The rights of homosexuals in American society have been in the public eye lately, and for one
reason: Senator
Rick Santorum's comments on the
Supreme Court case of
Lawrence v.
Texas. The news is reporting that Santorum compared homosexuality to "
bigamy,
polygamy, and
incest." Santorum vigorously insists that these comments were taken out of
context. Having read the full transcript, I would not say that they were; however, the root
issue here is deeper.
"I have nothing, absolutely nothing, against anyone who's homosexual. If
that's their [sexual] orientation, then I accept that. And I have no problem with
someone who has other orientations. The question is, do you act upon these orientations? So
it's not the person, it's the person's actions. And you have to separate the person from their
actions."
Santorum repeatedly states that he has no problem with homosexuals; however, he goes on to say
that
sex acts outside of the traditional ethic of marriage are destructive to
families and should not be allowed. Santorum approves of the homosexual lifestyle, as long as
any sexual activity outside of
intercourse is prohibited. To his credit, he believes the
same regulations should apply to heterosexuals.
Gee, thanks, Rick.
AP: "So without being too gory or graphic, if somebody is homosexual, would you
argue that they should not have sex?"
Santorum: "We have laws in states ... for a purpose. Because, again, I would argue that
[acts of sodomy] undermine the basic tenets of our society and the family. And if
the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your own home, then
you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest,
you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. Does that undermine the
fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does."
Gay activist groups have been calling for Santorum's
expulsion from his
Senate leadership post. The outcry is
nowhere near that which occurred due to Trent Lott's support of
J. Strom Thurmond's
1948
Presidential campaign, and the reason is simple: many,
many Americans
support Santorum's position. Homosexuality is still treated as a deviant culture by the
majority of the nation -- watch a little TV -- and this needs to stop. Systematic persecution
of gays is akin to the mistreatment of blacks from
Reconstruction to the present day. The
internment of the Japanese. The methodical alienation and abuse of
Native Americans.
Each of these social flaws was eventually perceived as wrong. The tide turned forty years ago
for African-Americans, and fifty-five years ago for the Japanese. Whenever any social group
has been oppressed by traditional conservative principles, it took a concentrated effort
with millions of participants to expose the mistreatment that went on every day.
It could be argued that Santorum's comments do not exemplify persecution and attacks on
homosexuals. The senator has no problem per se with homosexuals, as long as he is
able to keep them from enjoying the privileges granted to the rest of society.
"My discussion with the Associated Press was about the Supreme Court privacy
case, the constitutional right to privacy in general... My comments should not be
misconstrued in any way as a statement on individual lifestyles."
Take a look at yourselves,
America. Until no one in the nation is denied their rights, our
nation will never be truly equal nor a
free country.
Quotes taken from the AP interview with Rick Santorum, available
at
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl =story&u=/ap/20030422/ap_on_go_co/santorum_gays_excerpts_2 (without the space),
and Sen. Santorum's rebuttal of media accusations, available at
http://santorum.senate.gov/pressreleases/record.cfm?id=203106 .