Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: Justice Department Will Pursue LGBT Discrimination Claims
The head of the Civil Rights Department of the Justice Department announced today that he is making the pursuit of claims by LGBT Americans a priority for his office. Specifically, Tom Perez said,
“We must fight for fairness and basic equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters who so frequently are being left in the shadows,” and to “ensure that there’s a level playing field in which our LGBT brothers and sisters are judged by the content of their character.”
As a lawyer, too often the fight is not to change the law, but change the application of the law. It’s one thing to have procedural protections when dealing with the police, but it doesn’t mean they won’t call you a dyke when they approach you, take you less seriously as you explain your side of the story, use their discretion to arrest those who are different or threatening.
The same is true with the treatment in the courts. Are openly LGBT complainants taken seriously by juries? Addressed respectfully by judges?
Many of us have experiences in our own lives that reinforce the assumption that the laws protecting the public don’t protect us as much.
One speech by a representative of the Civil Rights Department is not the be all and end all of the LGBT struggle. It is merely a blip on the radar. However, if the actual rate of LGBT related investigations increases, this will be an important mile stone on the road to equality.
Changing the law on the books is important. But it’s much harder to change the hearts and minds of those enforcing the law. Thank goodness we are seeing some progress in that direction.
Charley, religious cults are only tax-exempt if they do not tell people who to vote for by name, nor can they actively campaign for any candidate. Ironically, they are allowed to lobby politicians and some even donate which is illegal I believe, but as far as I know, they can’t tell their congregations to vote for a particular candidate by name who voices they’re concerns. Its a thin line and its been crossed many times. I strongly believe the IRS is afraid to pursue any of them. Look at the Mormon cult that donated more than $20 million to make sure Prop. 8 succeeded. It has refused to open its books to the IRS and yet no prosecution has ensued.
I am seeing that more and more christian groups are complaining that the LGBT Community should have no rights. Well What would they say if they had to pay taxs on the gounds that there chruch’s or just taxs period. They already are listed and a non profit org. why what makes them special. What if we closed our walets, and stopped paying taxes to support them. if all the tax money that we made as a gay community stayed it would look really bad it would look segragated all over again like black and white,was many years ago. and no look history is repeating itself. Our government would fall in a huge hole if the LGBT Community bannded together and took a stand for who we are. every day i read more and more about what is happening to the LGBT Community and keep thinking that we are headed right for another Stone Wall of history and it will be bigger than the last one and more devistaing than the last one. Churchs wanted the state to be seporate well then stay out of political issues. other wise lets reverse the law that states that church and state are seporate. and make it the way is use to be. So the next question in my mind is ..
At what cost will it take for Equality
We are a nation of freedom and I see no freedom when I am told No to some thing that is MY RIGHT.
Does the Civil Rights department talk with the folks at Justice who defend DOMA?