OK, this is a little devious.  Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (pfox) has won a minor victory by forcing Disney to include a measure providing employment protections for ex-gays in an upcoming stockholder vote. 

Burbank, CA -- The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed the Walt Disney Company to accept a shareholder resolution requesting the inclusion of ex-gays in Disney?s sexual orientation policies and corporate diversity programs.  Disney had opposed the ex-gay resolution and asked the SEC for permission to exclude it from stockholder consideration.

?Like many corporations, Disney implements mandatory diversity training for employees that emphasizes gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders, but fails to include ex-gays,? said Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX).  ?It is a serious omission both for the ex-gay community and their supporters.?

?Employees who support the ex-gay community are not welcomed to express their views and fear they would be forced to undergo sensitivity training because they support former homosexuals,? said Griggs.  ?Ex-gays are forced to remain closeted because they are not protected by diversity policies and are subjected to open disapproval by others in the workplace.  The inclusion of ex-gays will cost Disney nothing to implement and would provide true diversity and respect in the workplace.? 

The resolution cites a recent judicial decision issued by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  In that case, brought by PFOX, the Court ruled that former homosexuals are a protected class that must be recognized under DC?s sexual orientation non-discrimination laws.  The Court held that sexual orientation does not require immutable characteristics.

OK, so aren't ex-gays typically defined as straight? Wouldn't they already be protected because heterosexuality is included in sexual orientation as a protected class? 

This is a sneaky way to allow "supporters" of ex-gays to get around diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace.  I don't think a respectful workplace means you can't support someone who identifies as ex-gay.  It just means you can't try to recruit more folks to the ex-gay lifestyle (ha!). 

I haven't look at the ruling itself, but I'm curious if its creating another kind of sexual orientation by defining ex-gay as a protected class under that definition ... which would suggest that there is more than one in the first place.  I think.  Hmmm.

Yeah, I'm that impressed with the tip I received last night that Onorato had publicly stated his support for civil union at a rally in York, PA yesterday afternoon.  I confirmed with a campaign source, but I don't have any further details. 

This is a long way from the candidate who simply refused to answer the question of marriage equality on the Steel-City Stonewall questionnaire during his last bid for County Chief Executive. (h/t 2 Political Junkies).  The original questionnaire is not available online. 

Discuss your thoughts on marriage equality for same-sex couples; while the position you seek may not directly affect this issue, it is important for us to understand your perspective.

CANDIDATE DID NOT ANSWER QUESTION

Over the past decade, government money has been used to promote ?abstinence-only-until marriage? programs in schools. Even though same-sex couples still cannot legally marry in Pennsylvania, to qualify for government support, schools must teach that any sexual relationships outside of marriage is ?likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.? Do you support or oppose abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula?

CANDIDATE DID NOT ANSWER QUESTION

Discuss your thoughts on government's role in shaping school curricula for sex education. Do you have any thoughts on the formation of gay-straight student alliances within the public school systems?

CANDIDATE DID NOT ANSWER QUESTION

Another equality issue confronting our country is the issue of abortion. Please discuss your position on abortion and any thoughts you have on the current abortion debate.

CANDIDATE DID NOT ANSWER QUESTION

So, yes, progress.  I understand the campaign will be releasing a LGBT position paper on Friday which again is some progress, as they could default to the upcoming Steel-City questionnaire. 

But ... come on, people.  Still no domestic partner benefits?  I am being told behind the scenes to be patient, just wait and it will happen.  I assume it will happen in time for the primary, especially with the potential for Cyril Wecht tossing his hat into the ring.  Not that I know Cyril Wecht's position on gay issues, simply that Onorato will need to capture as many of us D's as possible. 

But ... come on, people. Stating your support for civil unions does not offset failure to take action on an LGBT issue within your current realm of influence. 

The fascination of the emegence of a homo-tolerant version of Onorato from the cocoon of the "good Catholic boy" breeding ground of Pittsburgh is not nearly as significant as the number of LGBT partners who continue to lack health insurance because their boss doesn't think they are worth the effort. 

Civil unions are great campaign promises, but Allegheny County's LGBT community deserves action.