Angie's List Halts Expansion Over Indiana Law Seen Targeting Gays

Angie's List Halts Expansion Over Indiana Law Seen Targeting Gays

By Dan Whitcomb
March 28 (Reuters) – The company behind the Angie’s List business-rating website on Saturday put on hold a planned expansion of its Indianapolis headquarters over a new Indiana law that opponents say could allow companies to deny services to gay people.
The decision by Angie’s List Inc comes amid criticism of the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by both champers of the Republican led-state legislature and signed into law on Thursday by Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
Supporters say the legislation will keep the government from forcing business owners to act against strongly held religious beliefs. Opponents say it is discriminatory against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and broader than other states’ religious freedom laws.
“We are putting the ‘Ford Building Project’ on hold until we fully understand the implications of the Freedom Restoration Act on our employees, both current and future,” Angie’s List Chief Executive Bill Oesterle said in a statement.
“Angie’s List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents,” Oesterle said.
The project, which Oesterle said was due to break ground within days, would have expanded the company’s campus on the east side of Indianapolis by converting a 100-year-old Ford assembly plant into offices.
Oesterle said Angie’s List, which operates a website that allows users to review local businesses, would begin immediately to review alternatives for its planned expansion.
On Friday, Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook, one of the most prominent openly gay American CEOs, joined other executives, including Salesforce.com Inc’s Marc Benioff, in blasting the Indiana law, which could let business and individuals turn away customers by citing religious freedom.
A day after Indiana’s move, the Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly approved a similar bill, which Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, has said he would sign into law.
The world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, which has its home office in Bentonville, Arkansas, criticized that measure. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Scott Malone and Tiffany Wu)

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/28/angies-list-indiana-law_n_6961464.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Could Repealing LGBT Protections Cost Houston The 2016 Final Four, 2017 Super Bowl?

Could Repealing LGBT Protections Cost Houston The 2016 Final Four, 2017 Super Bowl?

FinalFour

Since Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed an anti-LGBT religious freedom bill this week, the backlash has been enormous. 

Celebrities, corporationschurches and even the White House have come out against the discriminatory law — with some announcing boycotts of the Hoosier State. They include the NCAA, which issued a statement saying it’s concerned about how the law will affect its student-athletes and employees during the men’s basketball Final Four in Indianapolis next weekend. There’s also a petition calling for the Big 10 Conference to move its football championship out of Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, in Houston — which is scheduled to host the 2016 Final Four and the 2017 Super Bowl — anti-LGBT groups continue their efforts repeal an Equal Rights Ordinance passed by the City Council last year. 

Super-Bowl-Houston-BannerAfter Houston became the last major city in the US to add LGBT protections in May, opponents launched a petition drive to repeal them. The city eventually rejected the petition, saying it didn’t have enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.  

Anti-LGBT groups filed a lawsuit, and last month a jury determined that among other things, the petition contains widespread forgery. Based on the jury’s determinations about which signatures should be considered valid, Judge Robert Schaffer began a final count. More than a month later, Schaffer revealed this week that opponents of the ordinance are roughly 3,000 signatures short of the 17,269 needed to qualify for the ballot. However, approximately 8,500 signatures remain in question because they appear on pages circulated by people whose names aren’t legible. 

The Houston Chronicle reports: 

The plaintiffs argue that legibility should not be a factor.

“We can’t empower the government with the right to be the judge, jury and executioner on whether somebody has a right to vote based on penmanship,” said Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs.

The city, however, contends that if they can’t determine who a circulator is based on their signature or printed name, all the other signatures collected on that page should be discarded, per city charter and the judge’s ruling.

“The plaintiffs are mounting every desperate challenge they possibly can to try to overcome the effect of the jury’s verdict and the effect of the judge’s post-verdict rulings,” said Geoffrey Harrison, lead attorney for the city. “The plaintiffs lost at trial. They lose on the law. They lose on the facts. But they are prolonging this process by refusing to accept reality.”

Judge Schaffer is expected to rule in early April on the final signature count. If he determines the petition has enough valid signatures, the ordinance likely would appear on the November ballot. If he determines the petition doesn’t have enough valid signatures, the plaintiffs are expected to appeal.  

Either way, perhaps opponents of the ordinance and other citizens of Houston should take note of what’s happening in Indiana. If Houston repeals LGBT protections and again becomes the only major US city without them, it’s hard to imagine there wouldn’t be a push to get the NCAA to move the 2016 Final Four and to get the NFL to move the 2017 Super Bowl — among other things. 

