“From equality of rights comes the identity of our highest interests; you cannot overturn the rights of your neighbor without dealing a dangerous blow to your own. » (Schurz). This quote from Carl Schurz, who died in 1906, is still relevant in today's fight for the protection of sexual identity and orientation in the workplace. (American). A report on “discrimination and its effects” shows that 27% of LGB employees have been harassed at work while 78% of transgender people reported some type of job-related harassment (Sears and Mallory). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees have been fighting for various forms of equality for years. The “religious right” has also been fighting against these same rights for a long time, based on its firmly held religious beliefs. (Goldberg). The principle of performance being the factor of equality in employment is paramount to equality in the workplace. Although some believe LGBT rights infringe on their religious freedoms, federal law should protect sexual orientation in the workplace because discrimination is unconstitutional and employment must be based on performance. In 1969, homosexual acts were illegal in New York and police raids were common in gay circles. community; one raid in particular known as the "Stonewall Raid" was a turning point for the LGBT community, as activists began to advocate for the rights of this segment of the population. (Filisko). Forty-five years later, the rights of LGBT people are still under scrutiny. Individuals and groups with strongly held religious beliefs are fighting against the rights of the LGBT community. One of the main positions of religious people and conservatives is that they should not be subjected to these alternative lifestyles that offend their religion...... middle of paper ......?_r=0Tabo, Tamara. “ENDA Title VII as we know it: Why House Republicans should pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.” Above the Law.com. Breaking Media, Inc. April 10, 2014. Web. April 14, 2014. http://abovethelaw.com/2014/04/the-enda-title-vii-as-we-know-it-why-house-republicans-should-pass-the-employment-non-discrimination - act/Taylor, Gary and Hawley, Helen. “Freedom of Religion in America.” Revue contemporain282.1649 (June 2003): 344-350. ProQuest. Internet. April 12, 2014. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204947167?accountid=38769 “Tolerance.” Oxford Dictionary of Current English. 4th ed. 2006. Print. Wheeler, Ester and Barkley, Chris. “Support your gay colleagues.” The Lawyer (online). Centaur Communications, Ltd. London, United Kingdom. September 9, 2013.Web. April 11, 2014. http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.troy.edu/docview/1430916866?accountid=38769