Married in the Morning, Fired in the Afternoon: The State of LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws in the U.S.

As we told you earlier this month, online travel site Orbitz is currently hosting a SNAP for Equality selfie contest that could win you a first class trip in the U.S. or Europe. Part of that campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the current state of anti-discrimination laws in the U.S.

With the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, it might be easy to think that our biggest civil rights hurdles are behind us. However, as Vice President Joe Biden remarked at a rally celebrating marriage equality, LGBT people can get married in the morning and fired in the afternoon because of their sexual orientation or gender identity in 28 states.

What’s perhaps most shocking about LGBT anti-discrimination laws in the U.S. is the fact that a wide majority of Americans have no idea that the federal government does not protect LGBT people from being discriminated against–in fact, they think the opposite.

According to a Public Religion Research Institute poll from February 2014, 75% of respondents said that it is currently illegal under federal law to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Of course, this is not the case. For all the efforts to pass an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), there currently exists no federal law that protects LGBT people from discrimination. As a result, the issue has been left to the states. And the states in turn have acted incredibly unevenly in deciding whether to put non-discrimination laws on the books to protect LGBT people.

Currently, only 17 states have banned discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Those states include California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Massachusetts and Utah ban discrimination against LGBT people in employment and housing but not in public accommodation. As the Movement Advance Project (whose maps are displayed here) spells out, “Public accommodations laws generally cover anywhere someone is when they are not at home, work, or school, including retail stores, restaurants, parks, hotels, doctors’ offices, and banks.”

Three states, Wisconsin, New York and New Hampshire, have statewide anti-discrimination ordinances that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but not on the basis of gender identity.

In the remaining 28 states, it falls to cities and counties to decide whether they will protect LGBT people from discrimination. Two of those states, Arkansas and Tennessee, explicitly ban cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination ordinances.

Despite this very bad news on the state of anti-discrimination laws in the U.S., there have been positive developments as of late.

The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) just ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Wrote Towleroad’s Ari Ezra Waldman of the ruling,

“…[T]he Commission held that discrimination against gay persons violates Title VII’s ban on discrimination on the basis of sex. This is potentially groundbreaking: until Friday, there was no federal law protecting gay workers if they are discriminated against because they are gay, and although only the Supreme Court can issue a definitive ruling on the subject, the EEOC’s view is given substantial weight by the courts.”

And that’s not all. Members of Congress last week introduced new legislation, the Equality Act, that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, credit, education, and jury service. The legislation is an update to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that would explicitly extend its protections to LGBT individuals.

But if the EEOC has decided that the Civil Rights Act already applies to LGBT people, why would more action be needed? As Ari Ezra Waldman pointed out in his analysis of the EEOC’s decision, the EEOC ruling is “unstable” and was a 3-2 ruling along party lines. Plus, it does not address all the anti-discrimination concerns currently on the table:

“[We] need a comprehensive anti-gay discrimination law passed at the federal level because this decision (and Title VII) only applies to employment discrimination. Gays are discriminated against in the provision of housing, education, and a host of other social services.”

What are your thoughts on the federal Equality Act? Sound off in the comments.

And don’t forget to enter in the Orbitz SNAP for Equality contest. Share a selfie of you celebrating marriage equality and you could win a first class trip to the U.S. or Europe! Click HERE to find out more.

The post Married in the Morning, Fired in the Afternoon: The State of LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws in the U.S. appeared first on Towleroad.

Towleroad

Married in the Morning, Fired in the Afternoon: The State of LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws in the U.S.

To All The Women 'Who Don't Give A F**k'

Janne Robinson is here to honor the women who simply don’t give a f**k. 

The poet and writer is empowering women to take back their narratives in her new spoken word poem “This Is For The Women Who Don’t Give A F**k.” Robinson originally wrote the poem in 2014, but recently adapted it in a new video as a spoken word performance. The video features 18 women, including Robinson, reciting different lines of the poem. 

The result is a powerful reminder to women everywhere that we can do whatever we set our hearts to — no matter what. 

“This is for the women who don’t give a f**k,” the poem begins. “This is for the women who are first to get naked, howl at the moon and jump into the sea.”

Robinson goes on to honor all women in her poem: 

“This is for the women who seek relentless joy… the women who know their worth, plant their feet and roar in their brilliance.” 

“The women who wear combat boots and frilly skirts.” 

“Who don’t give a damn about pleasing the world and do sweetly as they wish.” 

“The women who know love is not about gender and love who they wish.” 

Towards the end of her poem, Robinson says, “These are the women that I want around me.”

