Walmart Settles Class Action Lawsuit Over Same-Sex Spousal Benefits
Around 1,000 people will be compensated as part of the settlement.
Daily Archives: December 3, 2016
Native Son Awards Celebrate Gay Black Men (Photos)
Native Son Awards Celebrate Gay Black Men (Photos)
www.advocate.com/pride/2016/12/01/native-son-awards-celebrate-gay-black-men-photos
IMG_7082
Cristiano Ronaldo Proves He’s the ‘Blue Steel’ of Real Madrid in Shirtless Team Selfie
Cristiano Ronaldo Proves He’s the ‘Blue Steel’ of Real Madrid in Shirtless Team Selfie
Following the team’s match-up with Barcelona in El Clasico, the Real Madrid team posed for a group photo and Cristiano Ronaldo proved that even though the match was a tie he could still win the selfie game.
The post Cristiano Ronaldo Proves He’s the ‘Blue Steel’ of Real Madrid in Shirtless Team Selfie appeared first on Towleroad.
Cristiano Ronaldo Proves He’s the ‘Blue Steel’ of Real Madrid in Shirtless Team Selfie
Vision Community Foundation | Black Tie Gala
Anderson Cooper’s Beefy Boyfriend, Colton Haynes’ Rainbow Heart & Milk’s New Fashion Gig
Anderson Cooper’s Beefy Boyfriend, Colton Haynes’ Rainbow Heart & Milk’s New Fashion Gig
This week, while Donald Trump filled his cabinet with more homophobes, Mike Pence was trolled by his pro-gay neighbors, Lucian Piane tweeted a picture of his dick, and some rare Madonna polaroids finally saw the light of day. Here’s what happened on Instagram:
Andrew Hayden-Smith got naked for World AIDS Day.
A photo posted by Andrew Hayden-Smith (@andrewhaydensmith) on
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen sandwiched their favorite hag.
THRUPPLE ALERT! Kelly & I promise to make Anderson as uncomfortable as possible tonight! See you on #WWHL #squad – photo: @charlessykes
A photo posted by Andy Cohen (@bravoandy) on
X Factor contestant Marlon McKenzie spent the week wet.
Somebody punched Blake Skjellerup in the face!
A photo posted by Blake Skjellerup (@blakeskjellerup) on
Brazilian gymnast Danilo Lobo tested new proteins.
Boa noite pra geral que dorme assim ? aguarrado nos amiguinhos ??? #motivation #inspiration #fitness #teamfarmaforma #health #fitnesslifestyle #fitnessmodel #fit #mensphysique #ficargrande #bodybuilding #saude #fitfood #muscle #foco? #fitboy
A photo posted by Danilo Lobo®? (@danilolobooficial) on
Michael B. Jordan showed off his ink.
Colton Haynes enjoyed the view.
He also wore his first rainbow!
Happy Thanksgiving! Know that we are all stronger together & should continue to spread love. Sneak of Drop #4 on ColtonHaynes.com ! Get it this Cyber Monday @ 10am PST!!! #StrongerTogether
A photo posted by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on
Italian swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri posed for GQ Italia.
Gregorio Paltrinieri: «Voglio vincere tutto, da capo». Sul numero di dicembre GQ celebra sei campioni Azzurri, 100 giorni dopo le Olimpiadi di Rio Foto di VanMossevelde+N @vanmosseveldeplusn Servizio di @AndreaTenerani Intervista di Cristina D’Antonio T-shirt EA7 @armani, costume Arena @arenawaterinstinct #gqlikes #gqdicembre @greg_palt
A photo posted by GQ Italia (@gqitalia) on
Luke Evans painted an elephant’s face.
A photo posted by thereallukeevans (@thereallukeevans) on
Anderson Cooper shared a rare shot of his boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani.
Kevin Hart flaunted his #HardWork and #Dedication.
Gregg Sulkin challenged David Henrie to an arm wrestling match.
Good thing he’s been working on those guns!
Noah Galvin got physical with some beefy babes.
Lance Bass and Michael Turchin hung with Britney on her birthday!
Zac Efron got ready for the weekend.
Terry Miller flaunted his literal daddy status. Can you believe this man has an adult child?
-DADDY- #BoyScoutModernSanSerif #EdRuscha #TypefaceMatters Join me at the SF Eagle tonight for ?Make Out Party?.
