Virginia OKs adoption discrimination against gays, lesbians
Private adoption agencies in Virginia acting on the state’s behalf will be allowed to discriminate against gays and lesbians seeking to become adoptive parents under rules passed this week by the Virginia Board of Social Services. The rules also allow discrimination based on political beliefs, religion and other personal characteristics. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (12/14)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Senate Republicans block nominee who penned pro-LGBT op-ed
Senate Republicans block nominee who penned pro-LGBT op-ed
The Senate this week failed to confirm Mari Carmen Aponte as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador after Republicans raised concerns and cited a pro-LGBT op-ed Aponte wrote for the La Prensa Grafica, a Spanish-language newspaper in El Salvador. "Her decision to publish an opinion piece hostile to the culture of El Salvadorans presents ... doubts about her fitness for the job. This op-ed upset a large number of community and pro-life groups in El Salvador who were insulted by Ms. Aponte's rhetoric," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. Washington Blade (12/13)
The Senate this week failed to confirm Mari Carmen Aponte as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador after Republicans raised concerns and cited a pro-LGBT op-ed Aponte wrote for the La Prensa Grafica, a Spanish-language newspaper in El Salvador. "Her decision to publish an opinion piece hostile to the culture of El Salvadorans presents ... doubts about her fitness for the job. This op-ed upset a large number of community and pro-life groups in El Salvador who were insulted by Ms. Aponte's rhetoric," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. Washington Blade (12/13)
U.N. urges countries to end laws punishing LGBT people
U.N. urges countries to end laws punishing LGBT people
The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a report released Thursday, called for the worldwide abolition of legal discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The report detailed human rights abuses around the world affecting LGBT people, and cited a number of countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. Google/The Associated Press (12/16)
The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a report released Thursday, called for the worldwide abolition of legal discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The report detailed human rights abuses around the world affecting LGBT people, and cited a number of countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. Google/The Associated Press (12/16)
GOP 'Family Values' Mayor Greg Davis of Southaven, MS Forced Out of Closet by Receipts from Gay Sex Shop
GOP 'Family Values' Mayor Greg Davis of Southaven, MS Forced Out of Closet by Receipts from Gay Sex Shop
Dec 16, 2011 06:13 am |
Greg Davis, the mayor of Southaven, Mississippi, "who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008 on a conservative, family-values platform" according to the Commercial Appeal, has been forced out of the closet over receipts uncovered in a criminal investigation over misused... read more
Dec 16, 2011 06:13 am |
Catholic Mother Files Suit Against Teacher Who Ejected Her Son from Class for Anti-Gay Remarks
Catholic Mother Files Suit Against Teacher Who Ejected Her Son from Class for Anti-Gay Remarks: VIDEO
Dec 16, 2011 08:58 am |
A Michigan mother filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of her son, who was reportedly kicked out of an economics class in October 2010 over his objection to gay people based on his religious beliefs: The Thomas More Law... read more
Dec 16, 2011 08:58 am |
Friday, December 16, 2011
Utah Middle School Defends Outing Gay Student To Parents As Bullying Prevention Effort
Politicians and diapers should be changed often ... and for the same reasons. Utah Middle School Defends Outing Gay Student To Parents As Bullying Prevention Effort (VIDEO) First Posted: 12/15/11 01:22 PM ET Updated: 12/15/11 01:26 PM ET Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates have slammed a Utah middle school's decision to disclose a gay teen's sexuality to his parents. As The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting, the 14-year-old boy's parents, who have asked that their names not be released to media, were notified by a teacher because officials at Willowcreek Middle School in Lehi say they were making an effort to be "proactive" in preventing bullying. "We do include parents any time there's a potential safety issue with a student," said Rhonda Bromley, a spokesperson for Utah's Alpine School District. After the student revealed he was gay in a class assignment, an administrator talked to the boy and encouraged him to discuss the issue with his parents, to which he reluctantly agreed. “The student chose himself to make his sexuality known in a variety of ways,” Bromley told MSNBC. “And there had already started to be some negative feedback. If there is the potential for a bullying or a harassment situation, it’s the responsibility of the school to step in and to make sure the student is safe." However, local news channel ABC 4 cites a text message the student apparently sent to a friend, which reads: "The next day, she calls me down to the office and … tells that she is going to basically force my (sic) out of the closet, by telling my parents that I am gay, despite my protests." Although Bromley noted the student's parents have been "very supportive" of their son, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) criticized the school's decision. "Schools should not out LGBT students without their consent," GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard said, according to The Advocate. "Outing a student not only violates their right to privacy, but also could compromise their safety. Parents can be notified of their child being bullied at school, but without disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad sentenced to two years' imprisonment
