Cedrick

Paulli
December, 2014
American Studies
Ms. ZM

LGBTQ DiscriminationPast and Present

LGBTQ Americans have struggled for equality more than ever in the last century,
and although society has significantly shifted towards acceptance, LGBTQ
Americans will never be truly equal until we as a society treat them so, beginning
with demolishing the income gaps that they face. Significant progress has been
made in the United States working towards same-sex marriage rights, with 35
states allowing same-sex marriage. But how are these couples expected to be
able to support themselves or their families if they dont receive payment
equivalent to non-LGBTQ Americans. Income difference shows that people today
may not view homosexuals as equals, and therefore think they deserve less pay.
Whether this is a problem rooted in the past that was never corrected, or a bias
that still exists today, it needs to be fixed. Its simple, really. Sexual orientation or
feeling of true gender identity should not have any impact on the amount of pay
they receive for labor. Work is work. Theres no evidence anywhere to show that
LGBTQ Americans have less work ethic than non LGBTQ Americansso why
should they be paid less? Think about it. Diminishing income gaps is an
imperative step towards true equality for LGBTQ Americans.
Lets step back in time now, starting in the 1920s. LGBTQ individuals are
discriminated openly in society. At this point in time, people believed LGBTQ
individuals were not human, or were mentally disabled in some way. Non-LGBTQ
simply could not fathom LGBTQ Americans, simply because they were different,
whether in their sexual or gender orientation. This lack of information lead to
society not accepting LGBTQ individuals and pushing them away with rigorous
discrimination.
Its 1924 now, and the Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the first
gay rights organization in the United States ("The American Gay Rights
Movement: A Timeline"). The formation of this organization showed that
homosexual individuals, specifically in Chicago, were tired of the mindless
discrimination and intolerance they faced. This event, although not immediately,
motivated other organizations to spring up around the United States,
campaigning rights for different branches of LGTB. As LGBT Americans came
together, they found the strength to demonstrate and uprise when faced with
discrimination.
The Stonewall Riots of 1969, where police unjustly detained a group of Gay men,
inspired many to take to the streets to fight discrimination. ("The American Gay
Rights Movement: A Timeline). Stereotypes remain prevalent in the United
States, as people still lack an education or way to connect with LGBTQ
individuals. Gay men were thought to be very feminine, while Lesbian women
were thought to be tomboyish or masculine. These stereotypes can still be seen
today, but as a society we have become significantly more educated about how
untrue they are. No longer do homosexuals have to fear discrimination when
expressing their sexuality, because as a society we have recognized that LGBTQ
individuals have the same rights as any other Americans. However, LGBTQ
Americans still lack a certain privilege, or right. The right to equal pay.

Cedrick Paulli
December, 2014
American Studies
Ms. ZM
In the past, LGBTQ Americans worked for equality by standing up and uniting
when faced with discrimination and stereotyping. This seemed to work for them,
to an extent. By coming together, organizations were formed, and helped spread
information, informing society about LGBTQ, building tolerance slowly over time.
However, at some point, there seems to have been a slip when LGBTQ
individuals were integrating into a more accepting American society. LGBTQ
discrimination is no longer so much verbal or physical, although this still exists,
but focused on income gaps. LGBTQ Americans today are very often subject to
lower wages compared to non-LGBTQ. The reason for this is a long-standing
issue. We have seen that in the past LGBTQ Americans were not understood,
and therefore were not thought to be or treated as equal. This ignorance that
non-LGBTQ Americans had and still have is based in the past. As a society we
have corrected our view on LGBTQ individuals, but we seem to have forgotten
what we have learned when it comes to the way we recompense LGBTQ
Americans for the work they do.
Various studies have proven just how real income inequality is for LGBTQ
Americans. In an analysis of 12 different studies, Gay and Bisexual men were
found to earn as much as 10 to 32 percent less than heterosexual men do on
average (Burns, Crosby). There was however, less evidence to show that
Lesbian individuals faced discrimination through unequal pay. The study also
found that transgender individuals also face unequal payment. Specifically,
transgender woman experienced a loss of pay by up to one-third (after having a
gender transition), meanwhile transgender men actually experienced some
payment increase after their gender transitions (Burns, Crosby).
This analytical study really shows how real pay gaps are for LGBTQ Americans.
In the past, sexuality or true feeling of gender was something that LGBTQ
Americans would have to hide, fearing being physical or verbal abuse and
discrimination. Today, LGBTQ Americans no longer have to fear expressing their
sexuality or true gender identity in public much at all because we are much more
accepting as a society. However, when we examine discrimination today, we can
see that what they really have to fear is unequal pay. Like we have done before,
we need to educate our society, and remind ourselves that LGBTQ Americans
are Americans, but they will never be equal unless we truly treat them so. The
first step towards equal treatment is equal pay.