws (Shariah).
These religious stances had a huge influence on people's opinions and sparked worldwide discrimination against the gay community. It was disheartening, and many people went into hiding. For a country that holds #humanrights in high esteem, the United States of America wasn’t a leader in this field. The US takes the protection of human rights very seriously, however, when it comes to gay people getting married, most conservative citizens frown upon it.
Some think it is difficult to be a supporter of human rights and reject LGBTQ+ rights. They are humans too. There’s no difference between being straight and being gay, people like whom they like. Do you know what it means to be discriminated against and bullied for what you represent? To constantly try to hide your true self, even from people you love?
Individual preference, as long as it doesn’t harm the next person, shouldn’t be deemed dangerous or evil. Straight people have the freedom to get married anytime and gay people should be given the same opportunity.
The world is undergoing a paradigm shift with acknowledgement of the rights of gay individuals. More individuals, straight and gay, are now advocates of the gay rights movement, and the people of Massachusetts are at the forefront.
The Gay Rights Movement, also called the Homosexual Rights Movement or Gay Liberation Movement is a civil rights movement and supports everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. The movement started as a way to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. The gay rights movement has the sole purpose of giving gay individuals a chance to display their love without fear of being bullied.
The Supreme Court in 2015, during the Obama administration, ruled that nationwide, gay couples have the right to marry. Before that, in 2003, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. The state’s Supreme Judicial Court, in the case of Goodridge vs. Department of Public Health, ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, saying that “barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil rights solely because that person married a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution.”
The first legalized union in Massachusetts was between Marcia Kadish, 56, and Tanya McCloskey, 52. Both women are from Malden, Massachusetts and were joined together at Cambridge City Hall. Their union was the first of many steps in the right direction for gay people. It was a ray of hope for many, and started to alleviate fear among the LGBTQ+ community. Massachusetts made it clear that it values human rights, not just with words, but with actions.
Of course, some Catholic, Christian, and Muslim churches still frown upon it. But with time, there is hope their ideology will evolve to include the gay community in their institution.
Gay rights are human rights. Being gay is not a crime. The LGBTQ+ community is simply seeking the same acceptance that has been awarded to other marginalized groups. Above all else, let love win. Let love continue to be shared amongst all people, regardless of sexuality.
