Love and Taxes
Yes, the tax deadline is upon us here in the U. S., one of the occasions when the bias against gay and lesbian couples stares me in the face most directly. How are we unequal? Let me count the ways.
Advocating
Workplace Studies Reveal Progress and Opportunities
Two recent, complementary studies of LGBT workplace issues show a positive trend in benefits and attitudes, but do not conceal that there is still room for improvement. The HRC Domestic Partner Benefits (PDF) guide looks at the number of employers offering domestic-partner benefits, associated costs, the impact of anti-discrimination and equal-benefits ordinances, tax implications, “soft”
Weekly Political Roundup
The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says all Roman Catholics should support a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. U. S. Senator and rumored presidential candidate Russell Feingold, D-Wis., announced that he supports marriage equality for same-sex couples. A gay male couple have asked a federal appeals court in California to declare
Non-Bio Mom Awarded Custody
In a landmark case in the UK, a Court of Appeal has ruled that a non-bio mom should be considered the “natural parent” of her former partner’s children and given custody, after the bio mom broke a shared-custody order and moved away. The head of the appeal panel, Lord Justice Thorpe, said that “in the
Restricting Junk Food in Schools; A Good Step, but Not Enough
A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced a bill that would require the Agriculture Department to set new nutritional standards for all food sold in schools, with the goal of restricting junk food sales. Current regulations apply to cafeteria breakfasts and lunches, but not vending-machine or school-store snacks. I’m all for this—but wonder if restrictions
The Gifted Left Behind
The New York Times today reports on schools that are cutting funding for gifted programs in order to meet the requirements for the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Schools are shifting funds to ensure that struggling students attain the law’s basic math and reading levels. This highlights one of the biggest dilemmas facing
Weekly Political Roundup
This week’s big story was that the Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court upheld the 1913 law forbidding non-residents to marry in Massachusetts if their home states do not permit them to marry. The law was originally intended to prohibit interracial marriages. Governor Mitt Romney applauded the ruling, saying “We don’t want Massachusetts to become the Las
Weekly Political Roundup
In New Hampshire, the House voted 207-125 against amending the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. In Ohio, the Cincinnati City Council voted to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in employment, housing and public accommodations. The governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman Jr., has vetoed an anti-gay bill that would
Mauresmo Is Number One
Amélie Mauresmo took over the number one spot on the WTA tour Monday, the second time she’s held that position. This time, she says she feels more confident she’ll hold the ranking at least till the end of the year. (Note to U. S. media: The HTML code for an “e” with an acute accent
The Lesbian- and Gay-Family Threat
Mamazine points out a great column by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll, on the American Family Association’s [sic] boycott of Ford for “[supporting] a social agenda aimed at the destruction of the family.” Carroll says, in part: The gay and lesbian parents I know are too busy to have an agenda, unless the agenda