Fired for being gay? Still legal in 31 states.

forester814 · 07-20-2007, 05:10 PM

At work, you probably expect to be judged on your qualifications and performance, not on your personal life. But in 31 states, you can be fired because you're gay or because your boss thinks you are – and it's 100% legal. (It's 39 states if you're transgender... or your boss thinks you are.)

Thousands of hard-working GLBT Americans have lost their livelihoods simply because of who they are.

That's just not right.

The Human Rights Campaign is leading the charge to end this bitter injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

I hope you'll join me, and take action with Human Rights Campaign to tell Congress to include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in federal workplace discrimination laws.

It's about time "equal opportunity" included all of us.

Go to http://www.passENDAnow.org and drop a note to your elected officials, letting them know your feelings about HR 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that protects GLBT Americans against discrimination in the workplace.

(Note that action on the bill has temporarily been suspended in the Senate, and it likely won't come up for a vote until the fall. We need to start increasing the momentum for ENDA now - and that means getting more people involved before Congress takes its August break.)

garysher · 07-20-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forester814

At work, you probably expect to be judged on your qualifications and performance, not on your personal life. But in 31 states, you can be fired because you're gay or because your boss thinks you are – and it's 100% legal. (It's 39 states if you're transgender... or your boss thinks you are.)

Thousands of hard-working GLBT Americans have lost their livelihoods simply because of who they are.

That's just not right.

The Human Rights Campaign is leading the charge to end this bitter injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

I hope you'll join me, and take action with Human Rights Campaign to tell Congress to include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in federal workplace discrimination laws.

It's about time "equal opportunity" included all of us.

Go to http://www.passENDAnow.org and drop a note to your elected officials, letting them know your feelings about HR 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that protects GLBT Americans against discrimination in the workplace.

(Note that action on the bill has temporarily been suspended in the Senate, and it likely won't come up for a vote until the fall. We need to start increasing the momentum for ENDA now - and that means getting more people involved before Congress takes its August break.)

I oppose discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace.

However, I can see there are certain organisations that may prefer not to hire a homosexual, just as the Catholic church is unlikely to hire Jewish men to be priests, or the NAACP wouldn't hire a white man as president.

As for transvestites, that could have a detrimental effect on the staff and customers of a lot of organisations.

tristanrobin · 07-20-2007, 09:58 PM

If somebody is unable to successfully serve customers, they would be fired for their lack of accomplishment, not because they're transexuals.

If a transexual is hired to do make overs at Elizabeth Ardens - and is quite good at her job - and then somebody finds out that she's a transexual and is fired - THAT'S what job descrimination laws are about.

It's not about firing somebody who can't do the job properly.

And most jobs do not entail serving the public.

Antithesis · 07-20-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

However, I can see there are certain organisations that may prefer not to hire a homosexual, just as the Catholic church is unlikely to hire Jewish men to be priests, or the NAACP wouldn't hire a white man as president.

And they're fully entitled, though it's certainly not the most ethical thing to do.

Quote:

As for transvestites, that could have a detrimental effect on the staff and customers of a lot of organisations.

Quote:

That's a dress code issue, not sexual preference. If it's transsexuals you're speaking of, then the same rules should apply as with homosexuals, because legally they are a member of the opposite sex. As such, it becomes gender discrimination, which is quite obviously illegal.

garysher · 07-21-2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antithesis

And they're fully entitled, though it's certainly not the most ethical thing to do.

That's a dress code issue, not sexual preference. If it's transsexuals you're speaking of, then the same rules should apply as with homosexuals, because legally they are a member of the opposite sex. As such, it becomes gender discrimination, which is quite obviously illegal.

Is it illegal to refuse to employ somebody who is mentally ill?

Antithesis · 07-21-2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

Is it illegal to refuse to employ somebody who is mentally ill?

Oh, christ, here we go again. I think there's a BIT of a difference between a schizophrenic and a homosexual. You don't get negative performance due to homosexuality, and it's not even a mental illness in the first place. How many times do we have to tell you that's an archaic notion?

CrazyFlamingos · 07-21-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

Is it illegal to refuse to employ somebody who is mentally ill?

Yes, it is illegal.

garysher · 07-21-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyFlamingos

Yes, it is illegal.

I don't believe you!

CrazyFlamingos · 07-21-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

I don't believe you!

That's ok. Unlike some people, I can offer proof of what I say.

Quote:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment; state and local government activities; public accommodations; public transportation; telecommunications; and public services. It was signed into law by President George Bush on July 26, 1990.

Does the ADA protect people with severe mental illness?

The definition of disability in the ADA includes people with mental illness who meet one of these three definitions: "(1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual; (2) a record of such an impairment; or (3) being regarded as having such an impairment." A mental impairment is defined by the ADA as "any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities."

Employment (Title I of the ADA)

Do all employers have to comply with Title I of the ADA?

Private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations, and management committees are all subject to the ADA. The ADA does not apply to the federal government; however, discrimination by the federal government or federally assisted programs is prohibited under Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Helpline1&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=4862

CrazyFlamingos · 07-21-2007, 12:52 AM

hmmmm. I can't get that link to work. Let me try again.

NAMI | The ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act

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