America has a black president , and some believe he could be succeeded by a woman, is america ready to vote for an openly gay or lesbian leading the world. There are sweeping changes in attitudes. For example, support for gay marriage is on the rise. Increasing Public Acceptance has been accompanied by a backlash in some quarters. Theres no federal antidiscrimination laws protecting gay americans were being refused service, fired from a job or evicted from a home. Its often left to local communities to enact such protection but in says like arkansas and tennessee, they passed laws to roll back some protections. They do that by borrowing local communities from exceeding state law when it comes to policing discrimination. Other states like georgia and indiana are considering religious freedom builds, designed to shield anyone from laws enfriendshipinging on the practice of infringing on the practice of ones religion legalizing discrimination against gay, some say. There are images of gay couples in popular movies and television shows. In the last decade threequarters of states legalized samesex marriages. This spring the United StatesSupreme Court is expected to issue a ruling deciding whether legal samesex marriages can be the law of the game. Justice Ruth Bator Ginsberg said american are more prepared today than ever to accept a decision. To under how far we have come and how much further we have to go, we need to look back a man forced the debate the top of conchessness. Reporter it is a moment shocking america. I am a gay american. New jersey gore where are jim mcgrievery, a married father of two was the first openly gay governor, then he resigned. Not because of disputy, but scandal a. Mcgreevey appointed a gay lover to a top state security job in the wake of 9 11, he claimed the same man tried to get money from him. Political observers say the conversation. It seemed like a low point for the Gay Community having a First Executive level office come out, coming out in the context of a scandal, have bans on samesex marriage pass, it began a conversation about gay and lesbian families in particular in 2004, massachusetts became the first state to allow samesex marriage in the United States. In 2015, there are 37 states that allow samesex marriages along with d. C. Major challenges remain. Alabamas chief judge defied a ruling telling judges not to issue marriage licences to samesex couples. In texas the attorneygeneral stepped in to void the samesex marriage licence and asked the Supreme Court to stay other samesex marriage. The sea change in Public Attitude stretched to the house. For me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that i think samesex couples should be able to get married. Another change, views about Public Office. 68 of persons said theyd vote for a gay president ial candidate. 26 of americans felt that way in 1978 when the question was first posed. Theres a pocket of some 25 of respondents typically saying they will not vote for a gay or lesbian candidate regardless of party or issue positions. The mon ourable governor kath breakin brown. Reporter while the majority of attitudes changed, it was only last week when the first bisexual governor took office, because her predecessor was forced out by scandal. In congress Seven Members are bay, including tammy baldwin, the first openly gay u. S. Senator. As for the man that stunned america in beginning the groff. Jim mcgrieve left politics, studied at the seminary and works with prisoners trying to reform the system. Joining me is jim mcgreevey, director of jersey city Training Programme from across new york and city, and counsels Prison Inmates in the area. Governor, welcome. Thank you for meaning here. Well have a good conversation. The story mary did, did you redesign because of corruption or because you were going to be outed. Basically i resinds because of circumstances of what happened. I put a person inappropriately on my payroll, was involved in a romantic relationship, which i ought not to have been. I had to deal with my familial situation and thought it was of the best thing to do for the state of new jersey, my family, and i think i made the right moral and ethical decision. And you wrote in book about the struggles of a public career and the life you want. Well have that conversation. A kiss is just a kiss or is it when governor mcgreevey was seen with his wife. Is america ready for openly gay Public Office holders, are they expected to have a version of dont ask, dont tell when it comes to bringing samesex partners on the campaign trail. We talk it about that in a so my truth is that i am a gay american. Back with former new jersey governor, jim mcgreevey, when he resigned in 2004, he was the first u. S. Government to proclaim Sexual Orientation to the public. He writes in his book i am hoping that somebody who chooses to go into public life today does not have to make the decision us said. Its tremendously changed. Particularly among the younger generation. I was at the university talking to an l. G. B. T. Group, and it was the idea of coming out was a nonissue. I remember driving back on the new jersey turnpike, asking questions about infrastructure, pension reform and others, and there wasnt a question with coming out. I remember how tremendous it was, i remember the angst and struggle. This is 10 years ago. 10 years ago. There has been a sea change, which is remarkable, a testament to this country and Political Parties that moved in that destruction. And people like dan savage, and david that talked about the issues. I say i was kicked out of the closet. I mean, these were men and women that had the courage and the virtue to talk openly as to the needs to accept samesex marriage and have complied equality. Andrew sullivan wrote the great peace after president obama declared support for gay marriage. He was annoyed about president obama hedging for so long. Lets talk about kate brown, the