Gays Still Second-Class Citizens in America Although the election of Barack Obama may be good news for progressives and civil rights advocates, four ugly ballot initiatives aimed at suppressing equality for gay and lesbian Americans passed handily. In Florida, Arizona and California, discrimination was written into state constitutions that will deny committed LGBT couples the legal protections enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts. The battle over California's Proposition 8 was the tightest, with 52% of voters approving the repressive measure. The amendment will likely negate the estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages performed after the California Supreme Court approved the unions back in May. Prop 8 was the most expensive initiative on any ballot in the nation this year, with more than $74 million spent by both sides. It also marks the first time in our country's history where a law has been passed taking away rights that citizens have already been granted.
In Arkansas, voters approved a measure that bans unmarried couples who live together from being adoptive or foster parents. From Associated Press: The measure's sponsor, the Arkansas Family Council, tried to paint it as a battle against a "gay agenda." Opponents argued it would make it harder for the state to find the foster parents it needs to take care of children. The measure grew out of a 2006 Arkansas Supreme Court decision that struck down a state policy banning gay foster parents. A push to enact a ban similar to the ballot measure during the last legislative session failed. Right-wingers will no doubt experience smug satisfaction knowing they are still legal superiors to those whose sexual orientation is different. Christian fundamentalists will convince themselves that God is on their side. The Sally Kerns among us will cheer, the Sarah Palins will wink and nod, the James Dobsons will praise the Lord and shout hallelujah. But despite the historic outcome of this presidential election, we cannot pat ourselves on the back too heartily. After all, millions of our nation's tax-paying citizens are still being treated unfairly under the law. Until that disparity is addressed, the true meaning of equality will remain as intangible as a rainbow. More: http://www.progressivepuppy.com/the_progressive_puppy/2008/11/gays-still-2nd-class-citizens-in-america.html Discrimination Against GaysText Size: Related Practice Areas Labor & Employment Law Employment Discrimination Related Articles Your Work-Related Appearance: What Are Your Rights? English-Only Rules and National Origin Discrimination Discrimination in a Job Interview Filing a Claim with the EEOC Lawyers.comsm Although federal government workers are protected from discrimination because of their sexual orientation, there are no federal laws protecting workers in private companies. The following states and the District of Columbia currently have laws prohibiting discrimination because of sexual orientation in the workplace: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Eight additional states have laws against sexual orientation discrimination in public employment: Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. Some counties and cities also have local laws that prevent private employers from discriminating against gay and lesbian workers. It may also be that your employer has voluntarily committed to a written anti-discrimination policy, which can be located in an employee manual or other document. Even if there are no laws protecting you from discrimination and your employer doesn't have a specific policy on the issue, you may still have a legal claim based on other types of laws, such as: Wrongful termination Defamation or slander Invasion of privacy Anti-harassment For specific information regarding your local laws, you can contact your area's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (located in the government pages of your phone book) or the American Civil Liberties Union. More: http://labor-employment-law.lawyers.com/employment-discrimination/Discrimination-Against-Gays.html -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
