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Stories tagged with “The Williams Institute

NEWS FLASH

Gay Men Face Inordinately High Rates Of Hate-Motivated Violence | A new analysis of FBI hate crimes statistics by The Williams Institute finds that gay men face significantly higher rates of hate-motivated violence than other targeted groups. In fact, gay men are the victims of hate-motivated crimes against their person at five times the rate of African Americans and Jewish Americans. They also face the second highest risk of being victims of hate-motivated property crime. Considering hate crimes are largely under-reported and crimes based on sexual orientation tend to be more violent, the picture may be even more troubling than the data suggest.

LGBT

New Research Meta-Analysis Makes Compelling Case For Nondiscrimination Protections

Our guest blogger is Crosby Burns, Research Associate for LGBT Progress.

Today the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law released a comprehensive database of research documenting the immediate need for federal policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This database includes nearly 40 documents totaling 680 pages of research from the ACLU, the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Freedom To Work, and the Williams Institute.

The findings of the research contained in this database are consistent and conclusive: LGBT workplace discrimination is a pervasive and persistent problem that requires an immediate solution. Additionally, this research establishes a strong business case for workplace nondiscrimination laws and policies, examines the potential impact of an LGBT nondiscrimination executive order for federal contractors, and highlights strong public and voter support for workplace fairness.

Given these realities, Congress should pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and President Obama should sign an executive order requiring federal contractors to have LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies. These actions would bring quick relief to the hundreds of thousands of LGBT workers who face employment discrimination in our country today.

NEWS FLASH

Marriage Equality In Illinois Could Bring In $8 Million In Tax Revenue | According to a study by the Williams Institute, legalizing same-sex marriage could add between $39 and $72 million to the state economy over three years, and generate between $4.5 and $8 million in tax revenue. The study only takes into account spending by Illinois couples, some of whom have already entered into civil unions, and does not include spending by couples from elsewhere in the nation who might travel to the state to get married. Currently, Illinois allows all couples to enter into civil unions, but the legislature began considering a marriage equality bill in February. -Zachary Bernstein

NEWS FLASH

Maryland Wedding Businesses Eager To Profit From Marriage Equality Law | January 1, 2013, can’t come soon enough for Maryland’s florists, photographers, and wedding planners, who are eagerly anticipating the extra business marriage equality will bring them. Annapolis wedding invitation designer Allison Barnhill explained, “I know there are couples out there that have been waiting for this moment and they won’t want to wait a moment longer to have their special wedding day.” The Williams Institute estimates that in the first three years after the law takes effect, Maryland same-sex couples will generate between $40 and $64 million for the state economy, in addition to whatever revenue out-of-state couples bring.

NEWS FLASH

Marriage Equality Could Pump $119M Into NJ Economy | A new study from the Williams Institute finds that New Jersey could generate as much as $119 million in just the first three years of marriage equality, including as much as $8 million in pure tax revenue. By vetoing the legislation, Gov. Chris Christie (R) deprived his entire state of that economic benefit, but the legislature has until the end of 2013 to overturn that veto.

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