Factors Of Insecurity, Ignorance, Weakness And Pride In The Discrimination Against LGBT
“I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you are nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that”. Robert Michaels
Discrimination has many forms including direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and victimization. These are the main categories that define discrimination towards another human being. In order to understand why people still discriminate is to understand what discrimination means.
Discrimination defined in civil rights law refers to unfair or unequal treatment of an individual (or group) based on certain characteristics such as age, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, and disability. Discrimination can be a frightful, devastating, and pernicious experience to any person that experiences such acts. Humans discriminate for many unknown reasons. However, there are some reasons that we know of as to why people discriminate against others. These main four reasons are Insecurity, Ignorance, Weakness and Pride. Throughout this paper I hope that you will be able to see how all these things talked about so far has an impact on discrimination against others throughout the world and the effects it can have. I would like to start by defining and explaining the main categories of discrimination.
Direct discrimination is probably the most common used type of discrimination used against any person. This is unfair treatment of any type of person because of a characteristic, perceived characteristic or an association with another person that has a different type of characteristic. Indirect discrimination is laws or policies that end up putting a person in a restricted position. These laws and policies apply to all. Although, due to the characteristic you might have it hits you harder than others. If the people whom created the law or policy with the least bit of effect on the person it will not qualify for discrimination.
Harassment is unwanted, mortifying, or hateful act towards another person normally because of age, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation or religion. There are different ways that harassment can be shown either through images, jokes, and different form of gestures, spoken or written words. Sexual harassment is another well-known form of harassment it means the same thing as harassment however, it is done in a sexual manner. This type of harassment leaves a person feeling disgraced, embarrassed, and insulted. This type of harassment makes you feel like your dignity has been violated. This type of harassment can come with threats or promises that make someone feel defenseless.
Last but not least victimization is the negative treatment a person receives because they are claiming they have been discriminated against or the treatment that a person receives due to the fact that they are standing beside someone whom is claiming they were discriminated against. Many people endure some type of discrimination on a daily basis if they are not on the end of discrimination they are the ones dishing it out on others.
Reasons why people discriminate comes down to these main four reasons. The first one is that people have many insecurities. People may not know that this is why they have the need to put people down to make themselves feel better. Everyone suffers from insecurities, inadequacy, and inferiority. When someone has pointed out to you a disability or a feature about you that you really don’t like what happens? Most people become ashamed, or angered which shows that all people are susceptible to insecurities. When this happens people often turn to flee or fight mode and discrimination is used to fight.
The second reason people discriminate is Ignorance we were all created in God’s image so therefore we are all equals. As the golden rule was taught we should do unto others as we would want others to do unto us. God wants us to have unity with each other. However, if we were never taught about the golden rule or how we were all created equal in God’s eyes then we are ignorant to the fact and we will fall into the temptation of discrimination that the Devil himself can’t wait to see or hear.
The third reason is weakness people come from different backgrounds and are brought up differently where discrimination is part of life whether it be from family, school, work, city, or town. Some may even know or feel that it is not right to discriminate they couldn’t stand up against everyone else. As we all have experienced peer pressure it can make people do things that they would never do otherwise.
The last but not least is pride just because someone is different people sometimes have a hard time not looking down against that person. This is more than just race, or gay, transgender, this goes for anyone with a disability, poorer or richer then another, fat, skinny, any one that comes from another place, and because of the difference people don’t hesitate to discriminate against another because of many of these reasons. We are called on not to discriminate, but to love. Now that we have somewhat of a reason why people discriminate we can talk about why it still happens to gays and lesbians today. How it is similar to others that are discriminated against in everyday life. Whether discrimination against others is an inevitable part of human nature or a byproduct of our culture and politics. How can our government best ensure equal rights for all?
America has always been a symbol to people around the world as a place no matter race, origins, religion, or creeds could be a better place for anyone seeking a better life. Even though America was found on equality and acceptance it has a bad habit still today to withhold many basic rights to certain people. Americans know that discrimination is wrong no matter whom, what, where or how it happens. Although most Americans still partake in discrimination every day. In today’s society the people of the LGBT community are turn downed of many basic rights that many Americans appreciate every day. Since 2009 equality for LGBT has come a long way however there are still many issues that remain. In 2009 Congress passed inclusive hate crimes law. October 28, 2009 at the time President Obama signed the bill and hosted a party at the White House for gay activists and parents of a slain 21 year old Wyoming college student in 1998 Matthew Shepard. Obama stated after he signed the bill into effect “After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we’ve passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray or who they are”.
