JOHN OLIVER WATCH: LGBT DiscrimiNation

John Oliver’s show last night out-swaggered Mick Jagger in a rooster strut through of the “progress” made with gay marriage. The SCOTUS decision was a milestone and I will not diminish it, but we will have a long way to go. In a country where 26 million Facebook users put a rainbow filter over their profile picture (passive activism, but I’ll take it), 31 states permit employers to fire employees for being gay, landlords to evict tenants for being gay and businesses to refuse service. To add the cherry on top, 69% of people in America have no idea it’s legal to treat people like this. “[Same sex couples] can be married on Saturday, post photos of their wedding on Sunday and get fired from their job or thrown out of their apartment on Monday just because of who they are,” Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) reminded us when the marriage equality decision came down not even two months ago. The biggest problem with all of this lies with Obama, Congress and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Since gay marriage became legal, beefing up the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been catching on like wildfire in an overwhelming number of the 21 states that have them. It’s a not so subtle, big and fat middle finger to the Supreme Court. The real knife in the back of human rights is the sheer fact that after Obama and his administration leave the office, those who come next can simply do away with the protection the LGBT needs from discrimination. The biggest problem with all of this lies with Obama, Congress and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Since gay marriage became legal, beefing up the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been catching on like wildfire in an overwhelming number of the 21 states that have them. It’s a not so subtle, big and fat middle finger to the Supreme Court. The real knife in the back of human rights is the sheer fact that after Obama and his administration leave the office, those who come next can simply do away with the protection the LGBT needs from discrimination. From what we saw at the Republican debate earlier this month, it seems very likely that the EEOC’s decision that the Civil Rights Act applies to the LGBT Community and Obama’s ability to extend protection of federal LGBT contractors would disappear if a Republican takes the office. Not to mention no one can promise that a Democrat won’t follow suit. Any attempts at eliminating discrimination towards the LGBT community in areas of employment, housing or patronizing a business could disappear in the space of one presidential election. And in case you haven’t heard, another one’s bearing down on us. — MEGAN MATUZAK