EGYPT: Imprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad sentenced to two years' imprisonment
Maikel Nabil SanadImprisoned pacifist blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by a military court on 14 December 2011, after a re-trial that had been postponed repeatedly, and had turned into a complete farce.Maikel Nabil Sanad was arrested at the end of march on charges of violating article 184 of the Egyptian penal code, which criminalizes "insulting the People’s Assembly, the Shura Council or any State Authority, or the Army or the Courts", and article 102, "spreading false information". In a trial in front of a military court violating all established legal standards, he was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on 10 April 2011, in absence of his family, friends, or lawyers. Since then he has been kept in El Marg prison.
On 23 August, Maikel Nabil Sanad began a hunger strike in protest against his imprisonment. In a statement at the beginning of his hunger strike, he declared that his hunger strike is in protest against the severe injustice he is subjected to, namely his unfair trial in front of a military court, the slow processing of his appeal, and the difference of treatment compared to other cases.
On 11 October, the military appeal court declared the original sentence of 10 April 2011 "null and void", but failed to release Maikel Nabil Sanad.
Maikel Nabil Sanad refuses to co-operate with the re-trial, and also asked his lawyers to stop any co-operation with the military court. On 18 October, a re-trial in front of the military court began, and the court appointed a lawyer to represent him, who - according to one of Maikel Nabil Sanad's lawyers - was unacquainted with the case. The court ordered to transfer Maikel Nabil Sanad to a psychiatric hospital "for examination" (see co-alert, 20 October 2011), but the hospital refused this attempt at pathologisation of political dissent, and sent him back after a few days, declaring him "sane".
The sentencing of Maikel Nabil Sanad to two year's imprisonment is a blatant violation of Egypt's interim constitution, and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Egypt is a party. It guarantees the right to a fair trial in article 14, and freedom of opinion and expression in article 19. On 21 July, the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations passed a new General Comment 34 on the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It writes: "States parties should not prohibit criticism of institutions, such as the army or the administration." (see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/
Maikel Nabil Sanad has been adopted by Amnesty International as a "prisoner of conscience", and the human rights organisations is urging Egypt to release him (see http://www.amnesty.org/en/
While the case of Maikel Nabil Sanad was the first case of a blogger imprisoned and charged for his blog posts following the toppling of Mubarak, it is by now not the only one. Famous activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah was arrested on 30 October, and has been kept on repeated 15 day sentences since, pending an investigation into his case. He was arrested following public criticisms of the army's conduct on the night of 9 October, when at least 27 people were killed during a Coptic Christian protest in downtown Cairo. Like many other activists, Abd El Fattah accused the army of direct involvement in the bloodshed, a claim that appears to be supported by extensive witness reports and video footage. He was charged by military prosecutors with "inciting violence against the army", and is being held since.
War Resisters' International calls for urgent letters of support to Maikel Nabil Sanad:
Maikel Nabil Sanad
El-Marg prison
El-Kalag
El-Khanka
Qalyubeya
Egypt
Letters to Maikel can also be sent via http://wri-irg.org/campagins/
War Resisters' International calls for urgent letters of protest to the Egyptian authorities.
Director of Military Judiciary
Major-General Ahmed Abd Allah
Military Judicial Department
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 2 402 4468 / +202 2 411 3452 (ask for fax)
Military General Attorney
Major-General Medhat Radwan
Military Judicial Department
Cairo, Egypt
+202 2 412 0980 (ask for fax)
Minister of Defence
His Excellency Muhammad Tantawi
Ministry of Defence
Cairo, Egypt
mmc@afmic.gov.eg ; mod@afmic.gov.eg
Fax: +20 2 2 5748 822
A protest email can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/node/14350.
