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 Tuesday, April 15th. I’m Sultan Shakir.
And I’m Sarah Birnie. First up, an update on "7 Days to a Better Financial You."
Since it is the last day to file taxes, religious leaders are gathering this morning at an Atlanta post office to highlight the tax inequalities same-sex couples face. This marks the last event of HRC’s "7 Days to a Better Financial You" educational campaign. To read about this and the other events HRC has held, visit the Back Story blog at http://www.hrcbackstory.org/.
The 2008 edition of North Carolina’s State Personnel Manual now prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The manual is produced by the State Personnel Commission and covers most of the state’s employees. Equality North Carolina lobbied the Commission and the Governor’s office on behalf of the policy.
Chinese police continue to detain more than half a dozen HIV positive people after they attempted to complain about a hospital they say spread the HIV virus. Government officials have refused to comment on the detainees or their claims. In the 1990s, rural China experienced an AIDS explosion due to unhygienic blood collection methods.
A survey of GLBT workers in the UK has found that most believe coming out will hurt their careers. One in eight respondents said that being out at work would definitely hold back their job promotion prospects. More than 1200 people participated in the survey.
Pope Benedict the Sixteenth arrives in the United States today for a five day visit. Dignity USA, a GLBT Catholic group, plans to demonstrate along the Pope’s motorcade route through Washington, D.C. The group will also be present during the Pope’s meeting with U.S. Bishops tomorrow.
A UCLA School of Law study reveals the number of same-sex couples in New Mexico has increased 35% from 2000 to 2005. In addition, nearly 30% of the state’s same-sex couples are raising children. The study ranks New Mexico as one of the top ten states with the highest percentage of same-sex couples.
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.