LGBT Rights and Business
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Few Bright Spots for LGBT Giving in 2010
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Uniting Gay Rights and Labor for One of the Best Boycotts Around
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God Save the Queen...With LGBT Police Guards
Using Disneyland to Sell Gay Marriage in Iowa
Published October 03, 2009 @ 03:07AM PT
Here's something that Iowa has that California does not: same-sex marriage. Here's something that Iowa sees that California does not: tourism dollars from gay couples coming into the state to get married. That's a fact not lost on gay rights organizations or those in the same-sex wedding business, who turned to Disneyland this past week to help them sell gay marriage in the Hawkeye State.
Folks with the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA) traveled to Disneyland during Gay Days to promote marriage equality in Iowa, and to let California same-sex couples know that if they need a wedding vacation destination, Iowa is as good a place as any -- at least when it comes to places that promote equality.
"We want people to know that if the California Legislature is unwilling to take the step to give gay couples the right to marry, then please consider coming to Iowa where we will gladly welcome you with open arms," Jenison said. Prop 8, however, has pretty much rendered the legislature moot on this point. It now becomes a will of the voters to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage.
But the point is still there -- if certain states are going to ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples, then there are other states that will eagerly strike to catch some of the same-sex wedding business. California might have Disneyland and a magic tea-cup ride, but Iowa has equal rights. I know which one I'd rather have.
(Photo courtesy of ewen and donabel's photostream on Flickr.)
Ben & Jerry's Celebrates Vermont Gay Marriage with "Hubby Hubby"
Published August 31, 2009 @ 02:56PM PT
Vermont's legislature - despite their Republican Governor's wishes - passed legislation earlier this year recognizing full marriage equality in the state. That law takes effect tomorrow, September 1, and to celebrate Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's is altering the name of one flavor of ice cream to show their support for same-sex marriage.
Starting tomorrow, and continuing on through the month of September, Ben & Jerry's "Chubby Hubby" ice cream will become "Hubby Hubby" ice cream. The new recipe? It's basically the same old recipe - vanilla malt ice cream, pretzel nuggets covered in fudge and filled with peanut butter, with fudge and peanut butter swirls throughout - except there's a little love for the LGBT folk thrown in.
This continues Ben & Jerry's support for equal rights. Earlier this year, as the legislature was debating the same-sex marriage bill, Ben & Jerry's urged politicians to support marriage equality. At the time they said it was in the best interests of Vermont's business community to take a progressive stand on same-sex marriage, in order to foster equality and attract the best and brightest employees.
Iowa's Gay Marriage Tourism Boost
Published August 31, 2009 @ 01:41AM PT
Iowa is one of six states that currently recognize marriage equality in the United States. It's the only one outside of the northeastern United States, and as might be expected, it's serving as a tourist destination for gays and lesbians from neighboring states looking to tie the knot. And that's not only a good thing for same-sex marriage, that's a good thing for Iowa's economy.
According to statistics released by the Des Moines Register, there have been 676 same-sex marriage certificates issued in Iowa between April 2009 and July 2009. Of those, more than 300 were issued to couples from outside of Iowa. That includes 57 from Illinois, 38 from Nebraska, 37 from Missouri, and 36 from Minnesota - all Iowa's neighbors. Nine couples from Minnesota alone got married this weekend in Iowa.
As the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School has documented, when states legalize same-sex marriage, their economy stands to improve. Why? Because of an injection of income into their state from couples planning weddings, and (in the case of Iowa) from couples and wedding parties from other states (where same-sex marriage is not legal) traveling and visiting. It's a small benefit of marriage equality - after all, civil rights are not at all about doing what's financially profitable and all about doing what's morally right. But it's still an important distinction to note.
This week will mark the five-month anniversary of the Iowa Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Sadly, organizations like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) are looking to attack LGBT rights in Iowa, making it one of their state priorities to repeal marriage rights.
This is Why We Need an Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Published August 20, 2009 @ 12:06PM PT
Candice Metzler's story sums up just why we need an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.
Who is Candice Metzler? She's profiled in a Salt Lake City Tribune article today, as is her story which involves being "let go" from a job in the home inspection business after coming out as transgender. And she's just the latest person in Utah - nay, around the country - to lose their job simply because of gender identity or sexual orientation.
According to the Trib, Metzler wanted to let her colleagues know that she was beginning the transition from male to female, and showed up at a company picnic wearing mascara, eyeliner and white-tipped acrylic nails. Three months later, the Trib reports, she was homeless and jobless after the company eliminated her position. The employer said her transgender status was driving customers away.
Currently, there are 38 states that allow transgender people to be fired from their jobs simply on the basis of gender identity. In 29 states, someone can lose their job because of their sexual orientation.