War Resisters' International calls on the Egyptian authorities to respond to Maikel Nabil Sanad's hunger strike and to immediately release him.
Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Graffiti On Gay Couple's Condo: "Move Or Die, F**s"
After a "heated" condo association meeting on Thursday, a gay couple retired to their home of 15 years on Blue Cloud Lake, in Columbus, OH. They went to sleep. When they awoke on Friday, they found anti-gay slurs spray-painted on... read more
Is Out Gay Swedish Footballer Anton Hysén About to Join Major League Soccer?
Is Out Gay Swedish Footballer Anton Hysén About to Join Major League Soccer?
Rumors are bubbling up around the internet that Anton Hysén, the Swedish footballer who came out of the closet earlier this year, may be joining Major League Soccer and the announcement could be made as early as today.
MLS rumors has written about a recent interview by Hysen with Sportbladet in which he talked about being "in negotiations with two clubs in the American professional league." Here's the article.
According to Sportbladets the clubs Hysén has spoken with are Vancouver Whitecaps and Sporting Kansas City.
Kansas City CEO Robb Heineman tweeted yesterday, "Subject to one approval, another good player for US tomorrow" although he appeared to shoot down interest in Hysén in a later tweet.
And Hysén posted yesterday on his website: "hey everybody ! I hope everyone is doing good tonight/today wherever you are. I just got back from my friends place. We just talked about how our future would look like & about how he wants to succeed in football. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with my sports chef. (sic) Tomorrow will be an important day & I wil see how things will end up."
We should know more later today, but in the meantime, check out the video interview with Hysén from earlier this month at a reception for UK LGBT rights group Stonewall.
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 10:40 AM EST
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/12/anton-hysen.html#ixzz1fQx27UMA
Friday, December 2, 2011
Cameroon Men jailed for being gay
| President of Cameroon: Free 2 gay men sentenced to 5 years in prison for being gay |
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Dear People,
Jonas is 19 years old. Francky is 20. And a judge in Cameroon just sentenced them both to 5 years in prison for being gay.
Cameroon has several laws that criminalize homosexuality -- at least 10 people have been arrested this year alone. Last July, Jonas and Francky were arrested outside a club on suspicion of violating these discriminatory anti-gay laws.
“Violence against gay people in Cameroon has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels: the situation is quickly becoming a crisis," says human rights attorney Alice Nkom. “The president of Cameroon can put a stop to this and, if he feels enough pressure, he will do so."
Stephane Koche is a Cameroonian LGBT rights activist working with the organization ADEFHO (Association of Defence of Homosexuals) to free Jonas and Francky. Stephane started a petition on Change.org demanding that Cameroonian president Paul Biya free Jonas and Francky immediately. Please sign Stephane's petition today.
The good news is that Cameroonian leaders have been responsive to pressure in cases like Jonas and Francky's. Indeed, pressure from local activists has already helped to free 3 of those 10 individuals who were arrested, and this past May, global pressure on the president of Malawi compelled him to release a gay couple who had been jailed after they got married.
