Business tycoon Branson calls for Uganda boycott over draconian anti-gay laws

Richard Branson

Richard Branson, the flamboyant, outspoken founder and CEO of Virgin Group, says there should be consequences for Uganda’s “dreadful witch hunt” of gays and lesbians. Branson refuses to invest in Uganda and wants others to do the same.

Federal judge keeps Utah’s same-sex marriages going, but battle to continue

Today U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby said same-sex marriage could continue in Utah as he rejected a request to put them on hold. So far, more than 300 gay couples have obtained marriage licenses in the state.

Gay columnist gets hate mail for criticizing Robertson's bigotry

Josh Barro

On Saturday, Josh Barro of Business Insider published a column that criticizes defenders of Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson’s racist, homophobic remarks in GQ. Since then, he’s received plenty of ridiculous, laughable hate mail—check out some excerpts here. By the way, who else thinks Josh Barrow, who is openly gay and an occasional talking head on cable news shows (see unrelated clip), is totally hot?! 

Utah sees gay marriage rush after ruling

Frank E. Moss United States Courthouse, Salt Lake City

Utah, a state that is home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and considered to be one of the most conservative in the nation, has joined the ranks of Massachusetts, New York and California. A judge overturned its gay marriage ban Friday, making it the 18th state where same-sex couples can legally marry. While gay and lesbian couples rush to say “I Do,” state officials are moving to put the decision on hold.

Could Indiana, a red state, be next for gay marriage?

Indianapolis at night

It looks like quite a battle is shaping up in conservative Indiana as same-sex marriage supporters push to amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Volunteers with Freedom Indiana are running phone banks and contacting lawmakers before the Legislature reconvenes next month, while big companies such as Eli Lilly & Co. and Cummins Inc. have each contributed $100,000 to the campaign.

Lockheed Martin stops Boy Scout support over anti-gay bigotry

Lockheed Martin headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland

According to a statement released Thursday by Lockheed Martin, the company is putting a stop to donations to the Boy Scouts of America over its ban on gay leaders. This year, the Boy Scouts began allow gay boys to participate, but it continues to ban gays from leadership roles. 

New Mexico Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage

Santa Fe, New Mexico

New Mexico has become the seventeenth state to allow gay marriage. Some counties had begun to allow same-sex marriages earlier this year because no state law prevented it. Hooray for New Mexico!

Orlando says come here to play if you’re gay

Gay Day at Disney World, 2007

Central Florida's gay and lesbian travel bureau, Converge Orlando Inc., wants to attract more LGBT travelers and has established goals to meet those aims. Orlando is famous for its theme parks, but also offers plenty of great places to eat, shop, party and soak up some sun.

Obama skips Winter Olympics in Russia to send a message to its anti-gay leaders

Billie Jean King

“Oh hell no!” is the message President Obama has sent to Russia in the wake of anti-gay legislation enacted before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. However, he will send two high-profile gay athletes, Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow, as delegates to take part in the ceremonies. Take that, Russian homophobes!

Gay, over 40 and looking for work?

Source: SAGE

SAGEWorks might be able to help. An arm of the nonprofit Services & Advocacy, for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE), the program serves as a national employment support system for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people age 40 and older. It aims to sharpen participants’ job hunting skills, help them evaluate career options, and connect employers to diverse, high-caliber candidates. SAGEWorks provides hands-on workshops, technology training and personal coaching at several sites nationwide. Check it out!

Ross School of Business at Michigan takes the lead in Friendfactor MBA Ally Challenge

Ross School of Business

Friendfactor has released the initial standings for its 2nd annual Friendfactor MBA Ally Challenge.  The leaders are The Ross School of Business at Michigan, The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, and The MIT Sloan School of Management. Read more at FriendFactor.org

Anchorage Chamber of Commerce courts gays

Anchorage

The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce has launched a new diversity initiative, called “One Anchorage, One Economy.” Read more in the “Anchorage Daily News.”

Atlanta LGBT business group changes name

The "GA Voice" reports the 21-year-old Atlanta LGBT business group, the Atlanta Executive Network, is changing its name to Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals (MAAP).

Mississippi town blocks gay bar

The Southern Poverty Law Center is suing a Mississippi town for blocking a gay bar from opening. Listen to the lesbian business owner share her story.

Study highlights the best places for LGBT people to work

Minneapolis

According to a new study covered by CBS Moneywatch, the best places for LGBT people to work are in the Midwest, Northeast, and on the West coast.

Unpacking Jodie Foster’s Golden Globes speech. Will the consensus be ‘You go, girl’ or ‘Girl, go home’?

Foster backstage at the 2013 Golden Globes

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or your crooked wig has been blocking your eyes and ears, you know Jodie Foster sort of came out of her lesbian closet at the Golden Globes Sunday night. Of course, Foster has been sort of coming out for a few years now—her sexual orientation has been the biggest open secret in Hollywood and among her LGBTQ fans for decades—but she’s never given a solid “Yep, I’m gay” statement in the brave, groundbreaking fashion of Ellen DeGeneres. What the heck does privacy and Honey Boo Boo got to do with it?! If she were straight, her boyfriend/husband/ex-husband and kids would be all over entertainment media. Unfortunately, Foster seems to be conflating privacy with shame. She can share her life in a positive way without becoming a reality show cliché. Sure, some of the tabloids and paparazzi will exploit her life. That’s show business. But Foster is savvy enough to manage and shape the attention into something powerful and affirming. Let’s hope she catches some pride and works it out.

Texas man’s struggle underscores need for LGBT anti-discrimination law

A Texas man faced verbal harassment and a lavender ceiling at his suburban Fort Worth workplace. Unfortunately, there’s not much lawyers can do without federal or state laws to back them up. Read about it in the “Dallas Voice.”

Personally, I had a similar situation with a past employer here in my hometown of Wichita, Kan. Have you ever been discriminated against for your sexual orientation or gender identity? If so, in which state? It’s important to share our stories so voters know LGBT workplace discrimination is a very real problem that can be addressed through the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, (ENDA).