Thousands of protestors descended on Washington, D.C., demanding equal rights.

By: Anna Collins

On Sunday, October 11, more than 200,000 Americans marched on our nation’s capital in pursuit of nationwide equality and to remind our leaders that the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights encompasses more than just marriage. In the United States today, only 20 states have enacted legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and only 13 have officially banned discrimination based on gender identity or expression.

Additionally, 39 states prohibit gay and lesbian couples from marrying with laws modeled after the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows states to ignore gay marriages performed elsewhere. At present, it is legal in 29 states to fire or refuse to hire LGBT individuals and in 38 states to reject transgender individuals for employment. Despite our long history of successfully instituted civil rights legislation, prejudice on the basis of sexual orientation and/or sexual history remains a daily hardship for approximately 10% of the U.S. population.

The recent National Equality March on D.C. demonstrated to President Obama and Congress that Americans are no longer satisfied with partial equality. While a few states have either fully or fractionally embraced LGBT equality by passing laws to allow civil unions, adoption by single gays, etc., total equality is made impossible by policies such as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), which prevents gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, and the aforementioned DOMA. A key mission of March participants, therefore, was to encourage the president to repeal DOMA and DADT and to sign legislation like the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), introduced in the House only this past summer. ENDA, modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, would provide basic protections on a federal level against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. If passed, it would become the first-ever federal ban on employment discrimination of LGBT people in the workplace.

Emily Hayes, a heterosexual freshman who attended the March, said that “the struggles of the LGBT community are my struggles and I was deeply honored to march alongside my brothers and sisters in their fight for equal rights. The March didn’t end at the Capitol. It ends with freedom and happiness, and the obstacles that stand in the way can only be overcome if we are together.”

Her twin sister Alicia, also a participant in the rally, holds that “we can’t turn our heads from the discrimination and injustices of the few. Just believing in liberty and justice for all isn’t enough. You have to be willing to stand up for it and have your voice heard.”

Following the March, participants were cited as joining in for a variety of reasons: because they are proud, because they want their children to live in world where equality is a reality, because they are members of long-term, healthy gay relationships, and because they want great acts more than they want great speeches.

While it is unfortunate and saddening that national equality is not yet a reality, we must remain committed to the cause. There are several actions college students can take to bring our nation closer to maximum egalitarianism. Equality Across America, which organized the March alongside Campaign for Courage, recommends organizing a mobilization meeting in your Congressional district. This November, bring together your family, friends and community allies to discuss actions that can be taken locally in support of LGBT rights. If you won’t be home this month, call or write your Congressman’s office instead and voice your opinion. Your sentiments will be recorded and sent to D.C. for consideration by your Representatives. Most importantly, during election seasons, vote for candidates dedicated to LGBT equality. For more ideas and information on Equality Across America’s work or to make a donation, please visit www.equalityacrossamerica.org. One need not be homosexual or transgender to appreciate the significance of this particular movement: the struggle for complete equality, the necessity of democratic society.

When it comes to LGBT rights, education and raising awareness are imperative. The more Americans are cognizant of the adversities faced by LGBT individuals on a daily basis, the more people will be inspired to unite for unconditional equality; equality that is not contingent upon one’s personal lifestyle choices or biological makeup.

When I initially asked for sophomore Ben Nachman’s feelings on gay rights, he was not sure how to respond. After reflecting on the issue, however, Ben said he realized that LGBT individuals, just like their straight counterparts, should also “be entitled to all rights.” Through extensive grassroots campaigning and public dialogue on the subject of LGBT inequality, hopefully more people will become motivated to consider the disparities between gays and straights and, like Ben, come to understand that they constitute an injustice.

In the words of Keith Olbermann, a graduate of Cornell University, on his show Countdown, “this isn’t about yelling and this isn’t about politics; this is about love and the human heart.”