tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post2078550562911979984..comments2024-03-23T18:50:32.902-04:00Comments on Telling Secrets: Just the facts, Ma'amElizabeth Kaetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-88100293568889978052010-08-07T11:25:19.855-04:002010-08-07T11:25:19.855-04:00Okay, okay. Doug has pointed out a few of this adm...Okay, okay. Doug has pointed out a few of this administration's accomplishments:<br /><br />Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 – Signed by the President, Public Law 111-2 reversed a 2007 Supreme Court decision (in which Venus was in the minority) which had made it much more difficult for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. This law amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to give victims of pay discrimination extra time to use the legal system as a remedy, they now have 180 days to file suit from any discriminatory paycheck, rather than from the first one<br /> <br /># Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act – It became part of Public Law 111-84 after President Obama signed the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act. This law gives state and local law enforcement the tools needed to prevent and prosecute hate crimes, and closes gaps in current federal laws to ensure prosecution of hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The law is named after two famous hate crime victims.<br /> <br /># Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights – The President signed Public Law 111-24 to provide tough new protections for consumers, such as banning unfair rate increase and forbidding abusive fees and penalties by credit card companies. It prohibits retroactive rate hikes on existing balances, double-cycle billing and due-date gimmicks.<br /> <br /># State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) Reauthorization Act – The President signed Public Law 111-3, which renews and improves the program by keeping coverage for seven million children now covered and expanding it to cover an additional four million more. It also will ensure dental coverage and mental health parity.<br /> <br /># Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act - The President signed Public Law 111-152 making the largest investment in college aid in history – increasing Pell Grants, making college loans more affordable, and strengthening community colleges – while reducing the federal deficit by ending wasteful student loan subsidies to banks.<br /> <br />If we can do that, can we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-90195953853382206292010-08-06T13:56:24.612-04:002010-08-06T13:56:24.612-04:00Can we join the celebration?
Mexico court upholds...Can we join the celebration?<br /><br /><b>Mexico court upholds gay marriage law</b><br /><i>Thu, Aug 5 2010</i><br />MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's supreme court on Thursday upheld a landmark law that allows gay marriage in the capital city, bucking a challenge raised by the conservative government of President Felipe Calderon.<br />This year, Mexico City became the first capital in mainly Catholic Latin America to pass a law allowing gay couples the same marriage and adoption rights as heterosexuals.<br />But Calderon's government and his right-wing National Action Party, or PAN, argued the law was unconstitutional on grounds it would be destructive to families. The powerful Catholic hierarchy in Mexico calls gay marriage immoral.<br />While the supreme court decided gay marriage was constitutional, it will review the adoption clause on Monday.<br />"Those of us who are in favor of this (law) are in favor of diversity and tolerance," Supreme Court Justice Arturo Zaldivar said during the court's deliberations.<br />"Our constitution does not establish a concept of marriage," he said.<br />Since the law was passed, more than 300 same-sex couples have tied the knot, the majority of them men.<br />Activists see the law as part of a sea change in attitudes on homosexuality in much of traditionally macho Latin America.<br />With some 20 million residents, the Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the world's largest cities.<br /><i>(Reporting by Miguel Angel Guitierrez; writing by Mica Rosenberg; editing by Missy Ryan and Jerry Norton)</i>Brother Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333089314994730330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-62844576620546064902010-08-06T13:55:39.613-04:002010-08-06T13:55:39.613-04:00Can we join the celebration?
Mexico court upholds...Can we join the celebration?<br /><br /><b>Mexico court upholds gay marriage law</b><br /><i>Thu, Aug 5 2010</i><br />MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's supreme court on Thursday upheld a landmark law that allows gay marriage in the capital city, bucking a challenge raised by the conservative government of President Felipe Calderon.<br />This year, Mexico City became the first capital in mainly Catholic Latin America to pass a law allowing gay couples the same marriage and adoption rights as heterosexuals.<br />But Calderon's government and his right-wing National Action Party, or PAN, argued the law was unconstitutional on grounds it would be destructive to families. The powerful Catholic hierarchy in Mexico calls gay marriage immoral.<br />While the supreme court decided gay marriage was constitutional, it will review the adoption clause on Monday.<br />"Those of us who are in favor of this (law) are in favor of diversity and tolerance," Supreme Court Justice Arturo Zaldivar said during the court's deliberations.<br />"Our constitution does not establish a concept of marriage," he said.<br />Since the law was passed, more than 300 same-sex couples have tied the knot, the majority of them men.<br />Activists see the law as part of a sea change in attitudes on homosexuality in much of traditionally macho Latin America.<br />Argentina this year passed a law allowing gay marriage nationwide, the first such measure in the region. Neighboring Uruguay allows same-sex couples to adopt under civil unions, but not to marry.<br />Mexico City's bill was pushed through by leftist Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, who has backed other liberal measures like the legalization of abortion, which remains illegal in most cases across the rest of the country.<br />With some 20 million residents, the Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the world's largest cities.<br /><i>(Reporting by Miguel Angel Guitierrez; writing by Mica Rosenberg; editing by Missy Ryan and Jerry Norton)</i>Brother Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333089314994730330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-85141305401999525632010-08-05T15:24:53.757-04:002010-08-05T15:24:53.757-04:00It is DEFINITELY the "ick" factor. I rem...It is DEFINITELY the "ick" factor. I remember over 15 years ago having a gay friend in high school (performing arts high school) and my mother didn't want me to see him. What was wrong with her? Go out with a boy who wants in your pants but not a boy who wants to help you pick out great pants? Anyway, back then I told her it was all about the ick factor which probably ran both ways.Joienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-20837822230336048732010-08-05T14:24:43.577-04:002010-08-05T14:24:43.577-04:00Yup. It's all emotional "ick" factor...Yup. It's all emotional "ick" factor.Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-62010471648703595672010-08-05T14:21:54.786-04:002010-08-05T14:21:54.786-04:00"There is simply too great an analytical gap ..."There is simply too great an analytical gap between the data and the opinion Blankenhorn proffered"<br /><br />And that's the nub of it isn't it? That is the issue at the heart of much of what the religious right proclaims. Unpack it and it doesn't stand up to scrutiny.Doorman-Priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06407399232593479871noreply@blogger.com