Satisfaction With How Groups Are Treated In The U.S.

 

The charts above are from the Gallup Poll -- done between June 2nd and 26th of a nationwide sample of 1,402 adults, with a 4 point margin of error.

Trump Acts To Halt The Progress Being Made In Better Policing

The chart above is from the Gallup Poll - done in 2024 of a nationwide sample of 48,981 adults. The margin of error for the entire sample (and the individual groups) are 1.0 points.

It became obvious a few years ago that some police department in this country were not treating citizens equally. They were discriminatory and even violent toward minorities. This was seen in numerous unnecessary deaths of Blacks.

The federal government acted to correct this. They investigated and then imposed agreements on some offending departments. And it helped make things better. Note in the chart above that Blacks had an improved perception of their local police departments.

Things were not perfect, but they were improving. Sadly, the racist in our White House didn't like that - and he has moved to destroy that progress. Consider the following from Reuters.com:

The Trump administration is ending efforts to secure agreements for federal oversight of police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, despite a prior government finding they routinely violated the civil rights of Black people.

In a major rollback of federal civil rights investigations, the Justice Department said on Wednesday it was also ending investigations and rescinding findings of misconduct into six other police departments.

This is not good. In spite of what Trump (and his racist MAGA movement) think, all people have the right to be treated decently and equally by governmental organizations like the police.

The American Dream must apply to all or it is not guaranteed for anyone. 

Public Sees Prejudice Against LGBTQ+ People As Serious

The chart above reflects the results of the Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between June 8th and 12th of a nationwide sample of 1,929 adults (including 1,735 registered voters). The margin of error was 2.2 points for adults and 2.4 points for registered voters. 

Pride Month Is Needed Amid A Rise In Discrimination

The following (and very frightening) op-ed is by Charles M. Blow in The New York Times. Here is just a part of it:

This year there is a pall over Pride.

As the L.G.B.T.Q. community celebrates Pride Month, we are besieged by a malicious, coordinated legislative attack.

There’s been a notable rise in the number of anti-L.G.B.T.Q. bills since 2018, and that number has recently accelerated, with the 2023 state legislative year being the worst on record.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, in 2023 there have been more than 525 such bills introduced in 41 states, with more than 75 bills signed into law as of June 5. In Florida — the state that became known for its “Don’t Say Gay” law — just last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that banned gender transition care for minors and prohibited public school employees from asking children their preferred pronouns.

As Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, recently told me, the number of signed bills is likely to move higher: “There’s 12 more that are sitting on governors’ desks, so you could be at nearly 100 new restrictions on the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community by the end of this cycle.”

For that reason, on Tuesday, for the first time in its more than 40-year history, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for L.G.B.T.Q. people in the United States.

I recently spoke with several leaders of L.G.B.T.Q. groups and historians who have documented the community’s history, and they all raised the alarm about the severity of what we’re seeing.

There have been other periods of backlash against the queer community, including with the passage of oppressive legislation, but this one has moved with alarming political calculation and efficacy.

“This is a terror campaign against our community,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and chief executive of GLAAD, the pre-eminent L.G.B.T.Q. media advocacy organization.

The way this kind of terrorism works is that it not only punishes expression, condemns identities and cuts off avenues for receiving care but also creates an aura of hostility and issues grievous threats. It’s like burning a cross on someone’s lawn: It’s an attempt to frighten people into compliance and submission.

The Republican politicians pushing anti-L.G.B.T.Q. laws usually pretend that their principal, if not their sole, motivation is to protect children. But these laws operate in furtherance and protection of the fragile patriarchy, in perpetuation of the twin evils of homophobia and heterosexism and in reinforcement of abusive gender-identity policing.

These politicians play to a segment of the population that sees any divergence from its primitive ideals as deviant. So they build boxes. But for too many people, particularly young people, those boxes can become caskets: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five gay, lesbian or bisexual high school students attempted suicide in the past year. Last year the Trevor Project found that 45 percent of L.G.B.T.Q. youths seriously considered attempting suicide in the preceding year.

