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My final essay for my American Dream class! (It’s quite a read, but I promise it’s interesting and worth it)

“The –isms”: Discrimination

Living LGBT in America

 

            The Pledge of Allegiance concludes with the line, “And with liberty and justice for all”. However, not all people in America actually have equal rights; mainly the minorities of this nation. They endure harassment, assault, lower wages, loss of jobs, barred from housing, excluded from health and social services, cannot marry, loss of family, loss of custody of their children, and discharge from the military, all for their sexual orientation. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT) may face more discrimination than any other minority group, because most states do not have laws protecting them.

Perhaps the area most needing of improvement for those living the LGBT life is their school. LGBT youth face the most discrimination of any LGBT age group. This is also an area where public and private schools are even in their policies. I asked eight LGBT Pius students if they feel discriminated against at this school. Three said no, one said somewhat, and the other four said yes. Personally, a place I see a lot of discrimination is in the club “Hands Against Hate”. The club’s constitution talks about a goal to stop bullying, harassment and discrimination at Pius. Yet, when the club tries to do an LGBT rights event, they are denied permission to do so. As a member of the club, I have been present at conversations where members express feeling bullied by the faculty member denying us permission to do an anti-bullying event. Considering only 6% of American schools have policies to prevent homophobic bullying, I feel that the students I talked to at Pius are not alone. From my experience, Pius is one of the more tolerant schools in the area. I attended a public middle school, and when I came out to an old friend from there, I was the first LGBT person he’d ever met. I know there are more than just me who went to that school, but many students there are homophobic and use a lot of anti-gay slang. Also, at my old dance studio, I suffered a lot of self-hatred because my friends would harass girls they thought were lesbians. They would talk about the girls behind their back, and claimed the girls loved them and wouldn’t change in the same dressing room as the supposed lesbians. Those friends still don’t know that I am bisexual, and I fear what their reaction would be if they knew. Harassment like this is one of many reasons suicide is the leading cause of death among homosexuals.

There is a popular belief among homophobes that gays will try to “convert” children to their sexual orientation. This and other stereotypes have left many homosexuals without families. There are three main branches of family an LGBT person can lose, and all for very different reasons. First off, when a person tells their parents and siblings of their sexual orientation, the family may shun the person, and/or cut them off financially. This leads to homeless LGBT youth and young adults. Secondly, when an LGBT person falls in love, if their partner is the same gender, they risk losing each other. The Defense of Marriage Act is a law that limits marriage to being between a man and a woman. This limits same-sex couples to the choice of either no government acknowledged partnership, or in some states, a civil union which grants many of the same rights as a civil marriage. Some states however, such as Wisconsin only allow domestic partnerships. A domestic partnership has rights such as inheriting the partner’s belongings in absence of a will, hospital visitation, and ability to take a family medical leave to care for a sick partner. There are very little rights beyond the previous three in a domestic partnership, as, “a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals” is banned in the Wisconsin constitution. Therefore, a person’s partner could be their second branch of family lost. If, however, two partners have a same-sex marriage or a civil union, they could opt to adopt children. This process is long and hard for homosexual couples because they face discrimination from adoption agencies. This discrimination has gone as far as a Catholic adoption agency in Boston, shutting down rather than serving same-sex couples. This creates the third branch of family for an LGBT person to lose, the branch of children.

The most popular job for a homosexual to be fired from based on their sexual orientation is the military. However, homosexuals can legally be fired for their sexual orientation in 28 states. Discrimination can range from being denied a promotion, to being fired or denied employment, to unequal pay, to verbal/physical abuse in the workplace. There are also reports of the workplace of an LGBT individual being vandalized as well. The wage range for similarly qualified individuals from highest wages to lowest are as follows: heterosexual men, heterosexual women, gays, lesbians, transgenders. With transgenders having high unemployment rates and 62% report incomes of less than $25,000 per year. My personal experience in the workplace is small as I don’t have a job. I have, however, heard my friend’s dad talking about his gay coworker coming over for dinner. The father then proceeded to ask, “What do gay guys eat?” I found that statement offensive, as a person’s taste buds have nothing to do with their sexual orientation. LGBT people experience much discrimination to their face and behind their backs in the workplace.

I asked a young lesbian about her experiences living in America and England as it pertained to her sexual orientation. Her response was that she felt England was safer, and she faced much more hatred and abuse in America. This good feeling about England is reflected in England’s LGBT rights laws. The United Kingdom has banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for housing, employment and using goods and services. Same-sex couples are also legally able to adopt, and Her Majesty’s Armed Forces allows open homosexuals to serve. Also, the Coalition Government is currently outlining plans for allowing religious and civil same-sex marriages. Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands have all legalized same-sex marriage, making those countries very progressive when it comes to LGBT rights. The worst countries to live in for an LGBT individual include Mauritania, Sudan and Nigeria, where homosexuality is punishable by death. This leaves America somewhere in the middle, as it is progressive when compared to the entire world, but not the most progressive when compared to other first-world countries.