Robinson spoke with The Huffington Post about why she wrote the poem. “The words that poured out into this poem, now video, are about all the women in my life who empower and inspire me,” she said. “It is not written about one woman — it is written about many.”

Head over to Robinson’s website to read more about her work.  

Also on The Huffington Post: 

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Bairro Alto: the Lisbon district that never sleeps

Sloping, cobbled streets – many too narrow for cars to pass through – lead from Lisbon’s beaches into the Bairro Alto, one of the capital’s most popular central districts.

It doesn’t have a formal local authority or any formal bounds, but the Bairro – an association of neighborhoods rather than a clearly defined neighborhood – has always been a fundamental quarter for the city’s community.

The only way is up: going for a walk in the district quickly turns into a hike.

Bairro Alto has been urbanized since the 16th century, yet those expecting to find a wild architectural mix: it may be historical, but the architectural features of the Pombaline-era, featuring early anti-seismic designs which ‘shake, but don’t fall’, dominate a big part of the quarter.

Sand- and limestone buildings are a common sight, with timber and tile adding the details; some homes, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, highlight the quarter’s transformation, but designs from the 20th century onwards are a rare sight.

Contemporary architecture is a rare sight in Bairro Alto, but its array of historic styles gives the district its character.

Today, cars are heavily restricted in the narrow lanes – with the exception of residents and emergency services – which led to many newspapers relocating their offices into other parts.

In their stead came a steady stream of young people, on the hunt for the Bairro’s artsy, bohemian atmosphere on its hilly perch, ready to set up their homes in the district and fill the streets with life.

Noise restrictions, imposed after complaints in 2008, don’t stop the Bairro from being one of the liveliest districts: head out for dinner at 9pm, followed by drinks until you hit the clubs – either locally or a short walk north, into Principe Real, Lisbon’s popular gay quarter.

Car access is restricted, but those who don’t fancy the walk uphill can always hop on the tram.

To get the authentic feeling of the Portuguese lifestyle, enjoy your Caipirinha outside while watching the world go by (we hear the best place to do this is Setimo Ceu), go dancing in gay-friendly riverside club Lux and end the night by having a pastry at Pastelaria da Rua da Roa in the wee hours of the morning.

Lisbon won’t get boring by day, either – the Principe Real isn’t just home to the LGBTI community, but boasts some fantastic antiques and other independent shops; alternatively, have a wander along Barrio Alto’s lanes and stumble upon all the hidden gems tucked away from tourists’ eyes.

Apartment prices along the cobbled streets start from €180,000 (£126,488.93, $197,190), with rents starting from €450 (£316.22, $492.97) for a studio/one bedroom apartment; regular tram, bus and metro services link the Barrio to all other parts of the city.

The post Bairro Alto: the Lisbon district that never sleeps appeared first on Gay Star News.

Stefanie Gerdes

www.gaystarnews.com/article/bairro-alto-the-lisbon-district-that-never-sleeps/

16-Year-Old Injured in Jerusalem Pride Attack Dies

Shira Banki, a 16-year-old girl who was injured during last week’s attack on Jerusalem Pride, died on Sunday.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/16-year-old-injured-in-jerusalem-pride-attack-dies?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Reverend Stops Service To Announce He’s Leaving His Wife For A Younger Man

Members of the the Church of the Redeemer in Astoria gasped when their beloved priest, Juan Andres Quevedo-Bosch, stopped service last month to deliver a triple whammy.

From the pulpit, he informed the congregation that: 1. He was gay, 2. He was divorcing his wife, and 3. He was marrying a younger man.

Chaos, confusion and outrage ensued.

“Most of the people aren’t coming anymore,” one parishioner told the New York Post. “Because he’s homosexual, people have stopped coming.”

Another parishioner said he was “puzzled” by Quevedo-Bosch’s sudden announcement because he appeared to be such a “a wonderful husband” to his wife, Adria.

Related: Five Bible-Based Responses To Common Arguments Against Marriage Freedom From A Biblical Scholar

As a result of the abrupt drop in attendance, Saturday services at the church have been canceled, and Wednesday’s mass is on the chopping block as few than 10 people have been showing up.

But despite the departures, some church members are standing by Quevedo-Bosch. A petition urging him to stay after he offered to resign is circulating.

Since his stunning announcement, he hasn’t been seen at the church. But he has been spotted on Facebook. Last week he announced that he and his husband were married in Los Angeles. That was followed with a picture from their honeymoon along with the caption: “I’m in Miami Beach with my new husband. God is good.”

When contacted by the Post, Quevedo-Bosch had little to say about the matter other than, “I am aware that there have been concerns regarding my divorce and subsequent remarriage and have been in touch with my bishop and my congregation about them.”

