Many people trace the beginning of the organized homosexual movement in the United States to June, 1969 when the NYPD raided a New York gay bar sparking what has come to be known as the “Stonewall Riot.” The annual “gay pride day” is now celebrated at the anniversary of this event. Homosexuals began to organize with the ultimate objective not to gain tolerance but to gain total acceptance.
Homosexual groups are extremely well organized and well funded. They have a very specific agenda of what they want to accomplish. In 1972, a group of homosexuals wrote the Gay Rights Platform listing specific goals for their agenda. These goals have been added and amended but their primary goal of acceptance has remained the same. Homosexuals are seeking to take the focus off their actions and onto their identity. They have fought their attack on many fronts and have met some defeats and some successes.
1. Civil rights as a “protected group.” Homosexual want to include themselves alongside protected groups based upon race, gender, religion, or handicap. However, what right do homosexuals have to claim this special status. The courts have used three basic criteria to determine if a group deserves protection. (Supreme Courts cases San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodrigue, Massachusetts Board of Retirement v. Murgia, and Plyler v. Doe.) First, the group must have a history of discrimination with a lack of ability to achieve economic mean income, adequate education, or cultural opportunity. If you apply this standard to the homosexual community, you will find that they do not measure up. The average annual income of a homosexual is $55,430 compared to $32,144 in the general population and $12,166 in the African American community. (Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1990) As for educational opportunity, three times as many homosexuals are college graduates as the general population. The second criteria used is that the group must exhibit obvious, immutable, or distinguishing characteristics as in race or gender. Homosexuals show no distinguishing characteristics other than behavior. The third criteria is that the group is politically powerless. Homosexuals have wielded great political power. They have been elected to numerous political office included U.S. Congress and have successfully passed much legislation to advance their agenda. In spite of these obvious differences to other protected groups, homosexuals have been granted special privileges in five states and ninety cities. Their ultimate goal is protection through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (Marco, Tony. “Oppressed Minority, or Counterfeits?” Focus of the Family: Citizen, 20 April 1992, p. 1-4.)
2. Gay sex education in public school. A desire of some groups is to teach homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle in public schools at all levels. Curriculums, largely written by homosexuals, are now creeping their way into the classroom. The “Family Life Curriculum” uses a textbook entitled Values in Sexuality. This textbook teaches children to be sensitive and accepting towards homosexuality. In elementary schools, the “Children of the Rainbow Curriculum” is being used. This program uses children’s books such as Daddy’s Roommate or Heather Has Two Mommies to teach children that homosexual families are normal. The publishing company of both these books also publishes books that cater to pedophilia. Several California schools have implemented a program called “Project 10.” This program operates under the incorrect notion that ten percent of their students are homosexuals. Therefore, they seek to identify this ten percent of the students as homosexuals and encourage them to accept the fact that they are gay. The school puts them in contact with older homosexuals and homosexual groups that can better teach them how to be gay. (Howe, Richard. “Homosexuality in America: Exposing the Myths,” American Family Association, 1994, p. 7.)
3. Stiffer penalties for hate crimes. “Gay bashing,” assault targeted against homosexuals, is currently punishable under assault laws. However, homosexuals seek laws that would give tougher penalties to those who assault homosexuals. The purpose of this is to build special privileges, support, and sympathy towards homosexuals. Although violence against anyone is wrong, the fact remains that laws exist to punish this violence. The special privilege status is not needed.
4. Redefinition of marriage. Homosexuals seek to repel laws limiting the sex or number of people in a marriage. They want to establish a system where same sex marriages are legally recognized and sanctioned by the state. This has been a major battle. One problem with this is that if one state legally sanctions a same sex marriage, then other states may be forced to recognize the marriage as well due to the “Full Faith and Credit” Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 1.) Up to this point, no state acknowledges same sex marriages, although Alaska and Hawaii have considered doing so. Homosexual groups are also campaigning for the repel of polygamy laws to allow people to marry multiple partners.
5. Increase the amount of federal funds being spent on AIDS research. Statistics show that 70% to 90% of AIDS victims are homosexual. (MacNamee, Brain. AIDS: The Nation’s First Politically Protected Disease, National Medical Legal Publishing House, 1988, quote from the findings of a study by the Center for Disease Control.) The motivation of homosexuals to promote AIDS research is evident. It is needed for their survival. When the amount spent annually for AIDS research is compared to what is spent for other diseases, there is an obvious discrepancy. (See AIDS Funding Chart) In 1992, the federal government spent $43,333 on AIDS research for every death occurrence resulting from AIDS. In comparison, they spent $8,194 on diabetes research per death from diabetes complications, $3,494 on cancer research per cancer death, and $931 on heart disease research per death from a heart disease. (Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Reprinted by the American Family Association, 1992.) To suggest that more money is needed for AIDS research than what is currently funded is ridiculous. It is obvious that homosexual groups are putting much pressure to fund the research, and the federal government is giving in.
6. Acceptance of homosexuality as normal by the medical and psychological communities. In this area, homosexuals have had some degree of success. In 1973, after constant pressure and violent protests, the American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in its diagnostic manuals. Over the years, the APA has taken an increasingly strong pro-homosexual stance. They are currently considering banning all counseling that encourages homosexuals to change their orientation. (Maginnis, Robert. “APA sustains Homosexual Agenda.” Family Research Council.)
7. Lift the ban on homosexuality in the military. This has been a major goal of homosexuals for some time. In 1993, President Clinton began the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” This does away with the screening for homosexuals done during the recruiting process of the military, but it still allows for homosexuals to be discharged if they openly practice homosexuality. That same year, Congress passed legislation clarifying that homosexuality is grounds for discharge, giving permission to commanders to investigate charges of homosexuality, and requiring inductees to be briefed on rules pertaining to sexual conduct. Homosexuals are placing continuing pressure for acceptance in the military but are met with an uncompromising position from military leaders.
8. The right to adopt children. Since homosexuals cannot have children biologically, they have been pushing for the right to adopt. States have allowed non-married persons to adopt for sometime. Because of this, some homosexuals have been able to adopt by concealing that they are gay. Only Florida and New Hampshire have laws expressively denying homosexuals the right to adopt. Most other states have not passed laws because they have not previously felt the need. On December 17, 1997, a New Jersey judge granted joint custody of Adam to Jon Holden and Michael Galluccia. This was the first homosexual couple in the U.S. to be granted joint custody of a child. (DeNicola, Scott. “Two Dads… But Where’s Mommy?” Focus on the Family: Citizen, June 1998, p.7-9.)