skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Two Oregon Businesses Honored for LGBT Workplace Inclusion

play audio
Play

Thursday, April 21, 2016   

PORTLAND, Ore. - Basic Rights Oregon is honoring two businesses today at the Oregon Convention Center for creating welcoming workplaces for transgender employees. One of those businesses is Symantec, a cyber-security company with an office in Springfield that fostered an inclusive environment when Cass Averill came out as transgender. Seven years ago, Averill told his manager he was transitioning and said he was surprised by the response.

"I experienced actually something I didn't expect at all from Symantec, which was total acceptance and support to move through my process as smoothly as possible," he said. "That is certainly not the norm for trans people in the workforce."

Although Oregon has anti-discrimination laws that protect trans people, Averill said the trans community still fears the repercussions of coming out at work. According to Basic Rights Oregon, more than 90 percent of transgender people report harassment or discrimination at work.

Basic Rights Oregon also is honoring New Seasons Market and Legacy Health physician Doctor Megan Bird at the organization's Oregonians Against Discrimination Business Leaders Luncheon.

Jeana Frazzini, co-executive director of Basic Rights Oregon said, "The business leaders' luncheon is one of the ways that we help to bring the business community along. They've long been leaders on these issues and it's a place where we lift up the businesses that are really setting the standard."

North Carolina and Mississippi both passed laws this year allowing businesses and organizations to deny services to members of the LGBT community based on religious grounds.

Averill said many LGBT people are worried about these laws, but he adds that it's important for the community to highlight stories of inclusion around the country.

"If we hear from the people who are doing good work, like Symantec, then it stands as an example that it can be done, and it gives people a template of how to do it as well, and I think that's really important,' he added.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021