Law: How is gay different than (_blank_)?

[InfiniteNow]

Many of our laws were changed during the 20th century to eliminate discrimination by gender, ethnicity, and religion. How is being homosexual any different, and should laws be allowed to discriminate against this group, but not others?

[Zythryn]

I would suggest homosexuality is either a cultural choice, a biological imperative or possibly some of each.

My personal suspition is that it is mostly, maybe even completely a biological issue.

I don't believe that any law should discriminate against people that are homosexual.

[InfiniteNow]

Thanks Z. I think I know where you stand and very much appreciate the contributions you've made to the thread which inspired this one.

Anyone else? How is it different?

[HydrogenBond]

Homosexual behavior whether it is natural or unnatural is countered by what is called homophobic behavior. This counter behavior is just as old and is probably a socially created and/or biological preditor to maintain sustainable populations. As far as I know, homophobic behavior is also discriminated against. I don't think it is right even if it has a biological connection that can be proven. These people have to control themselves for the good of civilized culture.

If we go back into history, humans have also had sex with animals and children. Culture discriminate sagainst both of these, even though they may have social and biological factors in par with homosexuality. The gays are not the only ones.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by HydrogenBond

These people have to control themselves for the good of civilized culture.

These people?

[TheBigDog]

I guess that depends upon the nature of (_blank_).

Socially, are we defined by our thoughts or our actions?

Bill

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by Zythryn

I would suggest homosexuality is either a cultural choice, a biological imperative or possibly some of each.

My personal suspition is that it is mostly, maybe even completely a biological issue.

I don't believe that any law should discriminate against people that are homosexual.

Agreed on this point Zyth.
People are "Born" gay. they can't really help it. Just as if someone is Born Hetero.

How do I know? I've talked openly with several gays, and they all say the same. It wasn't really an option.. they tried to be "normal" and it just didn't work...

There might be a few confused cases in-between, but for the most part, people are Born Gay, or Not.

[Janus]

Originally Posted by HydrogenBond

Homosexual behavior whether it is natural or unnatural is countered by what is called homophobic behavior. ...These people have to control themselves for the good of civilized culture.

You're right, the homophobics should control themselves for the good of civilized culture.

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

....should laws be allowed to discriminate against this group, but not others?

There should be no laws that discriminate against anyone's personal liberty.

[TheFaithfulStone]

We can talk about a lot of the parallels bigots try to draw.

How is being gay different than being a (I don't know what the real word for this) [a practitioner of bestiality.]

The object of your affection is a moral agent capable of giving consent.

How is being gay different than being a pedophile?

See answer #1.

How is being gay different than being a bigamist?

There is no social structure that enforces a set of behaviors from you. (People are not pressured into being gay by their religion, for instance. In this way, it's actually MORE like being a bigamist to be "repressed" and gay than it is to be a flamer.)

How is being gay different than being straight.

The people you love have the same sex chromosomes as you.

Hmm... that seems like a pretty minor difference, doesn't it?

TFS