Out Of The Closet : Understanding Gay Rights
- juniorjusticesllc
- Jun 14, 2024
- 2 min read
Happy Pride Month!
Written By: Valeria Finklstein Edited By: Elene Surguladze
For many decades, gay people have been fighting for their rights and equality in the US. Following many historical events, this was finally achieved. In some places, even today, they don’t have rights or are discriminated against / executed.
Discrimination in The Workplace
In recent years, the United States has implemented more laws enforcing the protection of gay rights. This includes laws on marriage, work, and anti-discrimination, among other things. In 2020, after the Bostock v. Clayton County case workplace discrimination against someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity has been prohibited. Discrimination can include not hiring, firing, or mistreating employees. This discrimination is seen as part of “discrimination on the basis of sex”, making it illegal according to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Other laws also prohibit refusing to rent to someone, and students harassing someone for their orientation.
Marriage
Throughout the 2010s many cases in the courts have come to pass, that have both helped and hurt laws on same-sex marriage. From 2011-2012, several states legalized gay marriage. However, North Carolina ended up banning it all together, with people voting for amendments to be made to the state constitution. Eventually three years later, the Supreme Court ruled that state laws forbidding same sex marriage are unconstitutional.
Military
LGBTQ+ rights in the military have undergone significant changes in recent years. In 2011, the United States repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which prohibited openly gay individuals from serving in the military. This marked a shift, allowing gay service members to serve openly without the fear of getting fired because of their sexual orientation. Many other countries have also eliminated bans and discriminatory practices against the LGBTQ+ community in the military. Consequently, in numerous armed forces globally, gay individuals can now serve openly and receive the same rights and benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. This transformation reflects a dedication to equality and diversity within the military.
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