5 THINGS TO KNOW

Businesses in Mississippi will now be able to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Businesses in Mississippi will have the right to refuse services to same-sex couples around the state starting Friday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied the request for a rehearing with the full panel of the Fifth Circuit to plaintiffs in Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant III Friday, September 29.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Why Amazon won’t make Texas its second home.

Amazon announced that it is seeking a second North American headquarters with up to $5 billion investment in facilities and 50,000 jobs at an average pay of $100,000 a year. This will be a major economic boon for both the state and city that lands the deal.

BUSINESS

LGBT law students find mentors with similar backgrounds.

When second-year law student Jasper Katz met a successful LGBTQ lawyer who shared their identity, Katz was so moved that they began to cry. Now, Katz is determined to ensure that other LGBTQ law students find similar role models in LGBTQ alumni. Katz is the president of OutLaw, the Beasley School of Law LGBTQ mentorship program.

BUSINESS

The United Nations continues push for LGBT worker’s rights.

In 2011, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously gave a United Nations speech in which she said that gay rights are human rights. Today the U.N. made clear that those rights don’t go away in the workplace — and that businesses have an obligation to support such rights in the cities, states, and countries where they operate.

BUSINESS

Finding LGBT friendly places to work for Penn graduates.

The job search is a major concern for students at Penn, but for those who are LGBTQ, looking for the right workplace can be even more complicated. Director of Career Services Patricia Rose said the department tries to ensure that students who identify as LGBTQ are connected to people and organizations that provide adequate help.