Imagine living a life where you were forced to act out a different personality, always uncomfortable in your own skin because that is not who you are? A serious issue facing our nation is the discrimination of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) citizens.

LGBTQIA individuals are the only minority not protected under federal law. These Americans face widespread discrimination regarding fundamental rights including housing, employment, relationships, safety and public access. Congress has lacked the courage to solve this blatant form of discrimination. Currently at least 31 states do not provide specific employment protections for transgender people. We need to pass a law that will provide equal rights to LGBTQIA citizens.

Many Americans believe that people should not be able to identify as anything under the LGBTQIA blanket. Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum once said, “This, is a napkin,” as he pulled a napkin out of his pocket. “I can call this napkin a paper towel, but it is a napkin. And why? Because it is what it is. Right? You can call it whatever you want, but it doesn’t change the character of what it is.” Due solely to our cultural history, Santorum, along with many Americans, believes that identity is not a choice or something that can develop over time; it is permanent and unchanging. This side’s main argument is that there is no way our culture’s identification system can or should change.

On the other hand, many people disagree with this ideology, which deprives LGBTQIA Americans of equal protection under our laws. I believe that anyone should be able to identify as who they are. America was founded on the basis of freedom: freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom to wake up in the morning and wear whatever clothes we desire. If we have the freedom to make all of these choices, why is it not acceptable to make the choice and have the freedom to express who we are without limitations?

It is not fair to tell people that they have to be interested in or attracted to certain people, that they have to dress a certain way, use a certain bathroom, neglect them from health insurance, check off a box on an application, remain educated about safe personal sexual choices, and identify a certain way because they do not fit the age old social norm of being male, female or heterosexual.

Until Congress passes broad legislation that ends the discrimination of LGBTQIA citizens, this group of Americans will have to enforce and protect their fundamental rights through the court system. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court took a step in that direction by recognizing the right of same-sex couples to marry in the landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges. Similar decisions regarding LGBTQIA rights under the U.S. Constitution could result in the long-awaited acceptance and normalization of their rights. The quest for LGBTQIA rights will continue until they achieve equality under the law.

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