Now I Understand

A few days ago, I wrote about my company's equal employment opportunity policy and about how I didn't understand "perceived sexual identity."  Now I understand.  It's other's perception.  So if you act effeminate because, well, that's just the way you are, you have recourse if others react to you being you.

When it comes down to it, I think the best, most honest, fairest equal rights policy would be:

no-one may be discriminated against for being who themselves.

The Washington Post had a little article taken from wire services:

6 NYC “party-crashers” charged with murder as a hate crime; Long Island teen beaten, stomped

By Associated Press, Published: June 23

NEW YORK — Authorities say six New York City teenagers have been charged with murder as a hate crime in the beating and stomping of an 18-year-old perceived to be gay [emphasis mine].
Anthony Collao of Bethpage on Long Island was attacked in March while leaving a birthday party in Woodhaven, Queens.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said Thursday the defendants were each charged in a 21-count indictment that includes second-degree murder as a hate crime. Brown said the charges were upgraded after new evidence from witnesses.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said previously that the suspects made “homophobic remarks” and scrawled on a wall with red markers after crashing the party.

The defendants could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

[end of article]

Let's hope.

An aside: sorry about Saturday.  I get what might be migraines that last for about three days.  I just couldn't drive myself to even post a Saturday CD cartoon.

Extreme Equal Opportunity

My new company has an Equal Employment Opportunity policy. It says the company:


"is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and to compliance with the law."

Well, that's typical boilerplate bs. In English it says, "We'll be as good as the law requires us to be."

But it goes on, and they go above and beyond what's required:

"It is [company] policy to provide equal employment opportunity and to make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, ancestry, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status or characteristics."

Gender identity. Cool. They don't define that, which is uncool, but they do include gender identity and...

WHOA

"sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation?"

That's a new one on me and I have no idea what it means. But I approve and I'm impressed.  The only HR person I met did not impress me as someone with a serious grasp of her job.  But soon I'm going to hunt down the HR people who know what they're doing and discuss this with them.

I am intrigued.

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