Re: Begging the question? -- Sexuality Issues Discussion Forum

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Subject: Re: Begging the question?

Author:
Perry

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Date Posted: Sunday, June 27, 06:44:27pm
In reply to: Andy 's message, "Begging the question?" on Saturday, June 26, 10:25:18am

The first point that you made Andy (the pre po-mo alert stuff) occurred to me too.

Any kind of discrimination has to be justified. There might be good reasons for some types of discrimination, e.g. preventing people under a certain height from doing a certain activity for safety reasons. But the presumption has to be that discrimination is unacceptable.

Whether or not sexuality is genetic or environmental or entirely a matter of choice does not of itself determine whether or not discrimination on the basis of sexuality is acceptable. However, it is easier from a political point of view to argue that it is unacceptable if sexuality is unalterable (because of genetics or environmental factors). You can then argue by analogy that just as discrimination against women or on the basis of race is unacceptable, so too is discrimination on the basis of sexuality.

That being said, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of the choices that someone makes all the time. E.g. you can't discriminate on the basis of marital status or pregnancy according to the Sex Discrimination Act. Still, I think it's harder from a political point of view to argue against discrimination if sexuality is a choice. Moreover, I don't believe it is a choice or something you can just give a go -- whatever Shane Crawford thinks (if he is capable of thinking at all).

I can't comment on the the post po-mo alert stuff until I get home from work. I think my last comment about not believing sexuality is a choice needs expansion in light of your comments Andy. I will think about them while pretending to be interested in shelving books about income tax. Thrilling.

In the meantime, I'm interested to know about the judicial authority that liking musicals is an indicator of homosexuality. Then again, with musicals like "Boy from Oz" floating around, how could it not be?

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