Special v Equal rights  

The question is are the rights afforded to a minority class "special" or "equal"

LGBTQ+ could not even disclose their sexual identity in the military up until don't ask don't tell. Then, after that, they were able to. 

Whether you are LGBTQ+ or not, one has to believe that this does damage to a person...that they are not allowed to live their real authentic lives and have to "hide it". 

Prior to don't ask don't tell, they would be booted from the military.

After that, they were allowed to be, but they just couldn't talk about it.

Backup a few years ... Hate crimes against gays. Laramie, Wymond. Matthew Shepard. Just a small glimpse into history about how hatred towards LGBTQ+ was (and I argue still is, to a lesser degree) real.

One could also argue that there is hatred in other groups to include Black, Asian, Dems, Republicans, Female, Trans, etc .... Which groups need protection and why?