Facts solicited: Do same-sex-attracted persons suffer from discrimination? (Cite current examples and provide links.)
Opinions solicited: Should it be illegal for private individuals or organizations to discriminate? Should it be illegal for government agencies to discriminate?
I’m one of those gay folks who have some problems with ENDA type laws.
In the public realm I think it clearly wrong for a goverment or municipality to take one’s tax money on an equal (or increased) basis and then deny or restrict services, employment, or benefits. Discrimination in goverment should be clearly illegal (as I think is clearly consistent with – if not mandated by – the Constitution).
However, I don’t think it wise to make discrimination against gay folk illegal in the private sector. The libertarian inside me objects to the idea that I can’t make the incredibly stupid choice of not hiring gays; after all I should be allowed to go out of business by making decisions based on prejudice rather than qualification.
Interestingly, business is way ahead of government on this. A healthy chunk of the Fortune 500 has antidiscrimination policies and many offer domestic partner benefits. They’ve found the cost to be minimal and far outweighed by the competition of qualified folks who either are gay or want to work where gay folk are valued.
What should concern any business, private or governmental is TALENT and MERIT…
And one’s orientation has already been proven to have nothing with either of those issues.
Gay men and women are not brain damaged or physically retarded in some way that they are incomplete or incapable of social or mental or physical conduct or inferiority distinct from heterosexuals.
So yes, discrimination on sexual orientation ALONE should be illegal in ALL sectors.
We lose the best and brightest for the job if we do and future great potential for the same reason.
This is why parents with gay children who are good kids and good students should stand up to schools and their communities that would destroy this aspect of their child because of their orientation.
This sets up young people for unnecessary failure.
Unnecessary being the operative word here.
What do heteros gain by anti gay discrimination?
Nothing.
What do gay people gain?
Nothing.
See…nobody wins. And everyone loses.
You also have to keep in mind that people sometimes come out later in life, should they be fired from the job of 20 years just because they are gay? Losing their retirement, etc….? That is wrong. Laws are their to protect citizens. This sounds like a protection to me.