Affirmative action
...ave come under attack in recent years bye “Americafirsters,” “English-only” advocates, and critics of multiculturalism. The major criticism against bilingual education programs, however, is that they impede children’s ability to learn English quickly and succeed academically. Problems associated with aging and retirements are becoming increasingly important as the number of older persons in the united state increases. Many older Americans have lost their jobs due to age bias and costcutting efforts by business firms. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits job-related discrimination against individuals over the age of forty on the basis of age, unless age is shown to be a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation retirement except in a few selected professions. As a group, older people contribute significantly to American political life, ranking first in voter registration and turnout and being well represented in Congress. Through a variety of the federal and state levels. In 1973, Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in programs receiving federal aid. Regulations implementing the act provide for ramps, elevators, and the like in all federal buildings. The Education for all Handicapped Children Act (1975) provides that all children with disabilities receive an “appropriate” education. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits job discrimination against person with physical and mental disabilities, requiring that positive steps be taken to comply with the act’s requirements. The act also requires expanded access to public facilities, including transportation, and to service offered by such private concerns as car-rental and telephone companies. Gay and lesbian rights groups, which first began to form in 1969, now number in the thousands. These groups work to promote laws protecting gay men and lesbians from discrimination and to repeal anti-gay laws. Since 1969, sadomy laws have been repealed in more than half of the states, and ten states and 165 cities and counties now have laws prohibition discrimination based on sexual orientation. Gay men and lesbians are no longer barred from fed...