Sexual orientation

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Past and present civil rights battles.
Lesbian, gay, & bisexual (LGB) issues now.
All viewpoints covered.

In this website and just about everywhere else, LGBT refers to the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender/Transsexual community.

Notes:

Until mid-2015, the most controversial topic related to the LGBT community was marriage equality -- allowing qualified same-sex couples to marry, limited only by the same age and genetic restrictions that are in place for opposite-sex couples. This is discussed in a separate section of this web site.

On 2015-JUN-26, the U.S. Supreme Court made a major ruling in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. Same-sex couples have been able to obtain marriage licenses across almost the entire United States -- all 50 states, 4 of 5 territories and the District of Columbia. As of mid-2016 the exceptions were:

• The territory of American Samoa where most of the population are regarded as American residents, not American citizens. Thus rulings by the High Court do not necessarily apply there.
  
  
• Some Native American jurisdictions where Native tribes are given jurisdiction over certain cultural matters.

A few county clerks may still be refusing to issue licenses, but no accounts have been published recently. Even if a couple is refused a marriage license by one clerk, they can usually travel to an adjacent county in the same state to obtain one.

Almost immediately after the High Court's ruling, those conservative religious and political groups that had worked to prevent marriage equality for the LGBT community switched from fighting gay marriage to concentrate their efforts at:

• Preventing equal rights for transgender individuals and transsexuals.
  
  
• Preventing the LGBT community from attaining equality in other areas beyond marriage, including: employment, housing, etc.
  
  
• Promoting state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs) and First Amendment Defense Acts (FADAs) that neutralize human rights legislation by preserving individuals' freedom of religion to discriminate against others.

Although marriage equality was a major social change, some same-sex couples have been married one day only to find themselves legally fired from their jobs on the next. Pro-equality groups have shifted their efforts to expanding equality to these other areas by passing state laws prohibiting discrimination.

Many years ago, we titled this section "homosexuality and bisexuality." However, "homosexuality" has since become a snarl word used to express hatred or rejection by some groups. Thus, we are gradually converting the essays in this section over to "lesbian, gay and bisexual" topics. These are more neutral terms, at least for now.

Topics covered in this really big section:

Introduction: Key topics: (We recommend reading some of these introductory essays first.) A brief, less than two minute, explanation of homosexuality: what it is and how it is caused Basic info: Terms, quotations, the conflict, more definitions, topics under debate <<< This is very Important to read and understand! The root causes and resolutions of three major religious/secular conflicts: Introduction, abortion access, homosexuality and bisexuality, and transgender individuals, transsexuals, & gender identity Common beliefs about how GLBT persons should be treated. Trends   How this this web site discusses sexual orientation Terminology related to sexual orientation A brief overview: quotes, the core problem, oppression, etc. Conflicts over the nature of sexual orientation and LGBT rights; are they resolvable? A possible facebook dialogue <<< Important!

	Positive changes in the acceptance of the LGBT community: Among the U.S. public which seems to have reached a tipping point followed by rapid change Public opinion polls World Vision's 2 days of inclusion during which they recognized employees' same-sex marriages Gradual shift among conservative faith groups, as driven by membership loss Actions by a few conservative religious groups
	Basic info about homosexuality and bisexuality: Six common belief systems by religious folks about same-sex behavior and homosexual orientation Brief quotations Meaning of terms Meanings attributed to the term "sexual orientation" Beliefs about causes; is it changeable? abnormal? immoral? Preventing homosexuality Same-sex parenting, foster parenting, and adoption What percentage of the adult population are lesbian, gay, or bisexual? Bisexuality; Public opinion polls; << A large section Emails we have received; Suicide rates among gay and lesbian youth Is there a connection between sexual orientation and gender identity? Other topics: dialog; statements of professional groups; terminology
	The impact of religion: Six common belief systems by religious folks about same-sex behavior and orientation The Bible and homosexuality -- the famous "clobber" passages Books covering a full range of beliefs by different faith groups Beliefs and policies of various religious groups, theologians, clergy, and laity concerning GLBT issues Other essays on dialogue, change, conflicts, policies, compromise, schism, teaching in schools, etc. -- even Ipad apps
	Same-sex marriage (SSM), civil unions, etc SSM by U.S. state, in Canada, and other countries Public opinion polls Benefits of marriage Assessing the will of God 1999 ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada Presidential races and SSM Political party platforms etc.
	Challenges faced by gays and bisexuals: Employment insecurity ENDA laws Public school harassment Gay-Straight Alliances Family of origin problems Attacks on gay-positive churches Accusations of child molestation Who are the LGBT's?
	Homophobia directed against homosexuals and bisexuals: Multiple meanings of the term "homophobia" Causes, incidence, cost Boy Scouts of America "Dr. Laura" Senator Santorum (R, PA) Carl Palidino (R) running for governor in 2010 Pro-equality businesses
	About ex-gays: reparative & other therapies:  Introduction Statements by professional groups Beliefs by the public Results of studies
	Laws & regulations affecting gays & bisexuals Worldwide laws protecting, recognizing & persecuting LGBTI persons UN declaration on the decriminalization of homosexual behavior 2011-DEC: Memo from President Obama re global LGBT rights strategy 2011-DEC: UN speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on worldwide LGBT rights UN declaration on the decriminalization of homosexual behavior U.S. state laws formerly criminalizing homosexual behavior Changes in laws and regulation due to the "gay agenda" U.S. and Canadian hate-crime/hate-speech legislation Should homosexuals and bisexuals be a protected class in law? Exclusion of gays and lesbians from the military. Ending discrimination in hospital visitation. Timeline of the granting of GLBT rights in Canada Persecution & execution of LGBTs in Uganda 2017-JUN: Evangelical Christians vs. Child Protection Law in Ontario Canada.
	News in the media and from the Internet General news concerning LGBT developments from 1996 to the present time Events indicating an increasing acceptance of homosexuality, etc. by the public Errors and lack of clarity among some media reports The "Dr. Phil" TV program & sexual orientation Homosexual milestones in the media The National Day of Silence Support from the National Association of the Deaf Updating daily news feed. etc.
	Parenting a gay/lesbian child; essays; sermons; personal stories; etc. What to do after your child says "I'm gay" Dealing with a son's homosexuality A gay person's letter to his church A father disowns his son for being gay Keynote sermon Analysis of an anti-gay essay Can a homosexual remain a Christian? An open letter from Christians to LGBT people by John Shore Challenging Emails we have received about homosexuality A mother's open letter to President Obama, 2009-JUN
	Resources Books, and videos of interest to the LGB community Gay and Bisexual-positive resources Conservative Christian resources

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Barack Obama, "A Proclamation..." White House, 2009-JUN-01, at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/
2. Peter Heck, "Homosexual family law," One News Now, 2010-FEB-08, at: http://www.onenewsnow.com/
3. "Religism" is a proposed new English word to cover bigotry based on another person's religious belief.

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Copyright © 1996 to 2016 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. The first date is not a typo. Ours was one of the original web sites on the Internet.
Last updated 2016-SEP-09
Author: B.A. Robinson

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