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June 28, 2009 07:07 PM
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I think he (or she, sorry mate can’t tell by the name) was questioning why people who define themselves as a gay individual seem to have less rights than the common majority, (that being the 80% heterosexual population majority that you were mentioning). The reason why homosexuals are not perceived as equals in society is due to several, fairly prominent, reasons:
1) Firstly, as homosexuality is perceived as a taboo, individuals are highly reluctant to lend their support to an issue that they believe may ostracize them from the majority of society, and, more notably, their friends and family.
There are numerous social experiments performed by psychologists and social scientists that show that people do not like to distance themselves from the majority. This can be traced back to tribal times when it became dangerous for the entire community if even a single person deviated from their role in the tribe (If you want a more recent example the same thing happened in Soviet Russia during its hardline Communist Regime).
Typically, humans are afraid of something changing or doing what we don't expect them to. Humans try to understand the world using fairly linear models and when something fails to meet that design we treat it with fear....because we simply just don't have a social model that meets the new criteria and as such we have to develop one....which can take sometime for us to create and trust.
2) Secondly, the common religious, or, at the very least, catholic, view on the act of homosexuality is that it is an evil & vile work of the devil that must be separated from the “decent” majority and publicly shunned as to avoid it from contaminating society. Of course many of those religions that have this view are deeply entrenched in tradition and promote unquestioning belief…..which can be unfortunate when change comes along and shakes things up.
Religion can be a great thing. Unfortunately, many of those who are against homosexuality tend to hide behind the standard of religion to push their belief on other individuals, and force them to make a decision on an issue when they are not as informed as they should be before making such a decision. Religion is also almost a bullet-proof standard as well as it requires the belief that “better” beings know all and have already made a decision on an issue and we should follow it as law. Once again it condenses down to the point that humans don’t like to stand away from the majority.
3) My final point is that the Gay community don't REALLY have a prominant member in any high ranking political position who is willing to stand up for them, for the fear of losing their position, and job, is a much greater force than justice it would seem. And it could be said that this lack of political presence is a key factor in preventing the gay community from being effectively intergrated into society. However until the public oppinion is sufficently swayed to promote the idea of an openly gay public offical i doubt we'll see dramatic change in the level of rights given to the gay community, (such as gay marriage).
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Seriously, although there are still closeted people and so much variation in research questions and testing, all researched estimates and statistics suggest that people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, in total, are still far less than 20% of any total population (even queer mecca San Francisco is only ~15%!). That would mean those who identify as heterosexual number more than 80%. Simple math says heterosexuals are a vast majority and the GLBT community is a minority.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation
http://www.gallup.com/poll/6961/what-percentage-population-gay.aspx
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Quantity should not define a class of people. If that is the principle factor...would the homosexuals be considered less equal 10 years ago? More equal in 2 years? Less equal in 20 years if popularity and tolerance fade?
One should argue for equality based on reason and compassion. It shouldn't matter if it is a starving huddle of political dissedents or a well-fed parade of thousands.
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When there are so many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people out there, how can they not be equal? They're no longer a minority.
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Best Answer Decided by Votes
| June 29, 2009 10:41 PM | view on twitter |
1) Firstly, as homosexuality is perceived as a taboo, individuals are highly reluctant to lend their support to an issue that they believe may ostracize them from the majority of society, and, more notably, their friends and family.
There are numerous social experiments performed by psychologists and social scientists that show that people do not like to distance themselves from the majority. This can be traced back to tribal times when it became dangerous for the entire community if even a single person deviated from their role in the tribe (If you want a more recent example the same thing happened in Soviet Russia during its hardline Communist Regime).
Typically, humans are afraid of something changing or doing what we don't expect them to. Humans try to understand the world using fairly linear models and when something fails to meet that design we treat it with fear....because we simply just don't have a social model that meets the new criteria and as such we have to develop one....which can take sometime for us to create and trust.
2) Secondly, the common religious, or, at the very least, catholic, view on the act of homosexuality is that it is an evil & vile work of the devil that must be separated from the “decent” majority and publicly shunned as to avoid it from contaminating society. Of course many of those religions that have this view are deeply entrenched in tradition and promote unquestioning belief…..which can be unfortunate when change comes along and shakes things up.
Religion can be a great thing. Unfortunately, many of those who are against homosexuality tend to hide behind the standard of religion to push their belief on other individuals, and force them to make a decision on an issue when they are not as informed as they should be before making such a decision. Religion is also almost a bullet-proof standard as well as it requires the belief that “better” beings know all and have already made a decision on an issue and we should follow it as law. Once again it condenses down to the point that humans don’t like to stand away from the majority.
3) My final point is that the Gay community don't REALLY have a prominant member in any high ranking political position who is willing to stand up for them, for the fear of losing their position, and job, is a much greater force than justice it would seem. And it could be said that this lack of political presence is a key factor in preventing the gay community from being effectively intergrated into society. However until the public oppinion is sufficently swayed to promote the idea of an openly gay public offical i doubt we'll see dramatic change in the level of rights given to the gay community, (such as gay marriage).
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Voted as best: arjo, bunnyphuphu
Other Answers (3)
June 29, 2009 05:14 AM
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Did you just witness the gay pride events in New York? We didn't ALL show up! Seriously, although there are still closeted people and so much variation in research questions and testing, all researched estimates and statistics suggest that people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, in total, are still far less than 20% of any total population (even queer mecca San Francisco is only ~15%!). That would mean those who identify as heterosexual number more than 80%. Simple math says heterosexuals are a vast majority and the GLBT community is a minority.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation
http://www.gallup.com/poll/6961/what-percentage-population-gay.aspx
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June 29, 2009 05:44 AM
They are still a minority, and while they may be equal regardless of how few or many of them there are, you sure don't take very much heat in this world for being heterosexual. The inverse definitely isn't true, and that's part of why they all come out for the parade.
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June 29, 2009 06:12 AM
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I think that using popularity and social pedestals as standards tends to trivialize more serious aspirations. Quantity should not define a class of people. If that is the principle factor...would the homosexuals be considered less equal 10 years ago? More equal in 2 years? Less equal in 20 years if popularity and tolerance fade?
One should argue for equality based on reason and compassion. It shouldn't matter if it is a starving huddle of political dissedents or a well-fed parade of thousands.
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