Are gays and lesbians really oppressed?
In many states, gays and lesbians can still be fired from their jobs or not hired for jobs because of their sexual orientation. They can be denied housing or other rights simply because they are gay. And the worst part is that they have no legal recourse under U.S. law. Currently, no federal law prohibits employment or housing discrimination against gays and lesbians. Black gays and lesbians are particularly at risk. Last May, 15-year-old Sakia Gunn was murdered in Newark, New Jersey because she was gay. In December 2002, 21-year-old Gregory Beauchamp was murdered in Cincinnati because he was gay. Earlier that year, a black college student in Atlanta was nearly beaten to death by a classmate who thought he was gay.