A photo posted by Terry Miller (@terrysphots) on
Fitness model Brandon Wickens tried a new beard conditioner…
A photo posted by fitness | lifestyle | fashion (@brandonwickens) on
…and it’s beautiful.
A photo posted by fitness | lifestyle | fashion (@brandonwickens) on
Willie Gomez was profiled by Attitude.
A photo posted by Willie Gomez (@williegomez) on
Milk and bf James Whiteside played “football” in the new Thom Browne ad.
Tag team, anyone?
sundays are for football or whatevs. #thombrownefootball — ? : @danielseunglee
A photo posted by Milk (@bigandmilky) on
Shawn Mendes met Drake.
And then he took it off for Flaunt.
@shawnmendes is one of the covers for #thenocturneissue, photographed by @bradelterman and styled by @seanknight, here wearing @guess jeans and @calvinklein underwear . Film (available on Flaunt.com) directed by @tyler.kindred | Groomer: @heyannabee using @shuuemura and @armanibeauty| Producer: @richgreens | Location: #theevilrocknrollcat
A photo posted by Flaunt Magazine (@flauntmagazine) on
Swoooon.
Shawn Mendes shows off his abs for @FlauntMagazine ???
A photo posted by Gay Times Magazine ???? (@gaytimesmag) on
Walmart Settles Anti-LGBT Bias Class Action Suit, Will Pay $7.5 Million To Employees Denied Spousal Benefits
Walmart Settles Anti-LGBT Bias Class Action Suit, Will Pay $7.5 Million To Employees Denied Spousal Benefits
Walmart has settled a discrimination lawsuit against the company for denying health insurance benefits to same-sex spouses.
In 2014, GLAAD filed a charge of discrimination on behalf of Jacqueline Cote (above right), a Walmart employee who was denied health benefits for her wife.
Under the settlement announced Friday, Walmart will set aside $7.5 million, mostly to compensate employees affected during the three years before January 1, 2014, when the company changed its policy. According to the New York Times, more than 1,000 people may be eligible.
RELATED: Walmart Sued Over Denying Health Coverage To Gay Employee’s Wife
In their motion for preliminary approval of the settlement, lawyers for Cote argued that Walmart had discriminated against her because she was married to a woman. They also argued that the company had discriminated against Cote because she did not conform to the stereotype that women must marry only men.
Jacqueline Cote and Walmart Announce Class Settlement Over Health Insurance Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses of … -… t.co/7DGKZoBAzF
— Public Health new (@PublicHealthnew) December 3, 2016
Cote worked at Walmart from 1999 through early 2016. In 2004, she married Diana Smithson (above left), another Walmart employee. In 2008, Smithson left the company to become the primary caregiver for Cote’s mother. Around that time, the company blocked Cote’s efforts to sign her wife up for spousal health insurance. In 2012, Smithson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The couple ran up uninsured medical expenses of around $150,000 over the next few years.
Under the deal, Walmart will fully reimburse current or former employees affected by its previous policy for out-of-pocket costs of a spouse’s health care from Jan. 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2013. The company will also pay 250 percent of out-of-pocket costs for employees submitting documentation for expenses of $60,000 or more in spousal health care expenses.
Sally Welborn, a Walmart senior vice president, said in a statement:
“We’re happy both sides could come together to reach a resolution. We will continue to not distinguish between same- and opposite-sex spouses when it comes to the benefits we offer under our health insurance plan.”
Peter Romer-Friedman, one of Cote’s lawyers, added “we are glad that as part of the settlement Walmart will continue to provide the same health insurance benefits regardless of the gender of the associate’s spouse.”
The post Walmart Settles Anti-LGBT Bias Class Action Suit, Will Pay $7.5 Million To Employees Denied Spousal Benefits appeared first on Towleroad.
77.Conversation.MICA.BaltimoreMD.2December2016
77.Conversation.MICA.BaltimoreMD.2December2016
Elvert Barnes posted a photo:
BALTIMORE IN CONVERSATION 2nd Edition STORYTELLING NIGHT at MICA BBOX Gateway Building at 1601 West Mount Royal Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday night, 2 December 2016 by Elvert Barnes Photography
Storytelling Stage:
Danielle Scott
www.facebook.com/danielle.icon
Follow 2nd Edition Baltimore In Conversation Storytelling Night at www.facebook.com/events/1722005314788084/
Are Millennials Leading Monogamy On A Slow March Towards Death?
Are Millennials Leading Monogamy On A Slow March Towards Death?