If President Biya feels international pressure to release Jonas and Francky, he will do so, but time is of the essence. Please sign Stephane's petition right now demanding that President Biya free two men sentenced to 5 years in prison for being gay:
Thanks for being a change-maker,
Bill would allow military clergy to opt out of marriage ceremonies
Bill would allow military clergy to opt out of marriage ceremonies
The Senate has approved language in a defense bill that would allow military chaplains to refuse to officiate at a wedding that violates their conscience or religious beliefs. The move would write into U.S. law a principle that is already present in military regulations. A companion bill passed in the House goes further, forbidding military clergy from presiding at weddings of same-sex couples. Army Times (11/30)
The Senate has approved language in a defense bill that would allow military chaplains to refuse to officiate at a wedding that violates their conscience or religious beliefs. The move would write into U.S. law a principle that is already present in military regulations. A companion bill passed in the House goes further, forbidding military clergy from presiding at weddings of same-sex couples. Army Times (11/30)
NYC officials want early drug therapies for HIV-positive people
NYC officials want early drug therapies for HIV-positive people
Officials with the New York City Health Department are calling for a major revision in recommended care for those who test positive for HIV, advising that patients not wait to begin expensive drug therapies, which they say could greatly diminish the number of new infections in the city. "I'm more optimistic now than I've ever been about this epidemic that we can drive our new rates down to zero or close to it -- eventually," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. The Wall Street Journal (12/1)
Officials with the New York City Health Department are calling for a major revision in recommended care for those who test positive for HIV, advising that patients not wait to begin expensive drug therapies, which they say could greatly diminish the number of new infections in the city. "I'm more optimistic now than I've ever been about this epidemic that we can drive our new rates down to zero or close to it -- eventually," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. The Wall Street Journal (12/1)
Indiana city bans anti-gay, anti-trans bias
Indiana city bans anti-gay, anti-trans bias
The City Council in Evansville, Ind., has voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, which bans discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation. "It's an important economic step and it shows that Evansville is a community that welcomes diversity," said Wally Paynter, president of the Tri-State Alliance. Evansville Courier & Press (Ind.) (free registration) (11/30)
The City Council in Evansville, Ind., has voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, which bans discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation. "It's an important economic step and it shows that Evansville is a community that welcomes diversity," said Wally Paynter, president of the Tri-State Alliance. Evansville Courier & Press (Ind.) (free registration) (11/30)
Pro-equality GOP congresswoman endorses Romney for president
Pro-equality GOP congresswoman endorses Romney for president
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., regarded by many as one of the most pro-LGBT lawmakers in Washington, has announced her support for Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Romney has vowed to support a constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. The move prompted Stonewall Democrats interim Executive Director Jerame Davis to ask, "Which Mitt Romney did she endorse?" Washington Blade (11/30)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., regarded by many as one of the most pro-LGBT lawmakers in Washington, has announced her support for Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Romney has vowed to support a constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. The move prompted Stonewall Democrats interim Executive Director Jerame Davis to ask, "Which Mitt Romney did she endorse?" Washington Blade (11/30)
Nigeria poised to enact far-reaching anti-gay legislation
Nigeria poised to enact far-reaching anti-gay legislation
A bill that would ban LGBT advocacy and same-sex public displays of affection and impose 14-year prison terms on same-sex couples who marry has been passed by Nigeria's Senate, and appears to have enough support to become law, according to this article. Lawmakers vowed to resist any international pressure to weaken the effort, and one senator suggested homosexuals should be killed. Google/The Associated Press (11/30), The Guardian (London) (11/29
A bill that would ban LGBT advocacy and same-sex public displays of affection and impose 14-year prison terms on same-sex couples who marry has been passed by Nigeria's Senate, and appears to have enough support to become law, according to this article. Lawmakers vowed to resist any international pressure to weaken the effort, and one senator suggested homosexuals should be killed. Google/The Associated Press (11/30), The Guardian (London) (11/29
Pink Paper Xtra Friday 2 December 2011
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Church Has A Problem With Chicago's New Pride Parade
A Roman Catholic church on Chicago's North Side has reached out to its parishioners hoping they will help pressure the city into rescheduling or rerouting the Gay Pride Parade, which is slated to follow a new path directly past its doors next summer.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Pink Paper Xtra Wednesday 30 November 2011
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Evansville, Indiana Passes LGBT Non-Discrimination Ordinance
Evansville, Indiana just got a lot more progressive: Age, sexual orientation and gender identity were categories added Monday night to Evansville’s nondiscrimination code by a unanimous vote of council members. Other categories included in the code include race, religion, color,... read more
Boston FOX Affiliate Questions School Teacher's Career, Exposing His Gay Adult Film Past
Boston FOX Affiliate Questions School Teacher's Career, Exposing His Gay Adult Film Past: VIDEO
FOX 25 in Boston decided to go after Kevin Hogan, an English teacher and crew coach at top-rated Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden, Massachusetts, after discovering that he had appeared in several gay porn films under the name Hytch Cawke. Their reporter confronted him in a parking lot.
