Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
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individual would be dismissed. It does not make sense th<strong>at</strong> a person would be dismissed from the armed<br />
forces because of their sexual preference when they are physically <strong>and</strong> mentally capable of serving the<br />
country. They have the same training <strong>and</strong> abilities as everyone else serving, but for one small reason they<br />
are incapable of serving their country. Recently the Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell policy was repealed which now<br />
means th<strong>at</strong> gay men <strong>and</strong> lesbian women can openly serve in the any branch of the American Armed<br />
Forces (Berger, 2010). The United Kingdom in comparison has also in the past discrimin<strong>at</strong>ed against<br />
people based on their sexual preference.<br />
Just like the in the United St<strong>at</strong>es the United Kingdom would not hire someone if their sexual<br />
orient<strong>at</strong>ion was known prior to hiring on the other h<strong>and</strong>, this topic does not seem to be very controversial<br />
anymore. Brown <strong>and</strong> Kershaw illustr<strong>at</strong>e, ―unlike protection given to individuals on gender to racial<br />
grounds, there was no protection through legisl<strong>at</strong>ion on the grounds of sexual orient<strong>at</strong>ion‖ (2008, p. 124).<br />
This quote demonstr<strong>at</strong>es th<strong>at</strong> this topic was once controversial, but the n<strong>at</strong>ion has overcome this form of<br />
discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion against homosexuals <strong>and</strong> has seemed to elimin<strong>at</strong>e the tension th<strong>at</strong> was once present. The<br />
United N<strong>at</strong>ions armed forces have no discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion against homosexuals serving. Everyone is tre<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
equally <strong>and</strong> no law exists to deny gays <strong>and</strong> lesbians this ability. Because no law exists making it illegal<br />
for homosexuals to serve in the armed forces it reinst<strong>at</strong>es the fact th<strong>at</strong> the United St<strong>at</strong>es is more<br />
controversial. The U.S. still is having issues with homosexuals serving in the armed forces even with the<br />
repeal of the Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell Policy. This progression has allowed both gays <strong>and</strong> lesbians the ability<br />
to benefit from the protection allowing this type of discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion from happening. Homosexuals are able<br />
to be openly gay in the workforce <strong>and</strong> in serve in the armed forces without having to worry about being<br />
dismissed just because of their sexual orient<strong>at</strong>ion. Even though it appears th<strong>at</strong> both the United Kingdom<br />
<strong>and</strong> the United St<strong>at</strong>es are equalizing gay rights, one right is still not a reality for them.<br />
With progression in both allowing homosexuals the ability to parent <strong>and</strong> also the rights to work<br />
<strong>and</strong> serve in the armed forces without discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion, same-sex marriage is the main reason th<strong>at</strong> the topic<br />
of gay rights is incredibly controversial in the United St<strong>at</strong>es. Marriage is a very common in the United<br />
St<strong>at</strong>es. The Universal Declar<strong>at</strong>ion of <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> allows for anyone (who is the legal age to marry) the<br />
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