Workplace Improves for Gay, Transgender Employees, Rights Group Says

The workplace is becoming friendlier for gay and transgender employees, according to a report released today by the Human Rights Campaign, a national advocacy group. According to the report, "The State of the Workplace for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans 2004," at least 8,250 employers provided domestic partner benefits at the end of 2004, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. Among the Fortune 500, 216 companies provided domestic partner benefits, 10 times the number in 1995, when 21 of the companies offered the benefits.

"As we suspected, corporate America is well ahead of America generally in terms of extending basic rights to all people," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. One of the most notable increases among the Fortune 500 was that 51 companies' non-discrimination policies included gender identity and expression, up 89 percent from 2003, when 27 Fortune 500 companies had the policy. The policy specifically covers not only gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees, and those who are transitioning from one sex to another, but also workers who might be chided for not acting male or female enough.

"I think there are business reasons that companies are doing this -- to give themselves as much of an advantage as possible when it comes to retention and recruitment, to keep their best talent," said Keith Greene, vice president for member relations at the Society for Human Resource Management, who said his organization is seeing similar growth among its members. "There's also a fairness piece in here. The employer wants to be perceived as fair and even, balanced and responsible to all employees."

Solmonese, 40, has worked for EMILY’s List for a dozen years, the last two as the head of that group where he managed a budget of $40 million and a staff of 85. The organization describes itself as “the nation’s largest grassroots political network, dedicated to taking back our country from the radical right wing by electing pro-choice Democratic women to federal, state, and local office.”

He is a Massachusetts native who graduated from Boston University in 1987. He began his career as an aide in the office of governor Michael Dukakis and played a significant fundraising role in Rep. Barney Frank’s 1990 congressional campaign. He came out in his early twenties and has been a volunteer with HRC.

"Progressive Americans" = LIBERAL LUNATICS

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Solmonese has traveled the nation developing and executing outreach strategies, messaging and grassroots organizing to help progressive candidates win at the ballot box.

Solmonese has been a lead catalyst in transforming the pro-choice movement from one that appealed to a narrow group of voters to one that brings together a majority force of moderate and progressive Americans — men and women — who view choice as a defining ballot box issue.

Heading the lead advocacy and electoral effort that sent record numbers of women to elected office during the 1990s and into this new century, Solmonese helped transform the Democratic Party with new diverse leadership.

Equally important, he developed the Political Opportunity Program for state and local candidates to ensure a stream of viable, electable women candidates. In 2004, the second cycle of the program’s operation, EMILY’s List helped elect 141 women, changing the legislative makeup in Colorado, Vermont, North Carolina, Washington and Oregon. In fact, in Colorado, the efforts of EMILY’s List and other progressive allies led to women holding the top leadership positions in both the House and the Senate.

Solmonese’s strong relationships with members of Congress and political leaders across the country make him one of the most influential and knowledgeable people working in American politics today.

Solmonese led the effort that tripled the membership at EMILY’s List, one of the largest grassroots organizations in America, which helped elect a record 67 Democratic pro-choice women as members of Congress, 11 as senators and eight as governors.

Solmonese has extensive experience on campaigns and in government. He held top fundraising positions at the 1992 Senate campaign of Les AuCoin and Barney Frank’s 1990 congressional campaign, beginning his career as an aide in the office of Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.

Throughout the years, Solmonese has worked with HRC and supported the organization. A member of the HRC Federal Club, Solmonese has assisted in training HRC’s Youth College as well as the development staff and has strategized with political staff around endorsement decisions. Finally, in campaigns around the country, Solmonese has often worked closely with HRC staff and local volunteers on the ground.

A native of Attleboro, Mass., Joe is 40 and lives in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications.

I do not understand the pandering to such a group of people. Clearly the gay marriage ban votes are falling on deaf ears. I for one, am thoroughly disgusted that such a small and nasty group of people command so much authority.
Just the thought of being in close physical proximity to homosexuals makes me nervous. No matter who denies it, they still carry the highest risks for serveral cantagious diseases that I do not want exposure to.
And their "kids" can receive that exposure during one contaminated shared toothbrush or razor. Just as I do not want IV drug users near my food or family, I do not want homosexuals close.

Just the thought of being in close physical proximity to homosexuals makes me nervous.

My wife's work had a party. Her boss was gay. I thought it was just workers, but then I noticed some of the guys there were getting a little too chummy for my tastes. I stayed where it was "safe."

I'm not against gays having the same rights on jobs, provided it's not a moral issue (as in Boy Scouts) and that they are the best qualified for and can do the job. However, I am NOT in favor of them receiving minority status or using the workplace as some kind of means to further an agenda.

My wife does not like gays at all now. Her boss layed her and a bunch of other people off so they could take the jobs to India. The company president wondered why the remaining few employees clammed up so much when he was around unlike before. Pretty soon, my wife's boss was fired. The company had had a good business model before, but once they saw the money, then it went to pot.

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