There has been a lot written about monogamy in recent years. While some outlying studies have found it on the rise among younger couples, most people seem to agree that it’s a dying trend in relationships. Zachary Zane is among these people.
“During my exploratory college years, I was often confused about my sexuality,” he writes in a new op-ed titled What if we thought of monogamy as a spectrum? “I knew I had loved women, but found myself, drunkenly, in the arms of various men. I wasn’t sure why I was doing it. Was I in denial of being gay? Was I simply an open-minded straight guy? Or was I just a drunk and horny hot mess?”
It took a few years, but Zane eventually figured out that he was bisexual.
Related: Wife Discovers Husband Sleeping With Guys; What Happens Next May Surprise You
“I didn’t embrace the label until a year after graduating,” he says. “That’s when I learned that I didn’t have to like men and women equally to be bisexual. I learned that sexuality was a spectrum, and my point on the spectrum wasn’t fixed.My attractions to various genders could evolve.”
This got him thinking: If sexuality can be on a spectrum, why not other things as well? Like, say, monogamy.
As he did more research, Zane realized he hardly the first person to think about this. He found a recent YouGov survey published earlier this fall that found just 51 percent of people under the age of 30 said that their ideal relationship would be “completely monogamous,” compared to 58 percent of people ages 30 to 44, 63 percent ages 45 to 64, and 70 percent ages 65 and older.
Related: Are Young Gay Men Relying Too Much On Monogamy As Protection From HIV?
The takeaway: Millennials are less interested in monogamy than their older counterparts. And it’s a pattern that will likely continue for future generations as well.
The study also found that 36 percent of millennials said their ideal relationship isn’t completely monogamous or completely non-monogamous, but rather in a sort of in-between space.
“We realize that, like sexuality and gender, relationships can exist on a spectrum,” Zane says. “We’re a generation that understands our own identity as liminal. As fluid, rather than stagnant. A life solely dedicated to one person doesn’t allow for exploration.”
He continues: “Each person might have a different idea of what their non-monogamous relationship will look like. In anything but a completely monogamous relationship, partners will have to discuss and decide together how their non-monogamous relationship is going to function.”
“Frankly,” he concludes, “I think millennials are up for the challenge.”
Related: 30 Percent Of Queerty Readers Believe Marriage Is Not About Monogamy
The Ten Worst Homophobes In Trump’s Administration
The Ten Worst Homophobes In Trump’s Administration
Hungry for a little outrage today? Get ready to get angry about some of the folks about to waltz in to the White House, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Donald.
This may be, as some morally bankrupt Republican apologists claim, the most gay-friendly Republican president-elect in history. But if that’s the case, we’d hate to see the least friendly, because Trump has appointed some truly terrible people. Here’s a countdown of the ten worst:
10. Elaine Chao: wrote for a think tank that says gay marriage causes abortion; worked to re-elect gay-marriage-opponent (and her husband) Mitch McConnell; she could dismantle civil rights protections at the Department of Transportation
9. Nikki Haley: as ambassador to the UN, this gay-marriage opponent could reverse US policy abroad and encourage the criminalization of homosexuality
8. Tom Leppert: says marriage is “one man and one woman,” and will have a leadership role in the Social Security administration — you know, the people in charge of your retirement and disability payments
Related: Oh Look, Another Antigay Skeleton In Trump AG Pick Jeff Sessions’ Closet
7. Bill Pryor: argued that gays should arrested for having sex, and also straight couples if they’re not married; if Donald appoints him to the Supreme Court, we’re just 1 vote away from a majority that would overturn marriage equality
6. Ken Blackwell: on transition team, says that gay marriage causes mass shootings
5. David Clarke: under consideration for Department of Homeland Security, says that gay marriage could start another Civil War
4. Michael Flynn: mocked trans servicemembers and could push to have them discharged
Related: Another One Of Trump’s Cabinet Candidates Has Made Horrific Comments About LGBTQs
3. Betsy DeVos: major donor to ex-gay backers, will be in charge of nation’s schools
2. Tom Price: wants insurance companies to be able to deny coverage to you because you’re queer
1. Jeff Sessions: as attorney general, could argue before the Supreme Court that marriage should be overturned
Whew. Quite a rogue’s gallery. Fortunately, you can ask your representatives to oppose these appointments and foil their plans to rescind LGBT rights. Call 1-844-USA-0234 to be connected to your members of congress, and tell them to do whatever they can to keep these people from taking office.
Watch below: