Special rights: Difference between revisions
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''Special rights''' is a [[:Category:Political slogans|political term]] originally used by [[libertarianism|libertarians]] to refer to laws granting rights to one or more groups which are not extended to other groups, such as [[affirmative action]] or [[hate crime]] legislation with regard to ethnic or religious minorities. More recently, [[social conservatism|social conservatives]] have begun to use the term to refer to laws that guarantee equal rights for minority groups that already exist for the majority, almost always with reference to [[sexual minorities]] (e.g. prohibitions of [[discrimination]] based on sexual orientation, [[same sex marriage]], etc.). |
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In many situations such as employment (in the European Union and the United States), as well as housing and public accommodations (in the United States), it is illegal to discriminate based on [[gender]], [[race]], [[religion]], and other attributes. Some states and localities outlaw discrimination based on [[sexual orientation]] in certain circumstances, but many do not. The European Union forbids such discrimination in employment, but not in regard to other matters, though some member states do. |
In many situations such as employment (in the European Union and the United States), as well as housing and public accommodations (in the United States), it is illegal to discriminate based on [[gender]], [[race]], [[religion]], and other attributes. Some states and localities outlaw discrimination based on [[sexual orientation]] in certain circumstances, but many do not. The European Union forbids such discrimination in employment, but not in regard to other matters, though some member states do. |
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Revision as of 14:30, 19 June 2006
Special rights' is a political term originally used by libertarians to refer to laws granting rights to one or more groups which are not extended to other groups, such as affirmative action or hate crime legislation with regard to ethnic or religious minorities. More recently, social conservatives have begun to use the term to refer to laws that guarantee equal rights for minority groups that already exist for the majority, almost always with reference to sexual minorities (e.g. prohibitions of discrimination based on sexual orientation, same sex marriage, etc.).
In many situations such as employment (in the European Union and the United States), as well as housing and public accommodations (in the United States), it is illegal to discriminate based on gender, race, religion, and other attributes. Some states and localities outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in certain circumstances, but many do not. The European Union forbids such discrimination in employment, but not in regard to other matters, though some member states do.
Minority rights advocacy groups often contend that such protections confer no "special" rights, and describe these laws instead as protecting equal rights.[citation needed] The differing vocabulary (some might say rhetoric, though these views are often deeply held) thus mirrors the political disagreement.
Social conservatives
The term is especially popular with social conservatives, who typically use it to refer to rights extended to sexual minorities and typically not in reference to rights extended to other minorities.[citation needed]
Ralph Reed, Republican political strategist and former executive director of the Christian Coalition, which opposes an extension of rights to sexual minorities, said "No one should have special rights or privileges, or minority status because of their sexual behaviour. We don't have it for people who are polygamists, we don't have it for people who have affairs on their wives or husbands."[2]
There are two common definitions of the terms civil rights. Technically rights guaranteed to all citizens of a state are the civil rights of those citizens.[1] In American usage civil rights are minority rights.[2] Conservatives would contend that homosexuals do not meet either criteria. They are not being deprived of their rights as citizens: right to vote, right to bear arms, right to a jury trial... and they are not a minority in the classic sense. Minority rights activists disagree arguing that homosexuals are a minority and that the right to marry is rights of all citizens.[3]
Libertarians
Libertarians, who believe in a minimalist or limited government, believe that any laws which impact specific groups of individuals are "special rights".[4]
See also
Articles
- LGBT rights opposition
- Homophobia
- Homosexual agenda
- Homosexuality laws of the world
- LGBT social movements
References
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary
- ^ Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary ISBN 0760749752
- ^ Are Gay Rights Civil Rights? Julian Bond, Board Chairman, NAACP [1]
- ^ The National Libertarian Party (2004). "National Platform of the Libertarian Party"