Recent history has brought incredible progress for the LGBTQ community in the form of this map
"...Total victory for the advocates of same
sex marriage.."
But lesser known is this map over here – where things get tricky.
"So does becoming a business owner mean you have to check your convictions at the door?"
"Right now the state of Michigan does not
include sexual orientation and gender identity
in its law"
"I'm just really nervous"
"I actually have something important to talk to you about today."
The fact is, in most states, it's still currently legal to fire LGBTQ people, kick them out
of a store or business that serves the public, or evict them from housing because of their
sexual orientation or gender identity.
"The ayes are 49, the nos are 50, the bill
is not agreed to."
Often it's as subtle as a boss picking another job application. Or a landlord denying rent,
without explanation. These are the rights
protected by the civil rights act of 1964.
"My fellow Americans... those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure
only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning."
Following the passage of the Civil Rights
Act, federal and state laws prohibit this
type of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
This is called Enumeration. If you list the
characteristics that are most often the subject
of discrimination it removes any doubt that those people are protected.
"Since these early days, I have seen and I
have experienced many other types of discrimination,
and all of them were rooted in the fear of
people that were different from the majority."
But sexual orientation and gender identity
are not enumerated in most states and a report
by the Human Rights Campaign found that lawmakers in 29 states have actually proposed bills
that would actively discriminate against LGBTQ people.
"We have what's called a patchwork of civil rights protections on this issue in this country."
Sam Brownback, the governor of Kansas, went so far as to write an executive order to reverse
a measure that barred employment discrimination against LGBTQ people.
On top of all of this, there’s systematic
discrimination in many schools throughout
the country.
"Ellen Degeneres has been speaking out, voicing her outrage about the cruelty that spiraled
out of control in our schools and beyond."
"Today is October 20th, 2013. Hopefully today will be a big day of my life. In a positive way."
The states in red here have “no promo homo” laws that forbid teachers in public schools
from even mentioning homosexuality at all.
"If you are reading this, it means that I
have committed suicide. Those words written
on a warren country teenager's tumblr page, and now sparking an outcry from the LGBTcommunity
tonight."
That's where coming out videos on YouTube like Drew's and Adam's are so helpful.
"So I have something serious I want to talk to you about."
"Yeah, I like guys."
"I have to tell you that I'm gay. Always have been, always will be."
"And do you know how I drew that in 7th grade, and how in 7th grade I wanted to kill myself?
It's been something that I've not liked for
a while. Especially when people call me fag a lot."
"There are too many kids out there suffering from bullying, rejection, or simply being
mistreated because of who they are."
And there's proof that enumeration works. GLSEN, an organization that advocates for
LGBTQ students, says students who go to school with enumerated LGBTQ policies experience
significantly lower levels of bullying.
"Federal investigators are looking into accusations that Minnesota's largest school district discriminates
against gay students following 7 student suicides in fewer than 2 years."
These are laws that save lives.
2012 was the first year in US History where more people supported same-sex marriage than
people who didn't.
"I know I'm kind of destroying every hope
and dream you ever had for me..."
"No! Not at all."
2015 will be remembered for marriage equality. Public figures have been more open discussing
their own sexuality. And popular TV shows have begun to incorporate more LGBTQ characters,
and the stories they tell.
But if you look at these two maps, side by
side, it's clear the LGBTQ civil rights battles
are far from over.
