Members of the LGBT community now have the same right as all other Americans when it come to marriage. No state can deny a marriage license to a same-sex couple.This is good. But the sad fact is that it took a Supreme Court decision to accomplish that, because the political cowards in our Congress would not act (mainly Republicans).
However, this does not mean that members of the LGBT community now have the same rights as other Americans. The truth is that, in many states, they could be fired from their job simply because of their sexual orientation or identity. We need a law (or court decision) that outlaws this kind of discrimination.
Equal rights should apply equally to everyone, but they don't. There are people in this country that must have a group to look down on to make themselves happy. It's sick, but true.
Unhappily, too many Republicans in Congress still cater to those sick people. These political cowards will not guarantee equal rights to all Americans because they are afraid many in their base (mainly evangelicals) won't re-elect them.
The crazy part is that a substantial majority of Republicans don't agree with that kind of discrimination (see chart below). The politicians are bending to the desires of a tiny minority in this country, and ignoring the desires of a huge majority (that rights apply to everyone equally).
An overwhelming 92% of voters (including 83% of Republicans) don't think a person should be able to be fired from their job because of sexual orientation or identity. But congressional Republicans don't care what the public thinks (or wants).
It's similar to the feeling about closing the loopholes in the background check law for gun sales. While 90% of the public supports that, the Republicans still bend to the will of the NRA.
We must kick these Republicans out of office next year, and replace them with politicians that believe rights are for everyone. Common decency demands it.
The chart below reflects the results in a new Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between April 26th and 29th of a national sample of 1,044 voters, with a margin of error of 3.5 points.
