Why is it that a progressing nation like America keeps on taking major steps backwards? Every day, new technology and innovations are being explored, but yet, we’re still failing at being decent humans.
It’s incredible that in the year 2016 there are currently laws being passed in multiple states – I’m talking to you, Mississippi and North Carolina –to allow discrimination in public places. This should be embarrassing to our country.
How is it that there is a FEDERAL law in place –Civil Rights Act of 1964 –that prohibits all discrimination, including age, disability, sex, gender, religion, race and national origin, in the workplace, yet these three states have managed to bypass this law and allow for discrimination? And better yet, why is the Federal Government letting them get away with it?
Mississippi’s law –HB 1523 –allows for discrimination not only for the LGBTQ community, but for unmarried couples who have sex before marriage with the excuse that it goes against their "religious beliefs." Frankly, what couples do or choose not to do in their private time is their own business, not their boss’ or manager’s business. Unless the employee is doing something that could directly tarnish or damage the company’s reputation, their employer should not be involved. Someone’s sexual identity and sexual activity (or lack thereof) should not affect whether or not they receive a job or not. This also has no effect on their ability to do work well. I’ll say that again, just to make it clear: someone’s personal appearance, gender, race, religion, or ethnic background absolutely does not affect their ability to work. If someone wants to work, is willing to work hard, and has all of the qualifications (or even exceeds the qualifications), they should receive the job. Period.
American’s have fought for hundreds of years to ensure the end of discrimination, but here we are in the 21st century, clearly having made no ground. I’m embarrassed and I feel genuinely sorry to let down all of the people who rallied and worked so hard to end discrimination. I’m sorry we have failed you. I want to make everything right for future generations. I want my future children and their future children to grow up in a world where they can be employed if they have all of the qualifications, without any questions regarding their personal life, their religion, gender, race, or ethnic background. I certainly hope that their intelligence, education, drive, ambition, and ability to work well with others are the only things considered while applying for a job. Unfortunately, it looks like we have a ways to go in order to change what has already been done.
I’m urging everyone who reads this article to consider how unfair and wrong these discrimination laws are. There is absolutely no compassion behind the creation and the passing of these laws. I’m not only opposed to this as an extremely liberal democrat, but as a human being. As a human, I’m asking everyone to look at everyone as they simply are, a human.