Hogan has now been placed on paid administrative leave:
The school released a statement saying “We value the health and safety of our students,” and that "the school followed our normal hiring practices," which included criminal background checks in Massachusetts and California, where Hogan had been living.
Mystic Valley also said "the references we received were flawless,” and noted he was placed there by the recruiting firm Carney, Sandoe & Associates. Hogan even has a testimonial on the firm's website, where he writes, "It's amazing with your help I was able to find a school that I never thought existed." Mystic Valley Charter School sent an e-mail to parents and staff today stressing the school’s insistence that any applicant for a position be candid and forthright about disclosing past employment positions.
Hogan, as the station notes, has done nothing illegal.Watch FOX25's report, AFTER THE JUMP...
(via jmg)
Via one of our Twitter followers: E-mail @fox25news' News Director here: Paul.McGonagle@foxtv.com and Mike Beaudet here: mike.beaudet@foxtv.com.
Posted 10:46 AM EST
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/11/hogan.html#ixzz1fEmPb9BT
Russia Furious at U.S. State Dept's Condemnation of Anti-Gay Bills
Russia Furious at U.S. State Dept's Condemnation of Anti-Gay Bills
Leaders in Moscow are furious that the U.S. State Department has spoken out about legislation in St. Petersburg and Moscow that would ban "gay propaganda".Konstantin Dolgov (pictured), the Russian Foreign Ministry's Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, called comments by the US State Department “incorrect”.
“We are perplexed by the American side’s attempts to interfere in the legislative process in Russia, especially publicly. We consider these attempts inappropriate and inconsistent with the practice of interstate relations," he said, as cited by Interfax. Dolgov pointed out that Russia is ready to build up “a constructive dialogue” with the US on human rights problems based on mutual respect.
I posted about the legislation in mid-November.The AFP adds:
The vaguely worded bill would introduce fines of up to 50,000 rubles ($1,598) for "public acts" promoting homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgender identity.
Legislators passed the bill in its first reading earlier this month and was expected to have its crucial second reading on Wednesday. If passed, it would then need to be approved in a final reading seen as a technicality.
But the bill's author told Russian news agencies on Tuesday the second reading was likely to be postponed until after parliamentary polls on December 4.
The Russian LGBT community is obviously very troubled by the latest events.Legislators passed the bill in its first reading earlier this month and was expected to have its crucial second reading on Wednesday. If passed, it would then need to be approved in a final reading seen as a technicality.
But the bill's author told Russian news agencies on Tuesday the second reading was likely to be postponed until after parliamentary polls on December 4.
The portal Gay Country RU posted a video reacting to Russian oppression of LGBTS
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 11:45 AM EST
Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/11/dolgov.html#ixzz1fElbjcwK
Sunday, November 27, 2011
George Michael in Intensive Care, Cancels Tour
George Michael in Intensive Care, Cancels TourBy Jeremy Kinser Professor Dr Christoph Zielinski of the Medical University of Vienna, and Professor Dr Thomas Staudinger, specialist in internal medicine and intensive care medicine, said in a joint statement: "George Michael has severe community acquired pneumonia and is being treated as an inpatient. His condition has stabilized and he is responding to treatment. From the current point of view, the time until recovery cannot be estimated, but he will not be able to perform the rest of the tour. Besides medical treatment, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory." Michael’s publicist released a statement yesterday that read: "He is receiving excellent medical care; he is responding to treatment and slowly improving. To ensure his complete well-being, George Michael’s doctors have advised that he cannot perform the rest of his Symphonica tour and that he instead takes a full and complete rest. As a result, all of the British dates of the Symphonica European tour will be postponed." | ||
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Saturday, November 26, 2011
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“Ex-Gay” Leader Plays Victim Card — As Do Others on Right
“Ex-Gay” Leader Plays Victim Card — As Do Others on Right
By Trudy Ring
Quinlan, president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, who says he is an ex-gay, did an interview last month with a Washington, D.C., TV station in which he described “hatred” and “bigotry” directed at ex-gays, who he said deserve protection under hate-crimes laws. He accused Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, of saying, “Somebody needs to run Greg over. He needs to be hit with a bus. Somebody should inject him with AIDS.”
