When and where did homosexuals become a protected class? Under federal law, the following are the protected classes:
Race – Civil Rights Act of 1964
Color – Civil Rights Act of 1964
Religion – Civil Rights Act of 1964
National origin – Civil Rights Act of 1964
Age (40 and over) – Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Sex – Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Civil Rights Act of 1964
Pregnancy – Pregnancy Discrimination Act
Citizenship – Immigration Reform and Control Act
Familial status – Civil Rights Act of 1968 Title VIII: Housing cannot discriminate for having children, with an exception for senior housing
Disability status – Vocational Rehabilitation and Other Rehabilitation Services of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Veteran status – Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
Genetic information – Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Why is there so much “pretending” that homosexuals have rights or protections that just don’t exist?
It is not pretending; the federal legislation sets the legal precedent, but does not specifically call out protection for sexual orientation/gender identity. The states have used the federal legislation as a template and precedent for invalidating free association as a fundamental right, but extend it to these additional areas. There is a map here that shows protections by state.