Tag: LGBT discrimination

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GOP silent on executive order banning workplace discrimination for federal LGBT employees

Huffington Post makes note of the fact that while LGBT advocates and Democratic officials hailed President Obama’s signing an executive order banning workplace discrimination for federal employees and federal contractors, and the anti-gay folks sent out their blasts decrying the policy, elected Republicans have been very quiet about the move:

Perhaps nobody better illustrated this point than House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). HuffPost asked him Thursday if he had any reaction to Obama’s LGBT executive order.

“Nope,” Boehner said at his weekly briefing. “The president signs a lot of executive orders.”

Asked if he supports the principle of workplace protections being extended to LGBT employees, he punted again. “Listen, the president is going to make his decisions. He can,” Boehner said.

On the other side, Human Rights Campaign spokesman Fred Sainz said he considers Republicans’ silence golden. “While I would far prefer they speak on behalf of the equality their constituents support, it’s definitely evidence of our progress when some say nothing,” Sainz said.

One factor may be that Republicans simply aren’t keeping up with the flurry of LGBT rights advancements. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), one of the eight House GOP co-sponsors of ENDA, said Thursday that he didn’t know about Obama’s executive order. But he emphasized that if it has the same goal as ENDA — which it does, except that ENDA has far broader implications — he supports it.

The only elected Republican HuffPost could find who issued a statement on the executive order was Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who has stated he supports the policy behind the executive order because “employees shouldn’t face unjust discrimination in the workplace simply because of their sexual orientation.”

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ExxonMobil says it will follow new LGBT workplace guidelines

In light of President Obama’s recent executive order banning workplace discrimination of LGBT employees by federal contractors, Exxon has signaled it will comply with the new guidelines.

Exxon is one of the largest corporations in the world which won over $480 million in federal contracts in 2013.

Company spokesman Alan Jeffers said Tuesday that Exxon will continue to “abide by the law.”

However, that has not been the case for years. Via Houston Chronicle:

In May, Exxon shareholders voted down a proposal for the 15th consecutive year to add such language to its equal employment opportunity statement, maintaining that the business standards stated on a company web site ensure protections without having to specifically name them.

The proposal, backed since 2010 by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on behalf of the New York State Employees Retirement System, has never gained majority shareholder support. It won 20 percent of voters this year holding roughly $41.5 billion in Exxon stock.

Exxon has not stated whether there are plans to formally change the company’s equal employment opportunity policy.

I’m betting not. Exxon had to be brought to this point kicking and screaming.

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President Obama to sign executive orders protecting LGBT workers on Monday

According to reports, President Obama will sign amended executive orders on Monday prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity WITHOUT new exemptions sought by religious groups.

 From EdgeOnTheNet:

Obama’s action comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Hobby Lobby case that allowed some religiously oriented businesses to opt out of the federal health care law’s requirement that contraception coverage be provided to workers at no extra charge. Senior administration officials said Friday that ruling has no impact on non-discrimination policies in federal hiring and contracting.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

Since Obama announced last month that he would sign the orders, he’s faced pressure from opposing flanks over the religious exemption and given no indication of where he would come down. Many religious leaders and conservative groups wanted him to exempt religious organizations from the order, while liberal clergy and gay advocacy groups adamantly opposed such an exemption.

The changes could affect as many as 28 million workers

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Colorado: Civil Rights Commision affirms ruling that baker discriminated against gay couple

In a unanimous decision from the seven-member Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Jack Phillips of the Masterpiece Cakeshop was found to have violated civil rights law when he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012.

Today’s decision upholds  a previous ruling on the same lawsuit.

“I can believe anything I want, but if I’m going to do business here, I’d ought to not discriminate against people,” Commissioner Raju Jaram said.

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, Phillips said the decision violates his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of his religion. “I will stand by my convictions until somebody shuts me down.”

Phillips added that supporters have been so supportive in buying cookies and brownies that he does not currently make wedding cakes.

The couple who sued Phillips, Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig, were pleased that the commission roundly rejected Phillips’ arguments. “We’re just thrilled by that,” Mullins said.

While gay marriage remains illegal in Colorado, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits public accommodations, including businesses such as Masterpiece Cakeshop, from refusing service based on factors such as race, sex, marital status or sexual orientation.

