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These Are the Hardest States in America to Be LGBT
YahooNews | By Michael Schramm | Takepart | June 2 2015
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YahooNews | By Michael Schramm | Takepart | June 2 2015
In many ways, this is a great time to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in America. Nearly 60 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, and the Supreme Court may soon legalize such unions. Images of LGBT people across American society are more diverse: Caitlyn Jenner, the former Olympian, is one vivid example. Yet, despite such progress, LGBT people face significant challenges.
“Our data shows that no matter what happens with the Supreme Court in June, we still have a long way to go to achieve full equality for LGBT people across the country,” Heron Greenesmith, one of the report’s authors, told TakePart.
Greenesmith and her colleague, Alex Sheldon, analyzed each state’s LGBT policies. Each state was given a point, based on whether the researchers considered the policies favorable or unfavorable for LGBT people. Points were assigned under six policy categories—for example, whether a state recognizes a same-sex relationship and marriage, or how well a state’s policies protect LGBT students, or the ability of transgender people to correct identification doents. Finally, the researchers ranked the states.
Here are the four states where it’s most difficult to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person:
1. Louisiana
Louisiana is the most difficult state for LGBT people. The state restricts same-sex couples from jointly adopting and bars educators from talking about LGBT topics during sexual education class. In recent days, Louisiana’s governor, Bobby Jindal, a Republican, signed an executive order that essentially allows certain institutions—particularly religious institutions—to discriminate against LGBT people.
2. Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the few states to have banned cities and counties from passing laws that protect LGBT people from discrimination. Some of the state's schools have denied admission to children of LGBT parents.
3. Michigan
Michigan limits the ability of same-sex couples to petition for joint adoption. Recently, Michigan legislator Earl Poleski, a Republican, introduced a bill that could eliminate laws that prevent LGBT discrimination.
4. Alabama
The researchers found that Alabama has virtually no policies that are favorable for LGBT people. Alabama is at the center of the same-sex marriage debate. The state has its own version of a religious freedom law. It also has a law that tells educators to inform students that homosexuality is unacceptable and punishable under criminal law. Alabama legislator Chris England, a Democrat, recently tried to pass a bill that would prohibit LGBT discrimination. The bill failed.
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