You know, neither Clinton, nor Obama are my first choice for POTUS, but things like this add to why I have the second choice that I do have.
ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley Tuesday morning in Raleigh, NC. After touring a bio-manufacturing training center, Gov. Easley, First Lady of North Carolina Mary Easley and Clinton held a ceremony at NC State University. The Governor formally expressed his support saying that there was "nothing I love more than a strong powerful woman." Easley concluded his remarks saying Clinton -- "makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy".
Incredibly insulting to the GLBTQ community AND sexist, all in one.
While standing right next to this man, now, did Clinton say anything to this comment? Nope...
And here is the rest of it.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Bunny Expressions
Ok, I realize it isn't my usual serious entry, but I had to share this. I found it over at Gay Unicorn
It is so true, it isn't even funny!
And here is the rest of it.
It is so true, it isn't even funny!
And here is the rest of it.Sunday, April 27, 2008
War on Hunger (a)
I haven't had a chance to read alot of this guy's stuff yet, having only come across it today, but he has a really good piece, with facts and numbers, on hunger and famine through history, and today.
A short example from his essay "War on Hunga" :
During the 20th century, an estimated 70 million people died from famines across the world, of them an estimated 30 million died during the famine of 1958-61 in China. The other most notable famines of the century included the 1942-1945 disaster in Bengal, famines in China in 1928 and 1942, and a sequence of famines in the Soviet Union, including the Holodomor, Stalin's famine inflicted on Ukraine in 1932-33. A few of the great famines of the late 20th century were: the Biafran famine in the 1960s, the disaster in Cambodia in the 1970s, the Ethiopian famine of 1983-85 and the North Korean famine of the 1990s.
Take note please that starvation leads naturally to desperation. Every generation in medieval Europe suffered famine. The poor ate cats, dogs and the droppings of birds; some starving mothers ate their children and as late as in the 20th century, periods of extreme hunger drove Soviet citizens to cannibalism.
A dreadful scenario indeed, but are we there yet? Well, not exactly but we sure are headed in that direction. It is time to sit up and take note.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 25,000 people died of starvation every day in 2003, and as of 2001 to 2003, about 800 million people were chronically undernourished. That was when the current global food shortage had yet not begun to hit the world.
There is no doubt any more that we are bang in the midst of the first global food crisis since World War II which the World Food Program says already threatens 20 million of the poorest children.
And here is the rest of it.
A short example from his essay "War on Hunga" :
During the 20th century, an estimated 70 million people died from famines across the world, of them an estimated 30 million died during the famine of 1958-61 in China. The other most notable famines of the century included the 1942-1945 disaster in Bengal, famines in China in 1928 and 1942, and a sequence of famines in the Soviet Union, including the Holodomor, Stalin's famine inflicted on Ukraine in 1932-33. A few of the great famines of the late 20th century were: the Biafran famine in the 1960s, the disaster in Cambodia in the 1970s, the Ethiopian famine of 1983-85 and the North Korean famine of the 1990s.
Take note please that starvation leads naturally to desperation. Every generation in medieval Europe suffered famine. The poor ate cats, dogs and the droppings of birds; some starving mothers ate their children and as late as in the 20th century, periods of extreme hunger drove Soviet citizens to cannibalism.
A dreadful scenario indeed, but are we there yet? Well, not exactly but we sure are headed in that direction. It is time to sit up and take note.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 25,000 people died of starvation every day in 2003, and as of 2001 to 2003, about 800 million people were chronically undernourished. That was when the current global food shortage had yet not begun to hit the world.
There is no doubt any more that we are bang in the midst of the first global food crisis since World War II which the World Food Program says already threatens 20 million of the poorest children.
The rest is definitely worth reading.
And here is the rest of it.
Steps to Wisdom
A very wise friend sent this to me awhile back.
Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
There's definitely more!
And here is the rest of it
A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
If you had to identify, in 1 word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, & never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
You should not confuse your career with your life.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
Never lick a steak knife (you know you've done it before!)
The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)
Your friends love you anyway.
Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Food Riots, Cont.
