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In a recent poll, the American workplace is increasingly supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers, finding that a majority support marriage-like benefits. This is great news. Glad to see educated people are supportive of gay's rights..The 2008 Out & Equal Workplace Survey conducted online by polling group Harris Interactive in conjunction with Out & Equal, a group dedicated to ending gay & lesbian discrimination in the workplace, and Witeck-Combs Communications finds that a majority of workers agree that performance, not sexual orientation or gender identity, should be the basis on which to judge GLBT people and most support marriage-like benefits for gays couples.“It's encouraging that heterosexuals appear more and more committed to ending these forms of employment discrimination and to extending equal benefits to all employees,” said Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry in a prepared statement.The survey found that nearly eight out of ten (79%) heterosexual adults strongly or somewhat agree that how an employee does his or her job should be the standard for judging an employee, not their sexual orientation. And, seven out ten (71%) believe that also extends to gender identity.
Even with benefits, the workplace is becoming more lenient:Three-quarters (75%) of heterosexuals surveyed agreed gay and lesbian employees should receive leave when they lose a spouse/partner or close family member. More than two-thirds (68%) agreed gays and lesbians should receive leave rights for medical and family emergencies. And, a majority (64%) of heterosexuals feel that gay and lesbian employees should receive untaxed health benefits under federal law. [SOURCE]Although this is good news, the article does state that gays continue to report workplace discrimination. A majority of gay adults (65%) report they faced some sort of discrimination. Nearly half (47%) of gays and lesbians say they have overheard anti-gay comments on the job. And, more than one-third (36%) of gay adults claim they remain closeted at work. Not Cool..
Good News for the working Gays in the U.S.!! Looks like the majority of the Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their employment nondiscrimination policies. From a survery that was done, 471 (94.2%) of the 500 American corporations voluntarily include sexual orientation. Not bad eh? I mean it should be 100% but hey at least it's close!"In 2003, when Equality Forum began contacting the Fortune 500 companies, 323 (64.6%) companies explicitly provided sexual orientation protection in their workplace policies," the group said in a statement."Equality Forum reached out to the CEOs, Human Resource Directors and all members of the Boards of Directors of the 177 (35.4%) companies without this protection."By 2004, 405 (81%) Fortune 500 companies had extended protections."The Fortune 500 have overwhelmingly decided that including sexual orientation is in the best corporate interest and helps communicate corporate values to the estimated $660 billion annual domestic GLBT consumer market," stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum. [SOURCE]Damn Straight! We Gays Rock!
Well isn't this interesting. Americans fight to ban gay marriage but when it comes to shipping gays off to fight in the war they are all for it??? Something does not seem right here.. Does anyone else agree??ABC News has found that three-quarters of Americans think that openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people should be allowed to serve in the military.64% of Republicans and nearly two thirds of self-described conservatives backed a change in the current law, as did 57% of white evangelical Protestants and 82% of white Catholics.It was Republican opposition that forced then-President Bill Clinton to abandon his pledge to allow gay people to serve and signed into law the compromise known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." [SOURCE]I am reading this and I really can't get over it. Read the whole story and post comments if you think it sounds suspicious too. If they are allowed to fight for their country then i think those who oppose gay marriage should just stuff it!
Sparks are flying in the States right now because in the 2010 census gay marriage will not be included. I guess since it's only two states that have allowed it, loses to the majority. Sad.. Man, the U.S. needs some lessons on Equality.. GEESH..The Census Bureau says the federal Defense of Marriage Act bars the agency from recognizing gay marriages in the nation's 10-year count, even though the marriages are legal in Massachusetts and California.The agency's director, Steven Murdock, said in an interview Thursday that the 1996 federal law "has that effect, in terms of being a federal agency. We are restricted by it."The Census Bureau does not ask people about their sexual orientation, but it does ask about their relationships to the head of the household. Many gay couples are listed in census figures as unmarried, same-sex partners, though it is an imperfect tally of all gay couples. [SOURCE]What do you guys think about this? I feel like we have a long long road ahead of us before we are seen as equals but meh.. its just my sexuality.. does not make me, ME...
Here is something i didn't know. Did you know in the States that one who has HIV and wants to immigrate or have a short travel trip to the country is not allowed to? They are barred from the country due to current US immigration law. Crazy stuff..Well it seem that a former candidate for President of the United States has said he hopes he will be able to remove a ban on people who are HIV positive travelling to the country. DUN DUN DUN...Speaking to the HIV/AIDS Task Force of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies in Washington DC yesterday, Senator John Kerry said there is "no excuse for a law that stigmatises a particular disease."Alongside his Republican colleague Gordon Smith, Senator Kerry has attached an amendment to a bill authorising $50 billon for PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. [SOURCE]This is actually a good read. If you want to read the whole report CLICK HERE
Too Good To Be True? According to H&R Block, they have agreed to give $100 coupons or free TaxCut software to all gay couples who incurred additional costs because they were barred from using the company's online tax service, TaxCut Online. SWEET!!The coupons can be applied towards the costs of future tax preparation expenses with the company for the 2008 tax season. The company has also agreed to direct future tax filers with civil unions to a free online support specialist to help couples complete their taxes."We're pleased that H&R Block has decided to do right by gay couples throughout the country," said Rebecca Shore, a staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. "Saying you've been civilly united will never be the same as saying you're married, but at least gay couples will no longer face the prospect of paying more to prepare their taxes."The ACLU sent a demand letter to H&R Block on March 25, 2008, demanding that it stop penalizing gay couples with civil unions who were barred from filing their taxes through the company's online tax preparation service. [SOURCE]
I am sure this is just for the United States only but if it is for Canada too.. Woot Woot!
This is an interesting story:Antonio Ingroia, who has helped bring several bosses to justice, said: "Being gay is still a taboo for Italian society in general, let alone the Mafia, which is an archaic organisation. "These bosses have to cover their homosexuality; they're afraid because they risk being ridiculed and killed." It also seems that in America, the mafia is more lenient towards the gays.. Who Would Have Guessed:
Mr Ingroia said that the American Mafia had "a more broad-minded attitude towards gays and so gay bosses can come out." [SOURCE]Ha ha ha.. I am sorry I had to laugh cause this story is random. However, it's good to see that in America who can be in the mafia and be gay and have less "Kisses of Deaths" on your cheek. To read the full story Click Here.
In a recent poll, the American workplace is increasingly supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers, finding that a majority support marriage-like benefits. This is great news. Glad to see educated people are supportive of gay's rights..
