National

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Lambda Legal & ACLU Ask Federal Court To Stop Enforcement Of Anti-LGBT Hate Law

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of North Carolina, and Lambda Legal today asked a federal court to order an immediate halt to enforcement of a North Carolina law that targets transgender people for discrimination in single-sex facilities.

The three organizations and the law firm of Jenner and Block are challenging the law, House Bill 2, on behalf of six LGBT North Carolinians and members of the ACLU of North Carolina. They filed today’s motion for preliminary injunction while the case proceeds through the court system.

“HB 2 is causing ongoing and serious harm to transgender people in North Carolina and must be put on hold while it is reviewed by the court,” said Chris Brook, ACLU of North Carolina legal director. “The Justice Department has made it clear that HB 2 violates federal law. Gov. McCrory and the North Carolina Legislature wrote into state law discrimination against transgender people who just want to be able to use public facilities safely and securely.”

Kyle Palazzolo, Lambda legal staff attorney, said, “Each day that transgender North Carolinians are singled out by this harmful law, whether they are at school, at work, or just moving through their daily lives in society is another day the state is causing irreparable harm to an already vulnerable community. As Attorney General Lynch said this week, ‘none of us can stand by when a state enters the business of legislating identity and insists that a person pretend to be something they are not, or invents a problem that doesn’t exist as a pretext for discrimination and harassment,’ and we couldn’t agree more.”

Last week, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against North Carolina and Gov. McCrory for violating Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, Title IX, and the Violence Against Women Act just hours after North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice that asks a federal court to determine that HB 2 does not violate federal civil rights laws.

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GLSEN to Honor Amber Schweitzer as Educator of the Year at 2016 GLSEN Respect Awards

GLSEN, the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for all students, today announced that it will honor Colorado teacher Amber Schweitzer with the Educator of the Year Award and New York City’s Academy for Young Writers Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) with the GSA of the Year Award at GLSEN’s Respect Awards – New York, Monday, May 23, at Cipriani 42nd Street. Jussie Smollett, who portrays Jamal on Fox’s “Empire,” will present the award to previously announced honoree Ilene Chaiken.

The GLSEN Respect Awards, introduced in 2004 and held annually in Los Angeles and New York, showcase the work of students, educators, individuals and corporations who serve as exemplary role models and have made a significant impact on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth.

“Rounding out this year’s GLSEN Respect Awards honorees are an educator and GSA that exemplify what it means to create school climates in which all students succeed,” said Dr. Eliza Byard, GLSEN’s Executive Director. “Amber Schweitzer is an exemplary supportive educator whose inclusive curriculum, leadership and community involvement have had a significant impact on the lives of her students. She will join the stage with the GSA at the Academy for Young Writers, whose extraordinary work has encouraged a culture of respect for all in their community. Our research makes clear that it is educators like Amber and GSAs like the Academy for Young Writers that allow all students, including LGBT students, to succeed in school.”

Schweitzer, a teacher at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colo., will be recognized for devoting her teaching career to ensuring a safe and inviting environment for every student. She teaches Yoga, Adventure and Health using a thoughtful curriculum developed to reflect self-acceptance and inclusion while tackling tough topics like gender and sexuality, suicide prevention, mental health and bullying. As the faculty advisory of Castle View High School’s GSA, she has expanded the program from two to 30 students in the past two years, and she has created a network of connections between her students and the LGBT community through her involvement with myriad local organizations.

The Academy for Young Writers, a public secondary school in Brooklyn, N.Y., will be honored for its accomplishments, including working with the school’s principal to ensure the creation of gender-neutral bathrooms, organizing a Pride Month Celebration and anti-bullying pledge initiative, and meeting with educational directors at the New York City Department of Education to advise on inclusive policy such as the Chancellor’s Guidelines on Transgender Students. By coordinating school and community LGBT events, the GSA has changed attitudes fueled by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, celebrated and honored the beauty and success of LGBT individuals, and worked to ensure that every single classroom and hallway is an inclusive and empowering space.

Schweitzer and the Academy for Young Writers GSA will join previously announced honorees George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth, Ilene Chaiken and Optimedia. GLSEN also acknowledges other educators and GSAs that have helped create positive school climates for LGBT youth through the Educator and GSA Honor Rolls. The Educator of the Year Honor Roll members are:

  • Tina De La Fe, Literacy Coach/GSA Sponsor at South Tech Academy, Boynton Beach, Fla.;
  • Anthony (Tony) Gatto, Principal at The Arts & College Preparatory Academy, Columbus, Ohio;
  • Briana Stiller, Behavior Support Specialist at Eugene School District, Eugene, Ore.; and
  • Al Vernacchio, Sexuality Educator and English Department Chair at Friends’ Central School, Philadelphia, Pa.

