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Coleman/Franken Senate Race Challenged Ballots: You Be The Judge
By: Dave Harding, ProgressOhio
Posted Nov 20, 10:38 PM
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Thoughts from government class ...
Join the HRC in Columbus for
Political Candidate GLBT Forums
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Columbus Mayor
Columbus City Council
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Franklin County Municipal Court
Columbus School Board
Community Receptions: 6:30pm
Forums begin at 7pm
Location: Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High Street in the Short North.
Each forum begins with a reception for the community to meet the candidates one-on-one from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Every candidate for Columbus Mayor, Columbus City Council, Franklin County Municipal Court and Columbus School Board has been invited to attend. Candidates will answer written questions from the audience read by a moderator.
These forums are sponsored for the benefit of the GLBT community by HRC, Stonewall Columbus, Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, Log Cabin Republicans and co-sponsored by CATF, Equality Ohio, TransOhio, SpeakOUT, OSU GLBT Alumni Society, Outlook Weekly and Out in Columbus.
Political Candidate GLBT Forums
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Columbus Mayor
Columbus City Council
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Franklin County Municipal Court
Columbus School Board
Community Receptions: 6:30pm
Forums begin at 7pm
Location: Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High Street in the Short North.
Each forum begins with a reception for the community to meet the candidates one-on-one from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Every candidate for Columbus Mayor, Columbus City Council, Franklin County Municipal Court and Columbus School Board has been invited to attend. Candidates will answer written questions from the audience read by a moderator.
These forums are sponsored for the benefit of the GLBT community by HRC, Stonewall Columbus, Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, Log Cabin Republicans and co-sponsored by CATF, Equality Ohio, TransOhio, SpeakOUT, OSU GLBT Alumni Society, Outlook Weekly and Out in Columbus.
In Mississippi a few years ago, the courts took away a woman's 8-year-old child.
Why? In part because the child's mother was a lesbian.
Two of the judges in the majority went so far as to write and sign an additional opinion, unnecessary to the case's outcome, which stated that the mother must accept the fact that losing her biological child was a possible consequence of her sexual "choice."
One of those two judges was Leslie Southwick. And today, Southwick is dangerously close to being appointed to the Federal bench by President Bush.
Only the Senate stands in the way of his confirmation - will you take action with me?
Make sure your Senators return from their August break with a full inbox saying NO on Southwick's nomination!
America's highest courts are meant to be protectors of justice, not prejudice. Yet Southwick's record as a Mississippi judge raises serious doubts about his ability to apply the law fairly to all Americans. In this case alone, Southwick:
Went so far as to cite Mississippi's irrelevant and outdated sodomy laws, which have since been invalidated.
Focused on "the practice of homosexuality" - refusing to even mention gay individuals as human beings.
Cited Mississippi's law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children - even though this was not an adoption case!
The American Psychiatric Association has long held that sexual orientation is not a "choice," and that lesbian and gay parents are just as successful as their heterosexual counterparts.
Yet Judge Southwick disregarded widely accepted science in favor of his personal bias. This man MUST NOT be given the responsibility to protect the basic rights of gay and lesbian Americans.
Help protect GLBT civil rights by writing your Senators today.
If approved to the Court of Appeals, Southwick's appointment would be for life. That's why I'm asking you to take action today - and when you're done, please forward this message on to everyone you know.
Go to the HRC website to take action now!
Why? In part because the child's mother was a lesbian.
Two of the judges in the majority went so far as to write and sign an additional opinion, unnecessary to the case's outcome, which stated that the mother must accept the fact that losing her biological child was a possible consequence of her sexual "choice."
One of those two judges was Leslie Southwick. And today, Southwick is dangerously close to being appointed to the Federal bench by President Bush.
Only the Senate stands in the way of his confirmation - will you take action with me?
Make sure your Senators return from their August break with a full inbox saying NO on Southwick's nomination!
America's highest courts are meant to be protectors of justice, not prejudice. Yet Southwick's record as a Mississippi judge raises serious doubts about his ability to apply the law fairly to all Americans. In this case alone, Southwick:
Went so far as to cite Mississippi's irrelevant and outdated sodomy laws, which have since been invalidated.
Focused on "the practice of homosexuality" - refusing to even mention gay individuals as human beings.
