LGBT Rights And Discrimination In The United States

“Discrimination [dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuh n]: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.” Right from the dictionary, the definition is clear. Look back 95 years to 1920, where women across America raised their voices and fought back for the right to vote. Now take a look back 48 years ago when in 1967, interracial marriage was finally legalized. These were all monumental events fighting against discrimination. However, the definition is still blurring in minds of some across America as a multitude of bills are being passed permitting people to act with bigotry towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts just being one of them. In discussions of bills such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, or RFRA’s, one controversial issue has been whether or not they permit discrimination. On one hand, those supporting the laws argue that they only reinforce the free practice of religion. On the other hand, those against them contend that with their vagueness it plays out as disguising legal discrimination. My own view is that the RFRA’s and other anti-LGBTQ+ laws should be repealed or at the very least backed with a state wide non-discrimination law for LGBTQ+ individuals. This is in order to prevent a large amount of service being denied to LGBTQ+

Throughout the years, the LGBT community has put forth tremendous effort to gain rights and recognition in the United States. Yet there have been numerous laws that have discriminated and made them feel unequal. LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered. Many people in the community have a hard time accepting who they truly are in terms of sexual orientation or gender identity. Coming out is challenging enough on its own, and laws and regulations that discriminate against those who only wish to live freely can make it hard for them to do so. Living in the time period we do, we have seen many changes in the right direction as far as having equal rights for all, but it has not always been this way. There have been many movements and actions the LGBT community has taken over the years to get to where we are today. There have also been many laws and regulations specifically targeted at same-sex and transgendered individuals, some of which that still apply today.

Grant et al. (2011) explain on the Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey that 19% of their sample reported being refused medical care due to their transgender or gender non-conforming status, with even higher numbers among people of color in the survey. In addition, the survey indicated that 50% of the sample reported having to teach their medical providers about transgender

The LGBTQ community consists of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer. This diverse group is united based on their shared history of discrimination based on their breaking the norm of heterosexuality. The groups within this community, while vary in experiences, are able to maintain some amount of solidarity by agreeing on the importance of advocating for rights to better the safety of the LGBTQ people. Throughout history prejudice people who look down upon those with differing sexual orientations have bullied, harassed, raped and murdered people from all the categories of the LGBTQ community. It was not until 2009 where President Barrack Obama signed a law that has made it a federal crime to assault someone based on

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals people make up more than ten percent of the population; that means if you are sitting in a classroom of thirty, then more than three of those people are LGBT individuals. However, this overwhelmingly large minority group continues to be one of the least protected by the government as well as most heavily targeted by discrimination and hate crimes. Regardless of the powerful shift in public opinion concerning LGBT individuals during the last twenty years, the laws concerning hate crimes have remained invariable.

When you hear the word discrimination what is the first thing you think of? A majority of the population says wither blacks and whites or Jews and Nazis, but that’s not the only discrimination there is. Discrimination is, actually, unjust treatment of a different race, age, sex, or sexual preference. On this note, gays are probably one of the most discriminated against.

Discrimination against homosexuals and African- Americans both entail feelings of shame and pain for the victims. Back in the 1960s, homosexuality and being an African American caused people to look down on you. Racial segregation was in full swing, with the black population being victimized, brutalized, and essentially being considered second class citizens. Being a homosexual during this time also meant that society would shun and also consider you as a lesser human being. James Baldwin (1924–1987) was an African American writer, novelist, and playwright who also happened to be homosexual. An imperative social context to point out would be the lack of opportunities for the black population along with an accumulation of criticism.

In the last few years the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community have made major strides in a positive direction toward equal rights within the legal system, including the recent Supreme Court decision ruling that same-sex marriages will be recognized in all 50 states. Sixteen of those states and the District of Columbia have full anti-discrimination laws that include protecting gender identity and expression. This leaves roughly 70% of the country’s population living in states without comprehensive anti-discrimination laws (Cobos & Jones, 2009). The work has just begun, as the LGBT population continue to face discrimination regarding education, employment, housing, and healthcare.

