Category: Uncategorized

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Utah Governor vetoes “abstinence only” sex education law

Utah’s Republican Governor Gary Herbert on Friday vetoed a controversial measure which would have banned the state’s public schools from teaching contraception as a way of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The measure, House Bill 363, would have also prohibited any instruction in regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other instruction on human sexuality outside of promoting abstinence.

Had Herbert signed the bill into law, it would have been the first of its kind in the nation.
(source)

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Omaha mayor signs ordinance banning LGBT employment discrimination

Mayor Jim Suttle on Thursday signed the “Equal Omaha” ordinance, a measure that would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Local groups who oppose the new law said they’re not backing down from trying to get it repealed or rescinded.

“To think somehow we don’t care for them or think they should have less rights, that’s not what we’re saying. But at the same time, don’t trample on, don’t walk on our first amendment rights.  By granting special rights to one group, the city is taking rights from another,” said James Patterson, senior pastor at Trinity Hope Foursquare Church.

I can only assume the pastor means his right to discriminate is being taken away.

Proponents of the ordinance are happy the fight is over for now.

“Today, I can say, we are Nebraska, we are Omaha and we are proud to be here,” said Michael Gordon of Equal Omaha.

The Omaha city council approved the controversial ordinance earlier this week — the law is scheduled to take effect on March 28.

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The Rosie Show cancelled after one season

The Rosie Show, Rosie O’Donnell’s talk series, has been canceled by OWN after one season with the final episode scheduled to air on March 30, reports Deadline.

“I thank Rosie from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. She has been an incredible partner, working to deliver the best possible show every single day,” Oprah Winfrey says in a statement. “As I have learned in the last 15 months, a new network launch is always a challenge and ratings grow over time as you continue to gather an audience. I’m grateful to Rosie and the dedicated Rosie Show team for giving it their all.”

The series, which premiered last October, frequently covered LGBT issues, including the recent Kirk Cameron controversy, but struggled in the ratings.

“I loved working with Oprah in the amazing city of Chicago,” O’Donnell says. “I was welcomed with open arms and will never forget the kindness of all I encountered. It was a great year for me – I wish the show was able to attract more viewers – but it did not. So I am headed back to my home in New York – with gratitude. On we go!”

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Texas loses all Medicaid funding for Women’s Health Program

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that it will cut off all Medicaid funding for family planning to the state of Texas, following Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) decision to implement a new law that excludes Planned Parenthood from the state’s Medicaid Women’s Health Program.

The federal government pays for nearly 90 percent of Texas’ $40 million Women’s Health Program, and nearly half of the program’s providers in Texas are Planned Parenthood clinics.

But the new law that went into effect earlier this month disqualified Planned Parenthood from participating in the program because some of its clinics provide abortions, even though no state or federal money can be used to pay for those abortions.

According to Medicaid law, Mann said, a state cannot restrict women’s ability to choose a provider simply because that provider offers separate services — in this case, abortion — that aren’t even paid for by the Medicaid program.

More info here.

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Racist anti-Obama sticker goes viral then disappears

From ABC News: A photograph of a bumper sticker that features a racist play on words lit up Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere Thursday, adding to what is already shaping up to be one of the most vicious and negative presidential races in history.

The sticker reads “Don’t Re-Nig In 2012″ and sits above a smaller text that reads: “Stop repeat offenders. Don’t re-elect Obama!”

The design seems to have originated from a site called Stumpy’s Stickers, which has since been dismantled. The site featured similar stickers for sale, including a picture of an ape that reads, “Obama 2012″; a drawing of the Confederate flag with the message “If this flag has offended you, then it made my day!”; and another that features members of the Ku Klux Klan and reads, “The Original Boys In The Hood.”

ABC tried to access the website Friday morning, but the email address has been suspended, and the person(s) responsible for the website has not been identified.

The photograph went viral when it was posted to Facebook on Thursday afternoon.

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The Road We’ve Traveled – inside look at Obama’s first 3 years as President

From Academy Award®-winning director Davis Guggenheim: “The Road We’ve Traveled”

This film takes a look at many of the decisions President Obama has had to make to get our country back on track.

I realize we aren’t where we want to be yet. But with unemployment coming down, getting out of Iraq and soon to be out of Afghanistan, the stock market rebounding (which affects millions of retirement accounts), the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – the country is slowly getting better.

Certainly better than it was when President Obama took office – when we were LOSING 700,000 jobs a month. We are now gaining jobs every month.

It’s a slow slog, and I know some folks just want to hate on the President. I believe he wants the best for the country. AND everything isn’t within his power to change. But he’s doing what a President can.

Take at look at the video. See what you think.

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Dallas men beaten with bats after being perceived to be gay

Two Dallas men became the victims of an apparent anti-gay hate crime for their perceived sexual orientation when five men yelled homophobic slurs and attacked them with baseball bats, the Dallas Voice reported.

The police report says that while the victims were walking near an intersection around 2 a.m. a group of men called them “fags and sissy” from their car. After they verbally assaulted them, the five men got out of the car and attacked the two men with bats.

One of the victims was hit at least four times in the head and was knocked unconscious for a short time. The other man tried to defend himself but the suspects dragged him on the ground before he escaped.

Read more here.