Tag: LGBT rights

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Employment Non-Discrimination Act to be reintroduced in US House Thursday

According to the Washington Blade, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is set to be reintroduced this Thursday:

The Senate version of the bill will have five original sponsors: Merkley and lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) will be two Democrats, Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) will be two Republicans and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will round out the quintet.

The number of original co-sponsors in the House remains to be seen. Conchita Cruz, a Polis spokesperson, said many House members have told her boss “they want to make sure that they are included” as original co-sponsors.

The bill will be reintroduced in the House by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the most senior openly gay member of the chamber, who’s taking over the legislation now that former Rep. Barney Frank has retired. In the Senate, the legislation will be reintroduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The lawmakers’ offices confirmed they would introduce ENDA concurrently on Thursday.

Read more at the Washington Blade.

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Update: Missouri hospital issues 2nd statement regarding arrested gay partner

The Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, has posted a second statement in response to earlier reports regarding a gay man being handcuffed and removed from his partner’s bedside at the hospital.

The statement was posted on the hospital’s Facebook page:

We appreciate your concern and would like to assure you that Research Medical Center puts the care of our patients as our #1 priority regardless of sexual orientation. We support all the communities we serve. We have a long history of commitment to a culture of diversity. Research Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in Kansas City to offer domestic partner benefits, which have been in place since 2005, and we have had a policy specifically acknowledging domestic partners’ visitation rights in place for years.

This was an issue of disruptive and belligerent behavior by the visitor that affected patient care. The hospital’s response followed the same policies that would apply to any individual engaged in this behavior in a patient care setting and was not in any way related to the patient’s or the visitor’s sexual orientation or marital status. This visitor created a barrier for us to care for the patient. Attempts were made to deescalate the situation. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to involve security and the Kansas City MO Police Department.

We would also like to correct the misinformation about a restraining order. There was no issue of a restraining order by the hospital.

(h/t JMG)

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Video: Australian Gay Rights

JMG points to this compilation of news, pop culture and political moments in Australia’s journey for gay rights.

I remember traveling in a car with Olivia Newton-John (can you believe???) in Australia last year as she was personally writing a statement on marriage equality as the topic was again at the top of the news.

At the time she released this statement: “With respect to marriage equality, I believe that no-one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.”

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Sen. Rand Paul fine with “neutral” federal same-sex marriage laws

On Fox News today, Sen. Rand Paul stated that while he supports “traditional marriage” he wouldn’t mind if the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and allowed states for themselves to decide marriage laws.

Said Sen. Paul: “I don’t want the government promoting something I don’t believe in, but I also don’t mind if the government tries to be neutral on the issue.”

Click here to watch the discussion.

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Evan Wolfson’s truth trumps Tony Perkins’ packaged talking points

On Face The Nation this morning, a round table was held discussing the upcoming oral arguments to be held at the US Supreme Court on same-sex marriage.

Watch the full discussion above where Tony Perkins, of the certified hate group Family Research Council, tries to repeat and repeat his long practiced scare tactics about marriage equality while Evan Wolfson puts the facts about equality on the table.

(via Good As You)

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Arizona: Phoenix passes LGBT non-discrimination ordinance

 The Arizona Republic is reporting today that Phoenix, Arizona, the sixth most populous city in the nation, last night passed broad laws barring discrimination against LGBT residents:

Gay-rights advocates said the move was a long time coming. They said Phoenix, the sixth-largest city in the country, is playing “catch-up” with at least 166 other U.S. cities and counties that have adopted similar laws.
An estimated 500 people packed the Orpheum Theatre, and dozens of people spoke on both sides of the issue. Many supporters wore “yes” stickers and rainbow pins.
Mayor Greg Stanton fast-tracked the reforms, which ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression — those who identify as a different sex than they were born as.

The changes approved Tuesday would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations, such as restaurants and hotels. Businesses and individuals that don’t comply could be criminally prosecuted and face a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a $2,500 fine. Phoenix currently offers few such safeguards for gay people but bans discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, age and marital status.

(via Towleroad)

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Sen. Tom Harkin promises movement on ENDA this year

Senator Tom Harkin, the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, promised during remarks this morning at an event at the Center for American Progress that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will “move thie year.”

ENDA has clearly been a huge concern for LGBT activists for years and the glacial pace of the bill through Congress has been frustrating to say the least.

Here’s hoping we see SOMETHING happen this year.

(via Towleroad)