Opinion Piece - A Case for Comprehensive Protections for the LGBTQ+ Community
As a straight white man, I feel I can’t really speak on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. But, the hatred and bigotry that’s plagued it throughout my life is something I can’t ignore. With the victory of Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, homosexual marriage is legal all across the United States. Great! This is a step in the right direction. However, much how the 13th Amendment didn’t end discrimination against blacks (America is still working on that), this won’t end it either. So, I’d like to present a logical case on why protections for this community should be legislated or at the very least proposed. Religious Rights The conflict of whether one can refuse service for somebody being queer* is ridiculous and borderline barbaric. The United States has no establishment of an official religion so by a government being complacent in these discriminatory policies is emphasizing one religious group over another (or lack thereof). This is a simple question of inequality and the