now governor of oregon, preceding a governor that had to resign from a scandal. We dont hear much about her accomplishments and skill sets. Thats the which it goes. I wont say its temporary, but it wont be longlasting theyll have to be social for education, service delivery, and the phenomena will subside as it pertains to sexuality, it will governor. Do you have a sense that oregon is more accepting of this, but not in other cultures . The Popular Culture is ahead of others. My deer friend had me talk to a group of students, kevin, and i talked to a girl from idaho. She talked about coming out and being chastised abused by a group of boys. Her teacher and principal didnt do anything. There are parts in america have you the tragedy of tyler, and even in new jersey, where people dont where young people do not feel safe and secure. We have a long way to go. In the Popular Culture, as you saw at the head of the story, in terms of polling numbers, america clearly is moving in what i perceive as the right direction. In 1987, you remember barnie frank came out to his voters. Probably washingtons most powerful legislator. We have a picture of him kissing his husband at the d. N. C. Convention. Is this a career ender for someone in politics . No, and i think he did that deliberately. That that would be the norm. What drives acceptances is people coming out and recognising they have gay brothers and sisters, as america feels comfortable, its strengthening the institution of marriage. People dont have to hide in the shadows, but can say im gay, im proclaiming thats a value, and i want to enjoy the same benefits as heterosexual couples. Do you feel like you messed an opportunity when you came out at the forefront of that particular movement. Being a gay politician . No, im in prison reentry, that was born out of my sense of the faith. You work in that, you are not in prison. I was in prison today. I mean mean, prison reentry is something that calls me deeply. I was a former assistant prosecutor, as a lawmaker, i had 180 degree turn, that i work with people that are addicts, that are homeless, and grew up in horrible circumstances, and find themselves marred in a criminal justice system, that is difficult to get out. Thats my calling. What is natural is that gay persons all over, in every field, they all have every type of attribute, its normal and typical as being brown or blue eyes. Its part of the acceptance and value of the american dream. You talked about the work you do. You are drawn to helping people, would you think of running again, helping as a politician . No, i dont want to engage in the money chase. Theres a level of authenticity i can be tree to say what i want about the criminal justice system, spending 74 billion, walking people off. Two shirts recidivism, the twothirds reedivism, the stupid system we produce a negligible result for and i cant say that if i was running in office. Its about being truthful to yourself. No, there are good men and women running for office. Thats not where im at. Jim mcgreevey, a pleasure talking to you. Thank you for your time. Jim mcgreevey, former governor of new jersey, and executive director of new jersey city employment and Training Programme is special report tomorrow, effects only black state counselman speaks to real money, dwayne james first interview since the shooting death of michael brown. This happened in my backyard, under my watch, our watch. I should have, could have, would have a lot of different things. You reflect on that. Did it strike you any deeper as a black authority . One foys, here. One voice here, tomorrow. An initiative giving people a say in how to spend tax money. Tell us what you think distrust of the police and elected officials surfaced in dramatic icts fashion after the shooting death of a black teenager, we learnt despite a population that is twothirds back, and ferguson, missouris personnel are twothirds white. Voter turn outs averages in the low numbers, but a growing effort aims to close the gap between government officials and underrepresented members of the community. Ferguson. Here is a look how the process is playing out in new york city. So what you are experiencing tonight is something very, very special if for our community. Gathering in an old church gym on a weekday evening hardly inspires grand ideals of democracy in action. Tonight youll get a chance to give inside to seed in our community, and well go through a process through the next few months to impact the communities at the localest levels, on the streets. But the city officials and local residents taking part in a programme called participatory bj eting, this is a bridge budgeting, this is a bridge for the divide between government and citizens. Theres a lot of members in the community from Young Students who are seniors, and etch in between that think that government is failing them. True. Carlos is a City Council Member for district 38 in brooklyn, representing a low Income Community of about 165,000 residents, where one in five earn less than 15,000 a year. 80 are minorities, mostly latino, asian and black. Half of all constituents are immigrants, and for them, and folks like alexa, government has seemed very far away. Government was an intervention. It wasnt a place where you interacted. And you were part of. But tonight she and her neighbours are here to help decide how to spend 2 million from the budget. The budget provides a different interaction. Its engaging people and acting what people need, what they want. And getting their perspective. Here is how it works. Government officials decide how much of the budget to turn over to the community. Residents gather to brainstorm ideas for projects that address needs, anything from environment cameras to park improvements. In smaller groups they work with agencies to develop the projects. Present them to the community and put them to a vote. The winning projects are funded. With 