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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination against
anyone based on race, religion, gender, or ethnic background in all
states. Any enterprises having a connection with interstate commerce
and businesses or institutions accepting federal funding may not
discriminate in:
• education
• employment
• public transportation
• public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants
• public services, such as getting a bank loan or mortgage
• the writing of life and health insurance policies
The act did not extend these protections to people based on their
sexual orientation. As a result, in all but nine states, lesbians,
gay, bisexual, and transgender people, as well as those who are
perceived to be, can still be discriminated against in many ways
because of their private sexual behavior.
Gay rights advocates have failed in their efforts to get federal
protection extended in all states. In 1996, the U.S. Senate, by a
margin of just one vote (50 to 49), rejected a gay rights protection
bill which would have banned job discrimination for gay, lesbian and
transgender people across the country. Such people can still be
treated with prejudice in employment, housing, education, and public
services, including transportation and the military, because of
their perceived sexual orientation, even though polls show that the
majority of Americans favor ending such discrimination.
Crimes against people for their perceived sexual orientations are on
the increase. Called gay-bashing, these crimes include verbal and
physical assaults and murder. Although assault is against the law,
police do not always respond when the victims are not perceived to
be straight. In an increasing number of localities, however, such
crimes are considered "hate crimes" and are prosecuted aggressively
by the authorities.
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Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction
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