U.S. Laws

Though many lgbt "rights" are legislated by the states, there are some overreaching federal laws that have direct impact:

Two adults of the same sex cannot get married in the U.S (solidified by The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton in 1996).

The federal Equal Opportunity Law does not include protection based on sexual orientation or gender expression/identity. This means you can be fired, or kicked out of a rental property, for being lgbt - and have no legal recourse.

The Armed Services operate under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, where openly gay service members can be discharged.

Under current U.S. Immigration Laws, a U.S. citizen's same-sex partner cannot apply for a green card or U.S. citizenship. For more on immigration laws, click here.

For more on U.S. laws, visit The Task Force and HRC's Issues page.