There are a lot of things that I take for granted. As a college-educated, white woman, I know I have a lot of advantages. At work, I know that thanks to women of prior generations, there are laws in place to protect me. But because there is no state law protecting gay men and lesbians from discrimination at work, one of my friends was fired from his job because he was complained about the treatment he received from co-workers.

What the fuck? It’s 2007.

I work for a large company and sexual orientation is specifically mentioned in the non-discrimination policy. Where my friend worked, however, there was no such policy. What does that teach people? Bully someone who’s different from you and it’s ok? Just because you don’t agree with someone’s “lifestyle,” you can get rid of them? Are we back in elementary school???

My friend has an invitation to go to DC to attend a Congressional hearing on the subject of discrimination. I think he should go. Hell, I’d go if I could. What I have heard over and over again from my gay friends is that they just want to be “normal.” They want to have families, whatever their definition of a family is, a good job, a house … what everyone else wants. And I can’t see how Tom and Mike having those things gets in my way any more than Jennifer and Jason having all that stops me …

∗ Posted by Monique on 05.24.2007
∗ Annoyances, Friends