Michigan: Your Freedom Oasis

Michigan's welcoming embrace: Discover a state that values freedom & equality. Join us today! #MichiganPride #Inclusive

Study Shows LGBTQ+ Presence Boosts Economic Growth

Discover how a recent study by Wells Fargo reveals a positive correlation between LGBTQ+ populations and economic growth in U.S. states. Learn more here.

City of West Hollywood accepting applications for temporary summer recreation job openings

The Recreation Services Division of the City of West Hollywood is running its annual summer temporary employment recruitment.

LGBTQ restaurants

Grubhub has partnered with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to provide financial grants that would support LGBTQ restaurants.

LGBT households

LGBT households have experienced higher rates of food and economic insecurity than their non-LGBT counterparts during the pandemic.

Pro-LGBT companies supporting anti-LGBTQ lawmakers

A group has accused some pro-LGBTQ companies that tout support for gay rights but are also supporting anti-LGBTQ legislators through corporate donations.

Nasdaq

Nasdaq is pushing a rule that would require all listed companies to have one board director that is female, underrepresented minority, or LGBTQ.

LGBTQ business leaders - Biden

Following LGBTQ political leaders' endorsement of Democratic Party contenders Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, LGBTQ businesss leaders have followed suit.

Same-sex weddings

A study has determined that an estimated US$3.8B has boosted state and local economies ever since same-sex weddings were allowed in the US in 2015.

COVID-19 economic effects

According to research, the LGBTQ community in the US will be hit hard by the COVID-19 economic effects, like job losses driven by economic shutdowns.

LGBT Equality Act

LGBT advocates are readying to push the LGBT Equality Act in Congress and this time, they got 164 leading businesses to join in for corporate support.

Pink dollar

The LGBTQ community's buying power is pretty strong. Which makes us wonder: how real is the pink dollar and does it really give us some power over the market?

LGBT employees - tech industry

According to a study on the costs of unfair treatment, 20 percent of LGBT employees had experienced being bullied while working in the tech industry.

discrimination - LGBT workforce

Repealing an executive order, the US Census not including the LGBT-- all of these mean the LGBT workforce doesn't have protection against discrimination.

LGBT workers

LGBT workers in the US gained a victory against President Donald Trump after he took away an executive order that protects them from discrimination.

Chinese LGBT market

The Chinese LGBT market is set to expand with Chinese companies willing to be LGBT-friendly. However, LGBTs working in these companies are still wary.

LGBT-friendly work policies

More businesses in the US are instituting LGBT-friendly work policies, according to the HRC Foundation in their annual Corporate Equality Index report.

LGBT market

Businesses must note that the LGBT market demographic is as diverse as their rainbow flag, if companies want to benefit from their strong buying power.

LGBT businesses

Diversity and equality are key factors for business success, according to Credit Suisse of top LGBT businesses that perform well in the market.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim

The World Bank will not fund projects in developing countries that lead to discrimination and outright endangerment of LGBTI people in those countries.

LGBT-open workplace

A growing number of companies are acknowledging their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees openly for an LGBT-open workplace.

2014 will be the first time any married gay couple has ever filed federal taxes together in the United States. It’s been a decade since Massachusetts became the first state to start granting marriage licenses, and some states have previously accepted joint returns for state taxes. But until the Supreme Court struck down the federal prohibition against gay marriage in The United States v. Windsor last summer, the Internal Revenue Service didn’t recognize joint returns for married same-sex couples. For some, this April’s tax season will be a time to celebrate the progress of the gay-rights movement. But for most couples, it will be also be a huge headache. In gay-marriage recognition states, “thanks to the Windsor decision, doing tax returns for same-sex married couples is much easier now,” said Joan Zawaski, an accountant in California who is also in a same-sex marriage. “Married is married, we just file joint returns just like other folks. But in non-recognition states, it’s back like the battle

Brendan Eich, the newly named CEO of the software firm Mozilla Corporation, resigned from the post after sparking ire among gay rights activists and supportive members of the tech industry for his opposition to same-sex marriage. Since being appointed to run the company most famous for the Firefox browser last week, many, including two former Mozilla developers and the dating site OKCupid have publicly condemned the software development firm for appointing a known supporter of the anti-gay laws to the top spot, urging people online to try a different browser instead. Eich's politics came to light after news re-emerged of a $1,000 donation he made in support of California's Proposition 8 in 2008. After trying to bat away concerns about Eich's ideology without relieving him of his duties, the company explained the decision to remove him in a blog post on Thursday: We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better. Brendan Eich has

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court oral arguments in U.S. v. Windsor. Next month, many same-sex married couples will experience the impact of the June 2013 decision and the overturning of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) when they file their taxes as "married" for the first time. Although the reach of this decision extends to all federal recognition of same-sex marriage, Edie Windsor filed her case in New York to contest a $363,000 inheritance tax bill she received following the death of her longtime partner and spouse. Following the Supreme Court' decision in June, the IRS published a revenue ruling providing that all same-sex married couples -- regardless of where they live-- will be considered "married" for federal tax purposes.  This decision will ensure that same-sex surviving spouses, like Edie, will be able to inherit and receive gifts from their spouse free from unfair tax burdens. As a result of this ruling, married couples are required to file

With the passage of SB 1062, the “License to Discriminate” bill in Arizona, opposition to the bill has been growing. Many businesses and organizations in Arizona understand that this bill does more that it says it would. It would allow any individual, corporation, institution, or business organization may be permitted to refuse services to LGBT people on the basis of religious freedom. Businesses across Arizona are contacting Governor Brewer and letting Arizonans know that they are “Open for Business to Everyone!” using signs like this: If you’re a business owner in Arizona and believe that no one should fear being turned away at a government office, a restaurant, or any other business that serves the public just because of who they are, print out this sign and post in your business. SB1062 aims to legally sanction discrimination against the LGBT community, but your voice can make a difference in stopping this license to hate from becoming law. Join HRC and others at a

According to new guidance issued by the Utah State Tax Commission, all same-sex couples living in Utah that are eligible to file a joint federal tax return for the 2013 tax year are also eligible to file a joint state tax return. While supporters of the state’s ban on marriage equality have appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to defend the law, the USTC determined that all Utah same-sex marriages performed in 2013 are recognized for the purposes of state income tax filings. So, if you live in Utah, and got married there in 2013—or, if you got married somewhere else—you may want to speak with a tax professional about your unique needs. You can peruse the state’s guidance here.   (Courtesy of HRC.org)