In America, people are often led to believe that their basic rights are protected. The cornerstone of American values is founded on the idea that people are entitled to certain civil liberties that have been adapted and changed over time. Some of the most common and important laws that make our country great are those that protect our rights from discrimination, whether it be due to a person’s gender, race or religion. Yet there is one fundamental right that is still unprotected in almost thirty states: sexual orientation.
It is still legal in over half of the United States for a person to be denied employment and promotions or be fired based on their sexual preference. The policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell” has now become a saying applied to the workforce as members of the gay community are forced to hide their sexual identity in order to maintain or gain employment.
Under the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community are protected from workplace discrimination, yet less than half of the states have voted in favor of the bill. This is denying millions of gay people in the United States a fundamental right that all other citizens have enjoyed.
Luckily, many schools, businesses and local governments have implemented bans on discrimination based on sexual orientation, but it is time for the federal government and state governments to take action to see that all people’s rights are protected in the workplace. It seems strange that there isn’t already a law against discrimination of sexual orientation, and it appears to be because many people assume the law already exists as a result of local efforts.
It amazes me that such a serious lack in protection of basic rights to employment can be allowed to exist with so little media attention. It makes me want to yell, “Umm, hello? Does anyone else see the gap here?” The issue of gay marriage often receives media coverage, especially in California and several other states that have bans. Marriage is, in my opinion, a fundamental right for all American citizens, but equal rights in employment is a necessity. A person’s inability to maintain a job because of who they are directly affects their quality of life.
