Jim Andris, Facebook

Homosexuals deserve same treatment as other groups

Alestle editorial

Discrimination is a common word now, usually being tied with the popular subject of
lawful rights. Women's rights, minorities' rights and the rights of anyone slighted or unequally treated because of race, creed or color fall into this popular subject. Civil Liberties' Unions, Womens' Organizations such as NOW and a number of state
and federal programs seem to be giving their attentions to these problems.

One program, Affirmative Action, has been established as the cure-all for discrimination arising from employment or hiring practices. It encompasses the minorities and women in its workings. Discrimination because of sex, race, creed or color can be dealt with under its awning, but it doesn't deal with all groups or all minorities. No consideration has been given in its program for discrimination of homo- sexuals.

Like the women and the blacks the homosexual has been treated with disrespect, bias and persecution. The equal rights of others has been no more violated by the rest of society than has those of the homosexuals. Laws against homosexuality still remain on the books, while people profess they believe in the freedom of choice.

The discrimination against homosexuals has largely been because people have been uneducated about homosexuality. Just as some people see some women proponerits of women's rights in a stereotype, a lot of people still have the image of a dyke or a pervert in their minds when they think about homosexuals.

The trite and narrow minded statement made by some, whites like, "I think Negroes are fine, but I wouldn't want one to go out with my daughter," isn't too much different from the saying, "Homosexuals are fine, I just hope my son or daughter doesn't get mixed up with them." The same old fears and biases surrounding women and
blacks still surround homosexuals.

The public needs to pay attention to the plight of the homosexual. After all, the homosexual is human. The homosexual has his or her freedom of picking a sexual partner the same as anyone. The difference is that the homosexual doesn't see things the same way someone else does, they are as different as the black or woman or im- migrant, but their difference isn't origin, or sex, or even the color of their skin. The difference is in how the homosexual expresses his or her own freedom.

Affirmative Action should include discrimination of homosexuals within their program. Programs to combat this discrimination should be drawn up along with specific guidelines. By ignoring someone who has been the victim of discrimination, people and the Affirmative Action program are personally guilty of discrimination.