"There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
~Mohandas Gandhi
Whether you are worried about this issue or not, it's happening, it's real, and it's spreading. The NYT has an article that is disturbing (as it should be) to read. Read it anyway.
“Why are these riots happening?” asked Arif Husain, senior food security analyst at the World Food Program, which has issued urgent appeals for donations. “The human instinct is to survive, and people are going to do no matter what to survive. And if you’re hungry you get angry quicker.”
The Poor Eat Mud
In Haiti, where three-quarters of the population earns less than $2 a day and one in five children is chronically malnourished, the one business booming amid all the gloom is the selling of patties made of mud, oil and sugar, typically consumed only by the most destitute.
“It’s salty and it has butter and you don’t know you’re eating dirt,” said Olwich Louis Jeune, 24, who has taken to eating them more often in recent months. “It makes your stomach quiet down.”
But the grumbling in Haiti these days is no longer confined to the stomach. It is now spray-painted on walls of the capital and shouted by demonstrators.
In recent days, Mr. Préval has patched together a response, using international aid money and price reductions by importers to cut the price of a sack of rice by about 15 percent. He has also trimmed the salaries of some top officials. But those are considered temporary measures.
Real solutions will take years. Haiti, its agriculture industry in shambles, needs to better feed itself. Outside investment is the key, although that requires stability, not the sort of widespread looting and violence that the Haitian food riots have fostered.
Meanwhile, most of the poorest of the poor suffer silently, too weak for activism or too busy raising the next generation of hungry. In the sprawling slum of Haiti’s Cité Soleil, Placide Simone, 29, offered one of her five offspring to a stranger. “Take one,” she said, cradling a listless baby and motioning toward four rail-thin toddlers, none of whom had eaten that day. “You pick. Just feed them.”
And here is the rest of it.
~Mohandas Gandhi
Whether you are worried about this issue or not, it's happening, it's real, and it's spreading. The NYT has an article that is disturbing (as it should be) to read. Read it anyway.
“Why are these riots happening?” asked Arif Husain, senior food security analyst at the World Food Program, which has issued urgent appeals for donations. “The human instinct is to survive, and people are going to do no matter what to survive. And if you’re hungry you get angry quicker.”
The Poor Eat Mud
In Haiti, where three-quarters of the population earns less than $2 a day and one in five children is chronically malnourished, the one business booming amid all the gloom is the selling of patties made of mud, oil and sugar, typically consumed only by the most destitute.
“It’s salty and it has butter and you don’t know you’re eating dirt,” said Olwich Louis Jeune, 24, who has taken to eating them more often in recent months. “It makes your stomach quiet down.”
But the grumbling in Haiti these days is no longer confined to the stomach. It is now spray-painted on walls of the capital and shouted by demonstrators.
In recent days, Mr. Préval has patched together a response, using international aid money and price reductions by importers to cut the price of a sack of rice by about 15 percent. He has also trimmed the salaries of some top officials. But those are considered temporary measures.
Real solutions will take years. Haiti, its agriculture industry in shambles, needs to better feed itself. Outside investment is the key, although that requires stability, not the sort of widespread looting and violence that the Haitian food riots have fostered.
Meanwhile, most of the poorest of the poor suffer silently, too weak for activism or too busy raising the next generation of hungry. In the sprawling slum of Haiti’s Cité Soleil, Placide Simone, 29, offered one of her five offspring to a stranger. “Take one,” she said, cradling a listless baby and motioning toward four rail-thin toddlers, none of whom had eaten that day. “You pick. Just feed them.”
And here is the rest of it.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Ten Commandment Weekend?? WTF...
You have GOT to be kidding. I have SO not been paying enough attention.
I know that the administration is more than well-known for blurring and obliterating the lines between church and state, but Congress sure as hell doesn't need to help that along!
Did you know that for the past two years, Congress has designated the first weekend in May as "Ten Commandments Weekend (TCW)?" Most of us pay little attention to congressional resolutions. All sorts of resolutions are proposed; some pass, others are tabled, and still others are withdrawn.
