No one should ever feel oppressed for who they are and who they love. This is what is supposed to make “America great”. Humans are not supposed to impose laws that will take their freedom of who they can be, love, and marry. With that being said why do Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) continue to get oppressed by society. The LGBT community deserves the same natural rights as the average heterosexual community. After studying Locke, I can make the inference he would not have stood for this kind of treatment.
During my study of John Locke’s “Second Treatise” I acquired the knowledge that may support my ideology that LGBT deserve the same natural rights as anyone in the United States. These three concepts are state of nature, law of nature, and natural rights. The state of nature when applied by Locke is the natural state all men are in until they decide to leave. What does this mean? All men during the state of nature is free of their actions and possessions. There is no political laws or regulations during this time. In this state everyone is supposed to be equal. No one in the state of nature should have more than the other. Locke states “The like natural inducement hath brought men to know that is no less their duty to love others than themselves … if I do harm, I must look to suffer, there being no reason others should show greater measure of love to me than they have by me” (Second Treatise,102). Locke is trying to explain that even during the state of nature, people should not bring harm to others. If, they desire to continue in the state of nature they are required to bring no harm to others unless harm is being brought to them. If, they were to harm other then they would be breaking the law of nature.
Law of nature is the moral duty of not bringing harm to any person, possession, or of himself without any reason. Laws of nature are instincts or feelings born within themselves by God. “The state of nature has a law of nature … teaches all mankind … no one ought to harm … for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order (Second Treatise, 102). According to Locke, all mankind is under the monarchy of God in the state of nature. What makes it a state of nature and natural laws are our entitlement to them since we do not own ourselves, but we are the property of God.
However, mankind is allowed to leave the state of nature if they wish. Why would anyone want to leave the state of nature? One important reason is because it is dangerous since it does not guarantee life, freedom, and property. Three important aspects given under natural rights. The natural rights that later will inspire on others when creating three important documents in the United States.
Overall, according to Locke’s philosophic thinking the LGBT community would be cover under the natural rights, law of nature, and during the state of nature. This is possible because what the three laws have in common is that they do not wish to impose any moral laws on to them. The only time one of these three concepts would find them as failures and in need of correction is if they brought harm to others.
Instead, the LGBT community does not bring harm to people. They just simply desire to be accepted for who they are and who they love. He would probably call for the toleration of this people. He would not want them to face discrimination and unfair treatment, since a lot of these people still do believe in God and wish to face him one day. For example, he states “life” as one the natural rights every person should have. So, we can see that the right to life relates to our first act as an individual entity, for as long as we exist, we have the ability to grow in knowledge and love. You can even use the argument that they were born this way. This proves we still are being sent by God to pursue a certain lifestyle he has desired for us even if we are not in the state of nature or under the law of nature.
Similarly, to Locke The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and The Bill of Rights backs up the same rationality even though many people would disagree. This three documents were made in order to set political freedom of the country. The three documents were not set up or signed into action in order to state what is morally correct. The Bill of Rights was written to address political freedom for the people and to set limits of power for the federal government. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are political documents, not moral ones. Moral issues are covered by an individual’s conscience as explained by Locke through the natural law. What I mean is, moral issues are not addressed in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, those issues are off limits. So as time passes, as morality changes it is up to the communities or states to create the changes within the law.
However, if you disagree with me and think any of these documents oppose the rights of homosexuality you are wrong. For example, The Independence of Declaration states “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words are reminders to those who work within government their role to fight for the rights of all people. Contrary to what many people believe, as stated everyone has the right to live life as they desire since they are their own entity.
Another example, is the 14th Amendment, it addresses aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens. The first section of the 14th Amendment states “All persons born in the United States .. are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”. According to this Amendment the LGBT are not breaking laws but are being denied their own rights. Rights the LGBT community deserve as born citizens of the United States. Sadly, America was failing those within that community. Even when this was brought to the attention of the court it was still being neglected to be responded accordingly. This is why the United States federal power was separated. In order to make sure those we elect will continue to protect our rights.
Moreover, so why does the LGBT community have to fight so much in order to be recognized? If they are as equal to anyone who is heterosexual. Why is it that they were oppressed by society for many years? A reason behind it can be people were trying to impose their own set of morals into others even though America was not built on that. Through out my time I have seen so many discriminatory things being said or done to people of the LGBT community. They have been told they were not allowed to marry, adopt, or speak of their kind without being prosecuted. Many states made it illegal to be LGBT until further actions were taken.
For example, I have friends, acquaintances, and family who are part of the LGBT. They find it so hard to be who they desire because socially it is still frowned upon on, even thought it is more accepted than it once was. Laws continue to change but the ideology of morals seem to continue to separate the county. I for one think the LGBT deserve the same equal treatment as any person who is part of the United States. I don’t think it is morally correct or political correct to put someone down for their sexual desires. They deserve the same treatment for they contribute to the country as much as the next heterosexual person.
In 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is a right protected by the US Constitution in all 50 states. I was glad not for me, but for those I care deeply about. A cousin of mines who had been waiting for so long to marry his partner of 6 years was so over taken by joy he was one of the people who went to get marry immediately. Many people may had been outraged by this ruling but marriage is a sacred bond between two people who wish to spend their lives together. If two individuals with separate entities, make the conscious decision of getting marry then it should be their decision not anyone else.
This ruling finally gave same sex marriage a fundamental right given to all people in the United States. Something that once upon a time was only serving to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same-sex couples and their families of equal benefits. Benefits only available to married couples like hospital visitation during an illness, joint tax returns, access to family health coverage, and inheritance rights if a partner dies.
Thus, people fail to notice this country was not set up to follow moral rights. It was set in order to protect the freedom and rights of the people in it. The LGBT has the same rights as the next person and no one should take that away from them. The United States is the home of freedom, but if we desire to continue to set the example for other countries. We will have to continue to change our laws in order not to oppress any set of individuals.