CALIFORNIA


Study Predicts California Will Profit from Marriages

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released a research study June 9 analyzing the economic gains that same-sex couples’ weddings will bring to California. The California Supreme Court’s decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples will have a positive net impact on the state budget and the state economy.

The California wedding industry will receive a substantial $683.8 million boost in direct spending by same-sex couples during the next three years. The study predicts that, based on the experience of Massachusetts, half of California’s 102,000 same-sex couples will want to marry, leading to 51,000 weddings. Another 68,000 out-of-state couples are likely to travel to California to marry. This economic lift will also likely generate almost 2,200 new jobs in the state.

Weddings by same-sex couples in California will have a positive impact on the state budget of approximately $64 million during the next three years. Sales and occupancy tax revenues from wedding-related expenses by both in-state and out-of-state couples will total more than $55.1 million. In addition, same-sex weddings will generate $8.8 million in marriage license fees for California counties.

“The fiscal effects of same-sex marriage will reverberate well beyond city hall, helping to balance the state budget,” noted study co-author Brad Sears, executive director of the Williams Institute.



FLORIDA


Lesbian Sues Hospital for Mistreatment

A lawsuit was filed June 25 against Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for claims of negligent and outrageous treatment toward the family of Lisa Pond, a lesbian whose partner of 18 years, Janice Langbehn, and their three children were not allowed to see her as she slipped into a coma and died.

“The treatment that Janice and her children received was outrageous, unethical and discriminatory,” said Beth Littrell, staff attorney for Lambda Legal.

Pond, a healthy 39-year-old, suddenly collapsed while on a family cruise leaving from Miami. She was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital with her partner and three children following close behind. There, the hospital refused to accept information from Langbehn about her partner’s medical history. Langbehn was informed that she was in an anti-gay city and state and that she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family. A doctor spoke with Langbehn, telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Other than one five-minute visit, orchestrated by a Catholic priest at Langbehn’s request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor’s acknowledgment that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither Langbehn nor her children were allowed to see Pond until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

Soon after Pond’s death, Langbehn tried to get her death certificate to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the state of Florida and the Dade County medical examiner.

“There is nothing that can make up for what my children and I endured that day,” said Langbehn. “We only want the hospital to take responsibility for how they treated us and ensure that it doesn’t happen to another family.”



NEW YORK


Partnership Improves Services to Queer Youth

A partnership was forged June 9 to improve out-of-home care to queer youth.

Lambda Legal, in collaboration with the National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education, announced two projects to build the capacity, awareness and skills of social workers and other child welfare professionals serving sexual minority youth living out of home in foster care, juvenile justice centers and homeless shelters.

“LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in out-of-home care facilities,” said Flor Bermundez, staff attorney with Lambda Legal. “It is essential that social workers and practitioners are trained in how best to serve them.”

Through a $275,000 grant, the National Association of Social Workers will launch a national train-the-trainer initiative. The initiative will prepare 40 master trainers throughout the country who have met the application requirement and who agree to train 40 more out-of-home care practitioners, resulting in a total of at least 1,600 service providers who will be better able to meet the needs of queer youth. More information on the program will be posted at www.socialworkers.org and www.lambdalegal.org.



TENNESSEE


Freight Lines Sued for Firing Transgender Trucker

A sex discrimination lawsuit was filed June 18 against Old Dominion Freight Lines for firing a truck driver for impersonating a female after she informed the company that she was transitioning from male to female. A prior investigation into the firing sided with the driver, Kaylee Seals, finding there was reasonable cause to believe that Old Dominion discriminated against Seals based on sex and sex stereotyping.

“I was always taught that you should be judged based on how hard you work,” said Seals. “I gave my all to Old Dominion, working extremely long hours under very difficult conditions. Yet none of that mattered when my bosses learned that I was transitioning.” 

During Seals’ career with Old Dominion, she was given several awards for her service and safe driving. In November 2005, Seals, who was still living and dressing as a male at the time, was sent from Morristown, Texas, to Jacksonville, Fla. While there, a manager at the company allegedly began harassing Seals because she had been given a voucher to stay in a motel rather than a company bunk house. According to the manager, male employees were supposed to stay in the bunk house. Although she was dressed in gender-neutral clothing, the employee began aggressively questioning Seals about her sex and her appearance. Unaware that the bunk house was even still operational, Seals readily agreed to stay in the bunk house for the remaining night of her stay.

When she returned to Tennessee, Seals informed her immediate supervisor about the conversation about her gender and mentioned that she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder and intended to complete the transition to the female sex. Shortly after this conversation, she was summoned to a meeting with the supervisor and other managers. At this meeting, an Old Dominion supervisor, noting Seals’ “feminine voice” and the fact that she wore jewelry, accused Seals of imitating a woman to be able to stay in the motel. The supervisor then terminated Seals, claiming her actions violated company policy. The investigation did not find this explanation credible, because four other male employees also received motel vouchers in Jacksonville during the same time period and had not been disciplined.

“No one should be fired simply because she does not fit traditional gender roles,” said Christine Sun, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Marisa Richmond, president of the Transgender Political Coalition, added, “Through this lawsuit, I hope all employers learn that they should respect transgender employees, because if they don’t, they can be held liable for illegal discrimination.”

Seals has since found employment with another trucking line but is now earning significantly less money.


Compiled by Jaymee R. Cuti