SAMANTHA TROUP | staff writer

Proposed new act gets rid of discriminatory hiring against homosexual individuals.

I have always been acutely aware of the way people treat each other and aware that not everyone is treated fairly, or even equally in our society. As I have gotten older I have noticed more and more how some people treat those who are homosexual or transgender.

Oftentimes people who are gay, lesbian or transgender are treated as different kinds of people than everyone else because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are treated as if being gay is contagious or a crime and are discriminated against, sometimes in ways that go against the fundamental American stance that “all [people] are created equal.”

In 31 states, it is currently legal for employers to decide to discriminate against hiring or firing someone based on their sexual orientation. The Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) proposed in Congress will make this discrimination illegal for most employers. Only the military, employers with fewer than 15 employees and religious or religiously-affiliated entities (like houses of worship, missions groups and religious schools) are exempt from the reach of the ENDA.

The ENDA is similar to quite a few other civil rights acts that have been around for years. Employers already cannot discriminate against employees or potential employees based on age, gender, race, disability or religion, so why is it possible for employers to discriminate against employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Lawmakers are finally beginning to legally defend that people are people despite, or maybe because of, their differences. If sexual orientation is part of what makes people who they are, than there is no need to discriminate against it. Just like there is no reason to discriminate against someone because of race, religion or gender.

Lawmakers are finally recognizing that some very deserving people have been overlooked for promotions and employment because of sexuality and gender identity. A person’s sexuality should not determine whether or not they are capable of more responsibility, better pay or a new job. It doesn’t make sense.

If on trial for a murder your didn’t commit, would you care about your lawyer’s sexual orientation? I know I wouldn’t. If given a choice between a talented and competent homosexual or a less talented and competent heterosexual, I would choose the former.

A person’s sexual orientation shouldn’t factor into their competency or talent. It doesn’t make them a better or worse person, and it definitely shouldn’t be the reason that an organization decides to hire, fire or deliberately imperil a person’s career. Being straight, homosexual or transgender doesn’t make a person any better or worse at their job.

I do not understand why an employer would not hire someone because of his or her sexual orientation if he or she is the best person for the job. A resume is a resume and skills are skills. It’s not like the potential employee was “straight” up until the interview. People don’t choose to be gay or transgender simply to undermine any new jobs they may want.

Any sort of discrimination is wrong, and it disputes the things America claims it stands for, like freedom, equality and justice. When we limit people because of sexual orientation or gender identity we label them based on their descriptions rather than their actions.