Equally Speaking
The following is a transcript of HRC’s morning news webcast "Equally Speaking." To view the current videos visit the main Equally Speaking page.
Good morning, and thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking, your morning dose of GLBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Thursday, April 24th. I’m John Greene.
And I’m Heidi Williams. First up, news from HRC’s Workplace Project
HRC’s Workplace Project has just released the second edition of its transgender guide for human resource and other employment professionals. Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace covers everything from discrimination and benefits policies to the appropriate terminology to use when discussing gender identity and expression. Visit H-R-C dot Org Slash Transgender to download the entire guide.
Hillary Clinton won the Pennsylvania Democratic primary against Barack Obama on Tuesday. Clinton needed the victory in order to stay in the race. Next up for the two candidates are the May 6th primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.
United Methodists from around the world have gathered in Fort Worth, Texas for their 10-day General Conference. Nearly 1,000 delegates – half of them clergy, half laity – meet once every four years. This year, the Conference is presented with more than 1,600 petitions, including one to reconsider the Church’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The European Union has watered down a proposed comprehensive non-discrimination clause at the request of Germany. Originally, the measure would have protected GLBT citizens of EU member nations from discrimination, but will now only provide protection for the disabled. Many member states, including Finland, Spain and Sweden, were proponents of the fully inclusive anti-discrimination law.
In Arizona, a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman is expected to pass the House this week. If it then passes in the Senate, it will appear on the ballot in November. Public opinion polls show that while most people in Arizona oppose same-sex marriage, they do not want to ban it in the state constitution.
Once implemented, a new provision to North Carolina’s Patients’ Bill of Rights will grant the same-sex partners of hospital patients the same visitation rights as immediate family members. Patients will be able to give visitation privileges to whomever they wish, regardless of legal relationship. However, the new policy does not provide same-sex partners with the right to make medical decisions.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Have a great day, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.