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History of violence against LGBT people in the United States - Wikipedia

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The history of violence against LGBT people in the United States is made up of assaults on gay men, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals ( LGBTQI), legal responses to such violence, and hate crime statistics in the United States of America.

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The decision reversed a policy initially approved by the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, which was still under final review, that would allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced last month that he was delaying enactment of the plan to begin allowing transgender individuals to join the US military.

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump said in a series of tweets Wednesday morning. "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."

But Trump's decision came without a plan in place to implement it.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders did not have an answer on what would happen to active transgender military members but said the White House and the Defense Department would work together "as implementation takes place and is done so lawfully."

Sanders said transgender service "erodes military readiness and unit cohesion" citing health costs. She said the move was based on a "military decision" and is "not meant to be anything more than" that.

Sanders said the decision was made based "on what was best for the military" and was made in council with the President's national security team.

Ash Carter, the Defense secretary under Obama, ended the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military in 2016, but allowed for a year-long review process to allow the Pentagon to determine how it would accept new transgender recruits into the military.

On the eve of that one-year deadline, Mattis announced that he was delaying the implementation of the new policy, saying he needed more time.

"Since becoming the Secretary of Defense, I have emphasized that the Department of Defense must measure each policy decision against one critical standard: will the decision affect the readiness and lethality of the force?" Mattis said in a memo late last month. "Put another way, how will the decision affect the ability of America's military to defend the nation? It is against this standard that I provide the following guidance on the way forward in accessing transgender individuals into the military Services."

A 2016 Rand Corp. study commissioned by the Defense Department concluded that letting transgender people serve openly would have a "minimal impact" on readiness and health care costs, largely because there are so few in the military's 1.3 million-member force.

The study put the number of transgender people in the military between 1,320 and 6,630. Gender-change surgery is rare in the general population, and the RAND study estimated the possibility of 30 to 140 new hormone treatments a year in the military, with 25 to 130 gender transition-related surgeries among active service members. The cost could range from $2.4 million and $8.4 million, an amount that would represent an "exceedingly small proportion" of total health care expenditures, the study found.

Trump's decision marks a setback for LGBT rights groups who have expressed concerns that the Trump administration could chip away at progress the community has seen in recent years on the backs of a series of landmark decisions in recent years that have included the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide and a repeal of the ban on gay people openly serving in the military.

Trump's decision is also another setback for the transgender community following his decision several months ago to reverse an Obama administration policy allowing transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice.

The announcement was immediately criticized by LGBT leaders and civil rights groups.

The American Civil Liberties Union called the decision "outrageous and desperate" and said it was exploring ways to fight the policy shift.

"Let us be clear. This has been studied extensively, and the consensus is clear: There are no cost or military readiness drawbacks associated with allowing trans people to fight for their country. The President is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of military personnel who have put their lives on the line for their country," said Joshua Block, the senior staff attorney with the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project.

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Michigan, the vice chair of the congressional LGBT caucus, called Trump's decision a "slap in the face to the thousands of transgender Americans already serving in the military" and said it "undermines our military's readiness."

"Anyone who is willing to put on the uniform of the United States and risk their life in service to our country should be celebrated as patriots, regardless of their gender identity. This short-sighted and discriminatory policy will make America less safe," said Kildee.

The Obama administration faced heated criticism from conservatives last year when it announced the repeal of the ban, and several Republican members of Congress have urged the Trump administration to reverse the decision, saying that the decision does not serve the US' defense interests.

The President's decision flies in the face of his 2016 campaign rhetoric, when he said he would be a strong defender of the LGBT community -- and even claimed he would be a better president for LGBT Americans than his opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Trump seized on the terrorist attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, as an opportunity to reach out to the LGBT community and promised he would be a better friend to the community than Clinton.

"I will tell you who the better friend is and some day I believe that will be proven out big league," Trump said.

CNN's Allie Malloy contributed to this report.

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trump to reinstate us military ban on transgender people - cnnpolitics

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Trump to reinstate US military ban on transgender people

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The decision reversed a policy initially approved by the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, which was still under final review, that would allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced last month that he was delaying enactment of the plan to begin allowing transgender individuals to join the US military.