These politicians have Willie Horton-ized the transgender equality movement and, by extension, the whole movement for L.G.B.T.Q. equality. 

21% Of Black Students Experience Discrimination

The charts above are from the Gallup Poll -- done between October 26th and November 7th of 2022 among 1,106 Black college students. No margin of error given. 

Americans Want Workplace Discrimination Eliminated

 

The charts above are from the YouGov Poll -- done between January 13th and 18th of a nationwide sample of 1,000 adults, with a 4 point margin of error.

Perception Of Discrimination Against Groups In The U.S.

The chart above is from the Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between November 26th and 29th of a nationwide sample of 1,500 adults, with about a 3 point margin of error.

What Texas Voters Think About Who's Discriminated Against

 These charts are from a University of Texas / Texas Tribune Poll -- done between April 14th and 22nd of a random sample of 1,200 registered voters in Texas, with a 2.83 point margin of error.

It shows how the voters of different political persuasions in Texas viewed discrimination. As usual, the Republicans are out-of-step, viewing christians, men, and whites as being discriminated against.

Texas AG: It's OK To Discriminate Against LGBTQ/Disabled

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council is the agency that regulates social workers in the state. A few months ago, they changed their policy and allowed social workers to refuse service to a person based on their disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

This was met with an intense backlash from some social workers, lawmakers, and advocates, so the board reversed its decision only two weeks later. But other social workers, unhappy that they couldn't use their religion to discriminate, objected -- and the board asked Texas Attorney General Paxton for a legal ruling on the matter.

AG Paxton released his ruling on Monday. He came down on the side of those who wanted to discriminate. Paxton said the board could punish social workers who refused to work with clients based on age, race, or religion -- but not disability status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.. Paxton argued that discrimination based on sexual orientation could be legal based on the First Amendment's protection of religion. In other words, if a social worker claimed that working with LGBTQ clients violated their religious freedom, then they can not be punished for refusing to serve them.

Evidently, Paxton hasn't read the Fourteenth Amendment to that same Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law to ALL citizens. He seems to think the term "all citizens" doesn't include the LGBTQ community or the disabled. I think he's wrong.

If a Texas social worker refuses service to any member of the LGBTQ community or a disabled citizen, that person should file suit in federal court. All means all, regardless of what Paxton and other religious bigots think!
 

White House Issues Proclamation On The Racial Wealth Gap

The statement above was issued by the White House just before President Biden made his visit to Tulsa on the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Riot (when whites in that city bombed and burned down the successful Black community and killed hundreds of its inhabitants). 

The White House also listed what they want to accomplish to narrow the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites in this country, and you can access that here.

63% Of GOP Base Says Whites Are Discriminated Against

 

The chart above reflects the results of a survey by the Pew Research Center -- done between March 1st and 7th of a national sample of 4,796 Republicans, with a 2.3 point margin of error.

It just shows how out-of-touch with reality most Republicans really are. About 63% say whites are discriminated as much as Blacks in the U.S. -- and more than either Hispanics or Asians. 

That's a ludicrous view to have, but if they believe they are victims then that can justify their failure to attack real discrimination in this country.

Poll Shows Republicans Tend To Deny Discrimination Is Real

This chart reflects the results of a survey done by the Pew Research Center between September 3rd and 15th of 4,944 adults. The margin of error for Democrats is 2.9 points, and for Republicans is 3.3 points.

They asked Republicans and Democrats if they thought a lot of Discrimination existed in the United States for several groups. Democrats had majorities saying a lot of discrimination exists for Muslims  (68%), Blacks (58%), Hispanics (54%), Lesbians/Gays (53%), and a substantial amount existed against Women (32%).

There was not a majority of Republicans claiming a lot of discrimination existed against any group. About 29% grudgingly admitted a lot of discrimination against Muslims. They also saw discrimination against Evangelicals at 22%, and against Whites as 16% (both more than the 13% who saw a lot of discrimination against Blacks).

I guess this shouldn't surprise anyone. Most Republicans are white and many are evangelicals. They elected a racist to lead their party, and seem determined to protect white and male privilege in this country.

