Groups react to Missouri voter approval of constitutional amendment banning gay marriage

National groups involved in the gay marriage battle pondered lessons learned in Missouri, where voters overwhelmingly endorsed a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. It was the first state to place the restriction in its constitution since Massachusetts's high court ruled last year that gay couples have the legal right to marry in that state.

At least nine other states will consider a similar amendment this year, one as early as September. Another three states have initiatives pending. Four already have constitutional provisions banning gay marriage or giving their legislatures the right to do so.

Ron Schlittler, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said Wednesday that the Missouri campaign was tough because the election was so early. "What's going on is, there's a real rush to judgment," he said. His organization has more time to organize get-out-the-vote efforts and communicate with people through rallies and debates about the issue before it's on ballots in other states, he said.




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MAJOR CORPORATIONS TO ADD GENDER IDENTITY/EXPRESSION POLICY
by: GenderPAC, OIA Newswire


The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) applauded four corporations for adding gender identity and/or expression to their Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies yesterday. The new corporations -- Ford, Keyspan, PepsiCo, and Wells Fargo -- bring to 50 the number of major corporations that have enacted such protections.

"These companies are helping ensure that every American can contribute their talents to the workplace, regardless of whether they fit masculine or feminine norms," said GenderPAC's executive director Riki Wilchins. "More corporations are making clear that all their employees -- male, female, of color, gay, straight, transgender, young and old -- will be judged by the quality of their work, not whether they fit someone's ideals for a 'real' man or a 'real' woman."

The new policies ensure that employers may not discriminate based on gender stereotypes, and ensure corporate response to instances of such discrimination. Other major companies that have enacted such protections include American Airlines, Citigroup, Coors, IBM, and JPMorgan Chase.


"Gender expression" refers to how people manifest feeling masculine or feminine through how they look, act, or dress. "Gender identity" refers to a person's sense of being male or female.


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Woman acts on 'gentleman' tag
Kate Jones, tribunal reporter


A WOMAN claims she suffered months of discrimination because her boss and workmates called her a "gentleman" and referred to her as "he".
Stella Tsarsitalidis, 29, says her former boss, Ken Dyer, humiliated her with offensive comments about her gender.

"Mr Dyer constantly refers to me as a male, or as a gentleman," she said in her complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission.

"For example, it is his habit to address a room of colleagues as 'Ladies and Gentlemen'. When he says this there are no male colleagues around."

Ms Tsarsitalidis, who said she was open in the workplace about her sexuality, told the Herald Sun she was neither homosexual nor heterosexual, but that her sexuality was "alternative".


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Holmes County clerk files 7 lawsuits against gay marriages
By MIKE BRANOM
Associated Press Writer

 
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Panhandle county clerk, backed by a religious rights organization, filed seven lawsuits across Florida Thursday, asking the courts to uphold the constitutionality of state laws limiting a marriage to a man and woman.