Equality Federation has dedicated this week to demonstrating that #DiscriminationExists in conjunction with 43 statewide LGBT groups to educate the country on the many lingering legal hurdles for LGBT Americans.
Despite the facts that over 70% of people believe that gay and transgender folks deserve legal protection from discrimination, and that marriage equality is becoming a reality in a growing number of states, more than 206 million LGBT people and their families live in states that do not explicitly protect them from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"Most Americans support nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people. In fact, a majority of people polled are shocked when they discover that these protections do not already exist," Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation, wrote in an op-ed for The Huffington Post. "We need your help to build awareness so that together we can create the kind of fair society all people should have."
According to the #DiscriminationExists campaign, 35% of Americans live in states that have marriage equality but lack explicit, fully-inclusive statewide workplace protections for LGBT people. The campaign's site features a state-by-state breakdown of laws protecting the LGBT community from discrimination, in relation to marriage, adoption, hate crimes, employment, housing, insurance, and more.
Along with sharing important statistics to educate people about anti-LGBT discrimination, people and advocacy organizations across the country have taken to social media to bring personal touches to the campaign, making the message go viral.
No one should live in fear that they will be denied housing because of who they are. #DiscriminationExistspic.twitter.com/wiDWvwdIwM
— PROMO Missouri (@PROMOMissouri) January 29, 2015
Idaho House State Affairs Committee kills measure to expand nondiscrimination protections to LGBT individuals #discriminationexists
— Jordan Dashow (@JDashin) January 29, 2015
Transgender people still don't have insurance coverage for their medically necessary care. #DiscriminationExists
— GardenStateEquality (@GSEquality) January 29, 2015
"Used the same tax company 4 years. Went to file with new married partner. They said they couldn't help me anymore." #DiscriminationExists
— Kyle V. Piccola (@KPicle) January 29, 2015
"Discriminating against someone is a form of spiritual violence" #DiscriminationExists#LGBTEqualityhttp://t.co/QuW4S92PR6 via @sharethis
— Equality PA Faith (@EqualityPAFaith) January 29, 2015
I am a lesbian. I was fired as a probation officer because I was gay. House Bill #2 says I am a human. #AddtheWords#DiscriminationExists
— Fair is Fair Idaho (@FairisFairIdaho) January 29, 2015
Married on Sunday. Fired on Monday. http://t.co/qRR4w4JBuV - #DiscriminationExistspic.twitter.com/ZdEzZJSQ7I
— Jeaux Strummer (@VexedNGlorious) January 28, 2015
I can get married in NC but I can still be fired for being engaged to another man. #DiscriminationExists
— Darren Lipman (@Writingwolf2010) January 28, 2015
Reading through any news site regarding anything related to gay right proves that #DiscriminationExists
— B-rax (@ducksonparade) January 28, 2015
LGBTQ Arkansans are taxpayers, yet denied full protections under the law. How is this right? #discriminationexists
— CAR (@CAR4Equality) January 27, 2015
We can do better, Louisiana! #DiscriminationExistspic.twitter.com/eR6PfakCwf
— Mary Griggs (@griggsme) January 27, 2015
It's not too late for you to participate. Visit discriminationexists.org/participate to find out how.