Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge can't be bothered with illegal payday lending in Arkansas, among other pressing business not worthy of her time such as malfeasance of office by Secretary of State Mark Martin in abetting the illegal removal of eligible voters from the voter rolls. But she has plenty of time to pursue a national right-wing agenda.
Vox writes on how the work of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been establishing in court — no matter resistance in states like Arkansas — that it is not OK to discriminate against LGBT people in the workplace.
James Thweatt, who's organized a kiss-in Friday to demonstrate support for the LGBT community and love and tolerance in general, says the event has been moved from Sen. Jason Rapert's office in Conway to the state Capitol. It will still be at 1 p.m. Friday. All are welcome.
Dianne Curry of Little Rock, the Democratic candidate for Congress against Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill, issued a prepared statement in response to President Obama's guidance on equal facility access for students, aimed at protecting the rights of transgender students: It's a welcome measured remark as Republican seize on bathrooms to promote a broader discrimination agenda.
Arkansas Business reports that J.B. Hunt isn't moving immediately to act on a vote by shareholders that the company adopt an explicit non-discrimination policy affecting LGBT employees. A task force will study it first.
As readers noted yesterday, Facebook has news — and an outpouring of sadness — of the death Wednesday of Robert Loyd, a pivotal figure in Central Arkansas in the struggle for equal rights for LGBT people.
The Little Rock Pride Parade and Festival starts at 10 a.m. today at the Clinton Presidential Center with an interfaith service led by religious leaders who'll be grand marshals in a later parade for the event, a celebration of equality for LGBT people.