Equal civil and social rights for homosexuals compared with heterosexuals
Laws on Gay Rights
Gay rights laws do not give the gay community any special privileges, but the same basic rights of equality that every straight person is given.
In 2007 congress accepted the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. This act prohibits discrimination of sexual orientation in the workplace, specifically during hiring.
Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, was approved by voters in november of 2008. Also, it overturned the State Supreme Court decision, which gave gay couples the right to wed.
In July 2009, the Matthew Shepard Act was approved by the Senate. The Matthew Shepard Act outlaws hate crimes based on both sexual orientation and gender identity.
The policy that prevented gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from openly serving in the military, was effective from 1993 to 2011 when it was banned, it was called the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. To this day transgender individuals, are still discriminated from serving openly about their sex and orientation
As of December 2013 17 states have made same-sex marriage legal. These 17 states include Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, Connecticut, Iowa, Washington, New Hampshire, Washington D.C., California, Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, Hawaii, Illinois, and New Mexico.
33 states have banned gay marriage through law, constitutional amendments, or both.
Statistics
75% of students in the United States have no state laws to protect them from harassment and discrimination in school based on their sexual orientation.
97% of students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers.
26% of gay teens who come out to their parents or guardians are told to leave home.
Between 20 and 40% of 1.6 million homeless American youth identify as LGBT
Homosexuality and the Church
The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage and the social acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, but teaches that homosexual persons deserve respect, justice and