In an effort to outlaw discrimination against LGBT people under federal law, members of congress introduced the historic Equality Act of 2015 today, and they’ve got the biggest company in tech on their side.
By ensuring people can no longer be discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity, the sweeping legislation would extend these rights to LGBT people in the 31 states that don’t offer those protections to LGBT citizens. The new bill already has 150 co-sponsors, plus Apple’s official endorsement.
Apple released the following statement to the Human Rights Campaign today, writing, “At Apple we believe in equal treatment for everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. We fully support the expansion of legal protections as a matter of basic human dignity.”
Apple’s endorsement should come as no surprise. The company has been a major supporter of LGBT issues across the U.S. Over 6,000 Apple employees marched in the recent SF Pride parade. Tim Cook also made major waves in the business world last year when he came out as the first openly gay Fortune 500 CEO.
Other companies such as Dow Chemical and Levi Strauss have also publicly endorsed the bill that still faces an uphill battle in Congress, where conservative representatives are likely to oppose it.
Via: Wired
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
13 responses to “Apple backs LGBT equality act”
There are already anti-discrimination laws on the book. Can we get all of this shit out of the way and just start living again, focusing on our economy, and closing our borders? Liberals are freakin’ idiots.
In many states those laws don’t explicitly cover LGBT. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Everyone living with the same rights that I have is what this is all about. It’s also very possible to tackle more than one issue at a time (I agree that the economy and immigration are very important issues as well).
Well, here’s the issue. Let’s say you own or operate a company in a state that doesn’t have LGBT specific laws, does that mean you can’t just practice equality on your own? Here’s the issue, if you are gay and you live in a state that doesn’t have LGBT specific laws, then you have a couple of choices. Find a company in your area that supports the hiring of gay people, which they can easily find out through the grapevine or move to another state that has more companies that support LGBT. The problem is that people will never convince the entire world population to think the same. In some middle eastern countries, they don’t have gays because they execute them because that’s THEIR culture and that’s their laws. You think LGBT supporters are going to change the minds of people in the middle east that have thousands of years of religious culture and attitudes? yeah right.
People that are older than 40 or 50 can’t get jobs so easily because companies don’t want to hire much past 40. That’s a more important issue that companies need to deal with. Some states have laws where you can’t lay someone off if they are older than 40, and I think all states should have that law. I think there are a lot of labor related laws that should be unified and that companies need to have more justification to fire someone. Companies have been getting away with layoffs as a means to get rid of older employees in favor of hiring younger employees at a lower salary, but they won’t tell you that. Also, what about not getting a job because they tell you that you are overqualified? I’ve had that happen to me, isn’t that a form of discrimination? I was trying to get work in a different industry with a different position that was more of an entry level position to get a new career, but they wouldn’t hire me because they claimed I was overqualified. Very frustrating and this happens quite often to older people that have a college education and work experience that have to go into a different industry just to get work.
“Find a company in your area that supports the hiring of gay people, which they can easily find out through the grapevine or move to another state that has more companies that support LGBT.” Sorry, I don’t think people should have to move away from their friends and family to get a job because of something that has no effect on the job they do, nor do I think that job choices should be based on gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. I’m an atheist… should I be denied a job because of that fact? It should be based upon my qualifications.
“People that are older than 40 or 50 can’t get jobs so easily because companies don’t want to hire much past 40. That’s a more important issue that companies need to deal with.” I agree… it is an important issue as well.
“I think there are a lot of labor related laws that should be unified and that companies need to have more justification to fire someone.” Again… I agree 100%
“I was trying to get work in a different industry with a different position that was more of an entry level position to get a new career, but they wouldn’t hire me because they claimed I was overqualified. Very frustrating and this happens quite often to older people that have a college education and work experience that have to go into a different industry just to get work.” This sucks… I think it’s a foolish way to run a company. Hope you found the job you deserve, somewhere that appreciates you.
Sorry, forgot to comment on this:
“In some middle eastern countries, they don’t have gays because they execute them because that’s THEIR culture and that’s their laws. You think LGBT supporters are going to change the minds of people in the middle east that have thousands of years of religious culture and attitudes? yeah right.”