Bishop Larry Provenzano, head of the Long Island diocese, which includes the Church of the Redeemer in Astoria, told the Post, “Priests who wish to enter into same-gender marriage are approved to do so in the Episcopal Church and in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island,” adding that Quevedo-Bosch has his “full support” in whatever he chooses to do next.

Related: Steamy “Orthodox Priests” Fully Disrobe To Spread Powerful Message In 2015 Calendar

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/kyAy_xrERtk/reverend-stops-service-to-announce-hes-leaving-his-wife-for-a-younger-man-20150803

Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver Wants ‘Sanctuary Cities’ to Protect Christians from Gay Marriage: AUDIO

Likening the fight against Obergefell v. Hodges to that of the fight against Dred Scott v. Sandford, Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver wondered aloud on Christian radio last week why there aren’t any “sanctuary cities” that protect people from abortion and gay marriage like they do for “illegal aliens.”

Staver also talked about representing (4x married) Kentucky county clerk, Kim Davis, who is facing a lawsuit for refusing to do her job and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

According to Staver, Davis was merely unwilling to “authorize someone to do something that itself is sinful, that is repugnant to her and the scriptures and to natural millennia of human history, natural law.”

[via Right Wing Watch]

The post Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver Wants ‘Sanctuary Cities’ to Protect Christians from Gay Marriage: AUDIO appeared first on Towleroad.

Kyler Geoffroy

Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver Wants ‘Sanctuary Cities’ to Protect Christians from Gay Marriage: AUDIO

Thousands Rally in Israel Over Pride Parade Stabbings

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country yesterday in response to last week’s pride parade attack that left one dead and five others wounded.

read more

Bil Browning

www.advocate.com/israel/2015/08/03/thousands-rally-israel-over-pride-parade-stabbings

We Have to Make Things Easier

This article is part of an on-going original series written by Caitlyn Jenner for WhoSay called “The Real Me,” which explores issues and people in the LGBT community.

Hi, friends. I hope your week is off to a great start. As always, thank you for your unending love and support. Every day, I’m humbled by the thousands of you who reach out to tell me your story, ask questions, or provide encouragement. Even though I can’t respond to each of you individually, I want you to know that I appreciate your kind gestures more than I could ever express.

To those of you who have asked me for my opinion or expertise, I want to remind you that while I’ve known that I was trans since I was a small child, learning about the trans community is still very new to me and I don’t have all the answers. That said, the one constant I’ve noticed is how incredibly difficult it is for transgender folks to transition and become their authentic selves and still be healthy and secure — emotionally, physically, financially…the list goes on and on.

We have to make things easier for the transgender community, and my friends over at the Human Rights Campaign are fighting to do just that. For those of you who aren’t familiar already, HRC is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. The HRC is an incredible resource to the LGBT community and its allies.

In fact, I asked some of the talented experts at HRC to help answer some of the questions you have sent me. I hope these insights from Alison Gil, Ellen Kahn, and Beck Bailey shed more light on the transgender community and make things easier for all of my friends out there. Stay strong! – Caitlyn

——–

Anna: I think my four-year-old son may be transgender and I have no one to talk to about it. His father is in complete denial and won’t speak on the subject. Nobody believes me and just laughs. Do you have any advice?

Trust your instincts, Anna, but also reach out to folks who are equipped to guide and support you. There are medical professionals who specialize in helping transgender children. If your child is transgender, obtaining a diagnosis from a medical professional may encourage others to understand what they are going through, and also help you get the support that you need. HRC has a resource that can point you to clinical-care programs for transgender and gender expansive children. You can find it here. — Alison Gill, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign

Carrie: I am a trans ally, with quite a few friends who are trans. My question is, how can us allies be….well…better allies? What sorts of things can we do in order to help our trans family and friends have a more positive experience and avoid some of the common issues faced in the community?

Carrie — thank you for being supportive! Strong trans allies talk openly about transgender issues and make a point of learning about transgender people and the issues they face in society. They are also vigilant about using appropriate names and pronouns for transgender people, and asking others to do so as well. Trans allies speak up when others make fun of transgender people, and they speak out in support of legislation and policy changes that help make transgender people safer and protect them from discrimination. HRC has a great resource on being a supportive ally to LGBT people — read it here. — Alison Gill, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign

Tandi: My friend is a M to F transgender and was just denied medical coverage through her insurance here in Oregon. Do you have any suggestions or resources she can look into? What can she/I do?

