Policy Memo: Gender, Sexuality, and Identity

Part 1: Policy Background

The policy problem that I have identified on is Gender, Sexuality, and Identity. The

reason why is because in today’s society, so many people has finally decide to come out and be

who they are. However, there are people who do not approve of their sexuality. For instance,

transgender restroom policy; half of America does not believe that they should pick their own

restroom. There are many reasons as to why I want to go more in depth with this topic because

there is so much negativity towards LGBT when in reality they are just trying to fight for their

rights, trying to live their life like any other person in this world.

The policy solution that I have proposed to address this problem is to our local government,

federal government and the president. I want to inform them on how the people in the people in

the LGBT community are being discriminated and treated unfairly due to their sexuality. I

support the LGBT community and it bothers me that they do not have justice the same as the rest

of us do. They are still human beings and they have rights just like we all do but, since they have

different sexual preference, they are treated differently.

This also includes a problem within the religious freedom in America. This means that we all

have a right to our religious beliefs, but this does not give us the right to use religion to

discriminate against those who do not share the same beliefs as them. There still are people in the

LGBT community that believe in religion but are being discriminated because of their sexuality.

It has come to my attention that this policy has been an issue for a really long time.

I have made a lot of research for this topic because I only knew the basics. However, after

doing research I have realized that even though the LGBTQ communities have become legal,
there are still some issues around the world. I believe that no matter how much we try to make

people understand that being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender is not a sin or against religion.

That I believe that both level of government should be able to address the policy problem

because having both of their support may help people understand the policy better. I know that

there will be people that still will not agree but it never hurts to try and understand and see past

all the hate.

I did not do an interview but for one of my classes this semester, transgender individuals

come to my class and talk to us about his journey. He also told us that his parents did not accept

him in the beginning but once he was trying to figure out himself, he and his mother and siblings

started to work on their relationship and now they are closer than they were before. Not too long

ago, he did a Ted Talk video where he talked about his experience and his brother showed his

father the video.

After his father saw the video, he called him and told him that he watched the video multiples

times because each time he watches it, he learns something new. However, his father barely

started to understand where he is coming from and is still having a hard time processing the

change but he accepted him for who he is now even though it took him a very long time. He

mentioned that now that he is a male, he has more privileges than he did before.

I believe that if the government and everyone in the world took the time to try to understand

the LGBTQ community and listen to their struggles and their journey about their transition can

be a great change for everyone. We need to start making these changes to help the LGBT

community.
 Part 2: Updates on your Policy Issue/Solution

As of now, gay marriage is legal in all fifty states which is a big change because it was illegal

before. However, there are still people that are against same-sex marriage. In addition, some

countries outside of the United States are becoming to accept it but there are some that fine it to

be a crime for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

There is a bill that has been introduced to the Senate and House of Representative and

Congress. The act is “LGBT Pride Act.” This act is basically about improving data on the sexual

orientation and gender identity of deceased individuals. Even though it is based on deceased

individuals, it still makes a difference because those individuals will be identify as how their

sexual orientation, whether its transgender, gay, bisexual or heterosexual.

Another bill that was passed was the, “Equality Act into Law.” This law states that it ensures

that every LGBT person can live their lives free from the fear of discrimination. This bill also

adds protection against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws that were have not

been included before. Therefore, if anyone in the LGBT community is being discriminated, they

can take them to court.

There has been a judicial action based on my policy. In the article, “United States Court

of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,” is about a group of same sex couples that sued their state

agencies in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee due to those states banning same-sex

marriage or they refuse to acknowledge legal same-sex marriage. Chief Justice John G. Robert

argued that the majority opinion relied on an, “overly expansive reading of the Due Process and

Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.” In addition, the Fifth and Fourteenth

Amendment states that it is meant to protect people from physical restraint and from government
intervention. The only issue is that they do not grant them rights to government entitlements. For

example, they do not provide them medicare, social security, unemployment and welfare

programs.

Overall, this is one of the reasons why the groups sued their state agencies because they

were not providing them help and because they ban them from getting married to their loved

ones. The Fourteenth Amendment states, “Nor shall any State deprive any person’s life, liberty,

or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal

protection of the law.” This means that they cannot interfere with anyone personal life which

also means who they love or who they want to get married. This applies to same-sex couples just

as much as to heterosexual couples.