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Combatting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
"Some say that sexual orientation and gender identity are sensitive issues. I understand. Like many of my generation, I did not grow up talking about these issues. But I learned to speak out because lives are at stake, and because it is our duty under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the rights of everyone, everywhere." - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Human Rights Council, 7 March 2012
Deeply-embedded homophobic and transphobic attitudes, often combined with a lack of adequate legal protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, expose many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of all ages and in all regions of the world to egregious violations of their human rights. They are discriminated against in the labour market, in schools and in hospitals, mistreated and disowned by their own families. They are singled out for physical attack - beaten, sexually assaulted, tortured and killed. In several countries, laws against cross dressing are used to punish transgender people on the basis of their gender identity and expression. And in some 77 countries, discriminatory laws criminalize private, consensual same-sex relationships - exposing individuals to the risk of arrest, prosecution, imprisonment - even, in at least five countries, the death penalty.

Concerns about these and related human rights violations have been expressed repeatedly by United Nations human rights mechanisms since the early 1990s. These mechanisms include the treaty bodies established to monitor States' compliance with international human rights treaties, as well as the special rapporteurs and other independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to investigate and report on pressing human rights challenges.

Similar concerns have been expressed by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein and his predecessor Navi Pillay, as well as by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior UN officials. On Human Rights Day (10 December) 2010, the Secretary-General delivered the first of several major policy speeches on the quest for LGBT equality, calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality and for other measures to tackle violence and discrimination against LGBT people. "As men and women of conscience, we reject discrimination in general, and in particular discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Where there is a tension between cultural attitudes and universal human rights, rights must carry the day," he said.

Protecting LGBT people from violence and discrimination does not require the creation of a new set of LGBT-specific rights, nor does it require the establishment of new international human rights standards. The legal obligations of States to safeguard the human rights of LGBT people are well established in international human rights law on the basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequently agreed international human rights treaties. All people, irrespective of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, are entitled to enjoy the protections provided for by international human rights law, including in respect of rights to life, security of person and privacy, the right to be free from torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to be free from discrimination and the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The core legal obligations of States with respect to protecting the human rights of LGBT people include obligations to:

Protect individuals from homophobic and transphobic violence.

Prevent torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality and transgender people.

Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Safeguard freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly for all LGBT people.

For more information on applicable international human rights standards in this context, please refer to the Born Free and Equal booklet published by OHCHR in September 2012.
Recent advances
In recent years, many States have made a determined effort to strengthen human rights protection for LGBT people. An array of new laws has been adopted - including laws banning discrimination, penalizing homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, granting recognition of same-sex relationships, and making it easier for transgender individuals to obtain official documents that reflect their preferred gender. Training programmes have been developed for police, prison staff, teachers, social workers and other personnel, and anti-bullying initiatives have been implemented in many schools.

The issue is also receiving unprecedented attention at an inter-governmental level. Since 2003, the General Assembly has repeatedly called attention to the killings of persons because of their sexual orientation or gender identity through its resolutions on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. In June 2011, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 17/19 - the first United Nations resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity - expressing "grave concern" at violence and discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Its adoption paved the way for the first official United Nations report on the issue prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ( A/HRC/19/41). The report's findings formed the basis of a panel discussion that took place at the Council in March 2012 - the first time a United Nations intergovernmental body had held a formal debate on the subject. In September 2014, the Human Rights Council adopted a new resolution ( 27/32), once again expressing grave concern at such human rights violations and requesting the High Commissioner to produce an update of report A/HRC/19/41 with a view to sharing good practices and ways to overcome violence and discrimination, in application of existing international human rights law and standards, and to present it to the 29th session of the Human Rights Council.

Activities of the human rights office

OHCHR is committed to working with States, national human rights institutions and civil society to achieve progress towards the worldwide repeal of laws criminalizing LGBT persons and further measures to protect people from violence and discrimination on grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Ongoing activities include:

Privately raising concerns and putting forward recommendations for reform in the context of dialogue with Governments.

Monitoring and bringing to light patterns of human rights violations affecting LGBT persons, including reporting produced by OHCHR field presences.

Engaging in public advocacy of decriminalization and other measures necessary to strengthen human rights protection for LGBT persons, including through speeches and statements, newspaper articles, video messages, fact sheets and distribution of various other materials.

Working with UN partners to implement various activities intended to counter discrimination and violence motivated by animosity towards LGBT persons.

Providing support for the special procedures in the context of their fact-finding activities and confidential communications with Government.

