Tag: LGBT protections

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Texas: Plano City Council Passes LGBT Protections Ordinance 5-3

Yes, kids! Yes!

I reported earlier that the city of Plano, Texas, was prepared to debate an ordinance tonight which would offer LGBT protections which would ban discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The incoming Attorney General “urged” the City Council to stand down and hit pause on these important protections.

Well, tonight at the Plano City Council meeting the ordinance passed by a vote of 5-3!

Take that, haters!

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Incoming Texas Attorney General Opposes LGBT Protections In Proposed Plano Ordinance

In an open letter, incoming Texas Attorney General-elect Ken Paxton has asks the Plano City Council to rethink their consideration of an LGBT protections ordinance up for discussion at tonight’s meeting.

From Paxton’s letter:

Honorable Mayor and City Council: As members of the Plano delegation to the Texas legislature and the Collin County Commissioners Court, we are appealing to you to postpone any vote relating to an ordinance to amend Section 2-11 relating to the adoption of a policy based on protected characteristics. We do not believe there has been adequate time for the public and community leaders to be a part of the discussion of such a major, wide sweeping change in law and policy for Plano. As husbands and wives with children, we have concerns that your sexual orientation and transgender ordinance may place women and children at risk and does not consider the moral or religious beliefs of Plano citizens or vendors who do business with the city.

Creating “special protections” for gays and “men in women’s bathrooms” are all included in Paxton’s worries and concerns over the proposed LGBT focused ordinance.
Of course, all the hand wringing in done in the name of “religious freedom.”

Stay tuned to see if tonight’s vote even takes place.

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Last Ditch Effort To Pass ENDA Dies in GOP-Controlled House Committee

A last ditch effort to pass the US Senate approved version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act died in a GOP-controlled House committee last night.

Supporters attempted to attach the bill via amendment to the defense spending bill as it heads to the full House floor, but the measure was voted down 7-3 in the House Rules Committee along party lines.

The Senate passed a version of ENDA last year with a bipartisan vote of 64-32 vote.

The House, set to adjourn by Dec. 11, never brought the legislation up for a vote even though there was bipartisan support.

When the new Congress is seated for the 114th Congress, it’s highly unlikely the bill will see passage given Republicans will then control both chambers of Congress.

(source)

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Florida: Statewide LGBT Protections Bill Introduced

A sweeping new LGBT protections bill has been filed simultaneously in the Florida House and Senate today:

From Equality Florida:

Representative Holly Raschein (R- Key Largo) and Democratic Whip Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D- Boynton Beach) filed legislation in the Florida House and Senate respectively that would prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Known as the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (FCWA), the legislation would amend Chapter 760 of the Florida State Statutes that currently prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or marital status to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The bill would add protections for more than 536,000 LGBT adults living in Florida.

Last year Rep. Raschein served as the prime co-sponsor of the bill and helped to secure more than 10 GOP co-sponsors.

“All hardworking people—including those who are gay or transgender—should be treated fairly and equally by the laws of our state and should have the opportunity to earn a living to provide for themselves and their families. Nobody should have to live in fear of being fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance,” said Rep. Raschein

With bipartisan support in the legislature and increased support from both the business community and the public at large, the FCWA will make Florida a more attractive place in which to live and work.

“In order to remain economically competitive in a global marketplace, Florida must provide an environment that is welcoming to all,” said Sen. Abruzzo. “Recruiting and retaining talent regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity will only serve to enhance our reputation and augment our economic viability.”

Although there is strong public support, there are currently no statewide LGBT protections banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida.

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Lubbock Mayor Calls HRC Report “Totally Bogus” After Receving A Zero On LGBT Rights

In the recent Human Rights Campaign’s 2014 Municipal Equality Index, five cities in the country (out of 353 rated) received scores of zero. Of those, four are in Texas and one is Lubbock.

(I should point out from the get-go here I was born and raised in Texas…)

The Index scores cities specifically on six broad categories: non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and overall relationship with the LGBT community. Cities begin with a score of zero and are awarded points for meeting certain criteria.

Mayor Glen Robertson, a white heterosexual man, says there are no problems for gays in Lubbock and the survey is unfair.

Via LubbockOnline:

“This survey is not, in my opinion, designed to get facts. This survey is designed to create problems that aren’t there,” he said.

The report from HRC says the city has passed no ordinances to protect LGBT folks in the workplace. The mayor says all that is covered by federal and state laws.

This, sadly, is not true. There is currently no federal legal protections in place for LGBT employees in the workplace. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act was passed in the US Senate last year, but the GOP-led House has refused to take up the legislation.

