Gay rights in America still lagging behind other nations
By: Jennifer Patterson Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: Opinion
I love being an American. I have always loved my country, and up until the last couple of years, I had never thought about wanting to live or work in another country. However, I have a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to feeling equal or having rights within America.
American is lagging behind other developed nations when it comes to offering any type of equal rights to American citizens. Talk of lifting the gay ban in the American military gives me hope that maybe this might be the first big step in a long uphill battle many Americans have been fighting, long before I entered this fight.
One of the biggest issues currently being debated when it comes to gay rights is gay marriage. There is a massive difference between civil unions and what many of us hope for one day, gay marriage. Federal law always trumps state law. With that being said, the biggest drawback of civil unions is even though it's legal in a certain state, the federal government doesn't recognize the union. While a couple can enjoy many of the state benefits, they can never enjoy many of the federal protections such as filing joint taxes, being protected from testifying against their spouse and obtaining survival social security benefits.
Even on the state level many states are lagging behind with allowing any type of union. Living in Texas at times can be difficult. While I plan to move from the south upon my graduation, I still have a few months to go. A year ago I was in the hospital, seriously fearing for my life. The worst part about my experience in the hospital was knowing that the person I was planning to spend my life with had no legal right to know what was going on. I could have entered emergency surgery, and the doctors would have told her she had no legal right to know my condition.
One of the worst parts to me about the current condition of gay rights are situations like the above. There are many privileges, rights and freedoms that the common person takes advantage of on a daily basis without realizing that a portion of the society here in America may never know these benefits during their life time.
American is lagging behind other developed nations when it comes to offering any type of equal rights to American citizens. Talk of lifting the gay ban in the American military gives me hope that maybe this might be the first big step in a long uphill battle many Americans have been fighting, long before I entered this fight.
One of the biggest issues currently being debated when it comes to gay rights is gay marriage. There is a massive difference between civil unions and what many of us hope for one day, gay marriage. Federal law always trumps state law. With that being said, the biggest drawback of civil unions is even though it's legal in a certain state, the federal government doesn't recognize the union. While a couple can enjoy many of the state benefits, they can never enjoy many of the federal protections such as filing joint taxes, being protected from testifying against their spouse and obtaining survival social security benefits.
Even on the state level many states are lagging behind with allowing any type of union. Living in Texas at times can be difficult. While I plan to move from the south upon my graduation, I still have a few months to go. A year ago I was in the hospital, seriously fearing for my life. The worst part about my experience in the hospital was knowing that the person I was planning to spend my life with had no legal right to know what was going on. I could have entered emergency surgery, and the doctors would have told her she had no legal right to know my condition.
One of the worst parts to me about the current condition of gay rights are situations like the above. There are many privileges, rights and freedoms that the common person takes advantage of on a daily basis without realizing that a portion of the society here in America may never know these benefits during their life time.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Steve
posted 3/02/10 @ 1:23 AM CST
Keep in mind, not only do civil unions barely carry over between states (even some situations where states both have gay partnership systems) - but also internationally they are generally not recognized, whereas marriage, where it is recognized for couples of the same sex, is universal. (Continued…)
JJ
posted 3/02/10 @ 2:09 PM CST
As a gay American living abroad, I say this seriously: try living outside the USA in a place like Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, or Belgium, or even the UK. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 3/02/10 @ 5:19 PM CST
Thanks for such a well written & heartfelt piece.My husband and I have been together for 17 yrs,we married in Toronto in 2003. We live in CA where our marriage is recognized but where the odious Prop 8 prevents other gay couples from marrying. (Continued…)
Trey Ledbetter
posted 3/11/10 @ 11:32 PM CST
Well childern should be guaranteed the right to a mother and a father and America wants to keep this universial right given to each child. America wants to hold on to morals and standards that are slowing falling away be people who believe that what ever lifestyle they want is acceptable and its not. (Continued…)
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