Besen, who says one of his group’s purposes is to debunk “the ex-gay myth,” said he first became aware of the interview Tuesday, and he responded with a strongly worded press release. “The bizarre and defamatory scenario portrayed by Quinlan exists only in his own mind,” he said. “What he said is entirely fabricated and a dishonest and brazen attempt to smear me personally, destroy my reputation, and discredit the good work of Truth Wins Out.”
He continued, “It speaks to Quinlan’s character that he lies so easily and simply makes things up. I’d be willing to take a lie detector test to prove my innocence and to show that I’ve never said such vile words. Will Quinlan also take these tests to prove the ‘veracity’ of his calumny? Truth Wins Out is also exploring legal options at this time.”
As Daily Show host Jon Stewart recently observed, “The reason conservatives hate it when liberals play the victim card is that it distracts from the real victims: conservatives.” Here are a few examples we found of claims that conservatives are oppressed by gays, liberals, and the media:
“What this bill does is to shut down those who dare to speak against the sin of homosexuality with the hope and freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.” — Michael Marcavage, president of Repent America, on the federal hate-crimes law enacted in 2009
“It’s the elephant in the room that it’s not called a homosexual problem or scandal or what have you, and the reason, there is a very powerful political gay movement, and it’s oriented towards supporting the Democrat Party. ... They succeed in stifling conversation about it. And so you don’t dare mention it. People don’t mention it. It’s like not showing cartoons of Muslims. You just don’t go there because they wreak havoc on you, and it’s the path of least resistance.” — Radio talker Rush Limbaugh, discussing the Penn State child sexual assault scandal
“Movie director Brett Ratner was just unceremoniously canned as director of the 2012 Academy Awards broadcast. He crossed the line by saying ‘Rehearsals are for (gay F-bombs).’ That will get you fired. Mocking an FBI director, 9/11 or the Virgin Mary? That is apparently ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.’” — Conservative media watchdog Brent Bozell, who also said the film J. Edgar is “using ersatz history to promote the gay agenda,” which Bozell calls “the closest thing to a unanimously sacred cause in Hollywood”
“We are being brutalized by our opponents, and our own party. So much of that is, I think they look at him, because of his faith. He is the only true conservative.” — Anita Perry, wife of Texas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry
“Within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn.” — Sarah Palin, after the Tucson shooting that killed six people and critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords; Palin had been criticized for circulating a map that showed Giffords’s district in crosshairs in the previous election
“I don’t have the right to say what I need to say. My First Amendment rights have been usurped by angry, hateful groups who don’t want to debate, they want to eliminate.” — Famously antigay radio therapist Laura Schlessinger, who ended her show after criticism over her use of the ultimate racial slur
“There’s an extreme double standard that conservative women are under attack for.” — Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of “opposite marriage” fame, after a racy video of her was circulated
“The Democrat machine in America has brought forth a troubled woman to make false accusations.” — Presidential aspirant Herman Cain on the sexual harassment allegations against him; he and many right-wing pundits claim there is a concerted effort to discredit black conservatives
Friday, November 25, 2011
Polish Court Ruling Allows Nationalist Group to Register Graphic Anti-Gay Icon as Official Symbol
Polish Court Ruling Allows Nationalist Group to Register Graphic Anti-Gay Icon as Official Symbol
Out gay Polish MP Robert Biedron has urged the Ministry of Justice to intervene after a court ruling allowed a far-right nationalist group to register a graphic depicting gay sex with a bar through it as one of its official symbols, AFP reports:The NOP trumpeted the court ruling on its website earlier this week, saying it capped a two-year legal battle. Grzegorz Schetyna, a senior player in Poland's ruling centrist Civic Platform, accused the judge who made the ruling of failing in his duties.
