LGBT advocates, allies and activists worldwide work to protect the basic dignity of LGBT people. LGBT legal groups and other human rights organizations, like Amnesty International, believe that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, without exception.
However, every day, across the globe, sexual orientation or gender identity leads to abuse in the form of discrimination, violence, imprisonment, torture, or even execution. Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity can take a variety of forms and these contravene the basic tenets of international human rights law.
LGBT rights in the United States have evolved over time and vary on a state-by-state basis. Sexual acts between persons of the same sex have been legal nationwide in the U.S. since 2003, pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas.
Family, marriage, and anti-discrimination laws vary by state. Six states plus Washington, D.C. currently offer marriage to same-sex couples. Maryland does not offer same-sex marriages but does recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Additionally, some states offer civil unions or other types of recognition which offer some of the legal benefits and protections of marriage.
Twenty-one states plus Washington, D.C. outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and fifteen states plus Washington, D.C. outlaw discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity are also punishable by federal law under the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
Adoption policies in regards to gay and lesbian parents also vary greatly from state to state. Some allow adoption by same-sex couples, while others ban all "unmarried couples" from adoption.
LGBT students often cite incidents of discrimination...
- I’m called anti-LGBT names or threatened by other students.
- My teacher or other adult at school says anti-LGBT things to me or about me.
- I told the school about the bullying, but they didn’t do anything to stop it.
- My school won’t let me hold hands with my girlfriend or boyfriend.
- My school threatened to cancel the prom if I went with my girlfriend or boyfriend.
- My school “outed” me to my parents or someone else without my permission.
- My school won’t let me wear my gay pride t-shirt or accessories that support LGBT rights.
- I’m a girl who wants to wear a tuxedo in my school yearbook, but my school won’ t let me.
- I’m a boy or transgender female who wants to wear a dress to prom.
- My school won’t let me talk about being gay or transgender at school.
- My school won’t let me publish a story about being gay in the school newspaper.
- My school blocks internet access to non-sexual LGBT websites.
- My school said I can’t start a GSA.
- My school has a GSA, but we’re not allowed to meet on school property.
- My school said we can’t call our club a "gay-straight alliance."
- My school is promoting therapy that claims to convert LGBT people into straight people.