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
Stephen King Blasts Indiana 'Religious Liberty' Law: It's an Anti-Gay, Discriminatory 'Dog Turd'
(twitter)
Author Stephen King spoke out on Twitter this evening, slamming Indiana’s “religious liberty” law:
“Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it’s still a dog turd.”
Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it’s still a dog turd.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 31, 2015
Andy Towle
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?
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:
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
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
Madonna And Taylor Swift Perform 'Ghosttown' Together In Stellar iHeartRadio Awards Performance: WATCH
Madonna and Taylor Swift took to the stage last night at the iHeartRadio Awards for a collaboration of Madonna’s new single “Ghosttown” with Swift jamming on an acoustic guitar and Madonna providing vocals. Swift joins the numerous pop starlets before her (Spears, Aguilera, Cyrus) to team up with the iconic star on stage..
Watch Madonna belt it out as Swift strikes a sexy pose on stage, AFTER THE JUMP…
Anthony Costello
Russia Fails to Block Same-Sex Spousal Benefits for U.N. Employees
Much to the chagrin of some of the world’s most homophobic governments, lesbian, gay and bisexual staffers at the United Nations will be able to share benefits with their same-sex spouses.
Thom Senzee
www.advocate.com/world/2015/03/30/russia-fails-block-same-sex-spousal-benefits-un-employees
Duke Comes Out Against Indiana's 'Religious Freedom' Law Ahead Of Final Four
Duke University, one of four teams left in the NCAA’s March Madness tournament, on Monday became the latest institution to publicly come out against the “religious freedom” law recently passed in Indiana.
Duke, along with Wisconsin, Kentucky and Michigan State, will head to Indianapolis for the Final Four this weekend. The championship game will also be held in the state next Monday.
Michael Schoenfeld, Duke’s vice president for public affairs and government relations, issued a statement on Monday in response to Indiana’s newly passed law, saying the university shared the NCAA’s concerns (emphasis ours):
Duke University continues to stand alongside the LGBT community in seeking a more equal and inclusive world, and we deplore any effort to legislate bias and discrimination. We share the NCAA’s concern about the potential impact of the new law, and will be vigilant to ensure that our student-athletes, supporters, and indeed all citizens and visitors are treated fairly and with respect.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) last week. Under the measure, individuals or corporations are allowed to cite their religious beliefs if sued by another party, and many critics believe it would allow businesses to legally discriminate against others, specifically the LGBT community.
Duke’s statement follows that of NBA analyst Charles Barkely, who called the bill “unacceptable” and suggested that sporting events such as the Final Four and the Super Bowl should not be held in states with such legislation. The NBA and the WNBA also came out strongly against the law, as did their respective teams in Indiana, all promising inclusion at their events.
The NCAA itself also spoke out following the law’s passage last week, expressing concern about how it “could affect our student-athletes and employees.”
HuffPost has reached out to the three other Final Four teams on the issue, but requests for comment have not been returned.
Nancy Pelosi Speaks Out Against Discriminatory Law in Indiana
In a statement today, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke out against Indiana’s discriminatory law that would allow business and individuals to discriminate against the LGBT community.
HRC.org
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