Tag Archives: equality

Democrats Introduce Sweeping, Historic Bill to Protect LGBT Rights

by FredManifold32 Posted on July 23, 2015

Mother Jones

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Members of Congress introduced on Thursday a historically comprehensive bill that would create federal standards to protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, workplaces, schools, public accommodations, and financial transactions.

Same-sex marriage is now the law of the land, but most states still lack laws explicitly prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people in other areas. “This means that while same-sex couples can today legally marry, tomorrow they could lose their jobs, be kicked out of a restaurant, or be turned down for a mortgage, just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a cosponsor of the bill, said in Washington before its introduction in the House and Senate.

The Equality Act, as it’s known, would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin—to also include protections for LGBT people. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who became the fourth openly gay member of Congress five years ago, cited staggering statistics to support the bill. He said 63 percent of LGBT Americans have reported experiencing discrimination at some point in their lives, and that 56 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have experienced discrimination when trying to get health care. “The current system, this patchwork of protections and lack of protections for the LGBT community in our states, is not working,” he said Thursday.

But the Equality Act will likely face opposition from Republican lawmakers. In 2013, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would have prohibited discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, passed in the Senate but died in the GOP-controlled House.

Only 21 states explicitly outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and of those, 19 states plus Washington, DC, also prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity, according to the Human Rights Campaign. For a better sense of the fragmented landscape, check out the following maps on employment discrimination, housing discrimination, discrimination in public places, and credit discrimination, courtesy of the Movement Advancement Project, a Colorado-based think tank.

Employment discrimination and sexual orientation/gender identity Movement Advancement Project

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. – See more at: http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws#sthash.yu3LZkag.dpuf

Housing discrimination and sexual orientation/gender identity Movement Advancement Project

Public accommodation discrimination and sexual orientation/gender identity Movement Advancement Project

Credit discrimination and sexual orientation/gender identity Movement Advancement Project

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Democrats Introduce Sweeping, Historic Bill to Protect LGBT Rights

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Where You Grow Up Has a Big Effect on How Much You Earn As An Adult

by ShelaChoaiv Posted on May 6, 2015

Mother Jones

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It’s pretty obvious that where you live as an adult has a major impact on your financial situation. It’s way more expensive to live in San Francisco, for example, than in Iowa. But a recent study suggests that where you grow up has a significant impact on your chances of financial success later in life.

The Equality of Opportunity Project, run by Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren, looked at tax records on 5 million families who moved between counties from 1996 to 2012. Analyzing those records, the researchers were able to measure the relative annual income differentials before and after moving. The researchers found several local factors seem to impact a child’s future earning capabilities: race and income segregation, exacerbated income inequality, quality of schools, crime, and the prevalence of two-parent households.

The full list of counties shows that DuPage County, Illinois, just west of Chicago, could be the best of the country’s top 100 counties in terms of children’s upward mobility. Simply by living there, a child could add about $200 to his or her annual income at age 26, a 15 percent premium over the county average nationwide. The worst county for future mobility, Baltimore City, puts children in a position to make more than 17 percent less than the county average.

To see how your county fares, check out the New York Times‘ interactive presentation of the study’s findings.

Chetty and Hendren write that their study “suggests that policy makers seeking to improve mobility should focus on improving childhood environments (e.g., by improving local schools) and not just on the strength of the local labor market availability of jobs.” In other words, trying to provide more economic opportunity for adults starts with leveling the playing field for kids, regardless of where they grow up.

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Where You Grow Up Has a Big Effect on How Much You Earn As An Adult

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Singer and Hardcore LGBT Rights Supporter Demi Lovato Made This Lovely Video for Marriage Equality

by JaxonFinsch Posted on July 10, 2014

Mother Jones

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Singer and actress Demi Lovato is a strong supporter of LGBT rights. She played a lesbian character on Fox’s Glee, served as the Grand Marshal of the Los Angeles Pride Parade this year, and has spoken openly about her grandfather’s homosexuality. “I believe in gay marriage, I believe in equality,” Lovato told Cambio magazine. “I think there’s a lot of hypocrisy with religion…I just found that you can have your own relationship with God, and I still have a lot of faith.”

Now, she’s made a video (watch above) with the Human Rights Campaign in support of marriage equality. The video, released on Wednesday, is part of HRC’s recently re-launched Americans for Marriage Equality campaign, which includes messages from Hillary Clinton, Bryan Cranston, Mo’Nique, and Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. Here is Lovato’s message:

Hey, guys, I’m Demi Lovato, and I’m an American for marriage equality. I believe that love comes in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. So whether you’re LGBT or straight, your love is valid, beautiful, and an incredible gift. So let’s protect love and strengthen the institution of marriage by allowing loving, caring, and committed same-sex couples to legally marry. Please join me and the majority of American citizens who support marriage equality.

“We reached out to her a couple months ago knowing what a supporter of LGBT equality she is, and thought she would be great for this campaign,” Charles Joughin, an HRC spokesman, told Mother Jones. He also mentioned that they have more Americans for Marriage Equality videos lined up featuring other big names, from pro-athletes and movie stars to politicians and civil rights leaders. HRC will likely be released one video a week over the coming months.

When asked if Lovato has any further plans to work with the LGBT civil rights group, Joughin said that nothing was discussed, but that they’d be more than happy to do so. “She certainly has done a lot for the larger movement…We haven’t taken it into consideration, but we’re such big fans of her we’d be thrilled to work with her in the future. Whether she’s doing work with HRC, or elsewhere, I am certain this is a cause she’s very committed to.”

Now check out this video about Lovato sticking it to Russian president Vladimir Putin (and his anti-gay policies) during her New York City gay pride performance this summer. During the show, two of Lovato’s male backup dancers shared a kiss; one of them appeared to be naked and was holding a picture of Putin’s face over his crotch:

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Singer and Hardcore LGBT Rights Supporter Demi Lovato Made This Lovely Video for Marriage Equality

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Our Dystopian New Normal

by Myrna Posted on July 21, 2013

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America was supposed to be different. Now economic inequality seems insurmountable. By Lloyd Green.

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Our Dystopian New Normal

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Our Dystopian New Normal

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