Taylor Thielman

ENL 368-02
Prof. DeLuca
January 29, 2017

Issue Identifying Paper

For my portfolio project, my preferred topic of discussion would be on LGBTQ

rights. "LGBTQ" is an abbreviation that originated in the 1990s and replaced what was

formerly known as "the gay community." The abbreviation was created to be more

inclusive of diverse groups. LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and

queer (and/or questioning) individuals/identities. The fight for LGBTQ rights can most

definitely be considered a national issue, as well as a global issue. Social movements

for these rights began as early as the 1860s and are still happening today. Sociologist

Mary Bernstein writes, "For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include

challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the

primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family(heteronormativity). Political goals

include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections

from harm (Bernstein, 2002). This issue affects any individual who identifies as part of

this community, as well as their family or loved ones. It also affects individuals who may

not identify as LGBTQ, but supports them as a group and believe they should receive

equal rights.

This issue matters now because we have elected a President who has

nominated a cabinet of individuals who wish to roll-back nondiscrimination protections,

such as Governor Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy from Texas. Mark Snyder, Director of
Communications for the Equality Federation states, Governor Perry has long opposed

fairness and equality for LGBTQ Americans, supporting dangerous conversion therapy

practices, opposing marriage equality, promoting anti-transgender legislation, and more

(Snyder, Equality Federation). Though same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide on

June 26th, 2015, the LGBTQ is still under attack and ridicule, and the Americans of this

group are frightened of what President Trump may allow for their future.

This issue matters to me because although I identify as a heterosexual woman, I

am a strong believer that love is love and an LGBTQ person is no different than me. I

have many incredible people in my life who are a part of that community and they

deserve to live with the same rights as I do. To me, the ban or opposition of any

LGBTQ right is unconstitutional, much like the Supreme Court believed about banning

same-sex marriage in 2015. My hope for the future is for equal rights for this

community and to ensure they have peace.

Another potential topic I feel strongly about is the discrimination of immigrants

that is currently going on, once again because of President Trump. I am not the most

politically savvy person, but I followed this last election once the debates began and

was horrified by President Trumps hate-driven campaign. The excessively used

statement, of build a wall shattered my hope for fairness and equality if he was elected

President. The truth is, he is our President, and we are now facing a very sad reality.

Adam Liptak from the New York Times states, President Trump on Friday afternoon

approved a sweeping executive order that suspended entry of all refugees to the United

States for 120 days, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely, and blocked entry into the

United States for 90 days for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran,
Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also barred green card holders from

those countries from re-entering the United States, the Department of Homeland

Security said, though the administration said exemptions could be granted (Liptak, New

York Times). He has been our President for a few weeks and he has already created a

culture of segregation and banishment. This issue is current this issue is now.

I read an e-mail this afternoon from the interim Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth,

Peyton Helm, who stated that two faculty members who are legal permanent residents

of the United States with green cards were detained at Logan Airport in Boston because

of this executive order. He said, Now that our colleagues are safe, we want to be clear

that we believe the executive order does nothing to make our country safer and

represents a shameful ignorance of and indifference to the values that have traditionally

made America a beacon of liberty and hope (Helm, Interim Chancellor). I side with the

Chancellor on this issue, and fear what the continuation of this order might mean for the

safety and respect of our country. Much like my previous topic regarding LGBTQ rights,

I believe that immigrants have rights as well and I struggle to tolerate this injustice.

I would be happy to write about either topic as they are very relevant in terms of

timing and importance, and I am looking forward to doing more research.

Works Cited
Bernstein, Mary (2002). Identities and Politics: Toward a Historical Understanding of the

Lesbian and Gay Movement. Social Science History 26:3 (fall 2002).

Liptak, Adam. "President Trump's Immigration Order, Annotated." Nytimes.com. N.p., 28

Jan. 2017. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

Snyder, Mark. "Stop Trump's Extremist Nominees." Equalityfederation.org. N.p., 19 Jan.

2017. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

"Message from Chancellor Helm and Provost Karim ." Message to the author. 29 Jan.

2017. E-mail.