Homosexuals: A Suspect Class?

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

lies: Romer v. Evans, a
case that dominated Colorado that has come to "symbolize the controversy over
gay legal rights" throughout the nation. This paper will trace the elements
behind that case, and attempt to focus on the steps the Supreme Court will
follow to determine whether homosexuality must be legally considered a "suspect
class" for the purposes of "quota preferences, protected status or claim of
discrimination" as outlined by Colorado's now-famous Amendment 2.
Amendment 2 does away with any attempt to protect homosexuals as a group
that needs special rights because of discrimination. It was enacted after a
statewide referendum, in which 53% voted for the measure. Richard Evans sued
the state and Governor Romer (who, ironically, opposed the amendment) under the
Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, saying that Amendment 2
infringes upon the homosexual's "fundamental right to participate in the
democratic process." Romer v. Evans has had amicus curiae or ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

A 1992 study
directed by neuroscientist Simon LeVay showed that a tiny area believed to
control sexual activity known as the hypothalamus was less than half the size in
gay men as in heterosexual men. This study raises an interesting question: If
homosexuality is hereditary, is there any basis for societal discrimination
against something innate?
The reactions of the homosexual community have been mixed. As many see
it, looking for a "cause" of homosexuality suggests that it is an abnormality,
and implies that it is deviant from a "normal" heterosexuality. On the other
hand, history has shown that society's perception of gay activities can be
threatening, if not deadly. ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library. Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports, and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE: