News and Commentary About My Gay World
Friday, December 9, 2011
Woman files lawsuit because she can't harass transgender customers
Found at Holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com by Alin McEwen
Unbelievable. Earlier this week, I post a piece about a Macy's employee who was fired for harassing a transgender customer. Today, we learn more details about this case because she is now suing:
There are so many things to be said about this. First of all, I refuse to believe that this woman filed this lawsuit on her own volition. Someone, or rather some organization talked her into it. This woman has no case because she admits that she refused to comply. The religious belief argument is a dodge. No one was attacking her religious beliefs. She was the aggressor. She was the violator. If she had a problem, she should have stepped aside. No one was forcing her to be in the dressing room (aren't dressing rooms usually confined to one person anyway) with the customer?
I mean what's next? Should harassing same-sex couples or same-sex couples and their children in stores be protected under the false umbrella of "religious liberty?"
This woman felt that she was above following the policies of her employer and found out that no, she was not.
No doubt the organization - and I bet it's the Liberty Counsel - that pushed Johnson into filing this lawsuit hopes to exploit people's fears about the transgender community and the lie about "men being able to invade women's bathrooms," etc.
But I think this going to backfire. This frivolous lawsuit demonstrates just how hollow the claim of "religious liberty" by the religious right are. It's obvious that "religious liberty" to some of them means the liberty to give us hell.
Those who are steaming over this - and you should be - should forget making this woman the onus of your anger. She is nothing more than a tool. Email Macy's and send the company your support for standing up for our rights and dignity. And most of all, tell Macy's to not back down.
Unbelievable. Earlier this week, I post a piece about a Macy's employee who was fired for harassing a transgender customer. Today, we learn more details about this case because she is now suing:
Natalie Johnson is a 27-year-old student and, until last week, worked at the River Center Macy's.
On Nov. 30, a teenager shopping caught her attention.
"I made sure to keep an eye on him because he was shopping for women's clothing," remembered Johnson.
She said she was convinced the shopper was a man. So when she saw him in the women's dressing room, she told him he couldn't change there.
"I had to just straight forward tell him, 'You're a man,' and of course that made him really got him steamed," said Johnson.
But the group of people he was with supported the shopper, arguing Macy's policy allows transgender people to change in the fitting room of the gender they associate with.
"I've made my choice the other day," Johnson told her manager. "I refuse to comply with this policy."
Johnson said she was let go.
Johnson filed a complaint with the Federal Employment Commission, claiming her religious beliefs prevent her from recognizing transgender people.
"There are no transgenders in the world. A guy can dress up as a woman all he wants, that's still not going to make you a woman," said Johnson.
There are so many things to be said about this. First of all, I refuse to believe that this woman filed this lawsuit on her own volition. Someone, or rather some organization talked her into it. This woman has no case because she admits that she refused to comply. The religious belief argument is a dodge. No one was attacking her religious beliefs. She was the aggressor. She was the violator. If she had a problem, she should have stepped aside. No one was forcing her to be in the dressing room (aren't dressing rooms usually confined to one person anyway) with the customer?
I mean what's next? Should harassing same-sex couples or same-sex couples and their children in stores be protected under the false umbrella of "religious liberty?"
This woman felt that she was above following the policies of her employer and found out that no, she was not.
No doubt the organization - and I bet it's the Liberty Counsel - that pushed Johnson into filing this lawsuit hopes to exploit people's fears about the transgender community and the lie about "men being able to invade women's bathrooms," etc.
But I think this going to backfire. This frivolous lawsuit demonstrates just how hollow the claim of "religious liberty" by the religious right are. It's obvious that "religious liberty" to some of them means the liberty to give us hell.
Those who are steaming over this - and you should be - should forget making this woman the onus of your anger. She is nothing more than a tool. Email Macy's and send the company your support for standing up for our rights and dignity. And most of all, tell Macy's to not back down.
LOS ANGELES: Elderly Marriage Activist Dies Waiting For Prop 8 To Be Overturned
Found at joemygod.com.
I hope Derence does not lose everything they had together. Because they were not married and the federal governemnt does not see them married anyway, Derence is a legal stranger and will have to pay the full taxes on everything and will not get the Social Security he would have gotten otherwise.
My heart goes out to him. 40 years is a life time to be with someone no matter who it is and the state and federal governemnt should recognize that.
Ed Watson, above left, has died at the age of 78. Watson made national news this year when he expressed his hope that he would be allowed to marry before Alzheimer's Disease robbed him of the ability to recognize Derence, his partner of 40 years.
I hope Derence does not lose everything they had together. Because they were not married and the federal governemnt does not see them married anyway, Derence is a legal stranger and will have to pay the full taxes on everything and will not get the Social Security he would have gotten otherwise.
My heart goes out to him. 40 years is a life time to be with someone no matter who it is and the state and federal governemnt should recognize that.
Ed Watson, above left, has died at the age of 78. Watson made national news this year when he expressed his hope that he would be allowed to marry before Alzheimer's Disease robbed him of the ability to recognize Derence, his partner of 40 years. Gay rights activists lamented Watson's death as a reminder of the harm inflicted on same-sex couples throughout the state because they are denied the right to marry. "It's ironic that he died on the eve of appeals about peripheral issues around a case that should have been settled more than a year ago," said Richard Jacobs, chairman and founder of the gay rights advocacy group Courage Campaign, as he was en route to San Francisco for a hearing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "None of this will matter to Ed or Derence."Here's the clip the couple made in March.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Indiana Clark Gas Station Declares 'F--k U Homos'
Found at bilerico.com
After Bluffton, Indiana resident Josh Love walked into his local Clark station for a refill on a soda pop, he didn't expect to be verbally assaulted and short changed. Even worse, when he tried to contact the store's owner, he was
cursed at and told not to come back to the store. Love took to YouTube to share his story with the public.Now the service station's employee has surfaced in the comments of the video making anti-gay comments. He claims to be the manager and co-owner of the store.
i sister? fuck ur mom? bitch.. fuck u homosI spoke to Greg Marro, a spokesperson for Clark Oil, who acknowledged they were aware of the incident. "All of our stations are independently owned and operated. I'm keenly aware that we don't want anyone to be mistreated at our stores, but we don't own them. It'll be handled by the station owner," he said. When I asked if it made a difference that the owner was implicated as being part of the anti-gay verbal assault, Marro responded, "No comment," and then added, "Bottom line is we're looking into it and we take it very seriously. We'll remedy it."
...
justin timberlake says.. cry me a river.. or u can be normal and go straight n live a normal life
...
i can be anti homo just like ur pro homo.. u need some money for ur gay mariage? is that the problem. and i have a freedom of speech fuck u bitch. fag. u all know whee the store is so quit talkin shit lol.. dont come if u dont please who gives a fuck. take ur gays to gayville. fag.
...
O AND THANKS FOR THE PUBLICITY CUZ EVERYBODYS COMIN IN NOW TO SEE WHATS POPPIN OFF WITH THE GAY GUY? LOL.. THANKS FOR THE BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENT!!
Indiana does not have any protections for LGBT people. Clark does not have a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation; Marro says that's up to the station owner's discretion.
Love's video is after the jump.
Very Funny Holiday Video
I found this to be very funny on so many levels. Watch this lovely vid and sing along then see why I think this is such a laugh.
The production was very nice and I like the sing-o-long sidebar.
Here are several reasons I found this to be laughable:
1) Christmas exists because the church wanted to convert people who had Solstice holidays and as incentive, had relics on display. ( relics are small pieces of body parts or clothing of someone great in the church.)
2) December 25th is not when Jesus was born.
3) Jingle bells were an extension of Yule festivities, used to ward of evil spirits, as well as many of the decorations and customs, so without Christmas, they would still exist. Candy Canes would go but then there are all sorts of wonderful holiday candy out there.
