Showing 8 posts tagged lgbt

High-res producermatthew: tpmmedia: The Ninth Circuit court of appeals on Tuesday declared California’s Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the state, unconstitutional. The decision sets up what is almost certain to be a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. Of course California isn’t the only state wrestling with the issue of marriage equality. Here’s a look at where things stand across the country. It’s important to note that today’s filing was an opinion, not an order. An order is needed to lift a stay that is currently preventing same-sex couples from marrying in California; as it stands now, county clerk offices are still not issuing marriage licenses to those couples.

producermatthew:

tpmmedia:

The Ninth Circuit court of appeals on Tuesday declared California’s Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the state, unconstitutional. The decision sets up what is almost certain to be a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. Of course California isn’t the only state wrestling with the issue of marriage equality. Here’s a look at where things stand across the country.

It’s important to note that today’s filing was an opinion, not an order. An order is needed to lift a stay that is currently preventing same-sex couples from marrying in California; as it stands now, county clerk offices are still not issuing marriage licenses to those couples.

shortformblog:

The end of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” summed up in a single video

The first day of a new military reality: It’s easy, especially when major civil rights policy comes down to a big, dramatic vote, to check the “accomplished” box and move along. In the case of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, this would have been considerably premature, as it wasn’t until midnight this morning that the ban was finally lifted. Congratulations to all the people who’ve had the weight of a big injustice pulled off their shoulders by this. The above video was recorded hours after the ban was lifted, and is a pretty emotional scene to watch unfold; a soldier, finally able to state his sexuality without discrimination from the military, calls his father to come out to his family. Be warned, it might make you a bit misty-eyed. source

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(via newsweek)

High-res “Minnesota Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has had a lot of irresponsible things to say about the nation‘s debt ceiling, but has been virtually silent on another issue concerning her district that is dominating headlines.  The Justice Department and the Department of Education‘s Office of Civil Rights are now investigating the Anoka-Hennepin County School District after nine teenagers committed suicide in the last two years, many of them after being bullied for being or perceived as being gay.  Samantha Johnson was 13 years old. She had always been partial to wearing sweats and wore her hair short. Kids harassed her because they thought she was a lesbian. On Veterans Day in 2009, Samantha laid down in a bathtub, put a hunting rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger.  Samantha‘s mom told “Mother Jones,” “I feel if I hadn‘t moved to this district, my daughter wouldn‘t have died.”  The Anoka-Hennepin School District has a policy that requires teachers to remain neutral on matters of homosexuality, which critics say contributes to an extremely anti-gay climate there. Critics also point to groups associated with Bachmann, like the Minnesota Family Council and the Parents Action League, who have for years successfully lobbied against LGBT issues being discussed in schools.  And while Bachmann has yet to comment on this matter, as a Minnesota state senator, she was very vocal in opposing a 2006 anti-bullying bill.” - Lawrence O’Donnell  Michele Bachmann on bullying (2006): “There‘s always been bullies, always have been, always will be. I just don‘t know how we‘re ever going to get to a point of zero tolerance. And what does it mean? What will be our definition of bullying? Will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression?  Will it mean that—what form of behavior will there be? Will we be expecting boys to be girls? What is it exactly that we‘re asking for?  I don‘t mean say that as a sexist comment. But there are just differences with boys and with girls when they are on the playground and when they‘re in the classroom.”  Watch - MSNBC’s The Last Word This segment last night, broke my heart.

“Minnesota Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has had a lot of irresponsible things to say about the nation‘s debt ceiling, but has been virtually silent on another issue concerning her district that is dominating headlines. 

The Justice Department and the Department of Education‘s Office of Civil Rights are now investigating the Anoka-Hennepin County School District after nine teenagers committed suicide in the last two years, many of them after being bullied for being or perceived as being gay. 

Samantha Johnson was 13 years old. She had always been partial to wearing sweats and wore her hair short. Kids harassed her because they thought she was a lesbian. On Veterans Day in 2009, Samantha laid down in a bathtub, put a hunting rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger. 

Samantha‘s mom told “Mother Jones,” “I feel if I hadn‘t moved to this district, my daughter wouldn‘t have died.” 

The Anoka-Hennepin School District has a policy that requires teachers to remain neutral on matters of homosexuality, which critics say contributes to an extremely anti-gay climate there. Critics also point to groups associated with Bachmann, like the Minnesota Family Council and the Parents Action League, who have for years successfully lobbied against LGBT issues being discussed in schools. 

And while Bachmann has yet to comment on this matter, as a Minnesota state senator, she was very vocal in opposing a 2006 anti-bullying bill.” - Lawrence O’Donnell 

Michele Bachmann on bullying (2006):

“There‘s always been bullies, always have been, always will be. I just don‘t know how we‘re ever going to get to a point of zero tolerance. And what does it mean? What will be our definition of bullying? Will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression? 

Will it mean that—what form of behavior will there be? Will we be expecting boys to be girls? What is it exactly that we‘re asking for? 

I don‘t mean say that as a sexist comment. But there are just differences with boys and with girls when they are on the playground and when they‘re in the classroom.” 

Watch - MSNBC’s The Last Word

This segment last night, broke my heart.

Bachmann in the Bathroom

It’s an unwritten law: If you profile Michele Bachmann, you mention the time she ”ran screaming from a bathroom at a constituent forum, claiming that a lesbian had attempted to keep her there against her will.”

(…)

What the hell happened? The Dump Bachmann blog, which along with this City Pages profile is the source of 85.6%* of pre-fame Bachmann stories, reported the story first via an e-mail from two attendees.

Senator Bachmann retired to the restroom and residents began moving toward the exit. Less than a moment later, piercing screams were heard from the ladies’ washroom. “Help!!!! HEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!” With everyone’s attention riveted on the door, Senator Bachmann emerged in a crouching run, crying, “I was being held against my will!” Two women were seen standing behind her, one tall and elderly, the other young and petite, both unassuming and bewildered.

The story snowballed. Bachmann filed a police report; local newspapers followed up and added the crucial detail that she fled “in a crouched position.”

Continue reading… David Weigel, Slate