These days, two resolutions relating to the Ten Commandments are being considered by Congress; one will again designate the first weekend in May as "Ten Commandments Weekend," while the other aims to celebrate the Ten Commandments Commission (TCC), an organization led by a former veteran of the Israeli Armed Forces, and made up of a host longtime conservative evangelical Christian leaders.
Nevermind the tanking economy, soldiers and civilians dying in Iraq and Afganistan, or any of the other non-important things...let's spend our time continuing to pander to people who could give a crap about reality or their fellow human beings who suffer at the hands of their insane priorities.
And here is the rest of it.
I know that the administration is more than well-known for blurring and obliterating the lines between church and state, but Congress sure as hell doesn't need to help that along!
Did you know that for the past two years, Congress has designated the first weekend in May as "Ten Commandments Weekend (TCW)?" Most of us pay little attention to congressional resolutions. All sorts of resolutions are proposed; some pass, others are tabled, and still others are withdrawn.
These days, two resolutions relating to the Ten Commandments are being considered by Congress; one will again designate the first weekend in May as "Ten Commandments Weekend," while the other aims to celebrate the Ten Commandments Commission (TCC), an organization led by a former veteran of the Israeli Armed Forces, and made up of a host longtime conservative evangelical Christian leaders.
Nevermind the tanking economy, soldiers and civilians dying in Iraq and Afganistan, or any of the other non-important things...let's spend our time continuing to pander to people who could give a crap about reality or their fellow human beings who suffer at the hands of their insane priorities.
And here is the rest of it.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
America leads again...I'm so proud
So much for land of the free.
The United States has less than 5 percent of the world’s population. But it has almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners.
And here is the rest of it.
The United States has less than 5 percent of the world’s population. But it has almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners.
And here is the rest of it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Food Rationing
Holy Smokes! (I'm actually saying the other S-word but I try to be polite in public.)
Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.
Read the whole thing. And here is the rest of it.
Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.
Read the whole thing. And here is the rest of it.
The FOX-ification of media
I am always amazed when people complain about the "liberal" media. How much proof do they need?
And here is the rest of it.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Judy Shepard at the HRC Dinner
Wow, it's been 10 years this year.
In the words of Michael Crawford, at the Bilerico Project:
There are moments when I become so frustrated by the in-fighting and division with the GLBT movement that I just want to rip every strand of my hair out. Then there are moments when people like Judy Shepard remind me of why it is so critical despite the seemingly endless drama that we continue to lead with our hearts and fight for equality. Here is Judy speaking at the 2008 HRC Houston Dinner. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder.
And here is the rest of it.
In the words of Michael Crawford, at the Bilerico Project:
There are moments when I become so frustrated by the in-fighting and division with the GLBT movement that I just want to rip every strand of my hair out. Then there are moments when people like Judy Shepard remind me of why it is so critical despite the seemingly endless drama that we continue to lead with our hearts and fight for equality. Here is Judy speaking at the 2008 HRC Houston Dinner. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder.
And here is the rest of it.
Tough questions for McCain-I wish!
I had to actually remind myself this is a "we wish" interview and not the true (and sorry) job being done in reality.
From Brave New Films
And here is the rest of it.
From Brave New Films
And here is the rest of it.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Food Riots
I had heard of a couple of these riots, but golly, no surprise that we aren't hearing crap about all of this in the MSM. Haiti, Egypt, Bangladesh, Morocco, Mexico.
Piglipstick has an impressive breakdown on them.
And here is the rest of it.
Piglipstick has an impressive breakdown on them.
And here is the rest of it.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Paper Ballots
I just received this from Voters for Peace and am passing it along. It includes a sample email at the end.
Paper Ballots and Audits in Time for Election Day 2008!
Tell Your Congressional Rep. to Vote for HR 5036 "The Emergency Election Assistance for Secure Elections Act"
Americans need to be able to trust the counting of the vote on Election Day. Paperless electronic voting is rife with computer mistakes and security problems. Only 17 states have a voter verified paper record and require an audit. With no paper record it is impossible to audit the vote and we cannot be sure the vote was counted accurately. Peace voters can only have an impact if we are sure our votes are counted as they are cast.
On Tuesday, April 15, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill that will help ensure election integrity in time for the November 2008 by providing funds to states for voter-verified paper records and audits of the vote on Election Day.
