You Can Be Fired for Being Gay in Missouri

Missourians can be fired for being gay - and that's wrong

PROMO and Progress Missouri today launched www.FiredForBeingGay.com, an informative microsite and story collection project to raise awareness of inadequate legal protections against discrimination for LGBT Missourians.

"Right now in Missouri, you can be fired, be evicted from your apartment or be kicked out of a restaurant just because you're gay or lesbian," said AJ Bockelman, Executive Director of PROMO. "That's just wrong. But we are very encouraged by the growing bipartisan support for simple updates to state law that would fix this injustice."

FiredForBeingGay.com highlights the more than 55 sponsors and co-sponsors of the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act in the General Assembly, including leaders of both the Republcan and Democratic parties.

A new video of Rep. Anne Zerr (R-St. Charles) outlining her support for the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA) is prominently featured on the site.  

Missourians are encouraged to write their legislators directly on the FiredForBeingGay.com site, and are also able to submit their own personal videos or images for publishing.

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BACKGROUND:

In the state of Missouri, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people can be fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and denied access to public accommodations and services.

PROMO, Progress Missouri and other allies are working tirelessly with elected officials and community members to pass the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA), which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. MONA would simply extend the existing Missouri Human Rights Statute to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and allied people.

The current law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age as it relates to employment, disability, and familial status as it relates to housing. This legislation would add to the list a prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.