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KT&KĐCL/11/BM05V
Họ & tên SV: Văn Thị Thu Thảo Phòng thi số
Ban hành lần: 01
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Hiệu lực: 07/01/2019

Khoa: Ngoại ngữ Kỳ thi: Cuối kỳ HK2/ 2020-2021 GT 1 GT 2 Mã số SV Số phách

Môn thi: Văn Hóa Mỹ Mã môn: 001175
020H0403
Làm bài trên đề - Được sử dụng tài liệu.


THÍ SINH ĐIỀN ĐẦY ĐỦ CÁC MỤC Ở PHẦN TRÊN

CÁN BỘ CHÁM THI 1 CÁN BỘ CHẤM THI 2 ĐIỂM BÀI THI Số phách
Ghi bằng số Ghi bằng chữ

Môn thi: Văn Hóa Mỹ Mã môn: 001175

Theme: Citizenship
Topic: The impact of Democratic and Republican Parties on the LGBT Community in the United
States

The Democratic and Republican parties have been major players in shaping policies and legislation that
have a significant impact on society, including on issues related to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender) rights in the United States. While Democratic Party has been becoming increasingly supportive
of LGBT rights, the Republican Party has become more conservative (Smith, 2020); hence, there are
significant differences in their approaches and priorities to this community. This essay will examine the
impact of the Democratic and Republican Parties on the LGBT Community in the US.

The Democratic Party has a long history of supporting LGBT rights and protections. This party’s
platform states, “Democrats believe that LGBT rights are human rights and that American foreign policy
should advance the ability of all persons to live with dignity, security, and respect, regardless of who they are
or who they love" (Democratic Party Platform, 2016). In recent years, the Democratic Party has advocated
for marriage equality, transgender rights, and protection against discrimination for LGBT individuals. For
instance, the Obama administration, which was led by Democrats, took significant steps to advance LGBT
rights, including the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a policy that prohibited openly gay individuals from
serving in the military (The White House, 2016). The Obama administration also issued guidance to schools
directing them to allow transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender
identity (Grinberg, 2016). In addition, the Democratic Party has also played a significant role in the effort to
pass federal anti-discrimination laws that would provide protections for LGBT people in housing, employment,
and other areas.

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In contrast, the Republican Party has often been more resistant to LGBT rights and equality. Some
members of the party have opposed same-sex marriage and supported “traditional marriage and families
built around it” (Republican Party Platform, 2016) which has attempted to limit transgender rights. For
instance, former President Donald Trump, a Republican, banned transgender individuals from serving in the
military (Hirschfeld & Helene, 2017) and rescinded protections for transgender students (Peters, Becker, &
Davis, 2017). While not all Republicans share the same views on LGBT issues, the party has largely opposed
federal anti-discrimination laws that would protect LGBT individuals.

The impact of the two parties' approaches to LGBT rights and equality can be seen in various aspects of
life for LGBT individuals, including the workplace. The Democratic Party's support for LGBT rights correspond
to the growing trend of corporations adopting inclusive policies and practices. For instance, corporate
America has increasingly become a leader in promoting LGBT rights, with many companies adopting inclusive
policies and practices. According to the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index (2022), which
rates companies on their policies and practices regarding LGBT employees, 93% of Fortune 500 companies
have adopted nondiscrimination policies based on sexual orientation, and 91% have policies based on gender
identity. These policies often include offering benefits to same-sex partners and providing training to
employees about LGBT issues. On the other hand, the Republican Party's opposition to LGBT rights may
create challenges for corporations that want to promote inclusivity. For example, North Carolina passed a law
that required individuals to use public restrooms corresponding to their biological sex rather than their
gender identity (Tan, 2016). This law was opposed by many corporations, including PayPal and American
Airlines, who spoke out against it and reconsidered their business in the state.

