Discrimination is defined as "treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice"
When is discrimination acceptable? When we don't approve of the person's race, gender, religious preference? When the other person's lifestyle or family structure is not like ours?
There are those who believe that discrimination based on sexual orientation is acceptable. This, of course, is based on the assumption that sexual orientation is a choice. Further complicating this issue is the stance that that choice is in opposition to religious doctrine.
But suppose that sexual orientation is not a choice. Suppose that, like gender or race, sexual orientation is determined before birth. If there is even a possibility that this may be true, then, shouldn't gay and lesbian citizens be afforded the same protection as those who are heterosexual?
The Maine legislature, like many other state legislatures, decided that they should have the same equal protection as any other Maine citizen. In March 2005, Maine's legislature voted to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in areas of housing, employment, credit, accommodations, and education.
But as soon as this law was on the books, there were those who sought to have it overturned by referendum in November. Those who oppose this law, the same people who campaigned in opposition to the anti-discrimination referendums in the past, are promoting their hatred in the name of preserving the institution of marriage.
But no one else is talking about marriage. The new law deals specifically with the same kinds of discrimination faced by other minorities: in housing, education, employment, and credit.
What this law seeks to prevent is the refusal of landlords to rent to individuals who may be gay, to prevent businesses from firing an individual who may be gay, and prevent refusal or credit or educational opportunities to those who may be perceived as being gay.
When it is acceptable to discriminate against one group, the rights of all of us are at risk. Who might be next? Single, heterosexual couples? Single mothers? Two heterosexual women or two heterosexual men who simply choose to be roommates?
Think about this the next time you rent an apartment, apply for a job, apply for a loan, decide to go to school, or try to rent a hotel room.
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