Supporting the human rights treaty bodies, a number of which have addressed the issue of discrimination linked to sexual orientation and gender identity in previous general comments and concluding observations and continue to highlight steps that individual States should take in order to comply with their international treaty obligations in this respect.

Providing support for the Universal Periodic Review, which provides a forum for concerns regarding the rights of LGBT persons to be aired and for recommendations to be developed.

On 26 July 2013, former High Commissioner Navi Pillay launched a public information campaign designed to raise awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination and promote greater respect for the rights of LGBT people everywhere. All campaign materials are available through a dedicated website -- www.unfe.org. You can follow the campaign on Facebook facebook.com/free.equal or Twitter (@free_equal).

The Office's work on LGBT human rights is coordinated from OHCHR-New York. For further background, written materials and other recent LGBT-related outputs, please explore the links in the top right-hand column of this page, including feature stories on our work.

Email: LGBTHumanRights@un.org

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OHCHR | Combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

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"Some say that sexual orientation and gender identity are sensitive issues. I understand. Like many of my generation, I did not grow up talking about these issues. But I learned to speak out because lives are at stake, and because it is our duty under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the rights of everyone, everywhere."

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As recent as just 20 years ago, a gay, lesbian, or transgender person would have stayed in the closet for fear of risking their professional career; thats not the way it is today. As likely as it is that you work with someone whos married to a person

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Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images

A safe work and learning environment is critical to building strong self-esteem and encouraging productivity for LGBT people. In 2015, the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 34 percent of LGBT students were bullied on school property. Similarly, Out & Equal reports that one in four LGBT employees face discriminatory treatment in the workplace. There isn't one magic remedy to LGBT discrimination, but specific initiatives can make a difference. Providing education, reviewing policies and intentionally creating a positive working and learning environment are essential to the inclusion of all.

Training

Often, discrimination occurs unintentionally. A derogatory comment may not be meant to intimidate an LGBT person or make them feel marginalized. Training is key to helping employees and students gain understanding and empathy. For example, an activity that examines common stereotypes provides an awareness of misconceptions about the LGBT community and how misguided remarks can poison a working and learning environment. On a larger scale, instituting a Safe Zone training that teaches students and employees about hurtful language, how to intervene, when discrimination occurs and how to provide intentional support to LGBT community members signals expectations in an environment that is free of hate speech and disrespectful behavior.

Protective Policies

In 28 states, employment can be terminated if you publicly identify as LGBT. Developing organizational policies that ban this type of discrimination deters negative behavior and encourages an open and inclusive workplace climate. On February 26, 2018, the Manassas Park City School Board added LGBT to their general discrimination policy. Protective policies in schools allow students and staff to feel comfortable expressing their individual identity and provide assurance that they'll have a safe learning environment. Moreover, involving the organization in the process of developing anti-discrimination policies create deeper understanding and ownership.

Support Organizations

Encouraging the development of LGBT support groups sends a clear message that the organization is supportive of everyone and that LGBT discrimination won't be tolerated. In some cases, youth has experienced resistance from school administration to the establishment of gay-straight alliances (GSAs). GSAs give LGBT students the opportunity to have a dialogue about bullying and find support from one another. Similarly, corporations that support LGBT employee resource groups communicate that diversity is a priority and discrimination isn't an organizational value. Employees find community, support and reassurance from affinity groups that focus on LGBT issues.

Inclusive Messaging

Supporting anti-discrimination for LGBT people is predicated upon messaging that is woven into the fabric of the organization. For schools, this can be an uphill battle. LGBT students are looking for relevant resources in libraries, curriculum that addresses LGBT history and teachers that add LGBT issues to their content. Combatting LGBT discrimination in schools includes more than just a peripheral approach, but going deeper may mean facing opposition. School boards, curriculum committees and administration must provide support to make transformative change.

About the Author

Dr. Kelly S. Meier is a professor and college administrator for a large public institution in Minnesota. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University and her master's degree and doctorate from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has published more than 15 books on education, group development and diversity.

Photo Credits

Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images

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Solutions for LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace and in School

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A safe work and learning environment is critical to building strong self-esteem and encouraging productivity for LGBT people. In 2015, the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 34 percent of LGBT students were bullied on school property. Similarly, Out & Equal reports that one in four LGBT employees face discriminatory treatment in the workplace.