The GSA of the Year Honor Roll members are:

  • Franklin County High School, Winchester, Tenn., who will receive Special Recognition at the awards;
  • Helix Charter High School, La Mesa, Calif.;
  • Marshall High School, Marshall, Mich.; and
  • Morris Area High School, Morris, Minn.

GLSEN has led the way on LGBT issues in K-12 education since 1990. Through ground-breaking original research, innovative program development, student leadership and educator training, community organizing, and targeted state and federal advocacy, GLSEN has seen the impact of its work with the development of educational resources, direct engagement of youth and educators, and national programs like GLSEN’s Day of Silence, GLSEN’s No Name-Calling Week, and GLSEN’s Ally Week.

The 2016 GLSEN Respect Awards – New York is co-chaired by Cindy Armine-Klein, Chely Blitzer-Wright, Barbara Frankel, Michel Mercure and Ryan Pedlow. Sponsors include Presenting Sponsors Optimedia, Target, The Walt Disney Company and Wells Fargo, as well as Senior Sponsors First Data and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

For more information about the GLSEN Respect Awards – New York, please the event website.

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Justice And Education Departments Issue Trans Rights Guidelines To All Public Schools Nationwide

The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released joint guidance today to help provide educators the information they need to ensure that all students, including transgender students, can attend school in an environment free from discrimination based on sex.

Recently, questions have arisen from school districts, colleges and universities, and others about transgender students and how to best ensure these students, and non-transgender students, can all enjoy a safe and discrimination-free environment.

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 schools receiving federal money may not discriminate based on a student’s sex, including a student’s transgender status. The guidance makes clear that both federal agencies treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of enforcing Title IX.

“No student should ever have to go through the experience of feeling unwelcome at school or on a college campus,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “This guidance further clarifies what we’ve said repeatedly – that gender identity is protected under Title IX. Educators want to do the right thing for students, and many have reached out to us for guidance on how to follow the law. We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence.”

“There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “This guidance gives administrators, teachers, and parents the tools they need to protect transgender students from peer harassment and to identify and address unjust school policies. I look forward to continuing our work with the Department of Education – and with schools across the country – to create classroom environments that are safe, nurturing, and inclusive for all of our young people.”

“Our federal civil rights law guarantees all students, including transgender students, the opportunity to participate equally in school programs and activities without sex discrimination as a core civil right,” said Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. “This guidance answers questions schools have been asking, with a goal to ensure that all students are treated equally consistent with their gender identity. We look forward to continuing to work with schools and school communities to satisfy Congress’ promise of equality for all.”

“Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment that allows them to thrive and grow. And we know that teachers and administrators care deeply about all of their students and want them to succeed in school and life,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our guidance sends a clear message to transgender students across the country: here in America, you are safe, you are protected and you belong – just as you are. We look forward to working with school officials to make the promise of equal opportunity a reality for all of our children.”

The guidance explains that when students or their parents, as appropriate, notify a school that a student is transgender, the school must treat the student consistent with the student’s gender identity. A school may not require transgender students to have a medical diagnosis, undergo any medical treatment, or produce a birth certificate or other identification document before treating them consistent with their gender identity.

The guidance also explains schools’ obligations to:

* Respond promptly and effectively to sex-based harassment of all students, including harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived gender identity, transgender status, or gender transition;

* Treat students consistent with their gender identity even if their school records or identification documents indicate a different sex;

* Allow students to participate in sex-segregated activities and access sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity; and

* Protect students’ privacy related to their transgender status under Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

At the same time, the guidance makes clear that schools can provide additional privacy options to any student for any reason. The guidance does not require any student to use shared bathrooms or changing spaces, when, for example, there are other appropriate options available; and schools can also take steps to increase privacy within shared facilities.

In addition to the Departments’ joint Title IX guidance, the Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education also released Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students, a compilation of policies and practices that schools across the country are already using to support transgender students. The document shares some common questions on topics such as school records, privacy, and terminology, and then explains how some state and school district policies have answered these questions, which may be useful for other states and school districts that are considering these issues. In this document, the Education Department does not endorse any particular policy, but offers examples from actual policies to help educators develop policies and practices for their own schools.

