An Ideal World

LGBT rights are essentially human rights. As of 2022, approximately 7-8% of the United States population (over 20 million people, or 600+ million globally) identified as LGBTQ+. If this many people are losing their rights, it's an issue. The US is generally tolerant of queer individuals, however a large focus of the GOP (the Republican Party) is preventing gay or transgender rights from making their way into law. 

Along with people of color and disabled individuals, members of the LGBTQ+ community are among the most marginalized in the world. Over 7,000 hate crime incidents take place in the United States annually, according to the US Department of Justice. 67 countries across the world criminalize gay "activity" with harsh punishments ranging from a small fine to death by stoning.

A lot can change for LGBTQ+ rights. We can stop persecution in foreign countries. We can elect public officials who will support the LGBTQ+ community. Heads of religions, like Pope Francis, can continue to speak out about how homosexuality isn't a crime and isn't fundamentally wrong. The future of LGBTQ+ rights is very up in the air, however the best thing to do is support groups like these and do your best in your own life to help those around you.

A number of civil rights groups are around solely to advocate for human rights, many of which are focused on LGBTQ+ rights. Links for them can be found on the Get Involved page. Some of these groups include Human Dignity Trust, ACLU, StandUp4HumanRights, Amnesty International, and The Trevor Project.