Throughout history, prejudice and discrimination have been repeatedly directed at a wide variety of groups. Although sexism, racism, ageism, and religious persecution are still very prevalent in our society, many significant steps have been taken and applied to both legally and socially provoke a greater degree of social acceptance toward such groups. However, one group still endures a noticeable, disturbing, and unresolved stigma of social non-acceptance, not only in the United States, but worldwide: non-heterosexuals.
As years have gone by, homosexuals and bisexuals are people that have not been understood or accepted in society. It is hard enough for them to find his/her identity and society doesn't make it any better. In high school and college, homosexuals are made fun of all the time. Sometimes homosexuals aren't even accepted within their own families. .
Currently, many Americans display a common attitude that it is "sinful," "wrong," or "immoral" for a person to be homosexual or bisexual. Not only are couples of the same sex denied the legal right to marry, but are deprived of joint insurance and health coverage, and federal protection based on sexual orientation. Legally, individuals can be fired by employers or discharged from the military merely due to the fact that they are gay or bisexual. Non-heterosexuals are often the victims of threats, verbal abuse, physical assault, and even murder, simply because other people have a personal problem with homosexuality or bisexuality.
in many counties today, homosexuals are legally tried and prosecuted for effectively being homosexual. In some countries even a death sentence can also legally be handed down for the "crime" of homosexuality. In India for instance, a homosexual couple living together, could warrant a life sentence, for nothing but their sexual preference. This law is based on an old British law from 1867; which prohibits "un-natural" sex which is formulated as following; "Anyone whom has voluntarily sexual intercourse with man, woman or animal against order of nature is punished by life imprisonment".
