EDITORIAL FROM THE NY TIMES:

Published: September 12, 2009

It is remarkable how little progress gay people have made in securing the basic protection against discrimination on the job. In 29 states, it is still legal to fire workers for being gay. But momentum is building in Congress for the first federal law banning such discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Federal law has lagged behind the reality of American life. There are now openly gay members of Congress from between-the-coasts states like Colorado and Wisconsin. And according to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay-rights advocacy group, 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies have policies protecting gay employees from discrimination.

But gay rights advocates have for years faced opposition to a federal civil rights law from the religious right, and from parts of the business community, who argue that it would lead to a flood of litigation.

Bipartisan bills have been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, modeled on existing civil rights laws that cover race, religion and sex. Unlike some past bills, these include gender identity, protecting transgender people from discrimination.

The bills were written to meet some of the concerns of opponents. The law would not apply to religious organizations, or to businesses with fewer than 15 employees. It would not allow for quotas or “disparate impact” lawsuits, which generally use statistical disparities to prove discrimination.

There is reason for cautious optimism. In 2007, the House passed a nondiscrimination law that did not cover transgender people. The current Congress is more Democratic, and even in the past two years, gay rights have made significant strides. As states and localities have passed antidiscrimination laws, it has been clear that they do not disrupt the workplace, and they have not resulted in an enormous number of lawsuits.

Supporters in the House think they have the votes. The biggest hurdle is likely to be winning the support of 60 senators, the de facto number now required for most legislation because of filibuster rules.

People who believe in workplace fairness should lobby senators to get on board. It is unacceptable that in a nation committed to equality people can still be fired in more than half the states for being gay. Congressional leaders should make passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act a top priority.

Amen.

And here’s what the NY Times did that I have been trying to do in my own little way:  Separate this issue from gay marriage.  Gay marriage is an issue that includes faith and – like reproductive rights – it’s going to take time for people to wrap their minds around it, to turn around – like an ocean liner making a 180 degree turn.  It’s possible, but it’s going to be slow.

However while that is happening, this should be the easiest thing in the world.

This is a very simple issue.  Should it be legal to fire somebody because you don’t like the fact that they’re being gay?  Clearly, that answer should be NO.  And clearly – with 29 states unwilling to take that stand – it’s time to take it out of the hands of small-hearted people who feel differently.

Hollywood, as a community, needs to do more here… and can.  Yes, I’m yammering about Sundance again.  Utah is a unique state in this debate – Hollywood floods that state once a year, and shines it’s light on them.  It’s a beautiful state, and all our beautiful people go there to pose in front of the camera and get in front of the media.  And once a year, and we almost forget how backwards that state has been allowed to be for so very, very long.

But in the same breath they are telling the gay community – who are such a big part of Hollywood community – “Yeah, we know it sucks… but it’s SUNDANCE.”  And for the only week they have to stand in Utah, they are essentially, tacitly, standing WITH Utah.

This is my problem with it.  This is why I wish Sundance would go somewhere else, especially while this Governor Herbert clown is in office.  It doesn’t matter to me that he wasn’t elected – that he was handed his job by the duly elected Governor – actions have consequences.  As recently as a few days ago, he reiterated:

Herbert… said sexual orientation shouldn’t be a protected class, dismissing the idea by saying it could lead to blue-eyed blondes seeking similar rights.

Three years of this folks.  The next election is in 2012.  You want to support this guy, and his vision of what the state is?  Keep telling the rest of the country – through EXTRA! and E! and ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT that it’s a great place and you have no problem with this.  Otherwise, suck it up, and move it some place a little less beautiful on the outside but a heall of a lot beautiful on the inside.

Back to the Times piece:  This is why we have a Congress.  This is why we have a Senate.  So that decisions can be made as to what kind of a nation we want to be.  So that the rights of a minority can be protected against the whim of a majority.  This is suffrage.   This is civil rights.  This is persecution.  And the Governor Herberts of the world aren’t going to make that decision, because they want to continue to have the word “Governor” in front of their name.  They care about keeping their job more than they care about a gay person keeping theirs.

So, sorry to continue to beat this horse, but I wont stop beating it until it’s dead. (Great, now I’ve pissed of PETA).

Boycott.