In what I imagine is an act of futility, Phillips was ordered to stop discriminating against gay people and to report quarterly for two years on staff anti-discrimination training and any customers he refuses to serve.

Phillips’ attorney indicated an appeal of the ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals is being considered.

(source)

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Texas restaurant to gay couple: “We don’t serve fags here”

Collin Dewberry (L) and Kelly Williams (R)

Collin Dewberry, after having breakfast with his partner at Big Earl’s in Pittsburg, Texas, was told by the waitress not to return saying “We don’t serve fags here.”

Having lived in East Texas their whole lives, Collin and his partner Kelly Williams said they have never been called “fags” before. “We’ve never had that kind of hate displayed to us before,” Dewberry said.

When asked what was wrong, the waitress recited this phrase which was also posted on the front door: “Here at Big Earl’s we like for men to act like men and for ladies to act like ladies, so we want you to never return.”

When interviewed, the owner, Big Earl, said that while he didn’t see what they had done that was supposedly “inappropriate,” he did say it appeared the men were touching legs.

Big Earl made a point to say the posted policy had been in place since the restaurant opened three years ago. When asked what exactly it meant, Big Earl said, “You’re welcome to come and eat, but a man act like a man and a woman act like a woman. Dress appropriately and act appropriately when you’re in a public place.”

And what, exactly, should a man act like and what a woman should act like? He responded, “The same thing it says. That a man’s supposed to stand up and be a leader. He’s not supposed to be a woman. He’s not supposed to come in here in a dress.”

According to the news report from KLTV, neither men were wearing a dress.

Big Earl also mentioned that the men had been badgering the waitress and it was all caught on surveillance cameras, but he wouldn’t allow the reporter to view the footage.

Watch KLTV’s report below.

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

(source)

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Tennessee: Two Iraq war veterans told to take commitment ceremony elsewhere

US veterans Anthony Wilfert and Brian Blas of Nolensville, Tenn., say Mint Springs Farm, which makes a point on it’s website to say it is “an all-inclusive venue,” agreed to host their commitment ceremony.

Unfortunately, days later the owner rescinded the agreement, reports WSMV-TV.

“I made it clear from the get-go that it was a same-sex ceremony,” said Wilfert. “He explicitly made it clear that it was not an issue, that they would host that type of ceremony.”

Wilfert and Blas said days after two employees told them it’d be fine to hold their ceremony at the venue, they got an e-mail from an owner at Mint Springs Farm reading, “Unfortunately, until same sex marriage is legal in the state of Tennessee, we cannot participate in this ceremony at our venue. I wish we could help, I truly do, but our hands are tied in this situation.”

“It is a private venue,” said Wilfert. “We purposefully chose a place that is not tied to a religious organization for that reason, so to mention something about state law is baffling.”

Wilfert also added, “To have fought in the military for freedoms and liberties of all Americans, it can be quite deflating to come back to fight a whole new set of obstacles.”

What is of interest to me is that the ceremony was NOT being described as a “marriage.” The couple was very clear it was a “commitment ceremony” which carries no legal weight. Commitment ceremonies are not illegal in Tennessee. So, what is really the issue here?

(via LGBTQ Nation)

WSMV Channel 4

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Alaska Supreme Court rules state tax law discriminates against same-sex couples

The Alaska Supreme Court ruled today that the state unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples by denying them equal access to a property tax exemption for senior citizens and disabled veterans.

The rules were challenged by the ACLU of Alaska, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on behalf of three couples who were denied full access to a $150,000 property tax exemption that Alaska makes available to opposite-sex married couples. Because same-sex couples cannot legally marry in Alaska, the state treated them as roommates rather than as families and let them get the exemption for only half of the value of their homes.

“Families in Alaska deserve better than a second-class system of laws for same-sex couples who are just as committed to each other as heterosexual couples,” said Joshua Decker, executive director of the ACLU of Alaska. “Our senior citizens and veterans should not have to pay more taxes just because they happen to be gay or lesbian.”

The lead plaintiffs, Julie Schmidt, 71, and Gayle Schuh, 66, have been partners for 36 years, and moved to Alaska from Illinois after retiring from careers in education.

“Gayle and I built a home and a life here because we loved what Alaska had to offer,” said Schmidt. “It hurt that the state that we loved so much treated us like strangers. It is gratifying to have our relationship recognized.”

