Are gays ignorant of their rights?

It took society quite some time to accept gays in the society. Today there are countries that have made gay marriages legal. It has taken decades for gays to have their right to live freely as singles or couples. However, after all that legal hustle-bustle are gays really living a normal life like other heterosexuals?

A survey was conducted on 768 gays, lesbians and bisexuals in November 2008 in U.S. They were asked few questions regarding their state and federal rights. It was found that most respondents could not correctly answer 4 questions regarding their state and federal rights. Only 38 % of poll respondents answered all four questions correctly.

According to the analysis, 94% of respondents knew whether same-sex marriage was legal in their state, 78% knew the U.S. Constitution does not ban same-sex marriage, 82% knew they could not serve openly in the military and 59% knew there’s no federal law that bars workers from being fired based on their sexual orientation.

“So only six in 10 lesbians, gays and bisexuals know there is no national law protecting them from employment discrimination,” said Pat Egan, an assistant professor of politics at New York University.

Respondents aged 18-25 years old indicated that marriage and adoption rights were the top issues, while respondents aged 65 years and older noted laws regarding hate crimes and workplace discrimination were most important.

From the abstract:

Recently there has been a lot of speculation on gay rights and marriages. This year (2009) has seen a sharp expansion of laws legalizing gay marriage. Though gay marriages have been legalized, in some states gays cannot access the federal protections and programs granted to straight married couples. This is an evidence of the level of discrimination. However, it’s pretty astounding and disappointing to know that very few gays are aware about their rights and national laws.

It is evident from the survey that not many gays are aware that there is no national law as yet protecting them against employment discrimination, though, this has been a top priority for many advocates in Washington from past 20 years. Gays have been fighting for freedom to live normally since ages now. Gays have been able to express themselves openly about their sexual orientation and desires but very rarely do they find a place where they are seen in par with the straight singles and couples.

Today gays find their space and freedom in online places such as ASurething.net. They are staying in hope that someday they would be completely accepted in society. However, it is very important to know the priorities and the legal rights bestowed by the state in order to carry on with the never ending struggle for freedom.

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Gay men are smarter

When men date women people don’t look down upon them. But when men date men people do. They make fun of them and some even insult them. Though legally gays do have right to be in the society and are considered normal by the law. It has taken decades for people to approve the sight of men dating men.

However, gays are brilliant students. According to the research published in the journal Economics of Education Review, which is apparently the first of its kind, gay male undergraduates appear to be doing quite well. Their grade point average is about 2 percent higher than that of straight males at the same institution.

"The thing that really comes out (in the data) is that gay men see academic work as more important than heterosexual men," said study author Christopher Carpenter, an assistant professor of economics and public policy at the University of California, Irvine. "They were 1.41 times more likely to say their academic work was important.
Also it was found that Gay men spend 40 to 50 percent more time doing volunteer work or participating in student organizations. Gay men pay lot of importance to arts.

From the Abstract:

This study clearly reveals an unexpected observation. Gays are unusually bright and creative people. It becomes pretty easier for gays to get mentored by another male friend without ego clashes or superiority complex. This makes their college life much easier in a male college. However, in a co-education college their life could become difficult.

Also, it’s evident that gays tend to involve themselves in other activities to refrain themselves from being questioned about their dates and girlfriends. Gays study more to hide the fact that they’re not dating girls. However, they too look for a long-term, nurturing, meaningful relationship of the type that heterosexuals are encouraged to have. They understand their rights but somewhere they are reluctant due to the insults imposed by the society even in this 21st century to suppress them.

Everyone has a right to live. No one has the rights to curb or control anyone’s life.
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