Civil Rights Issue Blog Entry #2

Entry 2.
1. How does the particular group you are studying experience discrimination or lack of rights today? Compare/contrast to the Jim Crow era.
-The LGBT community under goes a lot of discrimination. Homophobic and anti-gay groups and people can be found in churches, schools, and workplaces. In a study it was found that 15-43 percent of gay people and 90 percent of transgenders experienced harassment and/or mistreatment at their jobs because of their sexuality and gender identity. 17% of gay people and transgenders were fired because of it. In schools, 9 out of 10 LGBT students have experienced some form of harassment. This is similar to the treatment of African Americans before the Civil Rights Movement because of discrimination and unfair treatment due to the color of their skin. Both groups of people are completely innocent and have no control over their race and sexual orientation. Similar to anti-black groups in the Jim Crow era such as the KKK and other smaller communities, many anti-gay church groups exist. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for its aggressiveness against homosexuality. They've protested, picketed funerals and desecrated the American flag. The LGBT community and African Americans experienced similar acts of hatred because of who they are.

Sources:
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/news/2011/06/02/9872/gay-and-transgender-people-face-high-rates-of-workplace-discrimination-and-harassment/