Nope… I don’t think I can change their culture. That’s why I’m grateful to live in a more civilized culture. One that doesn’t execute someone for who they love. (please note, I don’t think ALL Middle Eastern cultures are uncivilized, I am just responding to your example of uncivilized behavior)
What special treatment am I “screaming” for? And, unfortunately in many states the word equality doesn’t cover LGBT.
In other words, you have no real argument. Also, I’m a straight white male, which blows your foolish theory of me wanting special treatment out of the water anyway. I simply want marginalized groups to be afforded the same protections that I have. Either come back with something intelligent, which furthers the conversation, or don’t post please.
“Things aren’t true because you say they are.”
Of course not… did I say such? At that point in the discussion you had offered nothing related to disproving my point. You had thus far said “equality” covers everything (do you REALLY think the current law/act covers everything?), and you called me “dumb.”
“Your species and gender have nothing to do with this whatsoever, so thanks for personally confirming what I said about screaming for special treatment for YOU because of what you are. Heh.”
Actually, it does, and it’s the only reason I brought it up. You stated that I wanted special treatment, implying I wanted special treatment for myself. Your twisting of words doesn’t change the fact that I simply want equality for others. That’s it. You’re basically saying that I want special treatment because I want equality for all. Because it’s quite obvious…that is what I want.
“They are already afforded protections that you are not. You need to be fighting for yourself.”
Oh… I fight for myself… just as hard as I would fight for you, friend. I AM protected from race and gender discrimination. We’re talking about sexual orientation here. The fact that I am a straight white male means I don’t need any laws on the book (which there are, specifically in the case of race). And LGBT’s aren’t completely protected in many states. If you have proof otherwise, I would gladly accept it.
To be honest, people will still be discriminated against even with laws. What I’m looking for are ways to make it harder. Why in the world would you be against this?
“Once again, things are not true because you say they are.”
That is correct. So then, show me that LGBTs have the same protections from discrimination that I do. I’d love to be wrong about this. I’d love to post the law/act that LGBTs can point to when they are denied housing, etc. Because the current ENDA is pretty lacking. And, hell… if me wanting equal treatment for all is me wanting “special treatment,” then, I’ll gladly concede that point as well.
“Not in the slightest. You allow women and minorities of all kinds to be hired before you. You allow women and minorities to be accepted to the same job as you with worse qualifications. You haven’t fought for anything.”
This is laughable. In fact, it’s the opposite of my experience. But thanks for projecting.
“No, you’re the one being discriminated against.”
Again with the projecting. I have gotten jobs over more qualified minorities and women. I didn’t even realize it at the time. Yup… Better qualified people got passed over. But… I made amends as best I could. And continue to do so.
“And yet you support exactly the opposite.”
Only in your mind.
I’m still waiting for you to show me that LGBTs have the same protections from discrimination that I do. Still waiting on your discourse regarding the current federal laws/acts.
If “things aren’t true because you say they are,” give me some truths. Please… enlighten me, friend.
Are you on drugs? Because nothing you’ve said makes any sense. Like, your argument is that he doesn’t have an argument, but you have yet to actually make a single point. You just keep repeating that he isn’t making a point, but he actually is, while you’re just spouting complete and utter nonsense.
I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised. This is the internet, and you are using an anime avatar. People who do that can’t be trusted.
Don’t put ALL liberals into the same bucket. Seriously. Apple can’t do anything about closing the borders and they have only so much leverage on the economy.
I think Tim Cook needs to dial it down a little. If he wants to be an activist then he might want to leave Apple and become an activist.
I just know Cook would be serving Apple and their investors, and employees, customers if they took care of their own internal shit as a higher priority then trying to convince everyone about gay people. They aren’t going to change the minds of everyone all at once. If he wants to be a supporter, then he can give his money to them, or vote on things to be supportive, but the public events he has to be careful.
Didn’t the Court(s) rule that “sexual orientation” include LGBT now? That was pretty recent. Do we even needs this?
It needs to be written into federal law. It needs to be clarified. There is still a lot of wiggle room for discrimination. Yes, someone who is LGBT “may” be able to win a court case in most states, but it shouldn’t be an issue clogging up the courts at this point. Just my humble opinion.