Despite American politicians’ opposing views, many members of the general public are peacefully fighting for LGBT rights. Perhaps the most inspiring example is that of a ten-year-old boy named Will Phillips. At school, while the rest of his class stood and pledged their allegiance, Will remained sitting, as an act for gay rights as he believes there is not currently liberty and justice for all. His actions drew the attention of the CNN News and he then used the media attention to get his word out. There is also the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) which is a non-profit law firm, providing free legal defense to LGBT clients and also conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. And the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) which is an organization trying to find a treatment and cure for HIV. They are also seeking to reduce the spread of HIV and improve the life and health of individuals suffering from the disease. One organization is doing much more for LGBT rights. The Gay and Lesbian Advocates Defenders (GLAD) have helped LGBTs gain rights across the New England area. Their successes include creating civil unions in Vermont, and the Massachusetts Supreme Court challenging of marriage being strictly a heterosexual right. Also, NBA star Steve Nash has collaborated with the Human Rights Campaign in a video for the group’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign. In the video, Nash talks about his belief that committed same-sex couples should be able to marry. These individuals and organizations are helping fight LGBT discrimination, and help LGBT individuals receive equal rights.

America is in a transitional period with LGBT rights. They are about halfway to equality among all sexual orientations. Some laws and amendments are in the planning stages to bring America closer to equality. The “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” would prohibit agencies from denying adoption or foster care placements based on sexual orientation or marital status of potential parents, is currently in the House of Representatives, and is looking to be passed into law soon. The “Employment Non-discrimination Act” is currently a proposed bill in the Senate that would prohibit discrimination against employees for sexual orientation or gender identification. Barack Obama is in favor of the bill. These pieces of legislation give LGBT individuals hope that their American Dream can be fulfilled with the help of more anti-discrimination laws.

As ten-year-old Will Phillips stated, there is not currently liberty and justice for everyone in America. However, politicians and the public are both taking large steps towards helping this nation become one of equality for all based on sexual orientation. America is a very progressive nation, always pushing for the next big improvement in lifestyle for its citizens. I have no doubt that LGBT individuals will soon see equal rights.

 

 

My American Dream Discovery

Through the research I have conducted, I have found increasing hope for LGBT rights, and other equal rights in America. This realization that same-sex marriage could be possible soon, makes my American Dream more possible, despite how much uncertainty there is in my American Dream. My American Dream includes falling in love and getting married, and being bisexual, I could fall in love with a man or a woman. After getting married, I would like to have biological children if possible, otherwise adopt under what will soon be the “Every Child Deserves a Family Act”. My American Dream also includes being a choir director, most likely at a Christian College, so any law prohibiting discrimination will be helpful when I try to get that job. Lastly, my American Dream includes being happy and free of depression and anxiety, which will hopefully be easier without so much discrimination. I still feel that more needs to be done about LGBT youth being bullied, which I may work on when I’m an adult. My American Dream used to include moving to a more open-minded country, but now I’m happy to be in America, where people are constantly fighting for a better tomorrow.

Sources

“Discrimination Against LGBT Individuals | Sober Recovery Articles.” Drug Rehabilitation | Drug Addiction Treatment Center | Alcoholism | Addiction Mental Health | Directory Substance Abuse Detox Programs | SoberRecovery. Sober Recovery LLC, 16 Apr. 2009. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.soberrecovery.com/drug-rehabilitation-alcohol-treatment/tag/discrimination-against-lgbt-individuals>.

Gallagher, Maggie. “Banned in Boston | The Weekly Standard.” The Weekly Standard | A Weekly Conservative Magazine and Blog of News and Opinion. 15 May 2006. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/191kgwgh.asp>.

 

Badgett, Lee. “Bias in the Workplace: Consistent Evidence of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination.” The Williams Institute UCLA School of Law. Web. 22 May 2011. <http://www3.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/Bias%20in%20the%20Workplace.pdf>.

Weiner, Rachel. “Will Phillips, 10-Year-Old, Won’t Pledge Allegiance To A Country That Discriminates Against Gays (VIDEO).” Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/12/10-year-old-wont-pledge-a_n_355709.html>.

 

Hill, Peter. “LGBT Rights Law: A Career Guide.” Law.harvard.edu. Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advertising, 2007. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/opia/planning/career-resources/docs/guide-lgbt.pdf>.

 

“Windy City Times - NBA Superstar Steve Nash Supports Marriage Equality in New York - 443.” Windy City Media Group Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans News. 25 May 2011. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=31895>.



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Surgeon General’s Warning: Teaching is hazardous to the health of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and those perceived by others to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Teachers that fit into the above category may regularly experience anxiety, headaches, stomach problems, high blood pressure, depression, and in some cases death caused by career-related complications.

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