Earlier this summer, sports columnist and LGBT activist, LZ Granderson, gave a lecture for TEDx on the myth of a “gay agenda.”
Though he starts his talk with humor, primarily to lighten the mood, he addresses this serious issue. Today, the majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans are not protected from discrimination in housing, employment, education, health care, and other important institutions and opportunities. That is, without consequence, most LGBT can legally be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Though the battle for legalizing same-sex marriage is an important one, the heavy focus on this one issue glosses over the numerous other ways in which LGBT people’s lives are constrained. The map below demonstrates that only 21 states protect citizens from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including 5 that extent protections from discrimination to transgender people, as well.
LGBT-Inclusive Nondiscrimination Laws
One point is clear from Granderson’s talk: there is no “gay agenda” beyond the fight to be treated equally as a citizen of the United States (and of the world!) regardless of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
