A chance to change

In 1964, the U.S. passed the Civil Rights Act. It was now illegal to discriminate against anyone based on their race, religion, sex or nationality. Unfortunately, the LGBT community was excluded from these protections, and today is one of the most legally discriminated against minorities.

Despite the Marriage Equality Act, gay people in the U.S. are still not afforded rights that are supposed to be given to everyone. A gay person can be denied a credit card, be evicted from their home, and refused the right to adopt a child. Homeless LGBT children are overrepresented in the foster system. Employers can fire or refuse to hire a potential employee. Doctors can refuse to treat a gay patient. No one else is discriminated against like this. If a company refused to hire someone because of their religion, they would be sued. If a child was treated poorly in a foster home because of their race, the foster home would be closed. It is un-American and is un-Constitutional. It violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Rights to Liberty and Privacy under the Due Process Clause.

This legal discrimination violates the Constitution and hurts millions of Americans. Now, the Equality Act of 2019 gives us a chance to change. The Equality Act will give legal protection to the LGBT community, making them truly equal to everyone in the eyes of the law. Every other citizen is protected by their government, LGBT citizens deserve nothing less.

Sophie Tabor, Whitefish