Please send the letter below to your member of Congress IMMEDIATELY. CLICK HERE to send the letter from the website of an allied organization TrueVote. The U.S. House of Representatives needs to show overwhelming bi-partisan support for this bill so the Senate will quickly act and President Bush will sign the bill.
- - - - - - - - -
Dear Representative:
I am writing to urge you to support H.R. 5036 when it comes to the House Floor this Tuesday. The 'Emergency Election Assistance for Secure Elections Act' - the "EASY" bill - is needed to secure the November 2008 elections. Broad support in the House will ensure passage by the Senate and approval by the president in time for the November election.
H.R. 5036 will provide states with funding for paper-based voting systems and audits of the vote count. The bill will assure election integrity nationally by making sure that votes are counted in a transparent and audit-able way.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Here is the link.
Letter to Your Representative
And here is the rest of it.
Paper Ballots and Audits in Time for Election Day 2008!
Tell Your Congressional Rep. to Vote for HR 5036 "The Emergency Election Assistance for Secure Elections Act"
Americans need to be able to trust the counting of the vote on Election Day. Paperless electronic voting is rife with computer mistakes and security problems. Only 17 states have a voter verified paper record and require an audit. With no paper record it is impossible to audit the vote and we cannot be sure the vote was counted accurately. Peace voters can only have an impact if we are sure our votes are counted as they are cast.
On Tuesday, April 15, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill that will help ensure election integrity in time for the November 2008 by providing funds to states for voter-verified paper records and audits of the vote on Election Day.
Please send the letter below to your member of Congress IMMEDIATELY. CLICK HERE to send the letter from the website of an allied organization TrueVote. The U.S. House of Representatives needs to show overwhelming bi-partisan support for this bill so the Senate will quickly act and President Bush will sign the bill.
- - - - - - - - -
Dear Representative:
I am writing to urge you to support H.R. 5036 when it comes to the House Floor this Tuesday. The 'Emergency Election Assistance for Secure Elections Act' - the "EASY" bill - is needed to secure the November 2008 elections. Broad support in the House will ensure passage by the Senate and approval by the president in time for the November election.
H.R. 5036 will provide states with funding for paper-based voting systems and audits of the vote count. The bill will assure election integrity nationally by making sure that votes are counted in a transparent and audit-able way.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Here is the link.
Letter to Your Representative
And here is the rest of it.
Witch Hunts
I've read enough about the Salem Witch Trials, and other trials of that period to know that they happened, that the vast majority of those killed were women, and that they were overwhelmingly innocent of any charges.
There is a family in Connecticut, working to exonerate their ancestor, Mary Sanford, who was executed in 1662, for dancing around a bonfire and drinking wine. Her husband, also charged, was later acquitted.
Other than the sheer insanity of that whole period, what impressed me about the story, is the 14-year old descendent of Mary, Addie, who is working with her mom on this. Evidently, there are dimwits who have chosen to mock them for standing up for their family. To this, Addie responds:
“There are worse things than mockery, now, I’m not afraid to stand up when I see something wrong.”
and
“I’ve discovered myself by honoring Mary.”
Very nice.
And here is the rest of it.
There is a family in Connecticut, working to exonerate their ancestor, Mary Sanford, who was executed in 1662, for dancing around a bonfire and drinking wine. Her husband, also charged, was later acquitted.
Other than the sheer insanity of that whole period, what impressed me about the story, is the 14-year old descendent of Mary, Addie, who is working with her mom on this. Evidently, there are dimwits who have chosen to mock them for standing up for their family. To this, Addie responds:
“There are worse things than mockery, now, I’m not afraid to stand up when I see something wrong.”
and
“I’ve discovered myself by honoring Mary.”
Very nice.
And here is the rest of it.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Hate costs a pretty penny
Or as Just Out puts it, "Bigotry sounds expensive."
JO had a short piece last week on a mailer sent out by the group sponsoring the drive to repeal Oregon's equality laws. According to the article,
...they've identified 18 Oregon "hubs" from which to collect 100,000 petition signatures on or before July 3.
