Rep. Tanzi, Sexual Harassment Commission File Numerous Bills to Prevent Abuse in Workplace
GoLocalProv Political Team
Rep. Tanzi, Sexual Harassment Commission File Numerous Bills to Prevent Abuse in Workplace
As GoLocalProv reported in 2017, Tanzi was one of the woman who came forward under the auspices of the #MeToo movement and announced that she was sexually harassed by another legislator at the Rhode Island State House and that the issue was serious and rampant.
“Our laws dealing with sexual harassment were enacted over 30 years ago, and then were mostly left unchanged in the decades since. As anyone can see from the number of people who say they experience sexual harassment, inappropriate comments or have felt they have to stay silent about such behavior in order to get along at work or in society, our existing laws haven’t really been very effective. What we really need is a shift in society’s norms. But updated, more effective laws would go a long way toward getting us there, both by helping to protect people and provide justice, and by educating people about what’s inappropriate and what they should not tolerate,” said Tanzi.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe bills introduced by committee members include:
- 2018-H 8278 — Sponsored by Representative Tanzi, this bill would forbid employers from requiring employees, as a condition of obtaining or retaining employment, to execute a nondisclosure agreement or non-disparagement agreement.
- 2018-H 8281 — Submitted by Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick), this bill would enhance a reporting requirement for state agencies and departments for violations of the fair employment practices chapter and the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action chapter.
- 2018-H 8280 — Sponsored by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett), this bill would exclude the period of investigation of a discrimination case by the Human Rights Commission from counting toward the statute of limitations.
- 2018-H 8279 — Submitted by Representative Tanzi, this bill would expand and clarify the definition of “employees” for purposes of the fair employment practices chapter.
- 2018-H 8276 — Sponsored by Representative Tanzi, this act would extend the timeframe within which to bring an action for an unlawful employment practice.
- 2018-H 8275 — Submitted by Rep. Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick), this act would require the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Education to identify or develop a program of age-appropriate sexual abuse and sexual awareness education.
- 2018-H 8277 — Introduced by Representative Tanzi, this bill would mandate sexual harassment training for employees and supervisors of employers of 50 or more employees. It would also recommend an annual climate survey for the same size employers.
- 2018-H 7888 — This bill, which Representative Tanzi introduced earlier this session, would prohibit employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or employees, from directly or indirectly committing any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice, and would state that individuals, including individual employees, could be held personally liable for such conduct.
Growing List of Alleged Sexual Harassers
Politics
Members of the Rhode Island House of Representative
State Representative Teresa Tanzi said she has been the victim of sexual harassment in the RI State House by a fellow male legislator.
Rhode Island State Police and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin are investigating the charges.
The State Police and Kilmartin Released the Following Statement
“Yesterday, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin contacted Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, regarding allegations of sexual harassment at the Rhode Island State House made by Representative Teresa Tanzi. The two agencies are working together to review the allegations. As is the policy of both the State Police and the Attorney General’s Office, the two agencies are not going to be making further comment with respect to the status of or direction of the inquiry.”
Entertainment
Harvey Weinstein
Former entertainment boss and political influencer and fundraiser is now facing allegations from dozens of women. Reported by the New York Times that law enforcement in NY is poised to file rape charges against Weinstein.
Politics
Roy Moore
GOP candidate for U.S. Senate has been accused by eight women of sexual abuse. The impact has seen Moore drop in the polls and now the seat that was a lock to stay Republican is a toss-up.
Moore and, now his wife, deny the claims and say they are politically motivated.
Media
Michael Oreskes
The National Public Radio senior news editor was forced to resign, "Our top editor, NPR Senior Vice President of News Mike Oreskes, has resigned following accusations of sexual harassment. Three women have filed complaints, one a current NPR reporter, the other two alleging harassment from two decades ago when Oreskes was at The New York Times."
But now, Oreskes may just be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Now, the controversy has expanded. On Thursday, NPR reported, "As NPR's Board of Directors meet in Washington, D.C., this week, the network finds itself confronted by a series of dispiriting developments: a CEO on medical leave; a chief news executive forced out over sexual harassment allegations; the sudden resignation of a board chairman; fresh complaints about inappropriate behavior by colleagues; and a network roiled by tensions over the treatment of its female workers."
Politics
Donald Trump
"Meanwhile, some of the women who accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment or assault during the presidential campaign wonder when the president might finally pay a price for what he allegedly did to them.
'Things just seem to fall off of Trump, I’m extremely disappointed,' says Jessica Leeds, 75, who alleges Trump tried to kiss her, fondle her breasts and put his hand up her skirt while on a flight to New York in the early 1980s," reports People magazine.
Entertainment
Andy Dick
"Clearly Andy Dick’s behavior is reprehensible. We used him twice on our show two years ago when he was sober for an extended period in order to encourage him to change his life. Sadly he has not. We no longer use him on our show,” Judd Apatow tweeted Tuesday after social media users criticized him for not speaking out against Dick," reported the Chicago Tribune."