Both of those statistics are unjust, and a sign of backwards progression in the struggle for equal rights. Metzler's story is just the tip of the iceberg. A trans woman in Philadelphia was fired from a company because she refused to provide her employer with a picture of her genitals. In January, a court ruled that a transgender employee in Indiana could legally be fired from a retail store because of gender identity. The list goes on and on.
ENDA would stop workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There's a version of ENDA in both houses of Congress, and President Obama has vowed to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk. If you haven't signed the petition on change.org encouraging your legislators to support ENDA, please consider doing so today. Given the fact that people can be fired for who they are in more than half of this country, the time to act is now.
As for Metzler? Tonight she's hosting a forum on transgender issues in Salt Lake City, and she's also studying psychology at the University of Utah. She told the Salt Lake City Tribune that she hopes someday to work with LGBT homeless youth.
Talk about inspiring.
Gay? Fine by me. Gay Marriage, too.
Published August 18, 2009 @ 03:55AM PT
This has been the summer of T-shirts. First there was the dust-up over the Legalize Gay T-shirts sold at American Apparel, with a store in Silver Spring, Maryland being attacked by an anti-LGBT vandal because of the company's support for LGBT rights. American Apparel reaffirmed their commitment to equality, and vowed to continue selling the shirts.
Then MIss Do-Gooder entered the fray with a T-shirt meant to help stamp out homophobia, with proceeds from each shirt being given back to the LGBT population in the form of a donation to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Now it's Atticus Circle's turn, as they launch a campaign over their new shirts, "Gay? Fine by me." and "Gay Marriage? Fine by Me." This T-shirt comes with a twist that's rooted in a little bit of fashion, and a little bit of community organizing. It's meant to help pull support from not only LGBT peeps, but also straight allies, with groups urging concerted campaigns to wear the T-shirts to display support for LGBT rights.
Atticus Circle's founder, Anne Wynne, said that the shirts are a simple and effective way to push for LGBT rights like a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or marriage equality. "We see this as a crucial time for our political leaders to seize the day and take action," Wynne said. "To show that this is a priority, we need to make ourselves more visible and raise our voices. We hope our shirt campaign, involving college students, faculty and staff across the nation, will help LGBT supporters make our leaders aware of the need to stand up for equality now."
The shirts already have a track record of helping to change hearts, minds, and perceptions. They originally started in 2003 by a Duke University student, in response to the fact that Duke was named one of the least LGBT-friendly schools in the entire country. Commence T-shirt campaign, and not only has Duke improved its image, but a viral T-shirt campaign got birthed.
Get Rid of Your Labels About Sexual Minorities
Published August 17, 2009 @ 06:32AM PT
Someone is challenging you to discard your labels and your prejudices about sexual minorities. That someone is Absolut Vodka, and they're putting their marketing campaign where their mouth is, by creating a labelless bottle. The point? To plug equality by saying that no matter what's on the outside of the package, it's what's on the inside that matters. And that kind of relates to people, too.
Absolut has been at the forefront of LGBT advertising for years, winning plenty of awards from organizations like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) along the way. But this campaign, similar to the "Think Before You Speak" campaign from the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, takes on the power of language and words to label, and how those labels create trouble when it comes to discrimination, prejudice and fear-mongering.
"For the first time we dare to face the world completely naked. We launch a bottle with no label and no logo, to manifest the idea that no matter what’s on the outside, it’s the inside that really matters. We do it in support of the people who spend their entire lives, stamped with labels by other people," said Absolut PR Manager Kristina Hagbard.
Even sleeker than a bottle with no label? Absolut has launched a blog to talk about the no label campaign, rife with information (and a heaping dose of sarcastic snark) directed toward prejudice within and toward the LGBT community.
Companies market to LGBT folks all of the time. But companies rarely immerse their product in the thick of the LGBT world to make a broader point about equality. This is one advertising campaign whose central message is one everyone can buy into, whether they drink alcohol or not: In an absolute world, there are no labels.
Tim Hortons Pulls Sponsorship from Anti-LGBT Event!
Published August 10, 2009 @ 11:49AM PT
Folks, this is huge. In the past 17 hours, we've had more than 1,600 folks send letters to Tim Hortons, asking why a franchise in Rhode Island was sponsoring an anti-LGBT festival hosted by the National Organization for Marriage. Well, guess what? Tim Hortons has answered our emails, loud and clear. Here's the message that just came in from their company headquarters.
Tim Hortons responds to inquiries about Rhode Island event sponsorship
Recently, Tim Hortons was approached in Rhode Island to provide free coffee and products for a local event, as we do thousands of times a year across Canada and the United States.
For 45 years, Tim Hortons and its store owners have practiced a philosophy of giving back to the communities in which we operate. As a company, our primary focus is on helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities.
For this reason, Tim Hortons has not sponsored those representing religious groups, political affiliates or lobby groups.
It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event.
Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.
Now that's the power of social media and social action! Please consider thanking the company in the comments section of this post. This is great news, folks, and thanks again for taking action.
