There are many reasons to fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The Obama administration has done many positive things for the LGBTQ+ community, including repealing military service restrictions, improving access to health care, and passing legislation to prevent hate crimes and bullying. It has also signed executive orders promoting LGBTQ+ rights, including one that protects government contractors that provide services to LGBTQ+ people. The Obama administration has also made it clear that it will continue to support LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in all areas of government.
The United States has long been an important battleground for LGBTQ+ rights, and its leadership has been vital in promoting these rights across the world. In addition, during the Barack Obama administration, LGBTQ+ protections were expanded quickly. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is turning back those gains. Not only is the Trump administration rolling back many of the Obama administration’s gains, but they are also deprioritizing LGBTQ+ rights in U.S. foreign policy.
Biden Agenda political has also made it clear that he is committed to restoring the United States’ role as a leader in the LGBTQ+ community. He campaigned for president on the promise of restoring America’s reputation as a progressive country that supports LGBTQ+ rights. He has also argued in international forums that LGBTQ+ issues are the civil rights issues of our time.
LGBTQ people face severe discrimination in prison. Many transgender inmates have suffered horrific abuse and have been placed in solitary confinement as protection. The US prison population contains nearly double the number of LGBTQ people as the general population. In jails and juvenile detention, the percentage is even higher. Even outside of the legal system, LGBTQ Americans face violence, fear, and physical harm.
The ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project seeks to ensure that the rights of LGBT people are protected. GLAD, a leading legal rights group in New England, works to end discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and HIV status. Lambda Legal is dedicated to full recognition of civil rights for LGBT people with HIV.
There has been some advancement in LGBT rights in the United States, but prejudice is still prevalent. Seventy-six countries continue to ban samesex partnerships and have anti-discrimination legislation that are either weak or non-existent. Despite these advancements, those who identify as LGBTQ+ continue to face a risk to their lives from acts of violence. In addition, discrimination is frequently rationalised by appealing to very rigid interpretations of religious texts.
In the United States, openly gay candidates for public office have had only a moderate amount of success in gaining election. Tammy Baldwin, who identifies as gay, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the year 1998. Annise Parker, a lesbian, was elected as the mayor of Houston in 2009, which at the time was the fourth largest city in the United States.
A new tool to combat discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons has been introduced by the Free and Equal campaign run by the United Nations. The documentary named Why We Fight focuses on the struggles that LGBT rights advocates have faced in many parts of the world. It was published at the same time as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, so that its distribution would coincide with both events.