LGBT rights in America are equal to those of straight or cisgender people in the same country.

You have made some very strong points in your argument. However, I do not believe that it fully refutes the idea that LGBT rights in America are equal to those of straight or cisgender people in America. Our nation is founded on the principles that you addressed in your statement, that all men are created equal. This is the bedrock of The United States of America following the (arguably) oppressive regime of King George III. Unfortunately, human beings tend to stray from these values and isolate those who are different from themselves. The very ideas that were the foundation of a country become corroded. I agree with you completely that people in the LGBT community are not treated the same as straight people. Those tendencies that I mentioned earlier result in terrible circumstances for LGBT people in our nation. However, when it boils down to the unalienable rights, we are on a level playing field with our straight or cisgender counterparts. The HB2 bill in North Carolina is horribly unfair for transgender Americans. However, I believe the media has largely blown this out of proportion and there are several ways to circumnavigate this issue. Firstly, the bill does not become effective until July 1, 2016 so there is time for an appeal. The bill to repeal HB2 was sent to the North Carolina Senate's Ways and Means which is believed to be very unpromising, but the HB2 is still not a guarantee. Federal intervention, as it has many times before (see Arizona immigration law and same-sex marriage), will likely prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality. Also, many cities in the U.S. are moving toward gender-neutral restrooms which will eventually negate the vicious legislation such as HB2 if it even becomes effective. As far as other freedoms go, you mentioned that someone cannot deny business to another because of race or religion, and that is absolutely right. Being a gay individual, I find it very difficult to compare the LGBT plight to that of African Americans. We, as LGBT Americans, were never enslaved or abused as African Americans have been throughout history. Our nation had one of the most notable civil rights movements in world history to get us to where we are today. (Please note, I understand that there are many gay African Americans who have endured both struggles, but this is beside the point). In fact, it was during the Civil Rights movement that the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 was established which "prohibits discrimination by privately owned places of public accommodation on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin". Sexual orientation was not a prolific topic when this bill was passed, which is why it is not included. So, private business owners have every right to withhold services as long as they do so in compliance with the FCRA 1964. Do I think it is right for someone to not sell me a donut because I am gay? Absolutely not. But, that person has his or her own rights to religious freedom. I grew up in a very religious town, and although I may not agree with their intolerance for homosexuality, I still believe it is important to respect their own religious freedom. Your other point is regarding adoption by same-sex couples. And while my native state of Alabama and others may be considering their own measures regarding adoption for same-sex couples, it is legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia following the monumental Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2015 which I addressed in my initial argument. Of course, we are treated unfairly by many of our fellow Americans because of sexual orientation. People will always find ways to ostracize those who are different. In Kindergarten, I was made fun of because I was very tall. In fact, one kid would not even talk to me until 2nd grade (guess he needed to catch up in height). But, at this very moment I firmly believe that LGBT rights in America are equal to those of anyone else based on the above points. No collection of human beings will ever be able to master equality, but I believe that our country is becoming more progressive every day. The nation has drastically changed since the days of John Locke and the Founding Fathers, but I am still entitled to the same "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness " they promised. Sources: https://www.legalzoom.com... http://www.hrc.org... http://time.com... http://time.com... https://www.aclu.org...