New Jersey Legislatures approved gay marriage rights, giving it the chance to be the eight state with equal marriage rights. Although Gov. Christie says he will veto the bill, the LGBT community of NJ is still celebrating the historical step taken. The Huffington Post quoted:
“Steven Goldstein, chairman of the gay rights group Garden State Equality, echoed the speaker’s sentiments.
‘Today, the Legislature has brought us to the promised land,” said Goldstein. “We know the governor won’t let us enter, but we finally behold the view of our dreams and we will never turn back.’”
Congratulations New Jersey on being one step closer!
With Love,
Hudson Grove & Co.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, Facebook embraced the cause and turned to two of its pages purple – Facebook Diversity and Facebook Safety. In honor of Spirit Day, Facebook is encouraging its staff and users to join the movement by coloring their Facebook profile picture purple in support, symbolizing spirit on the rainbow flag.
Facebook has developed new applications aimed to stop digital abuse and support the LGBT community. The social network has compiled a set of safety resources and tools for reporting issues and security infringements. Facebook also joined MTV’s “A Thin Line” anti-abuse campaign as well as several other advocacy organizations in an effort to “effectively address issues faced by the LGBT community.”
Other large companies followed suit, including Yahoo!, AT&T, HP, Comcast and Viacom. Yahoo!, for example, posted pictures of their employees fashioning purple on its blog and the Yahoo Pride Facebook fan page.
<3 HG&Co.
North Carolina native, and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes has written a letter against the constitutional amendment that would ban marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships between same-sex couples.
Hughes is openly gay and argues that this restriction would hurt businesses in North Carolina and his letter has been distributed to the media and the 170 members of the North Carolina General Assembly. The proposed anti-LGBT constititutional amendment is one of many that will come up for debate in the special fall session.
“As the co-founder of Facebook, I have some experience with the challenges of attracting the kind of driven, dynamic and diverse employees it takes to build a fledgling start-up into a fullfledged economic success story,” Hughes wrote. “Companies like Facebook, Google and Apple are the future of our global economy. But the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment signals to these and other major employers, as well as their mobile, educated employees, that North Carolina does not welcome the diverse workforce that any state needs to compete in the international marketplace.”
He also wrote about his own experience growing up gay in Tar Heel, North Carolina, saying, “Growing up in a conservative atmosphere in Hickory, North Carolina, I felt first-hand the stigma of being different in a Southern state—a feeling that made it clear to me that I was not welcome in North Carolina,” he said. The next Facebook or Apple or Google could be created by another North Carolinian. Be mindful of how you treat them and their families.”
We really hope that this amendment does not get passed. It would completely restrict the freedoms of many North Carolina natives who are already likely experiencing the same difficulties that ChrisHughes had and they shouldn’t have to be driven outside of their home state to live happily with the partner of their choosing.
<3 HG&Co.
Gay military magazine, OutServe, will be distributing thousands of copies to military bases around the country. The magazine seeks to give servicemen a means to talk about the issues that they’ve previously been unable to share.
“Our first objective with the magazine is to let all the gay, lesbian, bi, and trans members currently serving know that they are not alone,” said OutServe’s co-director, an active-duty officer who goes by the pseudonym JD Smith. “We also want to communicate to all troops that there are capable gay military members serving honorably, and that accepting that and moving on will make our military stronger.”
The September issue will also include a photospread of about 100 men and women who will be coming out to their colleagues for the first time. We wish everyone the best of luck with this transition, and know that it will come as welcome relief for many honourable servicemen who deserve the same freedoms of speech that they are fighting for.
<3 HG&Co.
The admissions application to Elmhurst College, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, says the school is committed to diversity and asks “Would you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?” Applicants can respond yes, no or have the option of not answering.
Gary Rold, the Dean of Admission, says the question has received little negative feedback and equates it to a time when asking race was controversial. He says the question is intended to help LGBT students find support in their college transition and scholarships for those who are eligible.
“I don’t know whether this question concerning GLBT affiliation will go the same way or become the same kind of thing, but I wouldn’t be surprised. I can’t think that what Elmhurst is doing is that unique in the world that others won’t eventually follow suit,” he said.
(Source: http)
