January 15, 2007. Dear Friends:

In reading the article regarding Ms. Jackie Collins’ discrimination against Ruby Tuesdays, it reminded me of the thesis that I wrote in my graduate studies at Johnson & Wales University several years ago. My thesis is entitled, Gays in the Workplace. In my thesis, I give examples of all sorts of discrimination based upon sexual orientation. Most of the cases that I present relate to “blue collar workers,” but there are many cases involving “white collar workers.” My thesis is extensive and is much to long to be completely presented in this periodical, but the following is the conclusion.

“… Although a broad umbrella of federal laws protect people from workplace discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, age, and disability, those facing discrimination based on sexual orientation have largely been left out in the rain -- at least at the national level. There is no federal law that specifically outlaws workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the private sector.

At the state level, there is more cause for hope. Fifteen states have laws that prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in both private and public jobs: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia also prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in both the public and private sectors. Seven states have laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in public workplaces only: Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Traditionally, LGBT employees have found little in the law to protect them from discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Times are changing, however, and a growing number of employers are finding themselves responsible for providing a workplace free of harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [women] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness … (Declaration of Independence, 1776)

Whenever Christian Evangelist such as [the late] Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and the Roman Catholic Church (the late Pope John Paul II and currently Pope Benedict VIX) try to prove that homosexuality is wrong, they tell the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18, 19), recounting how God destroyed an entire city because it was filled with homosexuals.

This type of rhetoric proves "garbage in, garbage out," meaning that a shortage of the facts, added to prejudiced assumptions, inevitably leads to social prejudice. Unfortunately, such rhetoric plants the seed of discrimination in the minds of their congregations. This religious belief has lead to social ignorance and prejudice against LGBT citizens and has caused generations of unnecessary guilt, suicide, sexual repression, violence against homosexuals, and legal persecution. However, it is refreshing to learn that this prejudice is being eliminated by state laws and workplace policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. “

It is my wish and hope that our new President will work with the Human Rights Campaign to reverse these federal laws that discriminate against LGBT in this great country of ours.

Sincerely, Stephen J. Grande