Out & Equal Responds to Recent Legislative Actions

April 25, 2005 - It was the good, the bad and the ugly last week following several key legislative votes around the country. There was a very positive outcome from Connecticut where the governor signed a bill allowing same-sex civil unions. Chalk one up for the good guys.

Unfortunately, the good was outweighed by the bad and the ugly after Texas voted not to allow lesbian and gay people to adopt foster children, while Alabama lawmakers were busy reviewing a law that would ban books in the state’s public school system that suggest “tolerance” of homosexuality.

The most disturbing news erupted out of Washington State where equality in the workplace took a major hit when the senate voted down a non-discrimination bill that had previously been passed by the state house.

Several news reports put the blame on Microsoft, which apparently withdrew its support of the bill apparently after a local preacher made threats to the conglomerate. This is both surprising and disappointing given Microsoft’s history of support for the LGBT community and its many LGBT employees.

While we applaud the Connecticut civil union bill, we find the news from Washington, Texas and Alabama to be disturbing but not unexpected. “There are going to be setbacks along the road toward total equality,” said Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry. “These are basic civil rights that we are being denied and I believe that the workplace stands as one of the most significant places for public opinion to be favorably changed."

Out & Equal provides services and programs that promote equality for all individuals, including the LGBT community, families and allies in the workplace.