Another area where the two parties' approaches to LGBT rights have an impact is in the foster care
system. LGBT youth often face discrimination and mistreatment from foster parents and social workers.
According to a report by The Williams Institute (2018), a think tank at UCLA Law School, LGBT youth are
twice as likely to experience verbal and physical harassment in foster care as their non-LGBT peers.
Furthermore, LGBT youth are more likely to be placed in group homes or facilities rather than with families,
which can lead to isolation and a lack of support. The Democratic Party's support for LGBT rights and equality
may lead to policies that would help to address these issues, such as regulations that require foster care
agencies to provide training on LGBT issues and to find more LGBT-friendly foster parents. In addition, in
2016, the Obama administration issued guidance stating that states could not discriminate against LGBT

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individuals when selecting foster or adoptive parents (LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE FROSTER CARE SYSTEM). This
guidance was seen as a significant step forward for LGBT rights, as many states had previously prevented
LGBT individuals from serving as foster parents. Conversely, several states with Republican-controlled
legislatures have passed laws that allow adoption and foster care agencies to refuse to place children with
LGBT individuals on religious or moral grounds. These laws have been criticized by LGBT advocates for
prioritizing the interests of agencies over the welfare of children in the foster care system.

Finally, the policies of the two parties can also impact the mental health and well-being of LGBT
individuals. According to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Guidelines for Psychological Practice
with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People (2015), discrimination and stigma can lead to negative
mental health outcomes for LGBT individuals, including depression, anxiety, and suicide. The Democratic
Party's support for LGBT rights and equality may help to reduce the stigma and discrimination that LGBT
individuals face, which could lead to improved mental health outcomes. On the other hand, the Republican
Party's opposition to some LGBT rights and equality including opposition to same-sex marriage and
transgender rights, as well as support for religious freedom laws that can be used to discriminate against
LGBT individuals may contribute to a culture that reinforces discrimination and stigma towards the LGBT
community, which could have negative effects on their mental health.

In conclusion, the Democratic and Republican have had significant impacts on LGBT Community, and
this has significant implications for the lives of LGBT individuals in the United States. The Democratic Party
has generally been more supportive of LGBT rights and equality, while the Republican Party has been more
resistant. This can be seen in various aspects of life, including in the workplace, foster care system, and
mental health outcomes. While progress has been made in advancing LGBT rights and equality, I believe
there is still much work to be done to ensure that LGBT individuals are able to live free from discrimination
and mistreatment.

Word Count: 1051

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References

1. Davis, H. J., & Cooper, H. (2017). Trump Says Transgender People Will Not Be Allowed in the Military.
THE NEW YORK TIMES. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/politics/trump-
transgender-military.html

2. Democratic Party Platform. (2016). United States of America. Retrieved from

https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2016_DNC_Platform.pdf

3. Grinberg, E. (2016). Feds issue guidance on transgender access to school bathrooms. Retrieved from
CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/12/politics/transgender-bathrooms-obama-
administration/index.html

4. Guidelines for psychological practice with transgender and gender nonconforming people. (2015).
American Psychological Association. Retrieved from
https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/transgender.pdf

5. Human Rights Campaigns. (2022). Retrieved from Corporate Equality Index.:

https://www.hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index

6. LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE FROSTER CARE SYSTEM. (2015). Retrieved from

https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRC-YouthFosterCare-IssueBrief-FINAL.pdf

7. Peters, J. W., Becker, J., & Davis, J. H. (2017). Trump Rescinds Rules on Bathrooms for Transgender
Students. The Newyork Times. Retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/politics/devos-sessions-transgender-students-rights.html

8. Republican Party Platform. (2016). Retrieved from https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/7019-

republican-platform/cc2c15a0e1b432d6964b/optimized/full.pdf

9. Smith, A. (2020). Republicans remain far less likely than Democrats to say LGBT people face a lot of
discrimination. Retrieved from Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-
tank/2020/06/26/republicans-remain-far-less-likely-than-democrats-to-say-lgbt-people-face-a-lot-of-
discrimination/
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10. Tan, A. (2016). North Carolina's Controversial Anti-LGBT Bill Explained. ABC News. Retrieved from
https://abcnews.go.com/US/north-carolinas-controversial-anti-lgbt-bill-explained/story?id=37898153

11. The White House. (2016, June 09). Retrieved from FACT SHEET: Obama Administration’s Record and
the LGBT Community.: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/06/09/fact-
sheet-obama-administrations-record-and-lgbt-community

12. The Williams Institute. (2018). Retrieved from LGBTQ Foster Youth:
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbtq-foster-youth/