Metro is playing catch-up, say supporters of gay protections
The argument that protecting Metro government’s gay employees would force the private sector to follow suit is all backward, supporters of a new anti-discrimination measure say.
Around the country, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies’ anti-discrimination policies include sexual orientation or gender identity. In Nashville, some of the city’s largest private employers — http://www.vanderbilt.edu/“>Vanderbilt University and http://www.hcahealthcare.com/“>Hospital Corporation of America — put similar policies into place.
Against that landscape, the new measure’s supporters say, it should have a better chance of passage than a similar one proposed in 2003. But opponents say following the private-sector pack isn’t the way to go.
“Just because someone else does something doesn’t mean it’s right, and we learned that when we all took off from kindergarten,” said David Fowler, a former state senator and president of the http://www.factn.org/“>Family Action Council of Tennessee. “So unless we are going to act like lemmings and just blindly do what everybody else is doing, we need to stop and think before we make this a law.”
The city already has protections based on race, sex, religious affiliation and national origin in place, Fowler said, and protection based on sexuality is incongruous. He also said such a law could expose the city to lawsuits by people who feel it was broken.
See Metro is playing catch-up, say supporters of gay protections
The Tennessean
* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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As PRIDE Month Begins, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Celebrates the Contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans
WASHINGTON, DC — Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine today issued the following statement marking June as PRIDE Month:
“Today, on behalf of Democrats across our nation, the Democratic National Committee pays recognition to PRIDE month — a time to join together in celebrating the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and their families make to our society. We also take this time to reaffirm our commitment to being a Party of inclusion and one that stands firm in promoting equality for every American.
“As Democrats and Americans, we believe we all are created equal and we have fought against discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and attempts to divide us instead of unite us.
“The cause of ending discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans has taken a giant leap forward. With a Democrat in the White House who is committed to equality and justice, we have reached significant milestones. The Obama Administration is the first to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in its first 100 days and it has partnered with the international community at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world.
“The Administration is concentrating on a number of measures to ensure equality for all — such as supporting civil unions, Federal rights for LGBT couples, stronger hate crimes laws, ridding our military of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in a way that both ensures national security and strengthens our Armed forces, banning discrimination in the work place, fighting HIV/AIDS and ensuring adoption rights.
“We as a Party and as a people have come a long way, and we should be proud of what we have accomplished thus far in promoting equal rights for all Americans. But we still have much more to do. As we move ahead with a Democratic Congress and President committed to equality for all Americans, we look forward to a nation where discrimination of any kind is a thing of the past.
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Procter & Gamble bars trans discrimination
CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer products maker, has amended its anti-discrimination policy to include gender identity and expression.
The policy was recently amended to read: “We at P&G recognize the power that comes from people of diverse backgrounds and experiences coming together around a common goal. Our policy forbids any discrimination, harassment or intimidation because of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or other non-job-related personal characteristic. Employees are encouraged to bring questions or concerns in this area to their management. Strict disciplinary action for violations of this policy will be taken, including termination of employment.” See Procter & Gamble bars trans discrimination
Amends anti-discrimination policy to include gender identity and expression * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Wyoming murder “really a hoax,” congresswoman
As Congress approved legislation to expand the legal application of hate crimes, cosponsor Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., proclaimed on Wednesday that “We have
declared America to be a hate-free zone.”
It may not be that easy.
During debate on the legislation, a Republican congresswoman from North Carolina questioned the decade-old Laramie, Wyoming murder that galvanized a national drive to impose penalties on hate-driven crimes.
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., used the word “hoax” to describe the killing of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was tied crucifixion-style to a fence, repeatedly pistol whipped and left for dead. He later died in a local hospital.
“. . . We know that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery,” Foxx told the House. “It wasn’t because he was gay This — the bill was named for him, (the) hate crime bill was named for him, but it’s really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.”
The “hoax” argument is directly contradicted by court testimony by girlfriends of the two men who murdered Shepard. Both girlfriends testified that the killers set out to find and rob a gay man. They befriended Shepard in a bar. The slight Shepard asked them to give him a ride home.