Texas is not among the 18 states that have passed such protections. Nor is Lubbock one of the six Texas cities to pass local protections. So, Mr. Mayor – you’re dead wrong on that one. I sit here shaking my head that you could serve as mayor for two years and not know that.

Tony Thornton, president of the Lubbock chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, says the city has come a long way but probably deserves a zero for its efforts to include the gay community.

“I think the city needs lots of work from the perspective of policy and administration in these areas,” he said. “And I want to work with the city. I want to work with the mayor and the City Council and the HR directors to fix this.”

But don’t count on any action from the mayor anytime soon. Mayor Robertson says he’s never seen LGBT discrimination as a problem – a typically conservative, white, heterosexual male position to take, in my opinion.

Mayor Robertson says, “I haven’t seen it. I haven’t seen any problem. That doesn’t mean we don’t have it, but if we do, nobody’s being vocal about it. Typically, if somebody’s being treated differently because of their gender or sexual orientation, they speak up, and I have heard nothing.”

(source)

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Poll: Strong Majority of Americans Support LGBT Workplace Protections

A new poll commissioned by Out & Equal Workplace Advocates shows a strong majority of Americans support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act currently passed by the US Senate but languishing in the House.

The results of the poll via press release:

• 65% of American adults agree that federal law should be expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

• 55% of all adults don’t believe that any employers should be exempt if ENDA were to become law

• Only 35% of all adults believe churches or other houses of worship should be exempt

• Only 30% believe privately held businesses with owners citing religious beliefs should be exempt

• Just 21% of adults believe publicly held businesses citing religious beliefs should be exempt

• Only 19% believe small businesses generally should be exempt

“This year’s survey reinforces what we are seeing in companies, government agencies and businesses around the country – even around the world– that more and more business leaders are supporting workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees,” said Selisse Berry, Founder, CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.

“While this is good news we still have work to do to protect employees who can still be fired in 29 U.S. states for being LGBT and in 32 if one is transgender. Out & Equal will continue to work with our partners to build workplace equality for all members of our LGBT community.”

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Largest City In The Philippines Passes LGBT Protections Ordinance

The largest city in the Phillipines – Quezon City – has passed important LGBT protections after a long eight hour city council session.

All 30 city councilors took part in the vote which passed the ordinance unanimously.

From Gay Star News:

‘This is very special and better than other ordinances, because it not only penalizes actions, but there is also affirmative action. This is an early gift ahead of the QC pride march in December,’ Ging Cristobal, project coordinator for the Asia Pacific region of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, told GMA News.

The law extended a 2003 resolution banning discrimination of LGBTI people in employment to education, delivery of goods or services, insurance and access to accommodation.

The city-wide ordinance also provides venues to educate employers and educators on LGBTI rights.

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United Nations Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution Condemning Violence Against LGBT People

From GLAAD: The 27th session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations has passed a resolution that would condemn violence against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and call for the reporting of violations against LGBT people internationally. The vote passed 25-14 with 7 abstentions.

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Philadelphia City Council Poised to Pass Hate Crime Ordinance

A new city hate crime ordinance introduced today by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilman Jim Kenney looks sure to pass as the proposal was co-sponsored by the entire city council.

The measure comes just weeks after the brutal gay-bashing in Center City on September 11th that left two men hospitalized, one requiring his jaw to be wired shut for 8 weeks.

From Buzzfeed:

“We value diversity and diversity matters, and for those who don’t get it, there’s a price to be paid,” Reynolds Brown told BuzzFeed News when reached by phone. “Right at the door, all of the members get it and understand the value in putting forth this important measure to close this loophole in the law.”

She said she can “predict quite confidently” the ordinance will pass and be signed into law by Mayor Michael Nutter. “I can’t say that about too many pieces of legislation,” she added.

The Philadelphia proposal would ensure that hate crimes based on a victims actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability will carry consequences in addition to existing criminal charges such as up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000, according to the councilwoman.

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Fayetteville, Arkansas, passes LGBT non-discrimination ordinance by vote of 6-2

After more than 10 hours of public debate and testimony by over 100 community members, the Fayetteville, Arkansas City Council voted to not pass an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance by a vote of 6-2.

The legislation, Ordinance 119, makes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity illegal in matters of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Such protections are not available on a federal level. Eighteen states plus Washington, D.C., ban discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity and 17 of those states also prohibit discrimination in in public accommodations on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The legislation will take effect September 20, 2014.

(source)