10.2190/LR4L-LP91-H649-11V1 LR4LLP91H64911V1 1 Assumed Remedy for a Presumed Problem—Civil Rights Legislation for Gays and Lesbians 173 184 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 LR4LLP91H64911V1.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=LR4LLP91H64911V1 3 Stephen M. Crow Sandra J. Hartman University of New Orleans, Louisiana This article examines the evidence to support the hypothesis that gays and lesbians are victims of widespread, work-related discrimination to the extent that they require special protection under a federal civil rights law. Assumptions and presumptions—rather than fact—appear to be the norm during debate on civil rights for homosexuals. It is our contention that very little is certain about the extent of discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace. In this context, we may naively adopt or fail to adopt civil rights legislation for homosexuals when the problem is not fully defined. Additional research is needed to sort out the degree and extent of discrimination.