Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign the recently passed Civil Unions bill today at a signing ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center at 4pm. With Quinn’s signature Illinois becomes the twelfth U.S. state or district to grant legal recognition to same-sex relationships through either civil unions or marriage. “It is great for Illinois and the advancement of true equality,” state Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) told ChicagoPride.com. Mell made an emotional plea to her colleagues as the civil union bill was coming up for a vote. “I am thrilled the the governor is signing this important bill into law,” said Equality Illinois co-founder and long time gay rights advocate Rick Garcia. “This bill brings us one step closer to full Equality in Illinois.” The new law becomes effective June 1, 2011.
Bristol Palin Appearance Cancelled Due To Protests
Bristol Palin’s upcoming appearance and speech on abstinence at Washington University has been cancelled due to protests from students. At least two petitions were launched to express student’s concerns that university money was being spent to bring Bristol Palin to the University to speak during its Sexual Responsibility Week activities. One Facebook Group stated “It’s not about conservative or liberal, it’s about not wasting our money on people who don’t matter… especially people who are only famous for being the teenage pregnant daughter of a politician. That is not a credential – it’s a gimmick.” There were reports Bristol Palin was to have been paid between $15-30,000 for her speaking engagement. In related news, I will not be speaking at a Napa Valley winery about how to replace Chardonnay with tap water in your daily diet.
Unrest and turmoil in Egypt
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (photo: Italian Republic)
Tens of thousands of people demanding an end to the nearly 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak filled the streets of several Egyptian cities on Tuesday, in an unusually large and sometimes violent burst of civil unrest that appeared to threaten the stability of one of the United States’ closest Arab allies.
The protests, at least partly inspired by the toppling of the authoritarian government in Tunisia, began small but grew all day, with protesters occupying one of Cairo’s central squares. Security forces, which normally prevent major public displays of dissent, initially struggled to suppress the demonstrations, allowing them to swell.
But early Wednesday morning, firing rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades, the police finally drove groups of demonstrators from the square, as the sit-in was transformed into a spreading battle involving thousands of people and little restraint.
Stay tuned to see how this affects not only Egypt but relations with that country both here in the U.S. and abroad. U.S. stocks ended lower Friday as investors grew nervous about the political situation in Egypt.