Many parents, schools, and districts have raised questions about this area of civil rights law. Together, these documents will help navigate what may be a new terrain for some.

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Lawsuit Seeks Records Tied to Eisenhower’s Ant-igay Orders

A gay rights group sued the Justice Department on Wednesday for failing to produce hundreds of pages of documents related to a 1953 order signed by President Dwight Eisenhower that empowered federal agencies to investigate and fire employees thought to be gay.

The suit in U.S. District Court accuses the government of conducting an inadequate search for the material and of groundlessly withholding some records on the basis of national security.

Executive Order 10450 allowed broad categories of federal workers, including those with criminal records, drug addiction and “sexual perversion,” to be singled out for scrutiny and termination as threats to national security. Suspicions of homosexuality led to the firings of between 7,000 and 10,000 workers in the 1950s alone, according to a 2014 report from the Merit Systems Protections Board.

“We want to know, and history needs to know, how this thing was administered and how it was enforced, and what was the dynamic inside the Justice Department and the FBI driving” it, said Charles Francis, president of the Mattachine Society. The gay rights research and education organization has sought to obtain the records since 2013.

“This is an issue of public importance — how your government treats people who work for it, how your government has historically targeted people based on their LGBT status and destroyed their lives,” said Paul Thompson, a partner at McDermott Will and Emery LLP, the law firm that filed the Freedom of Information Act suit. “People are paying attention to this right now.”

The Justice Department had no immediate comment on the suit.

Eisenhower’s order came at a time of widespread anti-gay discrimination authorized at the highest levels of government, including a 1950 Senate subcommittee report that concluded that gays were unsuitable as federal employees.

Under a “sex deviate program” put in place by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, agents were directed to “completely and fully” investigate anything about a prospective employee’s sexual orientation developed during background checks. A May 1950 FBI bulletin to local police agencies told officers to make a notation on arrest fingerprint cards if anyone they arrested on suspicion of being a “sex deviate” worked for the federal government. The FBI collected those cards.

The executive order went a step further by effectively approving of the investigation and firing of federal workers believed to be gay.

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Nationwide LGBTQ Crowdsourcing Campaign Reveals Optimism About the Future, Fear of Backlash

LGBTQ Americans have much to celebrate in growing public acceptance and legal victories in recent years, but many worry these gains might be lost in the face of a conservative backlash. This insight on the “tempered optimism” of LGBTQ Americans emerged from a crowdsourcing campaign designed to understand the hopes, fears and ideas on the minds of LGBTQ people across the country.

Our Tomorrow--Our Tomorrow is the first campaign of its kind to engage people nationwide in a conversation about the future of the movement. Supported by more than 140 organizations, the conversation revealed 52 issues on the minds of more than 5,000 participants from all 50 states—from  “acceptance” and “aging” to the “workplace” and “youth.”

The full analysis of the conversation can be viewed at shareourtomorrow.org/lgbt-conversation-insights/.

“Our Tomorrow enabled LGBTQ people everywhere to engage in an open and wide-ranging conversation about our future at a crucial time in our history,” said Our Tomorrow campaign manager Lee Swislow. “There is unmistakable optimism about all we’ve accomplished—and awareness that much remains to be done.”

The findings represent one of the largest and broadest datasets ever created about the concerns of LGBTQ people, which The Advocate magazine said presents “a clearer picture than ever before of the U.S. LGBT community.” The information is intended to help inform the ongoing work of participating organizations, which ranged from national nonprofits to local community centers.

“Our hope is that these findings inform the work of organizations and individuals working to improve the lives of LGBTQ people everywhere,” said Kevin Jennings, executive director of the Arcus Foundation, which helped fund the campaign. “Our Tomorrow engaged the full diversity of the LGBTQ community — from all parts of the country and all walks of life. As a movement, it’s important that we listen to and learn from what they had to say.”

The campaign collected 14,509 hopes, fears and ideas from 5,663 individuals in all 50 states—including a significant number of participants from often overlooked and underrepresented groups. Because the responses were open-ended, researchers trained in linguistic analysis spent weeks interpreting the results.

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Missouri: Execs From Time Warner, T-Mobile, Starwood, and Others Call for Defeat of SJR 39

Executives from Time Warner Cable, T-Mobile US, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Etsy, Zynga, and others have signed onto an open letter now including over 60 major CEOs and business leaders urging Missouri lawmakers to stop the discriminatory Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 39 from moving forward. SJR 39 would lead to a ballot measure that proposes to allow individuals, organizations, and businesses to use religion as an excuse to discriminate against LGBT people.