Those cities are: Albany, Astoria Baker City, Beaverton, Bend, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Eugene [Corvallis, Eugene??!!], Grants Pass, Hood River, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Medford, Newport, Salem, Seaside, The Dalles and Wilsonville.
The group is also crying for donations to exceed $50,000 for the printing of "thousands of petition pages, copies of the two laws, signature gathering instructions, an updated Web site [That will be helpful], several costly mailings, petition distribution, promotion, and communication costs for both Initiatives."
Like a desparate army in the throes of its defeat, don't doubt for a second that these folks will stoop to whatever they need to do, in order to further their agenda of hate and intolerance.
And here is the rest of it.
JO had a short piece last week on a mailer sent out by the group sponsoring the drive to repeal Oregon's equality laws. According to the article,
...they've identified 18 Oregon "hubs" from which to collect 100,000 petition signatures on or before July 3.
Those cities are: Albany, Astoria Baker City, Beaverton, Bend, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Eugene [Corvallis, Eugene??!!], Grants Pass, Hood River, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Medford, Newport, Salem, Seaside, The Dalles and Wilsonville.
The group is also crying for donations to exceed $50,000 for the printing of "thousands of petition pages, copies of the two laws, signature gathering instructions, an updated Web site [That will be helpful], several costly mailings, petition distribution, promotion, and communication costs for both Initiatives."
Like a desparate army in the throes of its defeat, don't doubt for a second that these folks will stoop to whatever they need to do, in order to further their agenda of hate and intolerance.
**Thanks to Burning or Building Bridges in the Community for catching this one.
And here is the rest of it.
Queer Allies
Just Out has a really nice article spotlighting several straight allies to the queer community. I really love this one comment by Anne Sweet, a social justice advocate, when asked how she supports the community:
I learn about who folks are; I show up. I learn what it means to be an ally. I vote. I talk to my neighbors. I interrupt when I need to because homophobia is socially entwined within the black community. I spend personal reflective time understanding my own role as a person perceived as a heterosexual person. I look at my own biases and how I can change my own actions.
To really narrow it down means to acknowledge every human; that’s how minute it is. We are socially set up to keep bigotry moving, then we are encouraged to not acknowledge their human-ness based on their access to resources. Those with access are acknowledged, and those without are left out.
So often, when people act, or think they are acting, they don't include looking at themselves and their own place in things. I am moved by Anne's wisdom here.And here is the rest of it.
I learn about who folks are; I show up. I learn what it means to be an ally. I vote. I talk to my neighbors. I interrupt when I need to because homophobia is socially entwined within the black community. I spend personal reflective time understanding my own role as a person perceived as a heterosexual person. I look at my own biases and how I can change my own actions.
To really narrow it down means to acknowledge every human; that’s how minute it is. We are socially set up to keep bigotry moving, then we are encouraged to not acknowledge their human-ness based on their access to resources. Those with access are acknowledged, and those without are left out.
So often, when people act, or think they are acting, they don't include looking at themselves and their own place in things. I am moved by Anne's wisdom here.And here is the rest of it.
Day of Silence
From the Day of Silence (April 25th) site:
1) The Day of Silence’s purpose is to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment and effective responses.
The goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, 4 out of 5 LGBT students experience harassment at school.
Students across the country participate in the Day of Silence to bring attention to this problem, let students who experience such bullying know that they are not alone and ask schools to take action to address the problem.
2) Hundreds of thousands of students of all beliefs, backgrounds and sexual orientations participate in the Day of Silence.
Anti-LGBT bullying and harassment affects all students. Slurs such as “faggot” and “dyke” are commonplace in school. The Day of Silence is an example of students, from middle school to college, working together proactively to bring attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment experienced by LGBT and straight students alike. GLSEN, the Day of Silence’s organizational sponsor, encourages participants to be counted by registering at www.dayofsilence.org.
Students from nearly 5,000 middle and high schools registered for the 2007 Day of Silence. GLSEN protects the privacy of students and does not publish a list of students who have registered or their schools. Many students who participate also belong to Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs, of which nearly 4,000 are registered with GLSEN. The first GSA was created by a straight student nearly 20 years ago, in the fall of 1988.
