Further, eight states have “Don’t Say Gay” laws on the books, restricting teachers and staff from talking about LGBT issues and people. In fact, two states, South Dakota and Missouri, have enacted laws prohibiting schools from naming sexual orientation or gender identity in their school anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies. Although some states protect LGBT students and those associated with the LGBT community from bullying and discriminatory school policies, 24 states have no laws protecting LGBT students against bullying, and 32 states have no laws to protect LGBT students against discrimination. Throughout the country, laws and regulations affecting LGBT students and children of LGBT parents vary.
However, LGBT people receive no federal protections against discrimination in public accommodations, and only 20 states offer comprehensive state-level protections, leaving LGBT parents and, by association, their children vulnerable to refusal of service in everyday locations such as grocery stores, ice cream shops, and movie theaters in 30 states across the nation. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act extended similar protections to people living with disabilities. Although laws cannot govern the opinions of individual citizens, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did set legal standards for equality, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation, including private businesses such as restaurants, banks, hotels, and stores.
Protection against discrimination in public accommodations.Across the nation, 28 states offer no protections against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation 31 states offer no protections based on gender identity.
LGBT parents face the added burden of state-sanctioned housing discrimination. Due in part to soaring housing costs, the financial realities of single-income households, and societal assumptions about solo-parent families, finding safe and affordable housing can be a challenge for solo parents. Protection against housing discrimination.This lack of protection against employment discrimination is particularly detrimental to single-income solo parents and their children.
Although some states protect their public employees from workplace discrimination, only 20 states protect all LGBT people from discrimination in public and private workplaces. Across the country, 52% of LGBT people live in states where they can be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender expression.
While iconic buildings, city streets, television screens, and the Internet lit up with celebratory rainbows on June 26, leaders of the LGBT civil-rights movement cautioned that marriage is but one important step in the march toward full equality. Perhaps equally as important as the rights affirmed by the Court is the message this decision sends to the nation: LGBT people deserve “ equal dignity in the eyes of the law. Now LGBT parents who choose to divorce have clear guidelines for separating assets, establishing spousal support, and providing for their children. Now a widowed parent will receive social security benefits, avoid inheritance tax burdens, and be eligible for bereavement leave. In addition to benefiting married LGBT parents, the Supreme Court decision will result in a stronger legal safety net for some LGBT solo parents. The ruling has built a solid legal foundation for LGBT-headed families across the country. The Supreme Court of the United States confirmed that all loving couples have the constitutional right to marry. No doubt about it, LGBT rights activists scored a huge win in June 2015: nationwide marriage equality. We’ve come a long way, baby-but we still have a long way to go