"Such symbols are unacceptable," he told the station Radio Zet
Biedron is the first openly gay member to be elected to parliament. He was recently seated along with Anna Grodzka, Poland's first transgender MP.Tuesday, November 22, 2011
License Plate Scanners Logging Our Every Move
License Plate Scanners Logging Our Every Move
by alethoACLU | November 21, 2011
The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the District of Columbia is engaging in widespread tracking of citizen’s movements using automated license plate readers (ALPRs). According to the Post, the D.C. police:
- Are running more than one ALPR per square mile;
- Are planning on sharply increasing the density of these devices until they form a “comprehensive dragnet;”
- Retain the time/date/location/tag number even of innocent people for whom nothing is found to be wrong;
- Store that data in a database for three years.
It has now become clear that this technology, if we do not limit its use, will represent a significant step toward the creation of a surveillance society in the United States.
The first we heard of this technology was in a March 2002 piece in The Boston Globe with the headline “Parking Enforcement on a Roll.” At that time, the technology was being deployed to scan parking lots for licenses associated with unpaid parking tickets and other fines. As we said at the time as we began to get questions about the technology, we don’t have any fundamental objections to the technology itself — after all, a police officer could manually phone in all the tags in a parking lot to check for unpaid tickets, and this just did the same thing in a quicker, more efficient way. Sometimes the speed and effici ency of computers does fundamentally change the nature of surveillance compared to non-computerized equivalents — as with GPS tracking, for example. Quantity can change quality. But checking for unpaid tickets and stolen cars does not affect the innocent, so this did not seem to us to be a problem — as long, we said, as the police do not retain location data about innocent people where nothing is found to be wrong.
Our main concern was that the technology not grow into a means for the constant, routine tracking of Americans and their whereabouts. Sometimes when we say things like that, we’re accused of being paranoid. But I am always amazed by the speed and consistency with which our worst fears for these kinds of technologies turn into reality.
Clearly this technology is rapidly approaching the point where it could be used to reconstruct the entire movements of any individual vehicle. As we have argued in the context of GPS tracking (and as I said to the Post reporter) that level of intrusion on private life is something that the police should not be able to engage in without a warrant.
The Post article cites a number of examples in which the technology has proven useful to police. Of course, if the police track all of us all the time, there is no doubt that will help to solve some crimes — just as it would no doubt help solve some crimes if they could read everybody’s e-mail and install cameras in everybody’s homes. But in a free society, we don’t let the police watch over us just because we might do something wrong. That is not the balance struck by our Constitution and is not the balance we should strike in our policymaking.
Finally, technologies that have such significant implications for our privacy — and more broadly, what kind of society we want to live in — should not be put in place through what I call “procurement policymaking.” The police should not be able to run out and buy a new technology and put it in place before anybody realizes what’s going on — before society has a chance to discuss and debate it and consider where we want to draw the lines between police power and the freedom to live a private life. That decision is one that should be made through the full, open, democratic process — not quietly and unilaterally by police departments.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
NJ Teacher Bullies Special Needs Student
Not all bullies are students. Check out this vid, AFTER THE JUMP, in which an apparently psychotic teacher berates a student for three consecutive minutes on camera. "What're you gonna do, dude?" the teacher wonders, after the student asks the... read more
Why You Shouldn't Give to the Salvation Army This Holiday Season
http://www.bilerico.com/2010/
The Bilerico Project
Why You Shouldn't Give to the Salvation Army This Holiday Season
By Bil Browning
November 22, 2010
In case you've forgotten, the holiday season is fast upon us. That means the Salvation Army bell ringers will be out in full force dunning shoppers for donations meant to help the needy and destitute. Unfortunately, the Salvation Army won't assist everyone - only those they deem sufficiently worthy.
While many think of the group as just another charity, in truth the group is a religious sect that is notoriously anti-gay; you shouldn't give to the Salvation Army this holiday season if you support gay rights.
When a former boyfriend and I were homeless, the Salvation Army refused to help us unless we broke up and left the "sinful homosexual lifestyle" behind. We slept on the street and they didn't help when we declined to break up at their insistence. I've seen the discrimination the Salvation Army preaches first hand.
