Articles from the Constitution State
True Colors closure
True Colors, one of Connecticut’s most well-known LGBTQ youth-support organizations, has shut down operations indefinitely due to the financial toll of COVID-19. Programming stopped as on January 27.
“COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges for many nonprofits, including significant decreased funding and increased difficulties in delivering in-person services in a virtual world,” said board member Donald Pendagast in a statement.
State military benefits
Connecticut lawmakers are proposing an extension of state veterans’ benefits to LGBT members of the armed forces who were withheld honorable discharges because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Openly gay state Reps Raghib Allie-Brennan (D-Bethel) and Jeff Currey (D-East Hartford) and State Senator Alex Kasser (D-Greenwich) introduced legislation last week to restore state benefits for Connecticut service members discharged for no other reason than their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a CT House Democrats press release.
“The brave Americans who served this nation deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and deserve the benefits they earned,” said State Rep. Allie-Brennan, who cosponsored the house proposal. “Who you are or who you love shouldn’t have an impact on the care you receive. Our bill will correct an incredible injustice.”
“I am eager to work collaboratively with my colleagues to bolster and restore protections for our LGBTQ+ neighbors who served,” said Rep. Currey. “Inclusivity brings strength to our community and armed forces and will help mend the fractures strained by the discriminatory policies of our past. This is an important opportunity and we must not let it pass.”
The new legislation came just one day after President Joe Biden signed an executive order to reverse the Trump administration’s policy banning transgender Americans from serving in the military.
Remembering Christopher Plummer
The late Christopher Plummer, who died of a fall in his Connecticut home on February 5, proved himself an LGBTQ ally in his Oscar-winning performance playing a gay dad in the 2012 film “Beginners.”
In the film he comes out to his son, played by Ewan McGregor, proudly sporting a rainbow handkerchief around his neck.
“It’s because he’s found himself. He’s free from all that burden of trying to suppress his homosexuality, and he’s also in love. I think that’s why the film has the lightness of tone that it does—there’s not an ounce of self-pity in it,” the actor told the LA Times.
Christopher Plummer, the Shakespearean actor, famous among other parts for his role as Captain Von Trapp in the film version of “The Sound of Music,” was 91. He died with his wife, Elaine Taylor, by his side. —RP
Best Places to Work
Fifteen Connecticut–based corporations earned the top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index, designating them as “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.” This HRC index is the national benchmarking tool on policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees. Criteria include nondiscrimination policies, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, support for inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.
“We are proud of our long history of supporting and advocating for the LGBTQ community,” said Lori Rodden, chief human resources officer at The Hartford Financial Services Group, one of the top-scoring corps.
“At The Hartford, we want employees to bring all the elements of who they are to work — their backgrounds, cultures, experiences, passions and interests. Receiving this recognition again is a testament to our continued focus on sustaining a workplace where every employee is empowered to engage and contribute to the company’s long-term success.”
Along with The Hartford are AQR Capital Management LLC, Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corp., Bridgewater Associates, CIGNA Corp., Diageo North America, FactSet Research Systems Inc., Gartner Inc., Nestlé Waters North America Inc., Otis Worldwide Corp., Pitney Bowes Inc., Stanley Black and Decker Inc., Synchrony, Thomson Reuters and Xerox Corp.
More: hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index
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