swirlspice

Because I believe everyone should get to see themselves reflected on TV. EVERYONE. And because I love all my gay and lesbian friends. AND because I think same-sex marriage is the civil rights fight of our era and back when being a person of color was the civil rights fight, people like Norman Lear put black people on TV and helped change some minds. So you know, it’s gotta be paid forward. As long as we are willing to sit by while one person is not free, none of us are free.

And FINALLY: because as long as someone feels like it is okay to ask the question “why all the gay people on your shows”, then there is still a HUGE problem that needs to be solved. It’s like asking “Why all the black people on your shows”. (Which is, in fact, why there are also a lot of people of color on my shows . Cause people keep asking. Like it’s unusual. Which means we have a LONG way to go). Okay, done preaching.

The Uruguayan House of Representatives debated the bill for more than six hours, but the actual equal marriage rights portion of the legislation passed quite early. A more contentious aspect of the bill, the AP reported, was a proposal to allow all couples in Uruguay (same-sex or opposite-sex) to decide which parent’s last name is used first when naming their children.

In Latin America, children are traditionally given two last names, with the father’s coming first. When Argentina passed marriage equality in 2010, for example, the law mandated that children of same-sex couples would take their parents’ last names in alphabetical oder, while leaving intact the requirement for opposite-sex couples that the father’s last name go first.

As the AP reported, even Deputy Anibal Gloodtdofsky of the conservative Colorado Party voted in favor of the measure, telling the AP, “It’s an issue that will generate confusion in a society that has forever taken the father’s name. But these changes in society have to be accepted.”

Adoption is known to promote cognitive and emotional development in children from foster care, but policy debates remain regarding whether children adopted by gay and lesbian parents can achieve these positive outcomes. This study compared the cognitive development and behavior problems at 2, 12, and 24 months postplacement of 82 high-risk children adopted from foster care in heterosexual and gay or lesbian households. On average, children in both household types showed significant gains in cognitive development and maintained similar levels of behavior problems over time, despite gay and lesbian parents raising children with higher levels of biological and environmental risks prior to adoptive placement. Results demonstrated that high-risk children show similar patterns of development over time in heterosexual and gay and lesbian adoptive households.

In a significant shift, the W.N.B.A. is promoting not simply those who fit a traditional marketing profile but its top talent, like Minnesota’s heavily tattooed star Seimone Augustus, who burst on the scene with an abundance of personality and has been widely embraced.

“Sometimes it wasn’t the best players who were being promoted, but the best image,” Holdsclaw said. “I see the league getting away from that and saying, hey, we want to promote the players who are the best players.”

Closely related, Holdsclaw said, is the W.N.B.A.’s acknowledgment of its significant gay fan base, an effort that sets it apart from its male counterparts.

“The league realizes that it has to support and have a place for its gay community,” Holdsclaw said. “A lot of gay people love sports and want to support the W.N.B.A. You have players, some star players now, who openly identify as being gay. Early on, the league would not market them because of that. That has changed. You have to be honest with your product and with the athletes that you’re dealing with. And get support from wherever you can.”

I am proud to see our company join the ranks of local and national employers speaking out for inclusion. We do not believe the proposed constitutional amendment is in the best interests of our employees or our state economy – and as a Minnesota-based company we oppose it.

We value diversity. We value inclusion. We always have … and we always will.

We’re proud of our workplace, and we’re proud to be a leader for diversity and inclusion in our community. For decades, General Mills has worked to create an inclusive culture that welcomes and values the contributions of all.

We believe a diverse, inclusive culture produces a stronger, more engaged workforce – and strengthens innovation. Inclusive communities are more successful economically as well. We believe it is important for Minnesota to be viewed as inclusive and welcoming as well.