Libertarian perspectives on LGBT rights

Libertarian perspectives on LGBT rights illustrate how libertarian individuals and political parties have applied the libertarian philosophy to the subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.

By country

France

Liberal Alternative

The Liberal Alternative party states: "We wish to make marriage a private affair, whether religious or not, composed simply of two consenting adults, without regard for sex, and with no further obligation beyond going to the local magistrate/city hall to notify the state about the union. This form of civil union would replace the PACS symbolically. Recognition of marriage is, of course, possible."[1]

New Zealand

Libertarians

Libertarians stated in their platform that the party "fully supports the concept of a civil union and would also support allowing marriages between same sex couples, and indeed polygamous marriages or marriages between people who are already related—in all cases as long as all parties are adults and consenting."[2] The organization ceased to exist in February 2014.

Russia

Libertarian Party of Russia

The Libertarian Party of Russia has been one of the most active vocal opponent of the 2013 Russian law banning "propaganda of homosexuality" among minors. Libertarian Party activists have participated in a demonstrations in front of the Moscow City Duma against the adoption of the law. At a 2012 picket, the Libertarian Party announced its opposition to homophobic laws restricting people's right to freedom of speech.

United States

Anarcho-capitalists

Anarcho-capitalism believe in stateless voluntary society, thus oppose any law supporting or opposing LGBT rights. The issue of LGBT rights would be left up individually for people to decide whether to support or oppose LGBT rights. Adam Kokesh argues LGBT people should be anarcho-capitalists.[3]

Libertarian Party

In 1972 John Hospers, who was widely believed to be gay (although not openly so[4]) ran for president of the United States as the Libertarian Party's first presidential candidate.[5][6]

In 1975, Ralph Raico helped to create the "Libertarian For Gay Rights" caucus within the party, and subsequently published "Gay Rights: A Libertarian Approach".

The second LGBT rights organization to operate from a libertarian perspective was the Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns. The organization held its first national convention in 1985, and sought to promote libertarianism to LGBT Americans.[7]

In 1998, Outright Libertarians was formed. Outright Libertarians are also affiliated with the Libertarian Party of the United States and takes many of the same position that the Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns did in the 1980s.

In 2009, the Libertarian Party came out against H.R. 1913, a purposed hate crime bill that would add to the federal hate crime statute the categories of sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. The reason the Libertarian Party opposed the purposed hate crimes bill was because it would violate equal justice under the law by creating different classes of victims for the same crime. The Libertarian Party also accused legislators of attempting to buy the support of the LGBT community while still opposing same-sex marriage and repealing Don't ask, don't tell.[8]

In 2013, the Libertarian Party applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, United States v. Windsor, to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. The Libertarian Party has supported same-sex marriage since its founding in 1971.[9]

The Libertarian Party of the United States takes the following positions relevant to LGBT rights:[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Libertés individuelles
  2. ↑ "Civil Unions". Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Why Gays Should Be Libertarian
  4. ↑ "the Party's first presidential candidate, John Hospers, was gay, though not openly so in a modern sense." (Brian Doherty, Reason, Dec. 30, 2013). Retrieved 26 August 2016
  5. ↑ O'Grady, Jane (13 July 2011). "John Hospers obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  6. ↑ John Hospers, RIP. Reason. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  7. ↑ "Walter Wheeler". Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Libertarians press Congress on DOMA, 'don't' ask, don't tell'". August 17, 2009. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  9. ↑ "Libertarian Party applauds DOMA strikedown". Libertarian Party. June 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  10. ↑ "Platform". Libertarian Party. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

External links

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