Foxx was not alone in her heavy prose. “Pedophiles and other bizarre sex orientations given protection by Congress,” headlined a release by the Traditional Values Coalition.
The legislation extends to women, gays and the disabled provisions of America’s existing hate crimes law. The law already singles out for special punishment violent crime based on race, religion and/or national origin of the victim.
Asked about Rep. Foxx’s “hoax” allegation, McDermott replied with a Latin maxim: “Res ipsa loquiter.” Translated, it means: The matter speaks for itself.
See Wyoming murder “really a hoax,” congresswoman Seattle Post Intelligencer
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On gay rights, two steps forward, one step back in the Alabama house
In a headspinning series of moves today, the Alabama House of Representatives today voted to add gays and bisexuals to the list of classes of people protected by a state hate crimes act — and passed a resolution praising Miss California for speaking out against gay marriage.
In a 46-41 vote today, the Alabama house approved a bill sponsored by Montgomery Democrat Alvin Holmes that would make it a crime to attack someone because of the victim’s sexual orientation. The bill updates a law passed in 1994 that included race, colour, religion and national origin.
Also today, the body passed on a voice vote a resolution sponsored by Republican Montgomery Representative Jay Love praising Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean. Love said she stuck to her convictions even though it may have cost her the pageant.
At the Miss USA pageant earlier this week, Prejean, competing as Miss California, was asked by gay blogger Perez Hilton, a judge, if she believe same-sex marriage should be allowed across the country. She said: “in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there but that’s how I was raised.”
Hilton later said on his blog that she gave “the worst answer in pageant history”, and that she lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage but because “she’s a dumb bitch”. See
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Human Relations Commission Urges Expanding PA Anti-Discrimination Law, Would Include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression in Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
HARRISBURG, Pa — Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Chairperson Stephen A. Glassman announced today that the commission is strongly urging the legislature to pass House Bill 300, which was introduced Wednesday, and would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability and familial status.
“Ensuring that Pennsylvanians are free from discrimination is crucial, especially in difficult economic times,” Glassman said. “Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education is illegal in Pennsylvania, but lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are currently excluded from these protections.
“House Bill 300 will help guarantee full equality for everyone in this great commonwealth.”
HB 300 has bipartisan support from 79 sponsors in the House of Representatives. The commission has supported passage of similar bills introduced in past legislative sessions.
The bill defines sexual orientation as actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. It defines gender identity or expression to mean actual or perceived gender identity, appearance, behavior, expression or physical characteristics whether or not associated with an individual’s assigned sex at birth.
“Our statistics show that discrimination complaints rise sharply when the economy is in decline,” Glassman said. “As economic stresses increase and people look for someone to blame for their difficulties, frequently the targets are those who are perceived as different because they are minorities. Passing this bill would serve as a timely illustration of our commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens and ensuring equal opportunity for all.”
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Kansas LGBT rights bill advances
(Topeka, Kansas) A key legislative committee has approved a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination law.
The law currently prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry.
“It’s clear that the time has come to extend …
Tags: Ancestry, Disability, Discrimination Law, Gender Identity, Legislative Committee, Lgbt Rights, National Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Topeka Kansas, Workplace DiscriminationHate crimes bill introduced in Ga. House
A gay and transgender-inclusive hate crime bill has been introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives, while a bill requiring HIV testing of prisoners was introduced in the state Senate.
Rep. Pedro “Pete” Marin (D-Duluth) had put forth the hate crimes bill, H.B. 111. It would offer sentence enhancement for hate crimes motivated by the victim’s “race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.”
The legislation would officially amend Georgia’s previous hate crimes law, which was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2004 on the grounds that its definition of hate crimes as those motivated by “bias or prejudice” was unconstitutionally vague. Lawmakers had enacted the bill without naming specific categories out of concern that it would not pass if “sexual orientation” was included.
See Hate crimes bill introduced in Ga. House
Southern Voice, GA
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