When it comes to recognizing and fighting discrimination in this country, there is a big difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Public Says Prejudice/Discrimination Still A Serious Problem

These charts reflect the results in a new Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between August 21st and 26th of a national sample of 1,422 registered voters, with a 3.1 point margin of error.

They are pretty self-explanatory. The public knows that prejudice and discrimination are still a serious problem in this country, and they believe that problem has become worse since Trump entered office.

Most Oppose Discrimination Against The LGBT Community

The maps above and the charts below are from the Public Religion Research Institute. They questioned 54,357 adults in 2018, and the results have an overall margin of error of 0.4 points. The results for each state and religious group will be a slightly higher margin of error.

The good news is that a clear majority in every state (top map) opposes discrimination against LGBT individuals in jobs, public accommodations, and housing. And this may surprise you, but so does every religious group (see top chart below) -- even the most socially conservative (like evangelicals and mormons).

It makes me wonder why there isn't a national law (and laws in every state) banning discrimination in those areas.

The bad news is that is not true of every state when it comes to allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals on the basis of religion (like refusing to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple). At least eight states do not have at least 50% opposing this kind of discrimination.

Most religions also oppose this kind of discrimination (see bottom chart below), but two groups want it (evangelicals and mormons). Here we are letting a tiny minority decide policy (a policy of discrimination) for the entire state or nation.

These discriminators claim serving LGBT individuals violates their right to freedom of religion. It does NOT. They are free to worship as they please in the religion of their choice. Asking them to treat consumers without discrimination does not take away their freedom of religion. It just allows them to discriminate outside of their religion -- and in a country of equal rights, that is just wrong.

Our government should not allow this tiny minority of businesses to discriminate using this false claim. We either have equal rights or we don't, and denying rights to any group endangers the rights of all.

Public Opposes Job Discrimination Against LGBT Community

Members of the LGBT community now have the same right as all other Americans when it come to marriage. No state can deny a marriage license to a same-sex couple.

This is good. But the sad fact is that it took a Supreme Court decision to accomplish that, because the political cowards in our Congress would not act (mainly Republicans).

However, this does not mean that members of the LGBT community now have the same rights as other Americans. The truth is that, in many states, they could be fired from their job simply because of their sexual orientation or identity. We need a law (or court decision) that outlaws this kind of discrimination.

Equal rights should apply equally to everyone, but they don't. There are people in this country that must have a group to look down on to make themselves happy. It's sick, but true.

Unhappily, too many Republicans in Congress still cater to those sick people. These political cowards will not guarantee equal rights to all Americans because they are afraid many in their base (mainly evangelicals) won't re-elect them.

The crazy part is that a substantial majority of Republicans don't agree with that kind of discrimination (see chart below). The politicians are bending to the desires of a tiny minority in this country, and ignoring the desires of a huge majority (that rights apply to everyone equally).

An overwhelming 92% of voters (including 83% of Republicans) don't think a person should be able to be fired from their job because of sexual orientation or identity. But congressional Republicans don't care what the public thinks (or wants).

It's similar to the feeling about closing the loopholes in the background check law for gun sales. While 90% of the public supports that, the Republicans still bend to the will of the NRA.

We must kick these Republicans out of office next year, and replace them with politicians that believe rights are for everyone. Common decency demands it.

The chart below reflects the results in a new Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between April 26th and 29th of a national sample of 1,044 voters, with a margin of error of 3.5 points.

The Public's View On Discrimination In The United States

This chart reflects the results of a recent Pew Research Center survey -- done between March 20th and 25th of a national sample of 1,503 adults, with a margin of error of 3 points. The margin of error for Democrats is 4.4 points, and for Republicans is 4.5 points.

It shows the perception of adults (and of Democrats and Republicans) on which groups suffer the most discrimination in this country. Large majorities of adults and Democrats recognize the discrimination against Muslims, Blacks, Hispanics, Gays/Lesbians, women, and Jews.

Republicans are different. They believe the most discriminated group in the country are evangelicals (70%). They also believe whites (58%) and men (48%) are discriminated against. This is ridiculous. None of these three groups are discriminated against in the U.S. -- a majority white, majority christian, patriarchy.

