Our Issues
The Agenda
The Human Rights Campaign advocates for federal legislation to end discrimination on a variety of issues and educates elected officials and policy makers in Washington on issues of importance to the GLBT community.
For a quick glance at all legislation HRC lobbies on in Congress and to find out where your Representative and Senators stand on the issues, visit our
Legislative Action Center.
Military
Under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue,
don't harass" policy, gay, lesbian and bisexual service members are prohibited
from serving openly. Current military regulations also medically disqualify transsexual
men and women from service.
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Workplace Discrimination
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees can be fired on the basis of their sexual orientation
in 34 states. Transgender employees can be fired on the basis of their gender identity
and expression in 44 states.
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Immigration
Current U.S. immigration law does not allow lesbian and gay citizens or permanent
residents to petition for their same-sex partners to immigrate.
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Health
HRC's health work has historically been focused on issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, but has broadened to encompass a wide variety of health issues, such as
lesbian health, that impact the LGBT community.
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Judicial Nominations
HRC monitors judicial nominations that could place courts outside the mainstream,
which would make it increasingly difficult for GLBT Americans to achieve basic justice
and equality through the federal courts.
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Privacy
Issues
On June 26, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Lawrence v.
Texas. The Court overturned Texas' sodomy law as a violation of privacy rights
under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.
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Hate
Crimes
Anti-gay hate crimes are underreported and increasing, while state laws are inadequate.
The federal hate crimes bill does not include hate crimes based on sexual orientation,
gender or disability.
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Protecting LGBT Families
Same-sex couples are denied over 1,000 benefits, rights, and protections that federal
law affords to married, heterosexual couples, as well as hundreds of such protections
at the state level.
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Marriage
The national debate about whether or not same-sex couples should be allowed to receive
a marriage license has elevated after Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex
marriage and the Supreme Court declared sodomy laws unconstitutional.
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Transgender Issues
There is a lack of public education and understanding of issues faced by the transgender
community, in addition to the discrimination against the entire GLBT community.
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Texas Laws
Texas laws govern everything from the legal status of relationships between same-sex
partners to the ability of transgender people to list their correct gender identity
on their birth certificates. The Human Rights Campaign works with state leaders
to advance the rights of GLBT people across the nation.
Read about the current laws affecting GLBT issues in Texas, as well as state legislation
– upcoming bills that could change the way you live.