In 2014 executive orders were put into play prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors. Then in 2015 marriage equality became nationwide. With the issues that remain the LGBT community face discrimination in many aspects if their lives still today in 2018. Jared Polis whom is a U. S. Representative from the 2nd District of Colorado has created the LGBT Equality Caucus joined by Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Tammy Baldwin. The caucus has 91 members including two republicans. These 91 members are dedicated to making sure the LGBT community has the human rights as everyone else and are fully protected not only in the U. S. but around the world as well. They are working towards equal rights, repeal of discriminatory laws, the eradication of hate crimes, and the wellbeing of all people no matter what your sexual orientation or gender identity maybe. When the Supreme Court made the decision to bring marriage equality to all the states and territories owned by the U. S. was historic for the LGBT community and the fight for equality. However, they still fight discrimination in many other was such as in school, work, when trying to buy a home, places to rent, applying for a loan, and when they would like to adopt. Jared joined Rep. David Cicilline and Sen. Jeff Merkley and the three of them introduced the Equality Act bill.
The Equality Act is a civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in seven critical areas of life such as employment, education, housing, public accommodations, jury service, credit, and federal financial assistance. The bill brings protection to the LGBT community like other protected groups who face discrimination based on race, gender, religion or national origin. The Equality Act has gained support from many businesses, faith groups, civil rights advocates, and millions of Americans whom all want to see equal rights for all people no matter what. When and if the bill passes it will help be an end to discrimination against all LGBT communities in every state and territory. According to LGBT Equality & Civil Rights Act that Jared is trying to pass says in 28 states same sex couples have no legal recourse if their landlord decides to evict them from their home. In 31 states, it is still legal to fire an employee because they’re gay or transgender. In 36 states, there are no laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBT students in school.
The LGBT community discrimination differs from other types of minority discrimination in many different ways. The biggest difference is that the LGBT community is the largest target for hate crimes in America. According to the data the FBI collected in 2014 the LGBT people are twice as likely to be targeted as African Americans. The hate crimes against the LGBT community has way surpassed those against Jews. In data collected from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs minority transgender women are the most frequent targets. Between the years of 2012-2015 thirty-nine black transgender women were killed. LGBT homicides forty-seven were killed by shootings. This group collects data from twelve different states so the numbers are more likely to be higher since this is not a collection from all of the U. S. The rise in hate crimes against the LGBT community has risen greatly since 2015 when same sex marriage become legal. People whom are very against same-sex marriage According to Gregory M. Herek, a psychology professor at the University of California also an expert on anti-gay violence states. Herek states “They may feel that the way they see the world is threatened, which motivates them to strike out in some way, and for some people, that way could be in violent attacks, ”
The violent attacks rose less than two months after the Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Society as a whole is changing and many Americans do not care for the change so they rage out to make their point. The man whom killed a transgender black women in Tampa FL. also killed a gay man less than a week later. A report by Human Rights Campaign said more transgender people were killed in 2015 than any other year on record. Transgender woman especially of color face harder discrimination and violence because of societies issues with difference of characteristics. The hate is based on racism, sexism, and transphobia. I think that most discrimination is a byproduct of our own culture.
To me the reason that discrimination still happens today is due to the fact that kids are brought up believing that it is ok. Parents teach their children what they were taught and so on the cycle will not stop until someone takes a stand to stop the HATE! There are many people out there trying to stop this hate and discrimination and they are being heard more and more every day. This is going to be a very long battle and I am hoping that I am around to see that all LGBT people have the same rights and laws that protect them as I do. The government can make this change if the honestly cared about other human beings besides themselves and what would make them win an election they need to stand together and stand up for the people in America. Many people in Congress are fighting for these rights and laws to be passed and they keep getting the push around from the other congress members whom do not agree with the theories of ending discrimination and protecting the American people with different characteristics as them. The government can ensure equal rights for all if they would help protect the people that elected them into office to begin with. The main thing that every person no matter whom, or where they come from is that every single person on this planet bleed one color and that is RED! Making us all the same in the long run no matter what the outside appearance might be.
