Same-Sex Rights

Ohio’s History of Same-Sex Rights In December 2003 the Ohio House Representatives passed the Ohio Defense of Marriage Act with a 73-23 vote Law prohibited same-sex marriage Allowed the state to prohibit the acknowledgement of out of state same-sex marriages Former Governor Bob Taft would then sign it into law on February 6, 2004 Issue 1 would be passed by Ohio voters on November 2, 2004 Issue created a constitutional amendment to the Ohio Constitution that prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriage.

State vs. Federal? – No More! Due to the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges same-sex marriage is legalized throughout the United States Decided on June 26, 2015 A 5-4 Supreme Court ruling Background of Obergefell v. Hodges James Obergefell and John Arthur married in Maryland but found that their state of residence (Ohio) would not legally recognize their marriage certificate Arthur was terminally ill and wanted Obergefell to be identified as the surviving spouse on the death certificate based on their Maryland nuptials but the state would not support it

LGBT? Or LGBTQ?? What does LGBT stand for? What does LGBTQ stand for? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender What does LGBTQ stand for? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Some criticize the Q in the term because it could fit everyone and not a specific group. Recent development in the term

LGBT Statistics As of 2012 around 110,000 adopted children live with same-sex parents Due to the Supreme Court ruling same sex adoption is now allowed in the state of Ohio 3.8 % Americans identify themselves as gay or lesbian, or approximately 9 million adults in the U.S. 73% of LGBT youth say they are more honest about themselves online than in person 42% of LGBT youth feel that their community is not accepting of them 75% of LGBT youth say that most of their peers have no problem with their sexual orientation

Same-Sex Rights Around the World There are countries that state acts of homosexuality are punishable by death: 12 Countries in total punish same-sex acts with death Afghanistan Brunei Iran Iraq Mauritania Nigeria Pakistan Qatar Saudi Arabia Somalia Sudan Yemen Countries where homosexual acts are illegal 66 in total Countries that allow same-sex marriage 21 in total Countries where homosexual acts are legal , but other restrictions 100 in total

Russia and Same-Sex Rights Same-Sex activity between consenting adults was decriminalized in 1993 There are currently no laws against discrimination towards same-sex couples Russia received world-wide attention in 2012 for the treatment of their LGBT community Any same-sex propaganda is punishable by law Citizens arrested for any same-sex demonstrations

Discussion Questions On a separate piece of paper answer the following questions thoroughly and completely Why do you think your generation has been overwhelmingly acceptable of a person who chooses a different lifestyle? What do you think your reaction would be if you were to find someone bullying another student based on their sexual or gender orientation? Why would your reaction be that way? How can society better accept those who are different from us? Do you think it was right of the U.S. Supreme Court to legalized same-sex marriage? How does it make you feel that hate crimes against someone due to their sexual or gender orientation are not illegal? Picture your school has a transgender female (a male transitioning to a female). How do you think the school should address that situation and how do you think they would be perceived as a