4) This part almost made me pee my pants..."If you don't believe the reasons for my Christmas then it's OK with me" If it was OK then why write this song! The whole song is a bitch fest.
5) "It isn't just another Holiday" This may be a big one for you and you have managed to make it a nightmare of shopping, depression, and debt, but it is not a big one for me. Mine is Yule and is a minor celebration for pagans. It is just another Holiday for many.
6) The message of this song encourages acts of financial terrorism against anyone not openly displaying their Christianity. Do you really think Walmart cares? The commercialism of Christmas is disgusting. The stores don't want to offend anybody if it will cost them a buck.
As for Santa....He is universal, we don't pray to him, he does not ask us to believe in anything but being a good person, and we all know he is not real.
Happy Holidays !
TENNESSEE: High School Student Commits Suicide After Anti-Gay Bullying and Update
From joemygod.com comes this sad news.
Yesterday Tennessee high school student Jacob Rogers killed himself after complaining about anti-gay bullying from his classmates that had forced him to drop out of school. Rogers left suicide notes that included the passwords for his phone and his email so that authorities could view what he had endured.
Friends say that kids bullied Jacob Rogers at Cheatham County Central High School for the past four years, but in the past few months it had become so bad he dropped out of school. And Wednesday, he ended his life. "He started coming home his senior year saying 'I don't want to go back. Everyone is so mean. They call me a faggot, they call me gay, a queer,'" friend Kaelynn Mooningham said. Kaelynn said her friend Jacob felt ignored. "Jacob told me no one was helping him. He constantly was going to guidance," she said. But Cheatham County Schools Director Dr. Tim Webb said the school was only aware of one incident of bullying. "She actually intervened and called the students in accused of bullying or picking. She called them in, talked to them and gave them warnings. Subsequently after that, she ran into the student and asked him if things were better and he indicated that things were better," Webb said.The above-linked article does not disclose if Rogers was actually gay.
This is the same state that erased ALL protections from the LGBT population. This is the same state that has made it so NO ONE can discuss anything LGBT in any school.
How many more kids have to suffer to any point before it stops!
My heart goes out to this boy's family and all the families that have lost their children due to bullying.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As noted in the above-linked story, the family of Jacob Rogers does not have the money for a funeral. Today JMG, Towleroad, and Dan Savage at Seattle's Stranger are posting the below Paypal donation link. Savage is capping the donations at $5000. Anything over that amount will go to the Trevor Project, GLSEN, and the It Gets Better Project. If your situation allows, please consider making a small donation too.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As noted in the above-linked story, the family of Jacob Rogers does not have the money for a funeral. Today JMG, Towleroad, and Dan Savage at Seattle's Stranger are posting the below Paypal donation link. Savage is capping the donations at $5000. Anything over that amount will go to the Trevor Project, GLSEN, and the It Gets Better Project. If your situation allows, please consider making a small donation too.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Rick Perry Hates You An Extra Lot
Perry's response to part of the UN speech by Sec. Clinton. I DO NOT want this man as president. He supports discrimination of LGBT people. This is my country too and our current leaders want equal human rights for everyone, not just some and not based on what holy book you read and choose to believe.
Found at joemygod.com
"Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn’t get any more out of touch with America’s values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights. This administration’s war on traditional American values must stop. I have proposed a foreign aid budget that starts at zero. From that zero baseline, we will consider aid requests based solely on America’s national security interests. Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America’s interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers’ money."But there is a troubling trend here beyond the national security nonsense inherent in this silly idea. This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country. Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong. President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake." - Rick Perry.
Sec. Hillary Clinton's Historic United Nations Speech On LGBT Rights
The USA did not join the UN until several years ago and it is about time. Our joining has and will make an impact on bringing the world together on the idea of global human rights. This is the dream of every Trekker. A world where we are all free and equal, working together for the greater good of all.
LGBT rights are human rights as we too are human. I am grateful to live in a country where I am not hunted, raped, beaten, or killed by my government. ( Just by individuals who are less enlightened.)