Texas lawmakers might also want to take note, as several measures similar to the Indiana bill have been introduced in the current session of the state Legislature.

Houston and Texas have a reputation as business-friendly places, but judging by what’s happened in Indiana, that could easily and very quickly change. 


John Wright

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/opponents-of-houstons-equal-rights-ordinance-are-sticking-their-heads-in-the-sand-citys-attorney-say.html

Jonathan Groff And Russell Tovey’s Last Pic, Pablo Hernandez Is Furrier Than Ever, Ricky Martin Gets Chained Up

Jonathan Groff And Russell Tovey’s Last Pic, Pablo Hernandez Is Furrier Than Ever, Ricky Martin Gets Chained Up

This week, Looking was canceled by HBO, and Adam Lambert is an unapologetic bitch gay and Terry Miller and Colby Keller are getting together but not in the way you’re thinking. Here’s what happened recently on Instagram:

Max Joseph really knows how to blend in.

#Greyout

A photo posted by Max Joseph (@maxjoseph) on Mar 22, 2015 at 9:08am PDT

Gavin Creel is no longer an Instagram newbie.

Darryl Stephens helped launch the new HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for the San Diego LGBT Center.

The San Diego #LGBT Community Center has launched a new #HIVAIDS awareness and anti-stigma campaign. #BeTheGeneration: Live Out, Live Long, Live Healthy, Live Unafraid! Check out @lgbtcenter

A photo posted by Darryl Stephens (@darrylstephens) on Mar 25, 2015 at 12:52pm PDT

Ryan Lochte has never let a little snow deter from his workout routine.

Ricky Martin is all chained up, just the way we like him.

M.A.S. Tour Video intro. Produced and Directed by @elasticpeople #freedom

A photo posted by Ricky (@ricky_martin) on Mar 25, 2015 at 6:38am PDT

That time on the Looking set when Frankie J. Alvarez wrapped his lips around the giant didgeridoo and Murray Bartlett came out as an Aussie.

These two need to record a duet: Adam Lambert and Olly Alexander, powerhouse vocalist from Years & Years.

@ollyyears @yearsandyears great show tonight! Vocals for dayzzzzz

A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on Mar 25, 2015 at 11:40pm PDT

Joe Jonas has really gone to the dogs.

IDFWU A photo posted by Jøe Jønas (@joejonas) on Mar 25, 2015 at 7:14pm PDT

Pablo Hernandez wants you to look at his fur.

We knew it! Colton Haynes is Prince Bubblegum.

Lil Christian’s “Adventure Time” Bday party has begun! #FamilyTime #Kansas #PrinceBubblegum A photo posted by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on Mar 21, 2015 at 11:10am PDT

E.J. Johnson works it out in Pilates class.

Lines and poses @boobsandloubs_ @pilatesbycindy #rkobh #teamthis

A photo posted by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Mar 19, 2015 at 1:43pm PDT

Jonathan Groff and Russell Tovey: The final photo?

Tonight also on Sky Atlantic – the last ever episode of @lookinghbo #LookingHBO #patrick #kevin #happybirthdayJG

A photo posted by Russelltovey (@russelltovey) on Mar 26, 2015 at 9:39am PDT

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/bdboG3G0_5g/jonathan-groff-and-russell-toveys-last-pic-pablo-hernandez-is-furrier-than-ever-ricky-martin-gets-chained-up-20150328

Indiana Restaurant Owner Calls in to Radio Station Proudly Saying He'll Refuse to Serve Gay Customers: LISTEN

Indiana Restaurant Owner Calls in to Radio Station Proudly Saying He'll Refuse to Serve Gay Customers: LISTEN

Kyle and rache

Warning: this might just ruin your Saturday morning.

Indianapolis morning radio show Kyle & Rachel was busy fielding caller comments on the state’s discriminatory “religious freedom” bill yesterday when a local bigot decided to call in and voice his support for the state’s new law.

Listen to Ryan, who says he owns a local restaurant and has discriminated against gay customers in the past, casually explain why he’s looking forward to his new “license to discriminate” AFTER THE JUMP… (warning: autoplay)

In related news, former NBA star Charles Barkley has called on the NCAA to move its March Madness Final Four tournament out of Indiana over the new law. 

[h/t joe.my.god]

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Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/indiana-restaurant-owner-calls-into-radio-station-proudly-saying-hell-refuse-to-serve-gay-customers-.html