Category: Uncategorized

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New Mexico: GOP lawmaker introduces bill to charge rape victims with “tampering with evidence”

Just when you thought proposed laws couldn’t get wackier…

JMG points out that New Mexico state GOP Rep. Cathrynn Brown has introduced a bill that would charge the victims of rape with a felony for “tampering with evidence” if they get an abortion should their rape result in pregnancy.

“Tampering with evidence shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion, of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime,” the bill says. Third-degree felonies in New Mexico carry a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico, a progressive nonprofit opposing the bill, called it “blatantly unconstitutional” on Thursday. “The bill turns victims of rape and incest into felons and forces them to become incubators of evidence for the state,” he said. “According to Republican philosophy, victims who are ‘legitimately raped’ will now have to carry the fetus to term in order to prove their case.“

As both chambers of the New Mexico legislature has Democratic majorities, the bill is expected to fail.

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Rhode Island: House to vote on marriage equality today

After passing in the bill in the House Judiciary committee yesterday, a vote by the full House is scheduled for 4PM today.

Gay marriage legislation has been introduced every year in the General Assembly since 1997, but Thursday’s vote will mark the first time the issue has received a vote in either the House or Senate. The bill has 42 sponsors in the 75-member House — an indication of just how easily it could pass. The bill’s longtime sponsor, Rep. Art Handy, D-Cranston, said he’s seen a widespread change of opinion on gay marriage and that even some previously staunch opponents in the legislature may give the bill a second thought when the roll is called.

The vote in the state Senate is expected to be much closer. Stay tuned.

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Colorado passes civil unions in first committee vote

Colorado’s Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Colorado Civil Union Act after hours of testimony.

From KDVR:

ColoradoThe first vote came late Wednesday afternoon — and it came as no surprise to anyone — when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-to-2 on party lines to send Senate Bill 11 on to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bringing down the gavel on the vote was Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, D-Adams County, elected in November, who had sat on the other side of the room the past two years and testified twice about how the bill’s legal protections would help support his partner and their son.

“It’s a very different year, a very exciting year,” Ulibarri told FOX31 Denver prior to the hearing. “We have folks here who are willing to stand up for committed couples and there will be a very different result this year.”

The bill was introduced in the Senate by openly gay Senators Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman.

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Defense Secretary lifts ban on women in combat

Opening thousands of front line positions, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted the ban on women in combat, the AP reports:

“The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units.

“Panetta’s decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.”

Military service leaders say requirements to participate in combat units will not be lowered.  Those women who want to apply for those available positions will still need to pass any current physical and mental requirements.

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Dutch men experience simulated birth contractions

This was actually kind of funny but fascinating to watch. Over 4 million views in a week.

These guys, with the help of electric stimulation, experience simulated birth contractions. They start out laughing, and then it gets pretty tough. One guy has to use laughing gas at one point to get through.

Click over to the YouTube page and hit the closed captions (CC) to read the translation.

(via BoyCulture)

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Flash mob dances at Vancouver hockey game for anti-bullying

In British Columbia, the Vancouver Giants and over 1,800 students teamed up for promote upcoming Pink Shirt Day on February 27, which has a message to fight bullying.

From The Province:

Various videos of the anti-bullying flash mob that stole the show at the Vancouver Giants’ game Sunday are popping up on YouTube.

Just over 1,800 students, all in pink shirts, were part of a dance number in the north end upper deck to One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful.

Giants vice-president of business development Dale Saip said it involved schools from “five or six districts,” and Sunday was the first time that the entire group was together.

“It was an amazing amount of work and an amazing production and a tribute to the people who put that together,” he said. “We’re happy to accommodate and it works well with our message of anti-bullying.”

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Marriage equality bill for England introduced in House of Commons

Marriage equality bill for England and Wales introduced in the House of Commons:

The government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales has officially been introduced in the House of Commons by Culture Secretary Maria Miller. A full debate by MPs and a vote on the proposals will take place on 5 February, with the bill due to be published ahead of that tomorrow.

Following a government consultation, Mrs Miller first outlined the plans to MPs in December. All religious organisations, including the Church of England and Church in Wales, will be legally barred from marrying same-sex couples unless they choose to opt in.

The Equality Act 2010 is to be amended to ensure that no discrimination claim could be brought against religious organisations or an individual minister for refusing to marry gay couples (or allowing their premises to be used for this purpose.

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NJ High school senior comes out to his class, standing ovation

Jacob Rudolph, a high school senior in Parsippany, New Jersey, comes out to his entire class at their awards ceremony (Class Clown, Most Likely to Succeed, etc.).

Says Jacob in the clip, as he accepted the award for “Best Actor”:

“Sure I’ve been in a few plays and musicals, but more importantly, I’ve been acting every single day of my life. You see, I’ve been acting as someone I’m not. Most of you see me every day. You see me acting the part of ‘straight’ Jacob, when I am in fact LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender).

“Unlike millions of other LGBT teens who have had to act every day to avoid verbal harassment and physical violence, I’m not going to do it anymore. It’s time to end the hate in our society and accept the people for who they are regardless of their sex, race, orientation, or whatever else may be holding back love and friendship. So take me leave me or move me out of the way. Because I am what I am, and that’s how I’m going to act from now on.”

Cue the standing ovation.

Forward, kids.

(from Towleroad)

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AMC’s “Mad Men” returns April 7

AMC has announced that it’s hit series “Mad Men” will return for it’s sixth season on April 7 with a two hour season premiere.  The episode is reportedly written by series creator Matthew Weiner.

Asked about the looming end of the series, Weiner had this to say to EW: “With the shadow of the show ending — and with the world in the state that it’s in, which is far more important than the show – the writers and the actors and I have been able to get into a groove about a season that may be accidentally relevant just because it was in our minds. We’ve been taking advantage of the 26 episodes we have left to do all the things that we’ve wanted to do, and so far I think that the audience is in for quite a ride.”

Mark your calendars kids!