One of the interest group that has shown a great support to the LGBTQ community is the

Human Rights Campaign. It is one of the largest organizations that work to fight equality for the

community. They have advocated and gather a lot of people to fight for equality and end

discrimination or any type of hate crime. I have noticed that they have all sources of help, from

giving advice to have different resources that provide help that the state does not want to allow.

I do think that I can work with them because they have shown a lot of support. That is what I

am looking for in an interest group that can help me achieve to my goal. HRC aims to works to

educate the public about it and they also give a lot of resources that are helpful. Also, HRC

influences a lot of people from inside or outside of the state to support because it for a good

cause. They involve any person that supports the LGBTQ community and they also have

celebrities that support.

 I do believe that this interest group can support any policy solution because they talk about

other topics that can help many of us that are in the LGBT community. Not only is to just inform

us about what it about but to also provide us like if you are still having trouble to come out to

your family or if you need shelter. Another example would be, for transgender, the more they

start to come out the society still has trouble to adjust or understand.

Part3: How Can I Continue This Work? Action Plan

A way that I can continue for this to work is by doing a petition drive. I would try to get

as much signature as I can so I can write a letter to the local, state, or federal government, even

the county and send them the petition and send them all of the signatures that the people signed

to show that they do support the LGBT community. Firstly, I would still do my research and get

accurate information so I can inform the people about the issue and then let them know what

needs to be changed in today’s society. There are many reasons as to why making a petition can

be helpful because maybe this will help us achieve to what we are aiming for.

Another way to keep the action plan going is by using social media for digital advocacy. I

believe that if we show images and give information out to people or just having a poster may

catch their attention. However, another method would be to make a website and type in facts

about the LGBT history and then write about ho in today’s society there has be changes but there

are still some issues that are going on. For example, in some states, it is illegal for same-sex

couples to adopt children. I would want to grab their attention and engage in a conversation with

them so I can explain as to why they should support the LGBTQ community. I know that there

will be people that would not care what I am trying to inform them but as long as they take a

little bit of their time to listen to me, it would be grateful.

 The third method would be going on a strike. I know that it is not the safest option to do

but it will catch a lot of people’s attention. The more support we have, the better chances we will

be heard. We would have to do a general/negotiating strike because we will have a record of

everything that is being done during the strike. We want to present and negotiate so we can get

our demands. We just want for the government to understand that the LGBT community needs to

know that they support them as well. There has been so many strikes helped the community

make progress.

One of the most serious obstacles that are within my policy situation is health care. There

is a total of ten percent that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender face health care risk. There

are hospitals and clinics that refuse to treat people that are in the LGBT community because of

the lack of knowledge of the patient’s sexual orientation. The majority of the people feel like the

doctors are homophobic. This is why working with people that support the LGBT Community

can be very helpful because they have resources that provide support for those who are having

trouble with health care or any type of other situation.

Another serious obstacle is that even though there was a law that prohibits

discriminations towards people within the LGBT community, there are some states that still

allow discrimination. The majority of these states are in the Midwest, which is not surprising

because those of the states that have not fully accept the LGBT community. Any individual that

fine themselves in a situation where they are being discriminated can take them to court because

like I mentioned before, there are some states that is illegal to discriminate them. However, for

those who do not can seek for help. We need to show them that we are the bigger person and for

them to discriminate us will only help us grow.

 Reference Page

“A Survey of LGBT Americans.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends

Project.” 13June 2013, www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/

“ACLU Sues Alabama for Discrimination Against Transgender People.” American Civil

Liberties Union. 5 Feb. 2018, www.aclu.org/news/aclu-sues-alabama-discrimination-against-

transgender-people.

Paul R. Brewer; Public Opinion About Gay Rights and Gay Marriage, International Journal of

Public Opinion Research, Volume 26, Issue 3, 1 September 2014, Pages 279–

282, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edu029

“LGBT Equality & Civil Rights.” Jared Polis 2nd District of Colorado,

polis.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=5032

“LGBT Rights.” American Civil Liberties Union, www.aclu.org/issues/lgbt-rights.

Lee, Rita. “Health Care Problems of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients.” Western

Journal of Medicine 172.6 (2000): 403–408. Print.