Therefore, discrimination against anyone based on his or her sexual orientation is a clear and incurable symptom of an unjust society. For example, should someone’s sexual orientation be grounds for restricting their rights? (Daniel C. Palm) The impartial answer would of course be no, everyone should be treated the same. But we still hear the chant “No gays or lesbians in the military”. This is because it is in the self interests of the heterosexual people in the military have homosexuals in the military. The injustice of this idea becomes crystal clear when we examine the opposite statement of “No heterosexuals in the military” an idea that is equally ludicrous. (Kessler, pp.174) As a result of the way we instinctively treat those that are different because they are seen as a threat, our society is will remain perpetually unjust. (Richard E. Mohr)Because of widespread discrimination based not only on race, but also on sex, religion and sexual preference it is impossible for society to offer each and every individual a perfectly equal chance at opportunities such as hiring, promotion, housing, and educational practices that should be within their reach; as a consequence, it is impossible for society to be just for all. According to the formal principle of justice, it is required “that benefits and burdens be distributed fairly according to relevant differences and similarities.” (Kessler, pp.175) Using this principle it would seem that affirmative action programs of preferential treatment are in truth unjust to white males in that such programs require that “all things being equal” preferential treatment should be given to minorities and females which violates the formal principle of justice by not treating equal people equally. On the other hand, “such preferential treatment programs are often justified by appeal to the principle of compensatory justice, which states ...
