I chose to become an American and feel blessed to have experienced an amazing life. I remember being truly touched when I read the rights listed in the Declaration of Independence: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and how blessed we are to have this rights. This week having the Supreme Court rule that bans on marriages of same-sex couples are unconstitutional under the 14
th
Amendment was a landmark advance for freedom and equality for all Americans. I am so happy for my dear friends who are same-sex couples, who truly love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, now have the chance to marry if they choose.
However; there is another very important issue that is far less publicized than marriage equality. In Florida and many other states people can be fired because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) and no protections exist. I was disappointed to discover that a person could be discriminated against, or fired from their job, based solely on sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe that workers should be judged exclusively on their ability to do their job without regards to their sexual orientation. Having the best available work force in Florida will ensure a robust and growing economy and have a positive impact throughout the state.
I know that in the fight for justice and equality we will face some struggles along the way, but I hope that through more public education, our community can better understand the importance of equal treatment for everyone.