Do you honestly, know the top five hate crimes that happens in society? Well, the main community that many American oppose of is the Gay Community. There has been numerous of stories where Homosexual couples were brutally attacked due to their sexual preference and how they live their life style. Many American who are against Gay rights say that this will affect the society of America. The reason why they feel this way is because they feel it can bring huge financial and emotional stress. Then many Americans feel that their health risk are enormous to themselves and others. Even many Americans feel if Gay marriage begins to expand this means having the morals of the minority forced on the majority. Moreover, gay marriages reduce the number

The LGBT community has made new laws each day to bring equality to all. “Throughout its, America has symbolized equality of opportunity for people of all races, origins, religions and creeds, serving as a beacon of hope for anyone seeking a better life. However, despite its founding principles of equality and acceptance, the United States also has a long history of denying basic rights to certain people” (LGBT Equality). When the US discriminates against a certain thing people retaliate and rise up and try to make new laws to help their cause. The LGBT community has been striving to bring equality in many ways. The LGBT community has made great strides in gaining equality of same-sex marriage, gay adoption, and transgender equality.

Our nation is one that is constantly changing and accepting new social norms for what we believe is right or wrong. Most notably in 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States declared Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Although same-sex couples now have the privilege of marriage in the United States, LGBT Americans are still far from being treated equally compared to the rest of our country's population. The Civil Rights Act should protect sexual orientation and identity. LGBT citizens struggle to find and keep employment. They face issues obtaining healthcare and acceptable plans. LGBT citizens are commonly denied equal education opportunities. Finally, they do not receive equal use of public accommodations and facilities

To willingly want to fight for the safety and security of your country is courageous, selfless, and deserving of the utmost respect. One would think that more people would not want to risk their lives at war, than those who do. But countless brave souls go off to war because they want to and they love the idea of defending their home and loved ones. So the idea that such institutions would ever deny someone of risking their lives for the country seems absolutely ridiculous. But this was the very harsh reality of the LGBT community who wanted to serve in the military and be proud of not only their country, but also their identity and orientation. The extremely controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy treated the gay and lesbian soldiers

Transgender people are discriminated on an almost daily basis. They are discriminated in the workplace, as shown in a study commisioned by the Equalities Review. In a group of transgender people who have jobs and are prone to workplace-enviroment effects and opinions, “many respondents experienced harassment from co-workers and employers.” Nearly 29% of the group experience verbal abuse and harassment in the workplace enviroment, and about 4% received physical abuse. About 7% experienced threats, and about 27% experienced some sort of different treatment due to their gender non-conforming ways.(Whittle 38-39). In another study, it was found that being mistreated in the school years would have a negative effect on future outcomes relating to employment. “Those who were physically attacked in school were considerably more likely to stay in a job (64%) compared to those who were not (42%) (Grant 50).” They are also discriminated in public as well, adding on to the distress that many transgender people suffer from regularly, making it seem as if all transgender people are crazy. Transgender people are just more likely to be diagnosed as someone with a mental disorder because its helpful to see that those who have been diagnosed are “hurting and something needs to be done to help (Kreitler 1).” In

“Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?” -Ernest J. Gaines. For the LGBT community, many people frown upon them, treating them as if they’re not human beings. It raises a concern to many - why isn’t the government doing anything about it? As I found in an article wrote by Stephen Peters, “LGBT people are included in the federal hate crimes law; but fewer than half of states have passing or expanding laws which aim to protect LGBT individuals from bullying in schools or discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations like restaurants and stores,” said MAP Executive Director Ineke Mushovic. “The reality is that LGBT Americans are still not equal under the law, and

Lgbt goes through a poker match when they come out. Society mocks them. They don’t even have supports from their nation. Our president have been subjecting to putting down transgenders or saying they ain't good enough by not allowing them to join the military. However, it became legal lgbt to get married even if some people don’t like it.