Diana’s Little Corner in the Nutmeg State: Marriage Equality v. Non-Discrimination

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Marriage Equality v. Non-Discrimination

I want to congratulate Minnesota which is going to be the 12th state probably sometime today when the governor signs the bill.

However, I think the LGBT first priority should be passing protection from discrimination.

In 29 states it is still OK to fire someone because they are gay or lesbian or transgender.
In 29 states it is still OK to throw someone out of their apartment because they are gay or lesbian or transgender.
In 29 states it is still OK to refuse to serve a person in a restaurant someone because they are gay or lesbian or transgender.
In 29 states it is still OK to refuse someone credit because they are gay or lesbian or transgender.

Marriage equality is siphoning off millions of dollars that could be used to help further equality for the LGBT community. When a state gets marriage equality donations dry up to support LGBT organizations.

I think marriage equality is important, but it should not be our #1 goal. Instead let us focus on making sure that we have jobs, a roof over our heads for our family, that we can take our families to an amusement park without the fear of being thrown out of it and let us make sure that we can get a loan to buy a house for our family first.

1 comment:

C. J. Smith5/14/13, 11:29 AM
I agree with you whole-heartedly on this. As pleased as I am when states decide to alter their marriage laws to include same-sex couples, it cannot be the priority as long as it is legal to discriminate against LGBT people in certain states.
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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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Albert Einstein

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― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

You've Got To Be Carefully Taught
You've got to be taught
To hate
And fear
You've got to be taught
From year
To year
Its got to
Be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to
Be carefully
Taught
You've got to be taught
To be
Afraid
Of people
Who's eyes are oddly made
And people who's skin is a different shade

South Pacific
Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rogers