Name: Mia Perrin Block: A 

 
What is your thesis statement?   Straight people and LGB+ people have different civil rights. 
  
While many people say that times have changed regarding sexuality, is that really true? It seems true 
with the Pride Parades and rising amount of representation in media. Nowadays, it seems like more and 
more movies and TV shows have LGB+ characters.. However, the numbers of LGB+ characters in the 
media are actually low. While there was a definite increase in LGB+ characters from 2017 to 2018, there is 
still work to be done. In 2018, only 8.5% of characters on TV are LGB+.1 This is smaller than the real world 
population of LGB+ people.  
 
Looking at the insignificant 4.5% percent of Americans who say they identify at part of the LGB+ 
community, it seems as if television overestimates this number. However, this number does not include 
some key factors. First of all, the same study found that 11% of Americans said they experience some 
same sex attraction.2 Also, this includes Generation X, where it is much less accepted and more taboo to 
be gay, and many haven’t come out or repress their feelings because of this.  
 
Another study found that 29% of millenials and 34% of Generation Z said they aren’t exclusively 
heterosexual. 3 
 
This proves that, while there have been improvements in the rights of LGB+ people, there is still work to 
be done. There are some major gaps between the rights that straight people have and the rights that 
LGB+ people have. 
 
Firstly, only ten states have laws that prevent people from being fired or refused jobs because of their 
sexual orientation. But in the other forty states, businesses openly have people fired or refuse people 
jobs for being gay. And even if the person does get a job, the business may not protect the person from 
harassment because of their sexual orientation.4 

1
​“Where We Are on TV Report - 2018.” ​GLAAD,​ 26 Oct. 2018, www.glaad.org/whereweareontv18.

2
​Gates, Gary J. “How Many People Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender?” ​Williams Institute​, 28 Mar.
2013,
williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/how-many-people-are-lesbian-gay-bi
sexual-and-transgender/.
3
​Rudgard, Olivia. “Only Two Thirds of Generation Z Identify as 'Exclusively Heterosexual'.” ​The Telegraph​,
Telegraph Media Group, 5 July 2018,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/05/two-thirds-generation-z-identify-exclusively-heterosexual/.  
4
Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People.” ​American Civil Liberties Union,​ Aclu, 11
​“The
Mar. 2002, www.aclu.org/other/rights-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-people-0.
 
This was the case with Mary Jo Davis, who had a job in the Radiology Department of Pullman Memorial 
Hospital in Whitman County, Washington. Soon after she was hired, her supervising doctor found out 
she was gay. He started using homophobic slurs against her, and refused to work or speak with her. 
When Mary Jo told the hospital about this harassment, she was fired. 
 
In the Mary Jo Davis v. Guess case, it says, “​On one occasion, Dr. Guess treated the department staff to 
ice cream. He told everyone that they were celebrating because Ms. Davis was not at the hospital that 
day. He remarked that it was gay pride week, and Ms. Davis must be off marching somewhere.” 5 
 
With situations like this happening around them, many LGB+ people hide their lives, lie about their 
partners, and hide their sexual orientations. People should not have to hide such things. The forty states 
that do not have anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation should definitely consider 
following the footsteps of the ten states with these laws, to protect the civil rights of all citizens. 
 
Next, in a few states, gay and lesbian couples are denied the opportunity to adopt children and be foster 
parents. In a 1993 court case, Sharon Bottom from Virginia, had her two year old son taken away because 
she was gay. The son’s maternal grandmother got custody of the son. 
 
The court ruled that, “her (Sharon’s) homosexual conduct was immoral and illegal and ‘renders her an 
unfit parent.’” 6 
 
The United States has a shortage of adoptive and foster parents already, with hundreds of thousands of 
children without permanent homes. Giving gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to adopt children 
and be foster parents in all states would be a step in the right direction towards solving this crisis. 
 
Next, in some cases, public schools have revealed a student’s sexual orientation to the student’s parents, 
teachers, etc. without the student’s consent. This is violating the privacy of the student, and can have 
dramatic consequences. This could mean the student getting physically abused, abandoned, or 
disowned. 
 

5
​“FindLaw's Court of Appeals of Washington Case and Opinions.” ​Findlaw​, 18 July 2002,
caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-court-of-appeals/1328917.html.
6
​“Lesbian Mother, Sharon Bottoms, Loses Custody of Son · Rainbow Richmond: LGBTQ History of
Richmond, VA · Outhistory.org.” ​Outhistory.org,​
outhistory.org/exhibits/show/rainbow-richmond/the-fight-continues/sharon-bottoms.
There was once a case where a teenager committed suicide after a police officer threatened to tell the 
teenager’s family his sexual orientation. 7 
 
So while the school may think that they are doing the right thing when they reveal a student’s sexual 
orientation to the students parents, they really aren’t. 
 
Lastly, as is widely known, LGB+ people have advocated for same-sex marriage to be legalized. Now, this 
is legal in all fifty states. It was ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional. 
However, there are occasionally laws passed which complicate things. 
 
As recently as the spring of 2016, after same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States, an 
anti-LGB+ law called HB 1523 was passed. The law, among other things, allowed government officials to 
deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 
 
This law affected many same-sex couples, one of which being Stephen Thomas and Nykolas Alford. The 
couple was engaged, and looking forward to marriage, but faced discrimination because of this law. They 
have said, “When HB 1523 passed, it was heartbreaking because it takes away our chance to finally be 
treated equally. At a time when we’re supposed to be excited as a couple engaged to be married, this law 
permits discrimination against us simply because of who we are.”8 
 
This shows that, while we think that gay and lesbian couples have gotten enough of their rights, and live 
easy lives, this isn’t true in many cases. 
 