The updated letter addressed to Missouri House of Representatives Speaker Todd Richardson, which was originally released on April 13, 2016, can be found below.

“Missourians don’t want to see us go back to a time when people could be turned away and discriminated against just because of who they are, or what they look like,” said HRC President Chad Griffin in announcing the open letter. “The vast majority of Americans believe laws like these — which are designed to make LGBT people second-class citizens in their own homes, schools and communities — are wrong. That’s why CEOs of some of the largest companies in Missouri and America are speaking out against SJR 39 today. Not only would this bill hurt their employees and their consumers, they know it would also be terrible for business and Missouri’s economy.”

SJR 39 goes far beyond protecting the right of free exercise of one’s religion. While shrouded in language framed as prohibiting the state government from making funding or tax status decisions based on an organization’s views on marriage that are driven by religious belief, in reality it opens the door to discrimination against same-sex couples, their families, and those who love them.

The legislation could have reckless intended and unintended consequences. If voted into law, LGBT people and their families could suddenly find themselves at risk of being denied many basic services. Businesses could refuse to provide goods or services to same-sex couples. Taxpayer-funded foster care providers and adoption agencies could refuse to place children in need of loving homes with same-sex couples. Taxpayer-funded homeless shelters could turn away LGBT couples and their families. The measure could also undermine existing LGBT non-discrimination protections passed at the local level, including in cities like Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis.

In addition to the major CEOs and business leaders signing onto this letter, the discriminatory proposal has received widespread condemnation from fair-minded Missourians and businesses throughout the state, including Governor Jay Nixon, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Dow Chemical Company, and Monsanto. The St. Louis Regional Chamber said the proposal is “counter to MO values & will have negative economic consequences.” Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have also spoke out against the resolution.

Despite a historic filibuster by Senate Democrats attempting to stop the anti-equality majority from moving the resolution forward, the Senate passed the measure in early March, and it is now pending consideration in the House of Representatives.

The discriminatory measure addresses no real problem in the state as no federal or state law requires religious organizations or clergy to sanction or perform same-sex marriages.

The full letter from major CEOs and business leaders states:

Dear Speaker Richardson,

We write with concerns about legislation your chamber is currently considering, SJR 39, which would place on the statewide ballot, a constitutional amendment that would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Missourians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, in their family life and more. Put simply, SJR 39 is not an initiative that reflects the values of our companies.

We were disappointed to see the Senate pass this discriminatory legislation. The business community, by and large, has consistently communicated to lawmakers at every level that such laws are bad for our employees and bad for business. This is not a direction in which states move when they are seeking to provide successful, thriving hubs for business and economic development. We believe that SJR 39 will make it far more challenging for businesses across the state to recruit and retain the nation’s best and brightest workers and attract the most talented students from across the country. It will also diminish the state’s draw as a destination for tourism, new businesses, and economic activity.

Discrimination is wrong, and we believe it has no place in Missouri or anywhere in our country. As companies that pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming to all, we strongly urge you to work to ensure this bill is not brought to the ballot.

