In the United States, federal law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, several states do have laws prohibiting such behavior. In addition to state and local anti-discrimination laws for employment, some states protect individuals in public accommodations and housing protections from gender identity or expression. Most of these laws were passed within the last decade, with many being revised over time due to legal challenges.
What is Sexual Orientation?
You may have heard about the Human Rights Law in New York City, making it illegal for a public accommodation to discriminate against you based on gender.
Gender is defined as your actual or perceived sex and includes self-image, appearance, etc. This holds regardless of whether those things are distinct from what’s traditionally associated with one’s assigned birth sex.
The term “gender identity” refers not just to how people see themselves but also their identification documents – such as passports – so they can travel freely throughout this country without fear that someone will deny them service because he/she doesn’t approve.
Although you may not express a gender different from what was assigned at birth, it is still illegal for any business to refuse goods or services based on your chosen identity. Imagine the scenario where you walked into an LGBTQ-friendly retail store and requested condoms because all of your partners were men, and they declined to provide them. This would be considered discrimination under New York City’s Human Rights Law since they couldn’t provide them due solely by being female, even though there are plenty more products available in their inventory!
The Rise of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender(LGBTQ) Society
Other countries may vary greatly regarding LGBTQ rights because they can often be written into more generic human rights legislation rather than specific provisions targeting issues related only to gay people.
The past decade has witnessed significant legal and political gains for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in America. Despite this progress at the federal level, there is no explicit prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity concerning employment opportunities (less than half of states offer protections), housing access, etc. Despite recent developments, less than half of the United States’ states offer any specific protection against such practices by law enforcement agencies or private enterprises.
The situation regarding LGBTQ communities remains bleak as they continue fighting battles that are decades old yet still need to be addressed.
Way forward
Businesses that open their doors to the public have a duty not just for customers but also all people. They must be fair and impartial when it comes down to which ones get in–no matter who you are or how much money someone has with them, sexual orientation shouldn’t make any difference at all! Business owners should follow these rules no matter what: they’re subjecting themselves too much risk if they don’t treat every human being equally under law (primarily while operating as part of an establishment where you can order some services.
A United States Supreme Court decision on religious exemptions is a blow to discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This issue has gained momentum in the past few years, but it’s still not enough protection for those seeking equality under the law when they are turning away because of how society views them-and that needs to change.
Leave a Reply