Gay Rights vs. Equality: Framing the Discussion

[justiceischeap]

I find of late that when I see the term "Gay Rights" I cringe a bit. It brings to mind that the LGBTQ community wants something separate, not equal and I think the Right likes that framing. As a lesbian, I'm tired of the "Gay Rights" talk. I want equality. I want to be expect and enjoy the protection that the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution is supposed to provide me. As a citizen of the US, I'm entitled to equal protection under the law according to section one of said amendment:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

I would love to enjoy the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but alas, I do not. It's still legal to deny me my EQUAL rights afforded to me under the 14th amendment--Gov. Pence just passed a law abridging the rights of certain citizens in Indiana. It looks like Arkansas is about to do the same. Georgia was on track to do so but when the whole Indiana thing blew up, they quietly tabled their legislation.

Also, by framing this is a "Gay Rights" issue, this leaves out Transgendered, Intersexed, Questioning and Bisexual folks--they aren't the same as gays and lesbians but have been lumped in with us all the same (I don't have a problem with that, BTW, I think it's unfair to them is all).

So yeah, let's frame the discussion as it should be framed--it's about denying citizens of these United States their (my) Constitutionally protected rights. That's the definition of inequality in all its glory, if I do say so myself.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. How about " Human Rights " and being a corporation isn't a person, or until the TPP . n/t

[justiceischeap]

2. Human rights is better than gay rights

but it still comes down to one thing--equality. I and the rest of the LGBTQI community just want to expect equal treatment under the law.

[orpupilofnature57]

4. As you should .

[appalachiablue]

3. +1. Human Rights for All of Us. Stop the Haters-

[marym625]

5. K&R! Big time

100% agree.

I think that hay rights became big because of the fight for marriage equality. It's unique to that fight.

But we need so much more than that.