Brief overview
In 34 states it is legal to fire employees solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are banned from serving openly in our country’s military. And, despite ample evidence that sexual orientation does not have any correlation with parental ability (Amer. Psychological Assoc., Amer. Psychiatric Assoc. and National Assoc. of Social Workers), LGBT parents in 42 states, who are considered fit parents may lose custody of their own children solely on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or be denied the opportunity to provide a loving home to children that need one.
Committed long-term couples are denied 1,138 of the benefits that opposite-sex couples receive, including spousal and family health benefits, Social Security benefits, inheritance rights, and end-of-life care decisions, and inequalities in taxes.
Discrimination against the LGBT population results in many measurable hardships on LGBT individuals. Rates of depression, drug use, and other risky behavior are higher in the LGBT population. LGBT youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, according to a Mass. 2006 Youth Risk Survey. And a 2007 San Francisco State Univ. Chavez Center Institute study shows that LGBT and questioning youth who come from a rejecting family are up to nine times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
LGBT individuals across this country are facing increasing discrimination and violence. In 2009 President Barack Obama signed the federal hate crimes act, which includes actual or perceived gender and sexual orientation. However, the FBI recently stated that LGBT hate crimes are the fastest growing hate crime in the United States.
Research shows that interaction with even one LGBT individual increases the willingness of non-LGBT individuals to favor equal rights, further supporting the need for ESF’s mission of reaching out to our non-LGBT neighbors. The overall effectiveness of laws is dependent upon changing societal views.
In depth study
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