page_title: Human rights in the United States
section_title: LGBTQ
hierarchical_section_title: Human rights in the United States / Equality / LGBTQ
caption_attribution_description: ORLANDO - Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson visits Pulse Nightclub on the three-month anniversary of the shooting which left 49 people dead in Orlando, Sept. 12, 2016. Secretary Johnson viewed the inside of the nightclub before laying flowers at a makeshift memorial outside of the club where he spoke to a chaplain there who had assisted those impacted by the shooting. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
context_page_description: Human rights in the United States comprise a series of rights which are legally protected by the Constitution of the United States, state constitutions, treaty and customary international law, legislation enacted by Congress and state legislatures, and state referenda and citizen's initiatives. The Federal Government has, through a ratified constitution, guaranteed unalienable rights to its citizens and non-citizens. These rights have evolved over time through constitutional amendments, legislation, and judicial precedent. Along with the rights themselves, the portion of the population granted these rights has expanded over time. Within the United States, federal courts have jurisdiction over international human rights laws.
  The United States is generally given high to fair marks on human rights. The Freedom in the World index, for example, lists the United States in the highest category for human freedom in civil and political rights, with 86 out of 100 points, and The CIRI Human Rights Data Project places the US 38th overall in human rights.
context_section_description: The United States federal government voted in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of A/RES/57/214, A/RES/59/197, abstained A/RES/61/173, A/RES/63/182 A/RES/65/208, A/RES/67/168, and in favor of A/RES/69/182. The United States federal government also voted in favor of the United Nations Human Rights Council A/HRC/RES/17/19. The United States federal government signed the United Nations 2006 and 2008 Joint Statements. The United States federal government voted in the United Nations Security Council in favor of SC/12399.
caption: United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson laying flowers at a makeshift memorial outside of the Pulse nightclub on the third month anniversary of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting on September 12, 2016
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