Sincerely,

Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Brandee Barker, Cofounder and Partner, Pramana Collective
Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce
Chip Bergh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Levi Strauss and Co.
Michael Birch, Founder, The Battery
Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa, co-CEOs, Warby Parker
Steven Boal, CEO, Quotient
Craig Bromley, President, John Hancock Financial
Wes Bush, Chairman, CEO and President of Northrop Grumman
Lloyd Carney, CEO, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Founder and CEO, Joyus
Amy Chang, CEO, Accompany
Alex Constantinople, CEO, The OutCast Agency
Chad Dickerson, CEO, Etsy
Amy Erret, Founder and CEO, Madison-Reed
Jared Fliesler, General Partner, Matrix Partners
Jennifer Fonstad, Cofounder and Managing Partner, Aspect Ventures
Joe Gebbia, Cofounder and CPO, Airbnb
Jason Goldberg, Founder, Pepo
Peter T. Grauer, Chairman, Bloomberg L.P.
Julia Hartz, Cofounder and President, Eventbrite
David Hassell, CEO, 15Five
Robert Hohman, Founder and CEO, Glassdoor
Drew Houston, CEO, Dropbox
Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and Chair, Emerson Collective
Steve Joyce, President and Chief Executive Officer, Choice Hotels International, Inc.
David Karp, Founder and CEO, Tumblr
Travis Katz, CEO, Gogobot
Albrecht Kissel, President, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica
Kees Kruythoff, President, North America, Unilever
Brian Krzanich, CEO, Intel
Sarah Leary, Cofounder, Nextdoor
Aileen Lee, Founder and Managing Partner, Cowboy Ventures
John Legere, President & CEO, T-Mobile US
Max Levchin, CEO, Affirm, Inc.
Aaron Levie, CEO, Box
Dion Lim, CEO, NextLesson
Andrew N. Liveris, CEO and Chairman of the Board, The Dow Chemical Company
Joe Lonsdale, General Partner, 8VC
Tom Mangas, CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Rob Marcus, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable
Melody McCloskey, Founder, StyleSeat
Dr. Nathan Myhrvold, Founder and CEO, Intellectual Ventures
Christopher J. Nassetta, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hilton Worldwide
Lorrie Norrington, Operating Partner, Lead Edge Capital
Bob Page, Chairman and CEO, Replacements, Ltd.
Sunil Paul, Founding Partner, Spring Ventures
Michelle Peluso, CEO, Gilt
Mark Pincus, Founder and Executive Chairman, Zynga
Kevin Ryan, Founder and Chairman, AlleyCorp
Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Technology Association
Tom Sheahan, CEO, Red Oxygen
Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International
Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO, Yelp
Christopher J. Swift, Chairman and CEO, The Hartford
Brian Tippens, Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
David Tisch, Managing Partner, BoxGroup
Nirav Tolia, Cofounder and CEO, Nextdoor
Anne Wojcicki, CEO, 23andMe
Robert Wolfe, CEO, CrowdRise
Emanuel Seth Yekutiel, CEO, ESY Strategies
John Zimmer, Cofounder and President, Lyft

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Lesbian Couple Sues North Carolina Over Anti-LGBT HB2

 

A lesbian couple has filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over the recently introduced HB2.

Beverly Newell, 45, and Kelly Trent, 39, say that a fertility clinic turned them down based on their sexual orientation.

They have joined a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which alleges that the highly controversial HB2 has led to discrimination.

In a statement released on Friday, Newell said: “It’s unnerving to know that we could be turned away by any business for being a same-sex couple and have no recourse because of HB2.

“HB2 has encouraged this type of conduct and we no longer have the ability to file discrimination complaints when this type of thing happens in our home city of Charlotte. The bill has made it OK to harm LGBT people. The state of North Carolina is better than this.”

The lawsuit was filed last month in a US District Court in North Carolina, and was modified on Friday to include the names of the new plaintiffs.

Among others, Governor Pat McCrory was named as a defendant – he signed the bill, and has continually defended it against swathes of criticism from across the US and beyond.

“HB2 has exposed them to discrimination based on sexual orientation,” ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Gill told ABC News.

“It was their experience that all of the discussion about HB2 and its effects was basically giving license to businesses in the state to discriminate. They did experience discrimination and are worried it would happen again.”

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Mississippi Outed for High Gay Porn Consumption

 

GameLinkThe high consumption of gay pornography by residents of Mississippi on adult e-tail Web site GameLink.com is in stark contrast with the state’s recently signed anti-gay measures. Mississippi ranks #6 in the United States for gay pornography viewed on GameLink.com.
The new laws give businesses, and even some health care providers, the right to refuse service to gay couples based on religious principles. The laws were presented, voted on, and signed in a short 12-hour window on March 24.
“Our user data show Mississippi has been consuming gay and transsexual pornography at a high rate in comparison to the rest of the country,” explained GameLink.com representative Jeff Dillon, who is the vice president of business development for GameLink’s parent company, eLine.com. “It’s unfortunate to see that their diverse viewing habits do not translate into an open-minded society.”
In addition to ranking #6 in the country in regards to the number of gay porn scenes and movies streamed or purchased via GameLink.com, Mississippi also ranks #11 in transsexual porn consumption.
Ranked above Mississippi for gay porn consumption in order are New York, California, Ohio, Texas, and Florida. For transsexual porn consumption, states ahead of Mississippi include, in order, California, New York, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

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LA Governor Signs Non-discrimination Executive Order; Rescinds Marriage and Conscience Executive Order

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order providing employment protections for state employees and employees of state contractors on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, disability, or age. This executive order also prohibits discrimination in services provided by state agencies, and recognizes an exemption for churches and religious organizations.