Associated Press – September 11, 2009 11:05 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has barely been in office a month, but he’s not wasting any time charting a more conservative course than his predecessor on the very issues Jon Huntsman used to vault to national prominence within the GOP and an ambassadorship to China.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Herbert says he is skeptical of how much humans affect global warming; that he fears protecting gay people from discrimination could lead to courts legalizing gay marriage; and that he has no desire to do any more to bring Utah’s liquor laws in line with much of the country.

It is a big shift from Huntsman, who was the most popular governor in state history, but had a habit of angering the conservatives that dominate state party politics.

Well, there you have it Utah.  Enjoy being dropped back into the 1950s.  And watch out, other minorities – if there’s a way you can be next, you will be.

So much for “States Rights” and believing in local municipalities ability to blah blah blah – I can’t even write it anymore.   It’s such a pile of horse crap.

There.  This guy said it:  If gays get protection on the job, he’s afraid it will lead to gay marriage.

Sorry, regular gay guy who wants to live a regular gay life and not have to hide your gayness.  You can’t even flip a burger and be gay without fear of being fired.   Because the governor is a’scared of you.  The lousiest straight employee has better protection in a Utah workplace than the most qualified homosexual on the job.

Hey, Hollywood, are you listening?  You gonna  film a movie there and know some of your employees are surrounded by intolerance and scorn?  Gonna slip on some skis and have cocoa with people that would probably burn the cup you drink out of because they’re afraid of catching what you have?  And are you still going to have your annual party of cool, independent thinking in a state that wants to shove you back in the closet and hates you?

You gonna bring Sundance there, when there’s so many other cities in so many other states that would welcome the prestige, the money and the spotlight?  Cities and states that – even if they don’t back gay marriage – would at least be willing to protect your individual human rights?

Reasonable people – even if I disagree with them on other issues – should be able to say “You can’t fire a person for being gay.”  And if a governor of a state can’t say that, and if Hollywood truly stands with their gay friends in this issue  then Hollywood should be standing outside the state lines of Utah.

Boycott.

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that discriminating against gay people shouldn’t be illegal, although he would prefer it if everyone were treated with respect.

In his most definitive comments yet on gay rights, Herbert told reporters he doesn’t believe sexual orientation should be a protected class in the way that race, gender and religion are.

“We don’t have to have a rule for everybody to do the right thing. We ought to just do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do and we don’t have to have a law that punishes us if we don’t,” Herbert said in his first monthly KUED news conference.

In Utah, it is legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender. The gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah has been trying to change state law for several years but has always been rebuffed by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Really?  REALLY?

So according to this guy – this replacement governor – It’s okay to fire somebody because they happen to be Gay.  That’s acceptable in Utah.

Well, not to me.  And it shouldn’t be to Hollywood.

I have gay friends.  I have Mormon friends.  I would no sooner discriminate against a religion than a sexual orientation.  But that’s not the way it works in Utah, so it’s time to draw a line.

Every year, Hollywood rolls out to Utah to trot out its cool, its different, its alternative and its edgy.  That’s Sundance – a celebration of alternative film making.

Well, here’s the deal, Hollywood.  Utah hates you.  So it’s time to move on.  It’s time to boycott Sundance.

It’s time for Hollywood to realize they are giving money and credence to a state that could give a crap and a half about some of their most creative souls, and move it to anywhere else that’s tolerant.  To Big Bear.  Or Tahoe.  Or Palmdale, for the love of God.  Or anywhere else that is willing to say that this kind of discrimination is no longer acceptable.

The hell with this governor, and the hell with this state.  They can do anything they want, and believe what they want.  That’s fine.  But Hollywood no longer has to accept it.  And every year you do is another year you put up with being treated like second class citizens.

You cannot complain about Prop 8 and go to Sundance.  If you do, you are a hypocrite.

Stop giving them your money.  Stop giving them your support.  Stop pretending that just because one small town enjoys your money, the rest of the state somehow doesn’t hate you for what you are.

You want change?  Hit them where it hurts:  In their pocketbook, and the one event per year that makes them seem relevant.

While you’re at it, boycott your ski vacation to Deer Valley and any other place you slap sticks on your feet and hit the slopes.  Stop fiming TV or Features in Utah.  THEY HATE YOU.

But first and foremost, stand up for yourself.  Boycott Sundance.

If you don’t, then never complain about discrimination again.