(via ACLU press release)

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Small town mayor fires South Carolina police chief for being lesbian

Police chief Crystal Moore

The mayor of small town Latta in South Carolina has fired the police chief on the basis that she’s a lesbian.  Rawstory has the details:

Latta Mayor Earl Bullard fired Police Chief Crystal Moore on Tuesday, saying the 20-year veteran had drawn seven reprimands — but a city councilwoman said the mayor issued all of those reprimands in one day, the first in her career.

One of the city councilmen, Jared Taylor, said he recorded the mayor making anti-LGBT remarks during a phone conversation.

“I would much rather have, and I will say this to anybody’s face, somebody who drank and drank too much taking care of my child than I had somebody whose lifestyle is questionable around children,” Bullard says in the recording.

“Because that ain’t the damn way it’s supposed to be,” the mayor continues. “You know, you got people out there — I’m telling you, buddy — I don’t agree with some of the lifestyles that I see portrayed, and I don’t say anything because that is the way they want to live, but I am not going to let my child be around.”

Bullard tells the city councilman that he doesn’t approve of same-sex marriage and would not want his child to be aware that such relationships exist.

“That ain’t the way the world works,” the mayor says. “Now all these people showering down and saying, ‘Oh, it’s a different lifestyle, they can have it.’ OK, fine and dandy, but I don’t have to look at it, and I don’t want my child around it.”

The mayor says he has the right to hire and fire who he wants, but the City Council disagrees. The council voted 6-1 to hold a referendum to change the balance of power in Latta.

The small town has thrown support behind the ousted police chief, with over 100 residents of the small town showing up at the town hall.

Watch the report below from WBTW:

WBTW-TV: News, Weather, and Sports for Florence, SC

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Mississippi legislature passes “License to Discriminate” bill

Late Tuesday, the Mississippi legislature approved S.B. 2681, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Republican-controlled House vote count was 78-43, and in the Republican-controlled Senate the vote was 38-14.

From the Washington Blade:

Much like the controversial Arizona bill known as SB 1062 vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer, the six-page legislation never once mentions the words “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” or “gay.” Still, LGBT advocates insist the legislation would have the effect of allowing discriminatory practices against LGBT people seeking services in Mississippi.

The bill now heads to Governor Phil Bryant’s desk. He is expected to sign the legislation into law.

Once signed, the law would take effect July 1.

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Arkansas High School refuses to include gay profile in yearbook

Taylor Ellis, a high school student in Sheridan, Ark., says administrators refuse to include an interview/profile in the school’s yearbook because of his sexual orientation.

The Yellowjacket, Sheridan High School’s yearbook, wrote six profiles of students to run in the yearbook. One of the short features chronicled Ellis’s coming-out story.

Ellis said he wants to get his story out there and he doesn’t understand the problem with printing it. Ellis said Principal Rodney Williams called him a few weeks ago, citing concerns that the story was too personal and that it put Ellis at risk of being bullied.

Now the Human Rights Campaign has addressed the matter. In a letter to the Sheridan School District, HRC President Chad Griffin addressed the issue at hand:

“If not resolved immediately, this act of discriminatory censorship will send a dangerous message to all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in Sheridan, across Arkansas and around the nation — that they are second-class citizens and their lives are not equally valid. Instead of respecting the wishes of Taylor’s fellow students to recognize him in their yearbook, you have told him and other students who may already feel marginalized that they are not an equally valued part of the Sheridan high school student body.

“As an Arkansas native and a former elementary school student in Sheridan, I was taught the Golden Rule – about treating others as we would like to be treated. Whatever you may say about your intentions, it does not change the fact that you have failed to uphold these values that all fair-minded Arkansans share. Addressing bullying requires stopping bullies, not muzzling harmless free expression.”

Sheridan School District Superintendent Brenda Haynes responded in a statement to the Arkansas News:

“We must make decisions that lead in the proper direction for all of our students and for our community. We must not make decisions based on demands by any special interest group. The seven profiles will not be published in the yearbook…It is clear that the adults who have the responsibility for the operation of the district have the obligation to make decisions which are consistent with the mission of our school. We have done so.”

Watch the news report from CBS News below:

(source)