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Ill. couple sues cab company after driver tried to kick them out of taxi for kissing
CHICAGO — An Illinois couple is continuing their fight against a Chicago cab company after they claim a driver tried to kick them out of his taxi for kissing in the backseat. Matthew McCrea and Steven White have filed a lawsuit against Sun Taxi after their original complaint, filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights last October, was dismissed because the department said…
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N.Y. farm will no longer host weddings rather than allow same-sex ceremonies
SCHAGHTICOKE, N.Y. — The owners of an upstate New York farm who were ordered to pay $13,000 in fines and restitution for refusing to host a lesbian couple’s wedding say they will discontinue hosting all weddings rather than accommodate same-sex wedding ceremonies. Cynthia and Robert Gifford, owners of the Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, N.Y., “have decided…
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Lesbian worker says Iowa casino fired her for not dressing feminine
DUBUQUE, Iowa — A former employee for Mystique Casino in Dubuque has sued the casino, claiming she was fired because she didn’t dress more feminine. The civil lawsuit by Brandy Welter, a former marketing manager, seeks an unspecified amount of damages for lost wages and emotional distress, among other things.
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Tempe voters to consider adding protections for LGBT city workers
TEMPE, Ariz. — The city of Tempe could become the first city in Arizona to include sexual orientation as a protected class from workplace discrimination if voters approve a landmark city ordinance on Tuesday. Tempe City Councilman Kolby Granville says the amendment has been a longtime coming for LGBT residents of Tempe, but it’s up to the voters to pass.
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Cuomo calls on N.Y. legislature to outlaw gender identity discrimination
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling on the state to outlaw discrimination against transgender people, saying gender identity and expression should be included in the state’s civil rights law alongside race, religion and disability. In a letter to the Empire State Pride Agenda dated Tuesday, Cuomo said transgender people face significant …
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Labor Department extends employment protections to transgender workers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday issued guidance clarifying that sex discrimination includes gender identity and transgender status of individuals who work for federal contractors and subcontractors. The news follows a June announcement by Labor Secretary Thomas Perez that the department is updating enforcement protocols and …
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N.Y. farm fined $13,000 for refusing to host lesbian couple’s wedding
ALBANY, N.Y. — A New York couple has been ordered to pay $13,000 in fines and restitution for refusing to host a same-sex couple’s wedding at their 100-acre upstate farm and event facility. Jennifer and Melisa McCarthy filed the complaint in 2012 against the Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, N.Y., after being told their same-sex marriage would cause …
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Bakery refuses cake for same-sex couple after ‘talking to Jesus for 2 weeks’
SCHUYKILL HAVEN, Pa. — A bakery in Schuylkill County, Pa., is the latest Pennsylvania business to deny service to a same-sex couple after the owner “talked to Jesus for two weeks.” Jennifer and Bethany Petrich tells WBRE-TV they wanted a cake for a ceremony to renew their vows.
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Bridal shop won’t serve lesbian couples because it ‘would break God’s law’
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — A bridal store’s refusal to sell wedding gowns to a same-sex couple is stirring debate in a central Pennsylvania town. The Press Enterprise reports two women — who wish to remain anonymous — tried to schedule an appointment at W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, Pa., but were turned down after the shop owner learned they were a lesbian couple…
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State regulators say Denver gay bar discriminated against man in drag
DENVER — Colorado regulators say a Denver gay bar discriminated against a man when a bouncer denied him entry last year because he was dressed in drag. The civil rights division of the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies has ordered the Denver Wrangler to resolve the dispute with Vito Marzano, a gay man who was wearing a dress and wig…