Guns, Gays and Abortion: Can I say abuse of RELIGION SUCKS!

First the Congress and the President passed a bill that sets new rules for credit card companies; but they also tacked on a rule that gives us the right to carry CONCEALED weapons into our National Parks.

YET ANOTHER hero from our armed services, was told that he was being discharged from the armed forces because, HE IS GAY. Forget the men he commanded who want him back. Forget the medals he earned and the people he saved; he must not be allowed to protect and serve our nation. Why? Because the religious right says so.

Tuesday morning, I stood on the steps of the California Supreme Court in San Francisco, to hear the decision re: Californians Gay and Lesbian couples to call their civil unions MARRIAGE. I was disappointed. While the Court found that the couples who were married already, can remain so; no new couples can marry; because the California State Constitution allows a simple majority of voters to legalize inequality by voting. The US Supreme Court decided in Brown vs. Board of education that, separate but, equal is inherently NOT EQUAL!

Where do these people find the audacity to justify this decision in the first place? They find it in the ignorant masses,that I call my fellow citizens. The ones who value their right to vote, their right to go to church, their right to voice their opinions about guns and abortion. And yet, they don't value my right to disagree with them.

Tales and Woes of 'Layoffs': How I Came Down With Adjunctivitis PART 1

Being laid off is never fun. The first time I was laid off, I spent a year or so on the couch watching soap operas. I finally came out of my slump, when I saw one of those commercials for Zoloft, and started balling my eyes out. You know the one, the ball jumps across the screen asking if you are a loser and all; of course I related. All I did was watch All My Children. Who better to relate to a depressed little snowball bouncing on a screen. My reality was needless to say, warped. I called Kaiser right away and soon I was happy as a clam; though I am not too sure why they are happy. Perhaps it's because they spend their lives in mud and sea water? But, I digress. Prozac to the rescue! I enrolled in college, earned two degrees and pursued the next chapter of my life; teaching. I was certain that this was the greatest thing that ever happened to me...next to my wonderful family of course...and the Grateful Dead. But, this too had its problems. In fact I have in the last year come down with an ailment common to us folks trying to educate America: Adjunctivitis. The symptoms include something akin to a 'layoff,' but, can you really call it that when you periodically get the chance to teach? There is no cure; though the temporary classroom assignments help alleviate the pain. But, in all, I think that until they rid the Community College system in California, of a little thing called Tenure, I do not think there will ever be a cure.

Think Before You Post: A response to the Huffington Post Photo Montage from one Prop 8 Protest

Erin Scholnick-Lee Why is it necessary to show pictures of the more extreme persons in the crowd who gathered to protest the decision to uphold Prop 8 in California, on Tuesday. For example,why was one of the only pictures I saw of a drag queen on a police car?

This issue at hand, is the right to be treated equally. It is about regular people, not just the stereotypical drag-queen, that right wingers label as examples of ALL GAY persons. While I personally love the drag queens of the world, I am disappointed that you fed the flames of Prop 8 crew, by showing the extreme protesters for the most part. Rather than showing, for example, two loving parents with their children, dressed in a polo or t-shirt and jeans and eating an ice-cream.

My friend James, who along with his partner and two women, who are also a couple are married and have 2 children who they love and care for, and will for the rest of their lives. James, is a college professor. He was arrested in San Francisco yesterday sitting on the ground in a peaceful demonstration against inequality. He wasn't wearing a dress and he didn't jump on a police car. He stood up and walked to the paddy wagon!

Please think about the messages you send with these photos. I am sure there were a lot more photos to post; and that the drag queen on the car was just more colorful.

Gay Rights Supporters Take To Streets (SLIDESHOW)

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
On Tuesday, the California Supreme Court upheld the state\'s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage in a 6-1 decision; the ruling left intact the union of over 18,000 same-sex couples who married before Prop 8 passed in November. The night of the ruling, gay marriage advocates took to the streets across California and in major cities throughout the country. The court\'s ruling marked the next phase in the battle over marriage, with gay rights activists vowing to take the fight..

WAKE UP CALIFORNIA! If you think your safe...check again!

Erin Scholnick-Lee

I am disturbed to find, that many of the articles that I have been reading tonight, about the California Supreme Ct. decision which upheld Proposition 8, get it ALL WRONG. I waited in line this morning to get my copy when the decision was released. So, I know what it says!

While the ct. ruled that in fact, the simple majority of voters who supported Proposition 8, had the right to amend the California constitution, based on the current law/rules for amending the California Constitution, they also ruled that the 18,000 couples who are already married, shall have their marriages continue to be recognized.

Some people, such as MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER, writing for TIME magazine, at Yahoo.com (http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090526/us_time/08599190100600) claim that, "George (chief justice Ronald George) and five other justices ruled on Tuesday that there is nothing so special about gay-marriage rights that make them exempt from the state's famously disruptive and pliable constitutional-amendment process." .

I do not agree that this is the case at all! In fact, I would argue that the court was in many ways frustrated by their inability to do anything about this negligent, hateful measure. It was after all, this same court who determined that banning gay couples from marriage violates these persons fundamental civil rights!

I believe that the justices understood that, the question being asked was a narrow question regarding procedural issue. Rather than, the true issue; the enormous issue, that they have already decided on in the past, which would require them to answer, yet again, whether denying same sex couples the right to be married in California, is a violation of their civil rights, their right to privacy and due process.

The suit claimed that the authors and supporters of prop 8 didn't have the right to amend/revise the constitution with a simple majority. When in fact, according to the Calif. constitution they do.

The justices determined, that it is not the role of the court to CHANGE the rules. But, to uphold the laws/ rules. Indeed, it they noted that it is OUR role as voters to do this. They made the decision based on what they had at hand. I firmly suggest that the justices don't think Marriage should be kept from the Gay community. Lindenberger, and others like him, got it WRONG in my opinion.

I believe the ct. wished it could uphold the right to marry. Their decision to uphold the validity of the 18,000 marriages is proof of this.

But, the justices could not do this, because WE the people of California, have not changed the rules about revising the constitution in California. Most state constitutions already state for example, that there shall be no laws that violate the civil rights of the minority according to the Bill of Rights in the Federal constitution. They also require a 2/3's majority; not a simple majority. Are we too independent to think this way in California. I suggest that if someone agrees with this, that they need to move to Alaska, where the governor and her husband have favored succeeding from the nation.

We can change the law. WE MUST CHANGE THE LAWS ! We must have a super-majority to amend the constitution. It is difficult if not near impossible to amend our federal constitution. That is why there are only 27 amendments. California has over 500 amendments to the State constitution. This seems to mean that we don't care as much about the law. It demeans us.

This simple majority, combined with the out of state money really is wrong. SHAME ON ALL THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED YES ON 8. Proposition 8 was full of hate. SHAME on the lawyers for filing the WRONG lawsuit. DO NOT FOCUS ON PROCEDURE! Focus on the ISSUE! CIVIL RIGHTS! Equality!

We are a nation of laws. If certain religions want to deny some individuals from being married in their 'churches,' than so be it. But, in order to be considered a legal marriage, it must be sanctified by the state. Should we in turn deny them the ability to receive a marriage license from the state. All, is truly fair in Love and War.

We the people, live in a nation of laws, by the people and for the people. Separate but equal IS NOT EQUAL.

Remember this when we call you to support our efforts to change these laws. The time is now! What is happening to the Gay and Lesbian community can as easily happen to the heterosexual, African- American, asian, european, Finish, Danish, Anglo, beer drinking, fox viewing, donut eating, card playing, hopscotch loving public including YOU~