The Spectator The independent student newspaper of Valdosta State University
Written by Geneva Crooks, Staff Writer
With the legalization of same sex marriage, 2015 was an eventful year, especially for those in the LGBT community. The world went into a frenzy when it was announced that no matter your sexual preference, you could get married in the United States. Many people welcomed this change with open arms, while others fumed with hatred and disgust.
Sadly, although there are many laws in place to protect those of the LGBT community, many members are still being discriminated against.
With the arrival of wedding season, in some states, it is legal for wedding vendors to deny same-sex couples the venue because of their sexual orientation. This is a huge deal because getting married is something people dream about and plan for months, even years. Imagine planning an entire wedding at your second option venue because your first discriminated against you and your future spouse.
Gay couples also can be denied the right to adopt children. According to Cosmopolitan, there are no federal standards that keep states from discriminating against LGBT people when it comes to the process of adopting a child. So, this means people can dream of one day adopting a baby and be denied in the state they live in simply because a judge or a social worker doesn’t like the idea of a child having same-sex parents.
For many, college is a part of coming of age. Many of the most prestigious colleges in the United States are Christian. At a Christian college, same-sex couples are in danger of being kicked out simply for being affectionate with one another.
According to Cosmopolitan, several Baptist colleges in the United States have actual clauses in their handbook against gay students being affectionate towards each other. Imagine being homosexual and opening up your student handbook and seeing that.
Regardless of the order in which they come, they are basic human rights: the right to marry, the right to an education, and the right to bear children. But in 2016, although we’ve come so far, we still have a long way to go.
