Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Human Rights Coalition
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Proposition 8 Passed In California, But California Can't Be The Only State We Focus On. We Must Fight For Equal Rights Across The Country
By Meghan Chavalier
It is vitally important that we don't lose focus of the big picture though. The same gay marriage bill also went up in Arizona and Florida and passed. That week in Arkansas gay adoption also went to the voters, where gay people lost their right to adopt children just because they're gay. California isn't the only state that's violating the LGBT Communities equal rights, every state in the country is doing it. While we are focused on getting gay marriage for Californians, the government is still working overtime to take as many rights away from gay people as they can, and I'm sure they're quite happy that we're not watching them closely right now, instead focusing all of our attention on California and Proposition 8. We must band together as a community nationwide and start fighting for our rights state by state. Some people say, well it's best to take baby steps when it comes to situations like this. Baby steps? Are you kidding me? You don't take baby steps when you're fighting for your rights as an American Citizen you take large leaps and jumps to get to where you need to be. We are fighting against a clock that is ticking every day in our country that wants to insure that we have no rights, and insure that we will still be standing two steps behind everyone else when it comes to equality. Do you think Alice Paul Stokes took baby steps when she was fighting for the right for women to vote? Do you think the LGBT individuals of Stonewall took baby steps while fighting for our rights in 1969? What about Martin Luther King? What about Harvey Milk?
It is time to fight for the rights that are afforded to us under the Constitution of the United States Of America. Look at the list below and see where your State falls when it comes to Hate Crime Laws in our country. You can do something or you can sit back and watch the world pass you by. Start your own organization, email your State Congressmen/women, Senators, Representatives and tell them the laws need to change to include the LGBT Community. The world is changing, but the LGBT Community is still being excluded. This is not right, nor is it fair. Be the person who stands up and says, "I am an American Citizen just like you, and I deserve the same equal rights as you do."
Alabama Hate Crimes Law State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
California hate crimes law addresses violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Colorado law and the state constitution both purport to ban recognition of marriages between same-sex couples. There are no other forms of relationship recognition for same-sex couples in state law or policies.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
District law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
This state has no hate crimes law.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity but not sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
Nebraska hate crimes law explicitly addresses sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
This state has no hate crimes law.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity. West Virginia Hate Crimes Law State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
State law covers hate crimes based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.
This state has no hate crimes law.
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