Cited Mississippi's law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children - even though this was not an adoption case!
The American Psychiatric Association has long held that sexual orientation is not a "choice," and that lesbian and gay parents are just as successful as their heterosexual counterparts.
Yet Judge Southwick disregarded widely accepted science in favor of his personal bias. This man MUST NOT be given the responsibility to protect the basic rights of gay and lesbian Americans.
Help protect GLBT civil rights by writing your Senators today.
If approved to the Court of Appeals, Southwick's appointment would be for life. That's why I'm asking you to take action today - and when you're done, please forward this message on to everyone you know.
Go to the HRC website to take action now!
Guess who President Bush wants to be the next U.S. Surgeon General?
Hint: He has called gay activity "unnatural and unhealthy," compared reproductive organs to plumbing parts, and he founded a church that reportedly has a program to "cure" gays.
His name is Dr. James Holsinger. And he's the man America might be depending on for sound medical advice.
I wrote my Senators, telling them to vote against his nomination. Will you join me?
Go to www.StopHolsinger.com The Senate needs to hear from as many of us as possible, so please pass this along.
All told, I received nearly five times as many calls, emails and letters from opponents of the bill as I did from its supporters." That's the sobering explanation from Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) of why he voted against the hate crimes bill in the House this month.
The bill could be up for a vote in the Senate in the coming weeks. Even if you've already sent a message to your lawmakers on this issue, your Senators need to hear from you now.
Extremist groups have made stopping the Matthew Shepard Act into the centerpiece of their agenda, and despite the desperation of their lies our opponents' messages keep coming. And lawmakers on Capitol Hill listen.
The good news is, Sen. Brown has signed on as a cosponsor of this bill. However, Sen. Voinovich has NOT declared support for the bill. With the opposition slamming them with emails and calls, BOTH need to hear from you today. Send a message to Sen. Voinovich to urge support for the Matthew Shepard Act.
Then—and this is just as important!— thank Sen. Brown for cosponsoring this legislation. The White House released a statement saying that President Bush's advisors recommend he veto the bill. However, we know that a strong Senate vote in support of the Matthew Shepard Act will be a critical factor in the president's final decision and the ultimate fate of the law.
If we want the Matthew Shepard Act to become law, we need it to win big in the Senate, so that Congress sends a strong message to President Bush that he needs to sign the bill.
But anti-gay groups' political attacks will be even more intense as the Senate vote nears.
Here are some of their absurd tactics leading up to the House vote: Manufacturing a blatantly fake House transcript.Promoting the work of a known racist filmmaker (whose other titles include "Keep America White").Claiming this law would make it a crime to "read the Bible a certain way" or have anti-gay thoughts.Callously invoking the Virginia Tech massacre.Extremist groups are trying to drum up so much opposition to make Senators afraid to vote for this bill.
But 68% of Americans support this bill's measures, so let's make certain they know that voting against this bill will anger even more of their constituents.
People like you and I need to cut through the noise and tell the Senate to vote for the Matthew Shepard Act. Let's turn the tide, starting right now.
Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour will be in Chicago and Columbus this summer, so you should get your tickets today before they sell out.
Cyndi has been a long-time friend to the Human Rights Campaign and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality movement. She's attended events, performed at dinners and spoken out against discrimination. And she wants to do more. S
he's launched the True Colors Tour to bring gay and straight audiences together in support of GLBT equality. In 16 cities across the country - including Chicago and Columbus - there will be legendary performances by Cyndi, Erasure, Debbie Harry and The Dresden Dolls, with Margaret Cho as the master of ceremonies.
This tour has an extraordinary lineup, it also has an extraordinary mission: to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.
In fact, HRC will receive a portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold to help us continue our work against discrimination. Also, Columbus' own POMO jewelers, Doug & Todd, have created an exclusive bracelet for the tour.
Every morning, someone you know takes the long way to class. Someone you care about looks over his shoulder on the street. Someone you love fears for her safety.
All because people hate them for being who they are.
We're closer than ever to passing a federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. But right now, your lawmakers are being barraged with calls and emails from anti-gay groups. It's horrifying that they'd pick this of all issues to be against—but it's happening.
