Mich. candidate seeks fewer transgender rights
365gay.com reports a Michigan secretary-of-state candidate has included rolling back transgender rights on his agenda.
Paul Scott, currently a Republican state representative, said in his announcement of candidacy for the position that he plans to reverse a policy that allows transgender individuals to change their gender on state-issued identification.
The policy dates to 2005. At that time, the ACLU and Transgender Michigan worked with the Secretary of State’s office to ensure transgender individuals can change their gender on state ID cards.
Judge sets deadline in custody dispute
The Washington Post reports a woman who vanished with her daughter has been given 30 days to resurface before a judge imposes sanctions.
Rutland, Vt., Family Court Judge William Cohen found Lisa Miller in contempt of court on Jan. 22 after she failed to transfer custody of her 7-year-old daughter to Janet Jenkins, her former partner, on Jan. 1.
Jenkins and Miller were joined in a civil union in 2000 in Vermont. The couple split in 2003, when Miller moved to Virginia to join an “ex-gay” ministry. Miller, the girl’s biological mother, was ordered to hand over custody to Jenkins, who is the girl’s adoptive mother, on Dec. 22.
Custody was originally granted to Miller but the court granted Jenkins custody in November.
Cohen said that if Miller did not appear in court by Feb. 23, he would consider harsher actions.
HRC lists best workplaces
Advocate.com reports Boeing, AT&T and Harrah’s are three of the 305 companies on Human Rights Campaign’s annual list of best workplaces for LGBT people.
The list, released Jan. 25, contains only businesses that scored 100 percent in the HRC’s 2010 Corporate Equality Index.
“These companies’ actions constitute tangible, significant civil-rights progress,” said HRC president Joe Solmonese in a statement. “By mandating equal opportunity in hiring, ensuring equal compensation through medical and family benefits and promoting informed workforces and equal work places, these companies light the way for advances in state and federal law.”
— Larry Nichols