While there is public support for making homosexual discrimination illegal, the majority of people still discriminate against homosexuals. There are several causes of homosexual discrimination. The causes of discrimination should be managed to improve acceptance of the lifestyle. This will reduce the effects of this form of discrimination in the modern world. Today’s society has changed over the years, but people still have their grievances regarding homosexuals and their position in society.
Religion is one of the reasons people do not value homosexuals for what they are, human beings like everyone else. When the case is made for the authenticity of homosexuality, religious people oppose it citing three main reasons. They contend that homosexuality is contrary to nature, condemned in the scripture and that it will ruin the society (Cauthen).
However, these reasons may not be valid. They usually seem relevant for a short duration. The proponents of these ideas keep changing moral standards. Religious people have been using the three concepts to explain the desires of the creator regarding humanity but no longer depend on them (Cauthen). For example, they defended the practice of denying women the right to vote citing that nature had given such rights solely to men. To the contrary, currently, they admit that women have voting rights. This shows that some religious ideologies cause unwarranted discrimination and unnecessary conflicts.
Additionally, homosexual discrimination in society is stuck in the traditions of the past, where men and women are the beginners of families. Different communities have different traditional beliefs. For example, Africans believe that homosexuality is a practice that came from developed nations and should be rejected in entirety. However, it is not true that homosexuality originated from developed countries.
The work of historians and archaeologists provide evidence that there is a history of homosexual practices throughout the continent (Lembembe). Communities attempt to themselves by using both real and perceived traditions. In doing so, they discriminate against homosexuals. The rejection of homosexuality by different communities portrays that people want to keep their traditions, and they consider homosexuality as a threat to their stability and survival.
Homosexuality discrimination comes with a number of effects. Since homosexuals are seen as sources of sin, religious influence limits the possibility that they can form families. Friends and relatives reject homosexuals believing that they will go to hell. Religious rejection often leads the majority of these individuals to destroy their own lives (Holland). In addition, rejection drives them to engage in evils acts such as drug abuse and robbery. Homosexuals who grew up in religious families struggle to reconcile their religious faiths with their homosexual lifestyles. When choosing between faith and sexuality, they experience psychologically damaging difficulties (Holland).
Additionally, homosexuals are rated as incapable of playing parental roles of educating and taking care of their children. Studies indicate that a majority of homosexuals have poor character and cause several problems for their children (Cameron). Research findings such as this provide avenues for discrimination against homosexuals, irrespective of their individual characters. Partly, their family problems are consequences of discrimination.
Conclusively, religion and traditions are the main causes of homosexuality discrimination. The role they play in maintaining useful traditions and morals is essential. However, they should take care of these individuals since the consequences of discrimination are severe. For instance, society should conduct human rights awareness to minimize such discrimination cases.
Works Cited
Cameron, Cameron K. “A comparative forensic study of character and harms to children.” Homosexual parents. N.p., n.d.
Cauthen, Kenneth. “Homosexuality and Religion.” Big Issue Ground essays on philosophy, politics, history science, and religion. N.p., n.d.
Holland, Emily. “The Discrimination Against Homosexuals in the Christian Church.” Fatalistic. N.p., n.d.
Lembembe, Eric O. “What traditional African homosexuality learned from West | 76 CRIMES.” 76 CRIMES | The struggle to repeal 76 countries’ anti-gay laws and release gay prisoners there. 76 CRIMES, 2012.