Need more examples? Check out the video... for a laundry list of anti-gay policies and positions the Salvation Army has taken. You'll probably be shocked - and you definitely won't put any more coins in those big red buckets.
video (2+ minutes): Boycott The Salvation Army:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
__._,_._
The Bilerico Project
Why You Shouldn't Give to the Salvation Army This Holiday Season
By Bil Browning
November 22, 2010
In case you've forgotten, the holiday season is fast upon us. That means the Salvation Army bell ringers will be out in full force dunning shoppers for donations meant to help the needy and destitute. Unfortunately, the Salvation Army won't assist everyone - only those they deem sufficiently worthy.
While many think of the group as just another charity, in truth the group is a religious sect that is notoriously anti-gay; you shouldn't give to the Salvation Army this holiday season if you support gay rights.
When a former boyfriend and I were homeless, the Salvation Army refused to help us unless we broke up and left the "sinful homosexual lifestyle" behind. We slept on the street and they didn't help when we declined to break up at their insistence. I've seen the discrimination the Salvation Army preaches first hand.
Need more examples? Check out the video... for a laundry list of anti-gay policies and positions the Salvation Army has taken. You'll probably be shocked - and you definitely won't put any more coins in those big red buckets.
video (2+ minutes): Boycott The Salvation Army:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Texas Republican Official Confirms He's Gay After Whisper Campaign
George Clayton, a Republican member of the State Board of Education from Richardson, texas, came out of the closet in an email to constituents following a whisper campaign about his sexuality pushed by GOP rival Geraldine “Tincy” Miller in a... read more |
Friday, November 18, 2011
Bully for Michigan: Religion exemption for school harassment may fail
Bully for Michigan: Religion exemption for school harassment may fail
Posted: 17 Nov 2011 02:00 AM PST
Good news from Michigan! The state legislature is moving toward anti-bullying legislation that does not include an exemption for religiously motivated harassment. Related articles:- Halting Harassment: Public school efforts to protect students run into Religious Right bullies
- Degree in discrimination? Proposed Michigan law condones bias in university counseling programs
- Action Alert: Protest Michigan’s green light on religious bullying
Breaking: New Anti-LGBT Ballot Attack
Here they go again--taking away hard-won LGBT victories. Today, anti-equality advocates filed papers to launch a new ballot attack aimed squarely at LGBT people.
This time, they've left requirements about people with disabilities and religious protections in tact and stripped all references to LGBT people from the FAIR Education Act.
We're prepared to do everything in our power to block this measure from the ballot. But we can't do it alone--we need your help. Here's what you can do:
1. Make a contribution today of $100, $75, $25 or whatever you can afford. Your early support is critical.
2. Sign up to volunteer. There are many ways to get involved and blocking this effort will take all of us coming together to make sure Californians aren't swayed by our opponent's scare tactics.
3. Spread the word. Make sure your friends, family and acquaintances know the truth about the FAIR Education Act and ask them to help us defend against this attack.
4. Learn more. Visit FairEducationAction.com
Thank you for joining the fight. We know that when Californians learn the facts about the FAIR Education Act they will see these efforts for what they are--the same tired attacks and lies these groups have used for years to turn back the clock on LGBT equality.
In Solidarity,
Are You Kathlick? (funny!)
THREE LITTLE BOYS were concerned because they couldn't get anyone to play with them
They decided it was because they had not been baptized and
Didn't go to Sunday school
So they went to the nearest church. But, only the janitor was there
One little boy said, "We need to be baptized because no one
Will come out and play with us.
Will you baptize us?"
Sure," said the janitor..
He took them into the bathroom and dunked their little heads
In the toilet bowl, one at a time.
Then he said, "You are now baptized!"
When they got outside, one of them asked,
"'What religion do you think we are?"
The oldest one said, "We're not Kathlick ,
Because they pour the water on you."
"We're not Babtis ,
Because they dunk all of you in the water."
"We're not Methdiss ,
Because they just sprinkle water on you."
The littlest one said, "Didn't you smell that water?"
They all joined in asking, 'Yeah! What do you think that means?'
"I think it means we're Pisskopailians!"
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