Hi, Tandi – Insurance providers that sell policies to businesses in Oregon are not allowed to offer plans that exclude transgender people. Your friend should appeal the insurance decision. Suggest that she enlist the help of her medical provider to navigate the system. She may also want to reach out to the Oregon Insurance Division to make a complaint, or seek help from an attorney to pursue a claim. — Alison Gill, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign

April: What would your recommendation be for people who want to transition but have no reasonable expectation of ever being able to fund it?

Stay positive — coverage for transition-related services for transgender people continues to expand across the country. More states are requiring that insurance providers offer transgender health care, and more businesses offer trans-inclusive benefits. This coverage will only increase as medical providers, insurance companies, and businesses continue to recognize that transition-related care is medically necessary for transgender people. Check out HRC’s Corporate Equality Index to see which corporations offer inclusive benefits, and the Municipal Equality Index and State Equality Index, to see which cities and states have inclusive coverage for their employees. Good luck, April! — Alison Gill, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign

Cris: What is the best way to explain being transgender to children, particularly when it is someone who they know personally?

Hi, Cris – I’d recommend that you keep it simple. If a child’s friend is transgender and will be transitioning socially, say from Sam to Sarah, you can explain that Sam has always felt female. You can tell your child that Sam has known he’s a girl, even though he was born in a boy body. And that Sam has been very unhappy as a boy, and now, as Sarah, she is able to be who she really is and she is so much happier, and that we are all very happy for her. — Ellen Kahn, head of HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth and Families Program

Stephanie: I recently found my sister’s tumblr account and it says how she is transgender. I don’t know if I should tell my sister I know. How should I approach her?

It would be best not to confront her about her tumblr. Instead, make clear to her in everyday conversations that you are an ally to transgender people. Let her know that you are there if she ever wants to talk about anything, and that you love and support her. Referencing “I Am Cait,” or “I Am Jazz” may be a good way to start a conversation about transgender issues. Thank you for being a caring sister, Stephanie. — Alison Gill, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign

Livvie: I’m trans and I don’t know how to come out. Help!

Hi Livvie! We know this can be an exciting time when a person can feel proud, strong, uncertain and nervous all at the same time. Remember that everybody’s circumstances are different and there’s no one right way to ‘come out,’ just as there is no one ‘right way’ to be trans. First, work on finding community with other transgender folks — the Internet can be a place to start, or a local LGBTQ organization that has resources for transgender people. If you live in a rural area, you may want to connect virtually.

When you start telling people, first consider speaking confidentially to the most trusted people in your life. Let them know that you are telling them because you trust them and value their friendship and support. A lot of folks don’t know very much about transgender people, so you might need to answer some questions for them about what it means to be trans.

While there are benefits to coming out to people, there can also be serious risks and consequences. The decision is yours and yours alone. But we encourage you to weigh both risks and rewards before making a choice to tell others. HRC has a great guide for thinking through your coming out process. Check it out: Trans Visibility Guide. — Beck Bailey, Deputy Director of Employee Engagement at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

For more information on the transgender movement, see a list of resources at CaitlynJenner.com.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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Dutch LGBTI activists call for full rights in Caribbean countries

One float in particular stood out at the Amsterdam Pride parade on Saturday.

The parade, which took place on the canal, had a float present to raise awareness about LGBTI rights in Dutch Caribbean countries.

The Netherlands is progressive as a country – it was the first to legalize same sex marriage, in 2001 – but the three other countries which make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, all lag behind.

This is especially true for transgender rights: you cannot change your legal gender, for example.

This is an issue of conservative Catholicism, says LGBTI activist Ramona Pikeur. Pikeur is director of Caribbean gay rights organization Dushi & Proud and organized the Pride float.

‘In the Netherlands we have achieved so much social acceptance. But none of these laws have been enforced in the Caribbean territories,’ she told Gay Star News.

‘There are a number of reasons for this: it’s still considered a sin in the religious culture of those countries and thought of as a sickness of LGBT people.’

LGBT people in the Dutch Caribbean countries face a number of legal problems.

For instance, there are no employment protection laws, and people can be fired simply for being gay.

Pikeur hopes the float will raise awareness in the Netherlands about what is happening abroad. She is sure the governments of these countries will work together amicably.

‘We reached out to organizations in Aruba, St Maarten and Curacao to achieve something we’re too small to achieve alone.

‘[But] the Dutch government are trying their best: they’re trying to avoid acting like “big brother” and saying: “This is what to do and what not to do”.

‘We see now that, around the world and especially with what happened in America and Ireland: the time is ripe, and the government have made it a priority to have gay rights in the whole kingdom.’

The post Dutch LGBTI activists call for full rights in Caribbean countries appeared first on Gay Star News.

Jack Flanagan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/lgbti-rights-activists-call-for-full-rights-in-dutch-caribbean/