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Boeing Corp will deny pension survivor benefits to same-sex married couples

The Boeing Corporation has told union negotiators that it will deny pension survivor benefits to same-sex married couples despite passage of a marriage equality law there, The Stranger reports:

Ray Goforth [executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001] explains that his union has long sought equal pension benefits for same-sex domestic partners, to no avail. But since voters approved same sex marriage—establishing parity with married straight couples—Goforth re-framed the proposal to apply to his union’s gay Boeing employees who wed. “Their answer was that they had no intention of granting pension survivor benefits to legally married same-sex couples because they didn’t have to,” Goforth explains. Boeing representatives told him that pensions are governed by federal law, which doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage, thereby trumping the state law on the matter.

“We were profoundly disappointed to see that they would use a loophole to engage in institutionalized discrimination,” Goforth says.

Boeing issued a statement to its employees late yesterday saying the company “is taking a closer look at how R-74 might impact company policies once it takes effect in December” but Goforth insists that the company was “unequivocal” in its statement to union negotiators that it intends to withhold the benefits.

I am NOT amused.

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Larry Hagman of DALLAS and I DREAM OF JEANNIE fame dies at 81

Larry Hagman, the North Texas native who played the conniving and mischievous J.R. Ewing on the TV show Dallas, died Friday at a Dallas hospital. He was 81.

Mr. Hagman died at 4:20 p.m. Friday at Medical City Dallas Hospital from complications of his recent battle with cancer, members of his family said.

“Larry was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved most,” the family said in a statement. “Larry’s family and close friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday. When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time.”

The iconic role of J.R. Ewing metamorphosed Mr. Hagman’s life. He rocketed from being a merely well-known TV actor on I Dream of Jeannie and the son of Broadway legend Mary Martin, to the kind of transnational fame known only by the likes of the Beatles and Muhammad Ali.

More at DallasNews.com

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Movie: “Les Miserables” receives standing ovation at first screening

From ShowBiz411: “Cheers and a standing ovation this afternoon at the first screening of the film version of Les Miserables.”

“Tom Hooper, Oscar winner for The King’s Speech, has made a thrilling, sensational epic of the legendary Broadway show.”

“This now becomes the Titanic of this year’s awards season, the film to beat.”

“Hugh Jackman is a triumph as Jean Valjean, Anne Hathaway sings the heck out of the film’s big numbers, and Samantha Barks just about steals the film.”

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Uganda: Anti-gay “Kill The Gays” bill moves ahead in Parliamentary committee

Ugandan lawmakers are putting the so-called “kill the gays” bill on the fast track.
 
MetroWeekly reports that the bill passed a Parliamentary commitee today, sending it to the next level of votes.

Reports say the call for gay people to be executed has been removed from the hateful measure, there bill still includes a life imprisonment component: 

According to Uganda’s NTV network – as tweeted by Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha), director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) – an unnamed member of the committee confirmed that a penalty of life imprisonment has remained in the bill in place of execution.

While sexual relations between members of the same sex are already illegal in Uganda, if the bill becomes law it will be among the world’s harshest against gay people. NTV reports that the bill should receive floor debate next week.

Religious leaders in Uganda have been pressuring politicians to pass the anti-gay law there and have asked Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to get the bill made into law as a “Christmas gift”

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Las Vegas: Grammy Award winner & music legend Melissa Manchester on The Candi & Randy Show

Loved having the fab Melissa Manchester on The Candi & Randy Show this week.

The divine Ms. Manchester chats about how touring life is “normal life” for her; her work with women’s causes; and her thoughts on how the music industry has changed over the past few decades.

Melissa’s latest CD release is “Playlist: The Very Best of Melissa Manchester” – I love greatest hits CDs because you get all the songs you want in one place!  Check out the CD by clicking here.
 

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Leftovers – now what?

Buzzfeed has a list of creative things to do with all those leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner. I picked the four I can imagine trying.

But there are lots more over at Buzzfeed – click here to see more.

This double-decker specimen from Spoon Fork Bacon uses a slice of bread soaked in gravy (I repeat: SOAKED IN GRAVY) as a middle layer. That sounds like a really good idea.

How about going healthy?  This turkey club salad can make you feel downright healthy after yesterday’s feast.  From the folks at Framed Cooks.

Turkey and wild mushroom risotto – just screams tasty, doesn’t it?  Recipe by Sam Sifton at Bon Appetit.

And what’s Thanksgiving leftovers without a soup at the end of the tasty journey?  Turkey and wild rice soup from A Farm Girl Dabbles.  Definitely happening in my kitchen this weekend.

More ideas over at Buzzfeed.