3) Day of Silence participants encourage schools to implement proven solutions to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.
Adopt and implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender expression/identity.
Provide staff trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment effectively and in a timely manner.
Support student efforts to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment on campus, such as the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance.
Institute age-appropriate, factually accurate and inclusive curricula to help students understand and respect difference within the school community and society as a whole.
4) The day is a positive educational experience.
The Day of Silence is an opportunity for students to work toward improving school climate for all students. GLSEN advises students interested in participating to discuss their intentions with their administration and teachers long before the event. There is no single way to participate, and students are encouraged to take part in the way that is the most positive and uplifting for their school.
And here is the rest of it.
1) The Day of Silence’s purpose is to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment and effective responses.
The goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, 4 out of 5 LGBT students experience harassment at school.
Students across the country participate in the Day of Silence to bring attention to this problem, let students who experience such bullying know that they are not alone and ask schools to take action to address the problem.
2) Hundreds of thousands of students of all beliefs, backgrounds and sexual orientations participate in the Day of Silence.
Anti-LGBT bullying and harassment affects all students. Slurs such as “faggot” and “dyke” are commonplace in school. The Day of Silence is an example of students, from middle school to college, working together proactively to bring attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment experienced by LGBT and straight students alike. GLSEN, the Day of Silence’s organizational sponsor, encourages participants to be counted by registering at www.dayofsilence.org.
Students from nearly 5,000 middle and high schools registered for the 2007 Day of Silence. GLSEN protects the privacy of students and does not publish a list of students who have registered or their schools. Many students who participate also belong to Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs, of which nearly 4,000 are registered with GLSEN. The first GSA was created by a straight student nearly 20 years ago, in the fall of 1988.
3) Day of Silence participants encourage schools to implement proven solutions to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.
Adopt and implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender expression/identity.
Provide staff trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment effectively and in a timely manner.
Support student efforts to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment on campus, such as the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance.
Institute age-appropriate, factually accurate and inclusive curricula to help students understand and respect difference within the school community and society as a whole.
4) The day is a positive educational experience.
The Day of Silence is an opportunity for students to work toward improving school climate for all students. GLSEN advises students interested in participating to discuss their intentions with their administration and teachers long before the event. There is no single way to participate, and students are encouraged to take part in the way that is the most positive and uplifting for their school.
And here is the rest of it.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Basic Rights Oregon update
In case anyone was under the mistaken impression that all has been said and done, here is an update I received from BRO on the coming ballot measures and court cases.
Today, Oregon's Attorney General is expected to release a certified ballot title for Initiative Petition 145, which would overturn Oregon's law banning discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Yesterday, we received the certified ballot title for IP 144, the initiative to repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law. Last week, our opponents filed another ballot measure to overturn domestic partnership protections, just in case the State rejected their first attempt. And finally, our legal team is preparing to defend the domestic partnership law in the repeal of the Lemons v. Bradbury case, which goes before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this summer.
And here is the rest of it.
Today, Oregon's Attorney General is expected to release a certified ballot title for Initiative Petition 145, which would overturn Oregon's law banning discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Yesterday, we received the certified ballot title for IP 144, the initiative to repeal Oregon's domestic partnership law. Last week, our opponents filed another ballot measure to overturn domestic partnership protections, just in case the State rejected their first attempt. And finally, our legal team is preparing to defend the domestic partnership law in the repeal of the Lemons v. Bradbury case, which goes before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this summer.
And here is the rest of it.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
OUT.com Top 50
OUT.com has released its 2nd Annual list of the 50 most powerful members of the LGBTQ community in this country. It's an interesting list that, although I'm not sure I would completely agree with (Ellen is #1), is worth a look. And here is the rest of it.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Those darn kids
I peruse alot of blogs, local and national. I think it's a prereq for actually writing one! One of the local sites that I think I've learned the most from about a subject of utmost importance to me-education, is PPS Equity .