The House has already introduced its hate crimes bill. We're holding a press conference onTHURSDAY, the day the Senate introduces its identical bill, to announce all the support behind us. We need your voice, even if you've already sent a message on this issue.
Click here to send your letter to Congress before Thursday's press conference.
And once you take action, please forward this message along. We need more support!Our country desperately needs a federal hate crimes law that protects all people from bias-motivated violence. Every day, dozens of people are targets of violent attacks simply because of who they are, while the federal government is powerless to help.
Over the coming weeks, we have a chance to change that.
We'll be sending tens of thousands of letters and calls to legislators, bringing clergy to Capitol Hill to meet with their Senators and Representatives, telling the stories of innocent people attacked or killed by hate violence, and putting a media spotlight on this issue.
We're not going to miss this opportunity.Time is tight. But, with a fair-minded majority in Congress, the time is right.
Join Equality Ohio for the 2007 Lobby Day for Equality!
May 16, 2007 9 - 5 pm
Hyatt on Capitol Square
75 E. State St.Columbus, OH 43215
Hosted By: Equality Ohio
Questions? Call 614-224-0400 or emaillobbyday@equalityohio.org
Please RSVP by April 16, 2007
Lobby Day is a chance to build bridges and meet face-to-face with the people who shape state laws that impact our lives and families. Equality Ohio staff offer free lobby training in Akron, Athens, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo. You can choose your training when you register!
For more information, click here!
Can't make it to Lobby Day? Then please let Senate President Bill Harris know that you support the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) by clicking here.
More Information: During Lobby Day you won't be alone. A team leader will facilitate a group from each legislative district and the team will lobby together Appointments with legislator offices are set up by Equality Ohio ahead of time.
Please invite others to register and come with you. Bring supportive family or friends. This is a family-friendly event. Children can meet their legislators and learn about the process, too. There will be a family break room if you need it.
We do what we can to remove barriers for participants. This is one of the most imprtant things we can do together to move the cause for equality forward. See you there!
From the HRC website:
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he supports the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy because homosexual acts "are immoral," and compared it to an adulterous affair with the spouse of another service member. It's this kind of blind prejudice against the estimated thousands of gay and lesbian military personnel that defend our nation every day that is truly immoral.
Contact the Department of Defense and the White House to demand an apology from Pace.
Go to:
Link
to read more and contact the Department of Defense and/or the White House.
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he supports the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy because homosexual acts "are immoral," and compared it to an adulterous affair with the spouse of another service member. It's this kind of blind prejudice against the estimated thousands of gay and lesbian military personnel that defend our nation every day that is truly immoral.
Contact the Department of Defense and the White House to demand an apology from Pace.
Go to:
Link
to read more and contact the Department of Defense and/or the White House.
So, today in class, I mentioned something about Ann Coulter using the "f" word in reference to John Edwards, and asked them what they thought would be happening to her right now if she had used the "n" word in reference to Senator Obama. The students didn't understand what I was talking about - I could tell that they were thinking about the other f word. So I came out and said that she had called Edwards a faggot. One of the boys exclaimed, "We can't say that? I mean, uhh, I haven't, um, for a long time ..."
Baby steps, right? Tiny, baby steps. And lots of deep breaths.
And if you haven't heard about this incident, check our the Human Rights Campaign's website, and write a letter asking that Ann's column no longer be published by Universal Syndicate.
Link
Baby steps, right? Tiny, baby steps. And lots of deep breaths.
And if you haven't heard about this incident, check our the Human Rights Campaign's website, and write a letter asking that Ann's column no longer be published by Universal Syndicate.
Link
So, I teach a high school class on US Government. We just started the new trimester with a new group of students. The first thing I wanted to do was to show them why it's so important to pay attention to what's going on in politics and government. So I gave them these articles that were published in Rolling Stone before the 2006 elections entitled "The Worst Congress Ever" and "The Ten Worst Congressment". For the most part, I think the students were horrified into paying attention, at least for a little while. Just for fun, I decided to check on the 10 worst congressmen, to see who had been re-elected. Suprise, suprise - 8 of the 10 were sent back to DC for 2 more years. When I told this to the class, their jaws dropped. I'm just not sure if that inspired them to get involved and make the world a better place - or to quit trying completely.
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