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Affirmative action is defined in Macmillan Encyclopedia as, "a government policy that aims to remedy the long-standing discrimination against women and members of certain ethnic groups by a degree of positive discrimination in their favor in such fields as employment and education" (2001) With the help of Affirmative Action many states ban discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation. Also across the nation stiffer penalties have been put in place for hate crimes that are proved to be committed on the basis of sexual orientation. Lawyers and courts will have to fight hard to prove a crime was committed based on sexual orientation and some see this as reverse discrimination because the penalties for hate crimes are much stiffer.
Romer v. Evans led way to an amendment to the Colorado Constitution. This amendment barred jurisdictions from offering antidiscrimination protection on basis of orientation.(Strasser) Many courts though do not see sexual orientation discrimination as sexual discrimination. The Court noted that Amendment 2 withdraws from homosexuals, but no others, specific legal protection from the injuries caused by discrimination, and it forbids reinstatement of these laws and policies. (Strasser).
Sexual orientation is not a new concept. Plato alluded to the acceptance of homosexuality when he described the effectiveness and power of the "pederasty" in Symposium, "If only there were a way to start a city or an army made up of lovers and the boys they love! Theirs would be the best possible system of society ." (Kaplan) Plato's statement accepts homosexuality as well as describing the homosexuals as having a quality that builds strong civilizations.
America is a society of government by the people, for the people. In today's society laws should reinforce the belief in equality of rights and privileges for all citizens. History shows other groups of people that have been legally suppressed.