Reading it tonight reminds me of why I have hope for the future and don't get lost in the doom and gloom mentality. All we have to do is look at tomorrow's generation (and NOT television's rendering of it) to see the bright spots down the road. PPS Equity posted a letter written to the Oregonian by some students at Jefferson High School that should remind everyone, or open their eyes to the fact that we greatly undervalue our youth and what they have to offer the future of our society. Young people today in no way, shape, or form deserve the low expectations that we have of them.
Here is what they had to say:
Commemorating the life of Martin Luther King is important, but it’s not enough. During the Mayor’s Week at Jefferson in January, the Jefferson PTSA presented a resolution to the Portland School Board and City Council which began with:
“WHEREAS, Portland Public Schools policies have resulted in increased racial and socio-economic segregation in our city’s public schools and discriminatory access to educational opportunities for Portland’s children and youth, in direct conflict with local, state, and federal education policies as well as the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The PTSA’s document detailed specific examples of inequitable and discriminatory school district policies and actions, and concluded with almost five pages of recommendations for addressing those issues. How many of our school district and city leaders even read the document? If they did, they certainly didn’t respond.
[But just like 40 years ago, it’s not just the policy makers who are responsible for discriminatory policies. The folks who felt entitled to sit at the front of the bus, or who did it just because they could, were also responsible. It’s no different today.]
It doesn’t matter how many people participate in a civil rights march, if we continue to allow discrimination to exist in our public schools, the justice system, and throughout our society. Martin Luther King may have reached the promised land, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Most adults I know couldn't have said it better
And here is the rest of it.
Reading it tonight reminds me of why I have hope for the future and don't get lost in the doom and gloom mentality. All we have to do is look at tomorrow's generation (and NOT television's rendering of it) to see the bright spots down the road. PPS Equity posted a letter written to the Oregonian by some students at Jefferson High School that should remind everyone, or open their eyes to the fact that we greatly undervalue our youth and what they have to offer the future of our society. Young people today in no way, shape, or form deserve the low expectations that we have of them.
Here is what they had to say:
Commemorating the life of Martin Luther King is important, but it’s not enough. During the Mayor’s Week at Jefferson in January, the Jefferson PTSA presented a resolution to the Portland School Board and City Council which began with:
“WHEREAS, Portland Public Schools policies have resulted in increased racial and socio-economic segregation in our city’s public schools and discriminatory access to educational opportunities for Portland’s children and youth, in direct conflict with local, state, and federal education policies as well as the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
The PTSA’s document detailed specific examples of inequitable and discriminatory school district policies and actions, and concluded with almost five pages of recommendations for addressing those issues. How many of our school district and city leaders even read the document? If they did, they certainly didn’t respond.
[But just like 40 years ago, it’s not just the policy makers who are responsible for discriminatory policies. The folks who felt entitled to sit at the front of the bus, or who did it just because they could, were also responsible. It’s no different today.]
It doesn’t matter how many people participate in a civil rights march, if we continue to allow discrimination to exist in our public schools, the justice system, and throughout our society. Martin Luther King may have reached the promised land, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Most adults I know couldn't have said it better
And here is the rest of it.
Janet is cool whether she "is" or not
"It never frustrated me. I never go upset behind it. For what reason? Why get upset because someone said you were gay or called you gay? That should upset me? Then it would be something negative to me, and it's not."
-- Janet Jackson, in an interview with Instinct Magazine on gay rumors about her.
And here is the rest of it.
-- Janet Jackson, in an interview with Instinct Magazine on gay rumors about her.
I just had to share that because I thought it was so cool.
And here is the rest of it.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Sean Cruz, Senate District 23
It has been several months since I talked about who I endorse for various positions, mainly because I am volunteering on a campaign and find it less complicated and stressful to remain in the background for now. My earlier positions haven't changed, I just don't publically harp on them.
One of the first candidates I spoke about was Sean Cruz, who is running to replace Avel Gordly (who is retiring), in the Oregon Senate, District 23. My initial support for Cruz was based on his connection to Gordly, whom I hold in extremely high regard. Then I began to read what he has to say and about positions that he holds. After that, his candidacy stood on its own for me. Aside from the fact that he has long-term, direct, SUCCESSFUL experience as a part of the office that he wants to now hold, Sean Cruz has a heart and passion for public service that I haven't seen in a really long time, not even many others that I support.
