March On

I went to the gay Pride Parade this past Saturday. It's not a huge affair in Albuquerque, mostly friends marching down the street waving to friends watching them from the sidewalk.

Afterwards, I went home. The following things remained true:

• I can be fired in 30 states simply because I am gay.
• Same-sex domestic benefits are federally taxed. Heterosexual domestic benefits are not.
• 45 states have either a constitutional amendment or a law that restricts marriage to one man and one woman.
• 21 states have no state laws that protect LGBT students against harassment.
• 19 states do not recognize violence against someone because of sexual orientation as a hate crime.
• 4 states prohibit my adopting a child.

Still, everyone loves a parade.

(source: Human Rights Campaign.)