Someday I hope that discrimination will be a thing of the past and we can all move on to better ourselves in other ways. It is sad that we still can't get along and some are suffering just because of who they are and who they love.
Thank you Sec. Clinton for an excellent speech.
This is worth watching from start to finish.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Macy's stands up for the lgbtq community
Found at Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters by Alvin McEwen
Recently, as far as I can tell, Macy's department store allegedly fired an employee for not allowing a transgender woman to use the changing facilities.
The reason why I say "as far as I can tell," is because all of the spin I am reading about it is coming from the right-wing Liberty Counsel:
A young woman was fired from a Macy’s department store in San Antonio, TX for refusing to violate her religious beliefs by permitting a young man dressed as a woman from entering the women’s dressing room. Natalie Johnson claims she saw the young man walk out of the women’s fitting room and politely told him that he could not go back in because it was for women only. The cross-dressing young man claimed that he is a “female.” Johnson said that he was wearing make-up and girl’s clothing, but clearly he was a male. The cross-dresser was accompanied by five other individuals. The group argued with expletives that Macy’s is LGBT-friendly, to which Johnson replied that Macy’s is also non-discriminatory toward religion, and that it would go against her religious beliefs to lie that he was a woman or compromise with homosexuality. The group then demanded to speak with a manager.
When Johnson was confronted by her employer, she explained that she could not allow a male to change in a female’s fitting room. Johnson’s boss referred her to Macy’s LGBT policy which allows “transgender” people to change in any dressing room they want. However, Johnson pointed out that the same policy also protects against religious discrimination and, in this case, it protects her right to her beliefs that were being violated. The manager demanded that she comply with the LGBT policies or lose her job. Johnson refused to go against her sincerely held religious beliefs and was terminated from her job.
Macy’s policy which allows men to use the women’s dressing room is fraught with problems. This policy will cause significant problems and will alienate the majority of Macy’s customers. Macy’s has essentially opened women’s dressing rooms to every man. The LGBT agenda has become the theater of the absurd.
When Johnson was confronted by her employer, she explained that she could not allow a male to change in a female’s fitting room. Johnson’s boss referred her to Macy’s LGBT policy which allows “transgender” people to change in any dressing room they want. However, Johnson pointed out that the same policy also protects against religious discrimination and, in this case, it protects her right to her beliefs that were being violated. The manager demanded that she comply with the LGBT policies or lose her job. Johnson refused to go against her sincerely held religious beliefs and was terminated from her job.
Macy’s policy which allows men to use the women’s dressing room is fraught with problems. This policy will cause significant problems and will alienate the majority of Macy’s customers. Macy’s has essentially opened women’s dressing rooms to every man. The LGBT agenda has become the theater of the absurd.
The Liberty Counsel's version of this story is presently making the rounds in the right-wing publications and news sites.
Generally, I am extremely reticent when hearing a story coming solely from the Liberty Counsel (or One News Now, or any other religious right source).
However, in this case, I will make an exception and, for now, not question the version I hear.
It sounds like Macy's did right by our community and we need to support the store for standing up for us.
A company has a right - within reason - to establish certain policies which it feels would better suit the needs of its prospective clients. If employees object to those policies, then maybe it would be better for the employee to work somewhere else.
It seems to me that the only problem in this case was the stubborness of the former employee. Macy's didn't hire Johnson for her religious beliefs. The company hired her because it felt she could do the job.
She couldn't do the job, or rather wouldn't, and therefore was terminated.
End of story.
This Is Why The GOP Has Installed Mandatory Photo ID Voter Laws
Found at joemygod.com
Since coming to power last fall, many Tea Party-GOP dominated state legislatures have installed new laws requiring a photo ID to vote. The above graphic tells us exactly why.
Since coming to power last fall, many Tea Party-GOP dominated state legislatures have installed new laws requiring a photo ID to vote. The above graphic tells us exactly why.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)