In summary, LGB+ people and straight people don’t have equal rights. From workplace discrimination, 
homophobic adoption laws, violation of privacy, and marriage inequality, there are some major 
roadblocks in getting the equal rights many LGB+ people advocate for. And as a society, we need to 
continue pushing, advocating, and voting for LGB+ rights, because getting these rights aren’t something 
a small amount of people can do alone.  
 
 
 
 
 
 

7
Letter to Schools About LGBT Student Privacy.” ​American Civil Liberties Union​, Aclu, 7 Dec. 2015,
​“Open
www.aclu.org/letter/open-letter-schools-about-lgbt-student-privacy.
8
v. Moulder.” ​American Civil Liberties Union​, Aclu, 9 May 2016,
​“Alford
www.aclu.org/cases/alford-v-moulder.  
 
 
Sources 
 
“Alford v. Moulder.” ​American Civil Liberties Union​, Aclu, 9 May 2016,
www.aclu.org/cases/alford-v-moulder.  
 
“Decriminalisation of Homosexuality: History of Gay Rights in the UK - CBBC Newsround.” BBC, BBC, 25 
Aug. 2017, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/40459213. 
 
Editors, NewNowNext. “15 Gay-Teen Movies To Check Out If You Loved ‘Love, Simon.’” ​LOGO News​, 19
Mar. 2018, www.newnownext.com/love-simon-gay-teen-movie/03/2018/.

“FindLaw's Court of Appeals of Washington Case and Opinions.” ​Findlaw​, 18 July 2002,
caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-court-of-appeals/1328917.html.

Gates, Gary J. “How Many People Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender?” ​Williams Institute,​ 28 Mar.
2013,
williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/how-many-people-are-lesbian-gay-bi
sexual-and-transgender/.

“Lesbian Mother, Sharon Bottoms, Loses Custody of Son · Rainbow Richmond: LGBTQ History of Richmond,
VA · Outhistory.org.” ​Outhistory.org,​
outhistory.org/exhibits/show/rainbow-richmond/the-fight-continues/sharon-bottoms.

Martinez, Tara. “On Matters of Race, Love, and LGBT: How 'The Fosters' Is Changing the Way Americans
Watch Television.” ​TalkNerdyWithUs,​ 9 Oct. 2016,
talknerdywithus.com/2016/10/09/on-matters-of-race-love-and-lgbt-how-the-fosters-is-changing-the-way-americ
ans-watch-television/.

“Open Letter to Schools About LGBT Student Privacy.” ​American Civil Liberties Union​, Aclu, 7 Dec. 2015,
www.aclu.org/letter/open-letter-schools-about-lgbt-student-privacy.
 
Osunsami, Steve. “Are Gay Rights Civil Rights?” ​ABC News,​ ABC News Network, 13 Mar. 2018,
abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=131679&page=1. ​‘ 
 
Romo, Vanessa. “LGBT Splinter Group From Migrant Caravan Is The 1st To Arrive In Tijuana.” ​NPR​, NPR,
14 Nov. 2018, www.npr.org/2018/11/13/667622622/lgbt-caravan-splinter-group-is-the-first-to-arrive-in-tijuana.  
 
Rudgard, Olivia. “Only Two Thirds of Generation Z Identify as 'Exclusively Heterosexual'.” ​The Telegraph,​
Telegraph Media Group, 5 July 2018,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/05/two-thirds-generation-z-identify-exclusively-heterosexual/.  
 
“The Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People.” ​American Civil Liberties Union,​ Aclu, 11
Mar. 2002, www.aclu.org/other/rights-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-people-0.

“Where We Are on TV Report - 2018.” ​GLAAD,​ 26 Oct. 2018, www.glaad.org/whereweareontv18.

 
 
 
First Draft Feedback Rubric - Magazine Article
Not Yet (What is missing? Criteria Evidence (Briefly explain Advanced (What is
What can be improved?) how the criteria was met. awesome?)
ie The hook is a question
that makes me think. There
are 4 background
information sentences. The
thesis statement is easy to
find in the introduction)
​It is a bit too long and Introduction Good hook.
includes information not ● The introduction
directly related to the thesis. starts with an
interesting hook
that makes me
want to read more.
● There is
background
information that
helps the reader
better understand
the topic.
● The thesis
statement is clear.
Evidence Evidence is focused, clear The specific examples
● There are at least 3 and fully supports the thesis makes the piece strong
pieces of evidence. statement. and adds a personal
● Each piece of touch which can inspire
evidence supports empathy.
the thesis.
● Each piece of
evidence has an
explanation.
● Each piece of
evidence has some
context to help the
reader better
understand the
evidence.

Conclusion All the parts are clear. Great sum up in the

● The claims made conclusion!
with the evidence
are summarized.
● The thesis
statement is
restated in
different way.
 ​In text citations missing. Citations Very good works cited
Remember, all the sources ● Each quote or page.
in the works cited page need paraphrase is
to be cited in the text. properly cited
(Author, title, date,
url).
● All citations are
listed at the end on
a work cited page.