Subaru Comes Out Against Indiana's 'License to Discriminate'

The famously LGBT-friendly automaker says it does not agree with Indiana’s so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

read more

Sunnivie Brydum

www.advocate.com/business/2015/03/30/subaru-comes-out-against-indianas-license-discriminate

Gap Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co: “These Discriminatory Laws are Bad for Business”

Gap Inc CEO Art Peck and Levi Strauss & Co President Chip Bergh issued a joined statement calling on retail and apparel companies to speak out against the growing number of discriminatory anti-LGBT bills nationwide.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/gap-inc.-and-levi-strauss-co-these-discriminatory-laws-are-bad-for-business?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Stephen King Blasts Indiana 'Religious Liberty' Law: It's an Anti-Gay, Discriminatory 'Dog Turd'

Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/king.html

WATCH: Sean Hayes Discovers His Secret Irish Roots — In Court

Will & Grace‘s Sean Hayes takes a trip to Irish court to discover his family’s secret past on Sunday night’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

read more

Raffy Ermac

www.advocate.com/families/2015/03/30/watch-sean-hayes-discovers-his-secret-irish-roots-court

Leaders Of Indiana Companies 'Deeply Concerned' Over LGBT Discrimination Law
In a letter to Gov. Mike Pence (R) and state Republican leaders on Monday, the CEOs of nine different large companies headquartered in Indiana expressed concern that the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act would lead to discrimination against employees.

The law would allow corporations or private citizens to cite their religious beliefs as a defense if they are sued, which many say would make discrimination against LGBT individuals permissible. While Pence has said that the intent of the law was not to discriminate, the CEOs said on Monday that intent was not relevant.

“Regardless of the original intention of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, we are deeply concerned about the impact it is having on our employees and on the reputation of our state,” the executives, which included leaders from Angie’s List and Eli Lilly, wrote in the letter. “All of our companies seek to promote fair, diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our employees must not feel unwelcome in the place where they work and live.”

The executives urged Pence and the legislative leaders to immediately pass new legislation that would clarify that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be used to justify discrimination based on gender and sexual identity. Pence has said that legislators would clarify the law, but the governor has also indicated that he is not interested in providing specific protections for gay and lesbian individuals in his state.

On Monday, the mayor of Indianapolis signed an executive order reaffirming that groups doing business with the city must abide by its Human Rights Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination against LGBT individuals. Many of the companies whose executives signed the letter to Pence and Republican leaders on Monday are headquartered in Indianapolis.

Several corporations have condemned the Indiana law, including Apple, Walmart and Yelp. Connecticut Gov. Daniel Malloy (D) signed an executive order on Monday banning travel to Indiana on Monday, joining the mayors of Seattle and San Francisco, who have imposed similar bans.

Indiana Republicans leaders have said that they were “shocked” at the backlash over the bill.

Read the full letter below:

CEOs RFRA Letter

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/indiana-ceos-lgbt-discrimination_n_6973184.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Acxiom—One of Arkansas’ Largest Employers—Denounces H.B. 1228

“Simply stated, this bill inflicts pain on some of our citizen and disgrace upon us all.” CEO and Chief Legal Officer say to governor in powerful letter
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/acxiomone-of-arkansas-largest-employersdenounces-h.b.-1228?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Brave Man Speaks About The Horrors Of Being A Gay Sex Slave

When he was just 15 years old, a Ugandan man by the name of “John” was outed at school for being gay and was promptly expelled.

“I was often threatened and harassed by other people,” he tells The Daily Record. “Being homosexual in Uganda was forbidden and anyone exposed could face imprisonment and torture.”

But little did John know at the time, his troubles were only just beginning.

Despite being kicked out of school, he still managed to obtain a degree in IT and land a decent paying job. Until his employer found out he was gay and fired him.

“After I lost my job, I moved back with my mother, but rumors spread and our neighbors started harassing my mother,” he explains. “One night, someone set fire to our house and my mother died inside. As if this was not heartbreaking enough for me, the rest of our family blamed me for her death and disowned me.”

Terrified and alone, John reached out to a friend for help, who put him in touch with a man in Scotland who said he could help obtain a visa for John and secure him a job.

In October 2013, John sold his car and flew to Edinburgh. He thought the nightmare was finally coming to an end. In truth, it was only just beginning.

“From the airport I was taken to a flat where I saw some other men,” he explains. “I was locked in a room by myself and was only allowed out for 30 minutes a day to cook myself something to eat. I had no phone, TV, keys or contact with the other people staying at the flat.”

“I was kept like this for a month when one day a white man in his 40s came and said he could help me,” John continues. “I was told to take all my belongings and go with him.”

John was too terrified to protest. He gathered his things and followed the man to his car. The two drove for a while before the man stopped the vehicle and demanded John perform a sex act on him. When John refused, the man flew into a rage. That’s when the young Ugandan learned he had been purchased as a sex slave.

“He got very angry shouting that he’d paid money for me,” John explains. “He tried to get into the back of the car where I was sitting but I managed to get out and ran away. I was completely lost and slept rough that night.”

After fleeing the man’s car, John eventually found refuge through Migrant Help, an organization dedicated to assisting human trafficking victims. The group helped John file a police report and navigate though the asylum process so he could start rebuilding his life.

“I constantly thank Migrant Help for their help and support,” John says, “both mental and financial. I call my key adviser my ‘lucky mascot.’ My life has changed so much.”

Related stories:

Three Gay Hungarian Men Freed After Horrifying Years As Forced Sex Slaves

Transgender Woman Held Captive, Chained Naked Outside And Used As Sex Slave For Two Years

Who Are These Scottish Men Importing African Guys for Sexual Slavery?

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/mO9R7bZhMEQ/brave-man-speaks-about-the-horrors-of-being-a-gay-sex-slave-20150330