Federal law to end LGBT discrimination needed
Last month, Sens. Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin and Cory Booker introduced The Equality Act in the U.S. Senate.
This would be the first sweeping anti-discrimination bill, amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, protecting LGBT people from workplace discrimination and housing discrimination. Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined the three fellow Democrats as co-sponsors of the bill.
Though same-sex marriage was legalized, it’s important for laws to be put in place to protect individuals who are typically marginalized.
Imagine getting married in the morning, going to work in the afternoon and getting fired, all because of whom you married. It is completely legal for someone to be fired for who they are: lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This amendment is needed to protect an already oppressed group from further discrimination.
In Virginia, it is legal to discriminate against LGBT people, because we have no laws that make it illegal. These are our children, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, neighbors and friends who face discrimination. This has no place in Virginia.
A national poll conducted by the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner group for the Human Rights Council found that 63 percent of LGBT Americans faced discrimination in the workplace. This is unacceptable in the United States.
When people work hard to make a living, support their families and live the American dream, the last thing they should be worried about is being fired because of whom they love, or how they express themselves.
In another national poll, 85 percent of Americans support anti-discrimination laws in the workplace. No one should have to worry about job security simply because of who they are.
Housing discrimination is another aspect of the bill. Currently, in Virginia, a landlord can discriminate against women and against LGBT people and not rent or sell them housing.
Actively discriminating against LGBT people increases homelessness. In fact, according to the Human Rights Council, older LGBT people are more likely to live in poverty. Some of these people are veterans, and we have a moral obligation to see that they live meaningful, productive lives.
The greatest opposition to this bill is from Republicans in the House and Senate, and from religious leaders. We live in a political climate where Republicans do not want to step over party lines to support a Democratic bill; however, this is about equality and anti-discrimination.
Discrimination is not American. Discrimination is not what the United States stands for. Discrimination has no part in Virginia.
When it comes to religious leaders, this bill has no effect on their daily lives or practice. They are clearly protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It is expressly written in the bill that it would have no effect on those protected under that act.
Sadly, the opposition is based on political rhetoric. It’s important for us to demand that Republican leaders take a stand and that they support The Equality Act, for our fellow Virginians.
In order for our collective voice to be heard, we must write to the House of Representatives and seek passage of The Equality Act.
The Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage was just the tip of the iceberg; there are so many laws that need to catch up with the times. It’s 2015; we shouldn’t continue to ostracize a group of people because of who they are. We’re better than that. Virginia is better than that. We’re a beautiful state—although a bit humid—with beautiful people, and we should celebrate all people.
As Sen. Merkley said, “Same-sex couples could legally marry one day and risk being fired from their jobs, evicted from their apartment, or kicked out of a restaurant the next—simply because of who they are.”
This is not the world I want my child or your children to grow up in. I urge you to write to your representatives and demand equality.