Here is an sample from a post he has written as to why he isn't in the Voter's Pamphlet (you gotta read the whole thing):
Oregon’s legislative candidates seem to be taking the position that the war is a federal issue, no room on the campaign literature for a single four-letter word: Iraq.
That is not my position. The direct costs of the war and its indirect costs bleed the nation of the resources we need to solve our many problems here, and that is no secret to anyone.
This must be part of the discussion in every political race at all levels. We must puncture the bubble.
I am not in the voter’s pamphlet for the May 20 primary.
What this means for my campaign to succeed Avel Gordly in the Oregon Senate will be the subject of several future postings.
It is not in itself a fatal complication, but it certainly gives my advantage-rich opponent yet another advantage.
Success in this race will double-underscore the fact that this campaign is driven by ordinary citizens, and not by special interests.
Success in this race will depend on being right on the right issues, and being the right person to deal with them.
It is April now. The hell of March is past. I have regained my focus. It is all too clear how important this race is.
600,000 Oregonians lack affordable health care, suffer prescription anxiety, worry about what will happen to them as they age.
They need an Oregon Senator in Senate District 23 who will work hands-on on these issues.
Oregon’s population of 300,000 veterans and their families is grossly underserved and under-represented in the state legislature, where there is no Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
They need a passionate advocate who will bring great focus to their issues, working jointly with the House on a new Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
I will give you four years of my life, devoted to this work.
I'm not even eligible to vote for this man because I don't live in his district. Right now I wish that I did.
And here is the rest of it.
One of the first candidates I spoke about was Sean Cruz, who is running to replace Avel Gordly (who is retiring), in the Oregon Senate, District 23. My initial support for Cruz was based on his connection to Gordly, whom I hold in extremely high regard. Then I began to read what he has to say and about positions that he holds. After that, his candidacy stood on its own for me. Aside from the fact that he has long-term, direct, SUCCESSFUL experience as a part of the office that he wants to now hold, Sean Cruz has a heart and passion for public service that I haven't seen in a really long time, not even many others that I support.
Here is an sample from a post he has written as to why he isn't in the Voter's Pamphlet (you gotta read the whole thing):
Oregon’s legislative candidates seem to be taking the position that the war is a federal issue, no room on the campaign literature for a single four-letter word: Iraq.
That is not my position. The direct costs of the war and its indirect costs bleed the nation of the resources we need to solve our many problems here, and that is no secret to anyone.
This must be part of the discussion in every political race at all levels. We must puncture the bubble.
I am not in the voter’s pamphlet for the May 20 primary.
What this means for my campaign to succeed Avel Gordly in the Oregon Senate will be the subject of several future postings.
It is not in itself a fatal complication, but it certainly gives my advantage-rich opponent yet another advantage.
Success in this race will double-underscore the fact that this campaign is driven by ordinary citizens, and not by special interests.
Success in this race will depend on being right on the right issues, and being the right person to deal with them.
It is April now. The hell of March is past. I have regained my focus. It is all too clear how important this race is.
600,000 Oregonians lack affordable health care, suffer prescription anxiety, worry about what will happen to them as they age.
They need an Oregon Senator in Senate District 23 who will work hands-on on these issues.
Oregon’s population of 300,000 veterans and their families is grossly underserved and under-represented in the state legislature, where there is no Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
They need a passionate advocate who will bring great focus to their issues, working jointly with the House on a new Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
I will give you four years of my life, devoted to this work.
I'm not even eligible to vote for this man because I don't live in his district. Right now I wish that I did.
And here is the rest of it.
McCain-Did YOU Know?
10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2
3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3
4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4
5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5
6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6
7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.8
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10
Sources:
1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/
2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/
3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/
4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/
5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/
6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-g uide.html
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
And here is the rest of it.
(The number after each one corresponds to a link that follows the list).
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2
3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3
4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4
5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5
6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6
7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.8
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10
Sources:
1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/
2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/
3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/
4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/
5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/
6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-g uide.html
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
And here is the rest of it.
Friday, April 4, 2008
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