Students voice opinions on gay marriage

By: Adam Olszeski

Posted: 5/4/07

In the United States, everyone assumes that we live in absolute freedom - but do we? Is persecution or segregation still a major part of our society or do we accept everyone unconditionally?

In a recent survey given to Lewis students regarding gay rights, a majority felt that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gender people) should have the same rights that all citizens do. But as a student body do we really accept homosexuals? Can we accept public displays of LGBT affection?

Dr. George Miller, head of the Philosophy department, feels that students have learned to accept LGBT individuals as long as they don't have to deal with it. "Students don't care what goes on in the bedroom, as long as they don't have to see it. This attitude is harmful, because it does damage just like those who vehemently oppose gay rights. Students have accepted homosexuality but they have not embraced it. Society has definitely grown," Miller said, "we still have a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction."

Miller recently started a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) group on campus, and student membership has skyrocketed. "We already have about 150 members and more are joining all the time," said Miller. "It's a step in the right direction. We are getting the message out there." On Wednesday April 18 there was a gay rights rally in the Old Chapel in De LaSalle hall.

"The rally was a great success. We had a lot of participation all day," said Miller. Throughout the day students participated in free speech, a moment of silence, and discussions about homosexuals and the problems facing the restrictions on their rights. "We need to make it acceptable to be gay," said one student speaker, who was met with applause.

Gay rights have come a long way in the past hundred years. Since the turn of the century people have secretly and publicly fought for the rights of LGBT people. Key lawsuits like Lawrence vs. Texas, the case that legalized gay sex, and the American Psychology Association declaration in 1972 that homosexuality was not a mental illness, have helped the rights of LGBT individuals living in America.

But, as Miller said, "We still have a long way to go." By denying LGBT people the right to marry we are denying them 1000 federal and 400 state benefits, benefits like tax breaks, and we are forcing a section of our society to live secret lives or be persecuted. In essence, many would say we are creating a second-class citizen by denying the LGBT community the right to marry and denying these people completele acceptance in society.

As the survey on the side bar explains, the majority of Lewis students are at least supportive of LGBT rights, but there are still those with conservative views. Freshman Christian Alequin, Music Merchandising major, feels that gay marriage is immoral: "Marriage was formed to reproduce and advance the human race. Gay marriage doesn't advance the human race, there are no children being made," he said. Alequin, like most others opposed to the ideas of gay marriage, explained that his religious views affected his opinions on the subject.

Sophomore Richard Brown, Political Science major, feels that "marriage is a sacred act, and gay marriage would defile the idea." But how many straight people consider marriage a sacred act? Almost 60 percent of straight marriages end in divorce today. "At least LGBT [people] stay with the same people the majority of the time," responded Miller. "Many people feel that homosexuals live this promiscuous life style, but the truth is that gays are just average people, almost boring in some cases. The idea that homosexuals are hypersexual people is just crazy."

More and more , LGBT rights are being accepted in our society. Many think that it will be a main point of concern during elections to come, and Miller feels that it will be the "determining factor" in some cases. Conservative opposition is still there; however Americans are becoming more comfortable with the idea of same sex marriages and equal rights for LGBT. Soon all Americans, including LGBT, might actually have the rights and freedoms to express themselves in public, and stand on an equal footing with the straight members of society. In the words of Freshman Michiel Hekker, Physics major: "We are all just people in the end, and we all have the right to be happy."