Sarai Corado
12/12/18
7th
Why the LGBT community should receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples.
Even though legislators have spent countless hours talking about who should use which bathroom, they have failed to pass proposals that would restrict where transgenders relive or change clothes. Which lead the governor, Greg Abbott, to add this item to his special session agenda. During the regular session, lawmakers failed to pass other bills that were discriminatory towards the LGBT community. They did pass one bill though, House Bill 3859. This bill will give faith-based adoption and foster care agencies a more legal cover which technically helps reject their adoptions based on someone’s religion, including sexual orientation or sexual identity.
Though use of public bathrooms and legal adoption has become a tough fight, the LGBT community are also fighting against legalized discrimination and equal benefits.
On 2015, when the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, at least eight states have enacted new laws that permit people to infringe on the rights of LGBT individuals and their families to the extent they believe that discriminating against them is necessary to uphold their own religious or moral beliefs. This year, lawmakers in at least six other states will consider similar legislation.
These laws and bills vary in scope. Since it’s become widely publicized, some would permit people to refuse to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies or to provide goods and services related to such weddings. Others, becoming less widely publicized, would permit child welfare agencies, physical and mental health providers, businesses that serve the public, and other actors to refuse service to LGBT people and other groups. These legislations immediately endangers LGBT rights. By allowing people to elevate their prejudices above fairness and equality, it also threatens the broader principle that people should not be refused goods and services just because of who they are.
Taking down these laws which allow discrimination will reduce the amount of stress & worry that some people have and will create a better in all community.
And although marriage is a basic human right, it’s a right that the LGBT community has been fighting for almost a decade. Thankfully, on June 26th, 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage in all fifty states. Even though that battle was beaten, the LGBT community is now fighting for the same benefits as heterosexual couples. Not only for the same benefits such as health care but also for discrimination in the workforce. I believe that the LGBT community should receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples because every human deserves equality no matter who they are.
One common problem that plagues gay and lesbian couples that are denied the right to marry is their inability to claim their partner’s social security after he or she has died. The Human Rights Campaign, which works to achieve equal rights for the LGBT community, is supporting the effort to attain survivor benefits for domesticate partners. They believe, “Any alteration to the Social Security system must include partners of gays and lesbians in its definition of survivor”
Currently, there are no programs that give homosexuals survivor benefits like the ones that are provided for heterosexuals who are married or divorced. Gay and lesbian partners are not able to claim benefits of their deceased, regardless of the fact that all working citizens heterosexual or homosexual pay into the Social Security system for survivor benefits. Sadly, this leaves many gay and lesbian couples with an unstable retirement.
Other than Social Security Services, why would the government diminish the health care of same sex couples? We know the mental health of individuals in the LGBT community is a serious problem. Not only from the US, but LGBT people all over the world have faced much persecution, even death. This constant pressure of when someone is “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. It’s know that the LGBT community are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders.
Sadly this is well know, the past couple of years the number of suicides of bullied teens have risen because of their sexual identity and expression. Not only the mental health of this community is important, but the LGBT population are at higher risk for physical health disparities than heterosexuals. Some of these disparities relate to minority stressors such as discrimination. In fact, LGBT minorities report more depression, anxiety, physical complaints, activity limitation, tension, and asthma than heterosexuals.
So why would the Supreme Court limit their health care? When facts show that they need it as much as heterosexual couples. This decision makes the fight over same-sex unions even more alive in Texas, just days after the LGBT community celebrated the anniversary of the ruling that handed them the right to marry.
Homosexual’s lack of legal recognition effects them in numerous ways. The argument is much deeper then whether or not they should be married because they live together. If same-sex couples are paying taxes to build roads and help public schools like the heterosexual couples, they should be afforded the same rights. This is the exact argument the gays and lesbians of Vermont are using. In the Baker V. Vermont court case, “gay and lesbian couples had argued that they were denied the protection of more than 300 laws as a result of not being allowed to marry.” Homosexuals are finally suing the state because they are not receiving protection under the laws of state strictly because they are gay. In fact, the Vermont House of Representatives voted in favor (76-69) of a same-sex civil union bill.
This shows that looking at the matter as a legal issue, it is evident that homosexuals are not regarded equally in the eyes of the law, and that the first steps to fix this social injustice are just now being taken; however, the controversy is still obvious as the vote is very close. The Director of Education for the Human Rights campaign state, “It’s a big step in the right direction… while it’s no full marriage, it’s very close.” Same-sex civil unions are clearing the path for nationwide legal recognition of same-sex relationships. These same-sex civil marriages are demonstrating that the concept of “marriage” and the rights an American deserves, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation, can be simultaneously respected.
Like Mayor Sylvester Turner said, "Marriage equality is the law of the land, and everyone is entitled to the full benefits of marriage, regardless of the gender of their spouse." On a more practical note, this decision doesn't have an immediate effect on LGBT city employees in Houston. Spouses will continue to receive benefits, as they have for years, while the case continues to be litigated.
“All anybody is trying to do is live their lives and be given the service, be treated with respect as anyone else is treated. All we want is equality.”
–Petra E., Biloxi, MS, October 4, 2017