Similar executive orders were signed by former Governors Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco and are in place around the country. There is currently no state law protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) Louisianans from employment discrimination.

“We are fortunate enough to live in a state that is rich with diversity, and we are built on a foundation of unity and fairness for all of our citizens,” said Gov. Edwards. “We respect our fellow citizens for their beliefs, but we do not discriminate based on our disagreements. I believe in giving every Louisianan the opportunity to be successful and to thrive in our state. Our goal is to promote the opportunities we have right here in Louisiana. While this executive order respects the religious beliefs of our people, it also signals to the rest of the country that discrimination is not a Louisiana value, but rather, that Louisiana is a state that is respectful and inclusive of everyone around us.”

“GNO, Inc. commends Governor John Bel Edwards for his executive order barring discrimination in Louisiana,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “The perception of Louisiana’s reputation has gone from worst to first in recent years, and this action will help to solidify Louisiana’s current reputation as a welcoming place for business and talent.”

In an effort to cultivate competitive, business-friendly economies, Shreveport and New Orleans have passed municipal ordinances that provide similar protections.

“The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce has supported nondiscrimination protections for LGBT workers at both the state level and locally for years, and we congratulate Gov. Edwards on making it official that state workers and employees of state contractors will not be discriminated against,” said Rev. Lindy Broderick, Executive Vice President, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. “A welcoming and fair workplace is not only the right thing to do, but is good for business. Companies, cities, and states seeking to attract top talent and build a competitive workforce make it clear they do not discriminate.”

Gov. Edwards stood with the business community and LGBT citizens in opposition to former Governor Bobby Jindal’s executive order extending provisions included in Mike Johnson’s Marriage and Conscience Act rejected by the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure during last year’s regular legislative session. Many in the legislature and the business community felt Governor Jindal’s executive order was not only unnecessary, but bad for business, tourism, and the Louisiana economy.

“The previous administration’s executive I am rescinding was meant to serve a narrow political agenda, “said Gov. Edwards. “It does nothing but divide our state and forced the business community, from Louisiana’s smallest businesses to large corporations, like IBM, to strongly oppose it. This executive order threatens Louisiana’s business growth, and it goes against everything we stand for– unity, acceptance, and opportunity for all.”

Louisiana passed the strongest religious liberty protections in the country in 2010, the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, which Gov. Edwards supported. This executive order does not conflict with this law.

“Businesses like Moonbot must do everything we can to attract top creative talent to Louisiana. The Marriage and Conscience Order sanctions unfair discrimination and prevents growth in Louisiana’s creative economy,” said Lampton Enochs, CEO of Oscar winning, Louisiana-based Moonbot Studios. “I applaud the decision to rescind this executive order and fully support the executive order extending nondiscrimination protections to LGBT government employees and contractors. This is a step in the right direction and supports Moonbot’s mission to recruit the best talent in the country – no matter the candidate’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”

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Maryland Legislature Passes Historic Equal Pay Bill

 

Late Saturday, the Maryland legislature passed a historic bill that, if signed by Gov. Hogan, will make Maryland a national leader in closing the gender pay gap. The governor now has three weeks to sign the bill to make it law.

“Maryland made history on Saturday. With the Governor’s signature, Maryland will become a national leader in the fight to close the gender pay gap,” said Charly Carter, executive director of Maryland Working Families. “This is a huge victory for women, for transgender equality, and for working families across the state.

“Nearly 40 percent of households have a female breadwinner, and those families simply can’t afford to be making less. We believe in this bill because it tackles the two biggest impediments to equal pay for equal work: pay secrecy and the tracking of people based on gender into jobs with less responsibility and lower wages.

“We urge Gov. Hogan to not stand in the way of history, and sign this bill. Working families need pay equality, and we need it now.”

Facts on Maryland’s historic proposed Equal Pay law:

  • This bill tackles the root of the pay gap — it expands transparency, allows employees to talk about their wages with one another, and eliminates the so-called ‘mommy track’ that sidetracks many women from success in the workplace.

  • It allows Marylanders to get justice in two ways: through lawsuit, or by filing complaints with the state’s labor commissioner.

  • The bill covers anyone discriminated against on the basis of gender, including women and transgender Maryland residents.

  • It makes Maryland the national leader on gender pay equality protections.

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