DRAFT version of LGBT Job Protecting Executive Order

Today, President Obama signs the Executive Order that protects LGBT employees of federal contractors and federal employees from discrimination.

To get an idea of what's being signed, here is a draft version from Buzzfeed (it's possible this may change)

EXECUTIVE ORDER 

Further Amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and in order to provide for a uniform policy for the Federal Government to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and take further steps to promote economy and efficiency in Federal Government procurement by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Amending Executive Order 11478.
Executive Order 11478, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows:
(a) The first sentence of section 1 is amended by substituting “sexual orientation, gender identity,” for “sexual orientation”.
(b) The first sentence of section 7 is amended by substituting “sexual orientation, gender identity,” for “sexual orientation”.

Sec. 2. Amending Executive Order 11246.
Executive Order 11246, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows:
(a) The first sentence of Section 202, paragraph (1) is amended by substituting “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin” for “sex, or national origin”.
(b) The second sentence of Section 202, paragraph (1) is amended by substituting “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin” for “sex, or national origin”.
( c ) The first sentence of Section 202, paragraph (2) is amended by substituting “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin” for “sex, or national origin”.
(d) The first sentence of Section 203, paragraph (d) is amended by substituting “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin” for “sex, or national origin”.

Section 3. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

WATCH: The Entire Obama Speech on Jobs and Economy

Hawaii Lawmakers Ban Trans Discrimination in the Workplace

In Hawaii, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that will ban workplace discrimination based on gender identity.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Monday approved the bill, which was previously passed in the House. The vote was 3-2 with Sens. Mike Gabbard and Sam Slom opposed.


Discrimination against transgender individuals and others based on their expression of gender is already illegal in Hawaii for housing, public accommodations and employment, but the ban on employment discrimination has been establish by rulings of the Civil Rights Commission and has not been written into the state statute. The bill approved Monday by the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, HB 546, would write the anti-discrimination language into labor law.


Advocates said the law is necessary because employers are confused because the language is not specifically in the statute. Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed an identical bill six years ago, but Judiciary Chairman Sen. Clayton Hee said Monday he is confident the provision will become law.


It still faces negotiations with the House, but the differences between the two houses are technical and not expected to prevent passage.

So there will be more to come on this issue. I'm hoping for the best.

source

President Obama has appointed more Gay Officials than any other President in History.

Alan Cumming claimed that Obama has done diddly squat for gays. Well, I wouldn't call appointing the most gay officials to well-paid Government jobs nothing:

Gay activists say the estimate of more than 150 appointments so far — from agency heads and commission members to policy officials and senior staffers — surpasses the previous high of about 140 reached during two full terms under President Bill Clinton.

"From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity," said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

The pace of appointments has helped to ease broader disappointment among gay rights groups that Obama has not acted more quickly on other fronts, such as ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

In a sign of how times have changed, few of the appointees — about two dozen required Senate confirmation — have stirred much controversy. It's a far cry from the 1993 furor surrounding Clinton's nomination of then-San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development.

I'm sure will appoint more as his term continues.

source

Sen. Boxer introduces COBRA benefits bill for domestic partners

This weekend, Sen. Barbara Boxer presented the Equal Access to COBRA Act. This will give many domestic partners the same access married spouses have to COBRA health coverage if their partner is lose their job.

The law would apply to companies that already offer health coverage to domestic partners and their children. Currently, more than half of Fortune 500 companies cover domestic partners under their health plans.

Boxer said, “This is a question of fairness: Every family deserves access to health insurance, especially in this tough economy. This bill ensures that domestic partners and their families will have equal access to health coverage after a job loss.”

This is good. Well done, Sen. Boxer. I hope this passes.

source

When all else Fails... become Joe the Plumber and Comic

This poor man. He was in the annual Funniest Celebrity in DC contest trying to win some money.

Somebody give him a job.

He's using notes! Great Hera, he's bad.

He's Actually There!

Lil' Abner's Caught in Moose Mess's...well, Mess

Poor Levi. Don't have a career, don't have a diploma, Mama's a drug czar, 18 year-old father and now, he don't have job...and he can thank his Mother-in-Mess for that.

For some strange reason, Levi had a job or a position in the ASRC Energy Services apprenticeship program. He was working full time in the North Slope oil field and taking on-line classes to finish High School. But problem was, you needed to complete High School first in order to have this job. Federal regulations require all folks in the apprentice programs to have a high school diploma. And Levi don't have a diploma of any kind.

Levi (Lil' Abner) had to quit the job, but now people are wondering: How did he get it in the first place?

Many point to Moose Mess, who we all know, loves to misuse her political powers. Or it could've been a simple mistake. I doubt it, but we will see if this becomes another investigation.

I swear, the Palin clan are the new Ewings. Instead of Dallas we have Anchorage

John Thain is Such a Scrooge

Merrill Lynch & Co. chief John Thain believes that he should get a bonus for basically doing his goddamn job. This cuckoo wants 10 million dollars for averting a deeper fallout for the Merrill Lynch firm.

John, sweetie, you are suppose to do that. If you are in a leadership position, you are suppose to be a leader. Steer your group out of trouble, keep business booming, and stay on top. Does Cyclops or Storm ask for a bonus to keep the X-Men alive? No. Will Obama demand a bonus to keep America safe? Hell no.

So what makes this fool any better than anyone else?

It’s like he’s blind to the fact that our country is struggling. Families are scraping to make the holidays happen, people are losing their homes, and this bastard wants $10 mill for doing his job. Bitch please, then give me $100, 000 for doing my job.

John Thain, I hope the compensation committee refuse your request and give you a lump of coal instead.

What's next for Joe the Plumber

Since the Joe the Plumber trick didn't work, I wonder what will be his next step. Only in America, can he have a career better than the rest of us. However, I have a few ideas for our one night stand.

• Star in Bear Gay Porn: He has the look and I'm sure the Bears see some potiential in him. Maybe Bear Films will give him a 2 year contract.
• New host for Dirty Jobs: Being a plumber is not a cute job, so I think he could be a co-host with Mike Rowe.
• Plumber of Love: Reality TV is always a great tragic mess, why not give Joe a chance to find some crazy person to spend at least 3 months with him in the religious sense.
• Drama: He might the father of Sarah Palin's next baby, Pipe. Sorry, Todd.
• Drama 2: Joe could be sleeping with Todd. That could be hot.
• Repo Man: I just couldn't think of anything else.