4 6 votes is the Red Hook Library community garden. [ clapping ] 476 votes is the Red Hook Library community garden. There you go. Normally its people with power, louder voices, more affluent. George returns the nonprofit behind the project. It originated in brazil and spread to over 1500 cities worldwide, including a dozen in the United States. In all, hundreds of millions in public money have been decided communities. We tried to open up the process so those on the outside of government can participate. In new york half of all participants never before engaged with the community and participatory budgeting sees higher turn outside from youths or minorities than local elections. Even minorities feel empowered. I saw the glow in their faith, they are so happy. This is share democracy, their freedom. They access their freedom that way. Critics say the process is too timeconsuming and a drain on limited resources to work in the long term. Learner says its more costly not to engage those left out of government today. We cant afford to government out the people. Budgeting learns to bring people together. People learn about the government and communities, form new organizations and are more connected. It has huge implications programs that boost participation in local government may help to address some of the neg active effect of economic segregation. The degree to which neighbourhoods are made up to people of the same economic level and the subject of a study by the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of management. It is ranked the economic segregation of 350 u. S. Areas, based on income, education and occupation. Look at the map. The areas shaded in deep purple are the most economically segregated while the areas in light blue are the least segregated. Notice how much purple you see in texas. Three of the four most segregated large metro areas are in texas. Austin round rock is the highest, followed by colombus and san antonio. Among the least are in florida, and the fortland vancouver beaver tonne area in the northwest. An author is richard, the director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and an authority on cities and urban issues. Among the conclusions is that economic segregation threatents to under mine the rolls that cities have played as incubators of innovation, creativity and progress. I asked him to back that up. One of the things that is cutting across the research, whether its austin or dallas, colombus, ohio, new york, houston one does knowledge, one does technology, one is a mega city but they have high levels of segregation. Rich with rich, highly educated with highly educated, poor with poor and so on. We talk about inequality, your show talks a lot about inequality. I think this inequality baked into where we live is worse. The advantages that would accrue to a rich child and the ability to go to better schools and a better access to libraries and books, the strange is they accrue to a poor child in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, magnifying that equality. You quote a book cold the big short. Bill bishop did great work. He said its conventional wisdom how we saw ourselves like this. We have gone from the big sort. I talked to bill. Gone to the bigger sort. What we see is a segregation. Its not racial segregation, its going on as well. Well write about that this week. This economic segregation of affluent, highly educated. Knowledge worker to knowledge worker, poor with poor, less educated with less educated is worsening, its not the inequality, its the geographing segment. Bill de blasio, the fact that groups are occupying not only different neighbourhoods but different worlds, thats the biggest problem that america faces. What is so interesting, that cuts across city and suburb, north and south, tech city and energy city, knowledge city and manufacturing, and they seemed to have this. I would imagine that the least educated, the lowest income dont have the same choices to do that. The only people that could change this are the rich. Why would they. Why would anyone who select to live with other rich in a neighbourhood in the inner city, amongst workers of the same sort. Why would they choose not to. Its actually what we fund. Its driven by the selection of the affluent. Nieces and nephews going to school. You can raise if in a lily white pristine suburb. Maybe they will not have the tools. The socioeconomic diversity to go out and make it in a real world. What i thing the way around this is diversity not on ads diversities, mixities are not only more powerful but exposing particularly young kids. The best schools, people think, are in the privileged suburbs. Its the cultural learning, the ability to learn other languages that make a person achieve in a multicultural world. If that lab, that microcosm, that city where the rich and poor are on the subway together. Segregated. One of the reasons im not as terrified of affluent people mogg back to the city is it forces the mayors to deal with the problem of the city. If it was the affluent in the poor, but it theres a tension about inequality and segregation and housing afford abilities, mayors and City Councils will have to deal with it. You see it with bill de blasio, and other saying we have to raise the minimum wage. I know its painful, no one want to be displaced. But its better than a society suburb. Thats richard florida, thats the show for today. Im ali velshi, thank you for joining us. The death toll could be much higher than anyoned known. Posing as a buyer to get in there. 10,000 people are already dead mr. President , who should answer for those people . Nightmare at the museum. I. S. I. L. Fighters destroy centuries old statues in moss all. I. S. I. L. Fighter responsible for killing hostages has been stashed as a british graduate from london hello, good to have you with us, im ghosh. This is al jazeera. Also, a woman . Honk Hong Kong Hong kong