Unplugging from a Wired World

A recent poll by Time magazine shows that one in every four people checks their cell phone every thirty minutes and one in five people check it as often as once every ten minutes. It also found that a third of people from the ages of 25 to 29 actually sleep with their phones. This keeps them constantly connected to the rest of the world, with email always on hand and any instructions from work or communication with friends constantly available. With this level of connection, it may have been a long time since most people have truly enjoyed solitude.

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A Chip in the Glass Ceiling? Europe Proposes 40% Target for Female Non-Execs

The European Commission’s latest discussions about legislation to increase the amount of women on the boards of listed companies has resulted in a new Directive that gives the companies listed on the stock exchange until 2020 to achieve a target of 40% female representation on non-executive board member positions. Any company that fails to meet the target will be forced to take action by giving preference in their appointments to equally qualified women unless an objective analysis can show a man is significantly better for the job. Companies not listed, as well as companies with less then 250 employees and an annual turn-over of less than 50 million Euros are exempt from the directive.

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Despite High Profile Jobs, Women Executives Still Rare

Marianne Lake’s recent appointment as the CFO of JPMorgan Chase marks another victory for women within the business world, specifically in banking. JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, commented on the appointment that Lake was the best person for the job and the fact that she was a women was not a consideration at all, making an admirable show of hiring based on qualification and ability over all else, but the fact remains that there are still very few female executives on Wall Street. JPMorgan recently lost two other female executives, while Citigroup has none and Morgan Stanley has just one. Bank of America apparently leads with four women on its operating committee.

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Why Investors Must Push Harder for Greater Diversity on Corporate Boards

Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that expands women’s opportunities in business, released a 2011 study on Fortune 500 companies that showed a lack of diversity in the boardrooms, with women holding only 16.1% of board seats. Women of color hold only 3% of board seats, only 11.3% of women board members are African American, and fewer are represented by other minorities. The issue of women being poorly represented in board rooms is one that is prevalent across the globe, according to a 2012 Credit Suisse study. That study also showed, however, that stocks of companies with at least one female board member performed better in the market, as well as other assets.

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National Adoption Month: Finding a “Green Light” Agency

November is National Adoption Month and families across the country are finalizing their adoptions. Adoptions are finalized all-year round, of course, but National Adoption Month serves as a time to share stories of adoption and inspire others who may still be considering. Maria Bates, who is an adoptive mother, an adoption attorney, and the founder of the first Florida-based adoption agency to be recognized by HRC as an LGBT culturally competent adoption agency, writes this article to share her personal and professional perspective on adoption for LGBT families, recognizing “red light” agencies that won’t work with LGBT families and finding “green light” agencies that believe LGBT families are equal to straight families.

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What America’s Top LGBT Leaders Think Obama Must Do Next

Barack Obama was elected to a second term as President of the United States partially because of his declared support of the LGBT community. As the president moves forward into his second term, the question rises of what the LGBT community would like to see from him in the following four years in terms of continued support. David Badash spoke with ten of America’s top LGBT leaders, from GLAAD to HRC to GetEQUAL, and found that a lot of their expectations overlap, creating a united LGBT front for issues such as an order banning employment discrimination against LGBT people working for or contracted by the federal government, and to get the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed.

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The 10 Questions You Should Answer Before Entering Into Same-Sex Marriage

Now that more states have voted in gay marriage, beginning what could be a trend that isn’t likely to slow, the gay community has a more personal hurdle to face. LGBT activist Rob Watson warns that, “The fact that we as a community have made strides in regard to marriage does not mean that you necessarily need to take similar actions in your personal life.” He goes on to warn that same-sex couples should not rush into a marriage simply to make a political statement. Not only should marriage be a personal decision, but it is important to be sure that both parties are intellectually prepared for the particular legal commitments that come with marriage.

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How to Get Married in Maryland, Maine

The Baltimore tourism guide has already launched a microsite targeting same-sex couples who are looking to exercise their new freedom to marry come January 1st. The site brings together old resources as well as new ones in an effort to create a guide for future newlyweds to plan everything from their ceremony to the honeymoon in all of the city’s best venues. The new site includes marriage license requirements and TAG-approved accommodations and venues, all from suggestions of local LGBT leaders and business owners. Maine, which also voted for gay-marriage in November, has also created a new website with a directory of ministers, notary publics, and attorneys who have all pledged to officiate same-sex marriages.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance for the Gay Straight Alliance. It is a day set aside to remember the people in the transgender community who have passed away. Part of remembering those who have passed is remembering the hate and prejudice that led to a significant number of their passing and realizing that the same hate can still be found around the country today. The Transgender Day of Remembrance started in 1998, after transgender woman Rita Hester was murdered and never saw justice, inspiring a candlelight vigil. It has since grown to a national event for the GLBT community.

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The Perks of Working from Home

While the U.S. workforce has grown 3% in the last few years, regular telecommuting has grown about 66%. Almost half of the current U.S. workforce, about 64 million people, now has the option to work from home at least part of the time. The benefits of taking advantage of the ability to work from home include possibly substantial savings on gas, considering that the average commuter spends $1,500 a year on gasoline. Three out of four employees apparently report that they eat healthier when they work at home. With a reportedly better balance between work and life and increased productivity, the benefits of telecommuting may be worth a serious investigation.

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