I don't mean to say that evangelicals, whites or men can't have a hard life. They can -- either due to bad choices they made or due to things beyond their control (poverty, disabilities, etc.). But it is NOT due to discrimination.

Claiming victimhood for whites, evangelicals, and men (especially white men) just cheapens the real discrimination that exists for other groups.

Christians Are Overrepresented In The 116th Congress

The charts above are from the Pew Research Center. They show the religious make-up of the United States 116th Congress.

Many christians, especially evangelicals, like to claim they are being discriminated against in this country. That is simply not true, and the make-up of Congress reflects that. Christians have a significantly higher proportion of Congress than they do in the U.S. population -- and that is true of both protestants and catholics.

This erroneous belief that they are discriminated against probably springs from the extension of equal rights to groups that many christians discriminated against themselves (using religion as a justification for that discrimination). What they don't seem to understand is that granting equal rights to others doesn't take any rights away from them.

Our Constitution is not a religious document, and the Founding Fathers never meant for it to be one. They went out of their way to create a secular government that would allow all religious people the freedom to practice their religion -- and allow those who are not a part of any religion to be free from religious intolerance. We have not always lived up to those ideals, but we are making progress toward that.

Being prevented from writing your own religious principles and dogma into law is NOT discrimination. It is the constitutional protection of the right of ALL Americans to be free (to practice or not practice any religion).

I am just thankful that the non-religious still have some rights in this country. And someday, we might actually have adequate representation in this country's Congress. Each generation is less religious than the one that came before it, and someday this will truly be a secular country with a secular Congress -- just like the Founding Fathers dreamed.

Over 40% Think Whites Suffer Discrimination In The U.S.

The charts above are from the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between January 27th and 29th of a national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,313 registered voters). The margin of error was 3.2 points for adults and 2.8 points for registered voters.

The top chart shows that most Americans recognize that racism still exists in this country. About 73% of all adults and 76% of registered voters says Blacks are discriminated against in the United States.

It is the second chart that troubles me. It shows that 41% of all adults and 42% of registered voters think Whites are discriminated against in this country. I don't understand how that can be. The population is still majority White, and Whites control most institutions and the legislatures (both national and in the states). How then, are they discriminated against?

I suspect they are confusing equality (the loss of some White privilege) with discrimination. They don't seem to understand that equality (equal rights) is not a pie. Giving equal rights to other groups does not take any rights away from Whites. And losing the White privilege we have had in the past does not denigrate our rights either.

If a person thinks losing White privileges is discrimination, then they are a racist. They may not like hearing that, but defending privilege is a racist act. Whites are NOT discriminated against in the United States.

Trump Voters Have A Strange View Of Discrimination

The chart above shows results from a recent Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between October 14th and 16th of a national sample of 1500 adults, with a margin of error of 3.1 points.

The poll asked Americans if they thought several different groups were discriminated against. The chart above shows the results according to Trump voters. Those voters thought the three groups most discriminated against were christians (64%), muslims (60%), and men (49%).

I'm a little surprised they included muslims, because muslims really are discriminated against in this country. But christians and men are not. The truth is that the United States is a christian-dominated patriarchy, where christians and men are the least discriminated against groups in the country.

The Trump voters seem to live in a world of their own, where facts don't matter. It is ridiculous that they believe christians and men are discriminated against more than Asians (27%), Blacks (38%), Hispanics (42%), LGBT community (41%), immigrants (46%), Jews (48%), and women (30%).

These results just highlight their racism, bigotry, and misogyny.

Who Do Americans Think Are Discriminated Against In U.S.?

Discrimination is evil -- both for our country and for the individuals who experience it. It is the cause of much violence and death. And it keeps many people from having the opportunity to fully realize their potential. It is unacceptable, especially in a multi-cultural country like ours.

That makes it important to check every so often to see who Americans think suffer the most discrimination. That's what this poll did. The chart above shows who Americans think are discriminated against.

The chart reflects the results of the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between October 14th and 16th of a national sample of 1,500 adults, with a margin of error of 3.1 points.