[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: quote: Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: quote: Originally posted by IronDragon: quote: While I agree that this is a major victory for gay rights, I think it's a bit erroneous to classify it as a victory for human rights.

So your saying gays and lesbians are not human. [/QUOTE]Nope...I didn't say that at all, IronDragon. [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

Justice Kennedy said the law "demeans the lives of homosexual persons". He did not say the law "demeans the lives of all persons". Hence, it is specifically a gay rights issue.

Thanks for the chuckle, though. [/qb][/QUOTE]Unless one implies that homosexuals are not part of humanity as a whole, then a law that demeans homosexuals, demeans all of humanity just as a microcosm relates to a bigger, more diverse macrocosm.

In other words since homosexuals are human and their rights of been improved, all of humanity's rights have been improved.[/QUOTE]That's a good counterargument, Chewbacca, but I disagree. Just because the rights of a particular segment of the population to participate in specific acts has been improved does not mean the rights of the general population overall have been improved. Some members of the overall population do not engage in these activities. Others live in states where this type of law applies to heterosexuals as well as homosexuals. The rights of those individuals has not been improved at all.

And - in the case of affirmitive action - the rights of one segment of the population are increased at the expense of rights to another segment. The two offset each other. While it is certainly an important victory for minorities seeking admission into universities, it is accomplished at the expense of others who may also have desired admittance into that same university.

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Besides, alot of the sodomy laws that may be effected by this ruling apply to heterosexuals as well. Anal sex, oral sex, and in some places, any sex thats not performed in the missionary position are all prohibited by theses laws, regardless of sexual orientation. It is a victory for human rights, a victory for sexual rights, and a victory for the rights of privacy as well.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe it will have an affect on the states that apply the law regardless of sexual orientation. It seems as if they would be protected under the 14th Amendment. Timber will have to let us know if that is true or not.

Of course, even if the law is written to apply unilaterally, the reality is that they are only enforced when the homosexuals are guilty of the offense. So I agree that it is a major victory for gay rights.

I will also agree that it is a major victory for privacy rights as well. Federal and state gov't has NO RIGHT to regulate the sexual activities of consenting adults within the privacy of their own home. What two (or more [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] ) consenting adults want to do in private is their business, and should not fall under the purview of state legislature.