Entertainment
Andy Signore
"Andy Signore, creator of Screen Junkies and the “Honest Trailers” series, has been fired effective immediately, Defy Media announced Sunday evening. Signore has been accused by several women of sexual harassment, and at least one said he tried to sexually assault her," reports Variety magazine.
Entertainment
Oliver Stone
"While Oliver Stone defended Harvey Weinstein amid more than a dozen allegations of sexual harassment and assault, a former Playboy Playmate accused the “Platoon” director of sexual assault.
Carrie Stevens, who was best known as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in June 1997 but also had several small movie and TV roles, claimed Thursday that Stone had grabbed her breast at a party," reports the NY Daily News.
Politics & Entertainment
Al Franken
Former SNL star and progressive United States Senator, he has admitted (after the photo was released) or sexual harassment. Now, some Democratic colleagues are calling for an Ethics Committee investigation.
Others are calling for Franken to resign.
Entertainment
Chris Savino
“The Loud House showrunner Chris Savino has been fired from Nickelodeon, amidst allegations of sexual harassment.
Savino had first been suspended by the network when allegations first surfaced. A dozen women have accused Savino of inappropriate behavior, in a story first reported by the website Cartoon Brew. Their accusations — which date back several years — include unwanted sexual advances as well as threats of retribution after the end of consensual relationships," reports Variety.
Media
Mark Halperin
No journalist was hotter than Mark Halperin. But, now he has been accused of harassing a dozen women while at ABC News.
His Book contract terminated. And he has been fired from his slot on "Morning Joe." He has apologized for some of the instances and denied others.
Hollywood
Kevin Spacey
The actor that helped to create Netflix is now being unveiled by a range of accusers of being a serial abuser.
Multiple your men and boys have alleged Spacey sexuallty abused them. Netflix has dropped him from “House of Cards.”
Entertainment
David Guillod
"Three more women have come forward to say Hollywood manager and “Atomic Blonde” producer David Guillod raped them, including an assistant at his former management company who said he took her from her bed at a 2014 company retreat and raped her.
The other two women said he drugged and raped them at his home in 2015 — and that they woke up covered in blood.
Guillod denies all of the accusations. The new accusers, who do not wish to be identified, join “Ted” actress Jessica Barth, whose public accusation that Guillod drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2012 sparked his recent resignation from Primary Wave Entertainment, his management company," reports AOL.
Entertainment
Louis C.K.
"Accused by five women of sexual misconduct. The planned release of his film "I Love You, Daddy" halted. Netflix special has been canceled. He says the allegations are true and has apologized," according to ABC News.
Entertainment
Jeffrey Tambor
"...Amazon has launched an investigation into Tambor’s behavior in response to a leaked Facebook post from his former assistant Van Barnes which was circulating within Hollywood’s transgender community. In the post, Barnes, who is transgender herself, wrote about the sexual harassment she had endured at the hands of a former boss who had repeatedly groped and propositioned her, suggesting that sleeping with him would earn her an industry-appropriate pay grade. She accused her employer of making lewd comments, playing pornography at loud volumes, and threatening to sue her if she spoke up. Transparent’s writers have since been contemplating whether the fifth season can go on without its star," reported Slate.
Two additional transgender women came forward this week with new allegations against Tambor late this week.
Entertainment
Steven Seagal
Action actor has been accused by a number of accusers: including de Rossi, Inside Edition correspondent Lisa Guerrero, The Good Wife actress Julianna Margulies, and Jenny McCarthy.
Entertainment
Sly Stallone
The actor who created the Rocky character is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl. The woman alleges that the event took place in 1986 -- Stallone was 40 years old at the time.
The Daily Mail, who broke the story reports, "That retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detective sergeant John Samolovitch vouched that 'the copy of the police report is, in fact, a true copy of the original report.' The force is yet to comment."
Entertainment
James Toback
ABC reports, "Writer-director James Toback — Accused by hundreds of women of sexual harassment. Beverly Hills police investigating complaints. He has denied the allegations to the Los Angeles Times."
Entertainment
Ben Affleck
According to Rolling Stone, "Stephen Colbert asked Ben Affleck about his past sexual misconduct – last month, the actor apologized for groping Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 – and his reaction to the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault allegations on The Late Show on Thursday. Good Will Hunting, the film that launched Affleck to stardom, was released by Miramax, a company co-founded by Weinstein.
"What I was accused of by a woman was touching her breast while I gave her a hug," Affleck told Colbert. "I don't remember it, but I absolutely apologize for it. I certainly don't think she's lying or making it up.'"
Politics
George H.W. Bush
Business Insider reports, "After actress Heather Lind accused former President George H. W. Bush of sexual harassment, five other women have since come forward with their own experiences with Bush, all of which involving him groping their buttocks during photo shoots."
