2008 Woodie Awards
Students say yes to gay rights
Aaron Beik
Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: News
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The Arts and Ideas program facilitated the "Price is Rights" seminar over a three-day period from Oct. 24 to 26. Dr. George Miller of the philosophy department coordinated a panel discussion sponsored by the Lewis philosophy club that addresses gay rights.
Miller planned for student body president, Demarius Coburn-Moaton, to speak at the panel discussion, but was unable to join the panel. When asked why he was unable to speak, Moaton had no comment.
Miller began the discussion with his own views on gay rights saying, "The issues present in today's society according to gay marriage are similar to the historical battles of race relations in the 60s and those issues are no different from the modern hysteria associated with gay marriage."
Referencing the human rights campaign, Miller explained seven different ways homosexuals are discriminated against in the American system:
1. If a partner is hospitalized, the hospital will refuse the right of the partner's significant other to be present, limiting visitation to only family members.
2. Married couples receive a lower bill with health care cost, but a gay couple will be taxed heavily by the federal government.
3. If a gay man or woman dies, the pension is not given to their partner to help with the lost income and cause of death.
4. Gay couples cannot take a family leave of absence from their job due to a partner's illness or need of assistance.
5. If a homosexual man desires for his partner to immigrate to America the Petition to Immigrate is not available to gay couples.
6. Social security is not available for gay couples.
7. Late in life, a gay couple cannot enter a nursing home together. They are forced to live apart, even though they have loved and cared for each other for numerous years or even a short while.
Steve Weierman, a computer science and math major on the panel, stated the base problem with gay rights begins with the conservative and fundamentalist belief system. He pointed out their promotion of reversing the "gay illness" does little but cause depression for the homosexual and perpetuate hateful dialogue.
Miller planned for student body president, Demarius Coburn-Moaton, to speak at the panel discussion, but was unable to join the panel. When asked why he was unable to speak, Moaton had no comment.
Miller began the discussion with his own views on gay rights saying, "The issues present in today's society according to gay marriage are similar to the historical battles of race relations in the 60s and those issues are no different from the modern hysteria associated with gay marriage."
Referencing the human rights campaign, Miller explained seven different ways homosexuals are discriminated against in the American system:
1. If a partner is hospitalized, the hospital will refuse the right of the partner's significant other to be present, limiting visitation to only family members.
2. Married couples receive a lower bill with health care cost, but a gay couple will be taxed heavily by the federal government.
3. If a gay man or woman dies, the pension is not given to their partner to help with the lost income and cause of death.
4. Gay couples cannot take a family leave of absence from their job due to a partner's illness or need of assistance.
5. If a homosexual man desires for his partner to immigrate to America the Petition to Immigrate is not available to gay couples.
6. Social security is not available for gay couples.
7. Late in life, a gay couple cannot enter a nursing home together. They are forced to live apart, even though they have loved and cared for each other for numerous years or even a short while.
Steve Weierman, a computer science and math major on the panel, stated the base problem with gay rights begins with the conservative and fundamentalist belief system. He pointed out their promotion of reversing the "gay illness" does little but cause depression for the homosexual and perpetuate hateful dialogue.
