Some things to make you think

[emmagrant01]

• An activist college student from maine winds up on the government's watch list, apparently just for speaking her mind. This story is starting to sound very familiar.

• The Supreme Court on Monday sidestepped a dispute over same-sex marriages, rejecting a challenge to the nation's only law sanctioning such unions. Good for them.

• 'They hate our policies, not our freedom.' Quietly released Pentagon report contains major criticisms of Bush administration.

Comments

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Interesting spin on the Supremes' silence. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/thedailykos2/68835.html)

*wields your icon back at youuuuu*

(this time with fewer html screwups, I hope)

[nattybear.livejournal.com]

The article about the college student really upset me. All of this is getting absolutely ridiculous.

[jexay.livejournal.com]

To add to that: Move To Void Michigan Gay Partner Benefits (http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/113004michBens.htm).

I am not trans but still this story bothered me. Man Denied US Citizenship Because Wife Is Transsexual (http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/113004tgSuit.htm)

Citizenship and Immigration Services says it "...disallows recognition of change of sex in order for a marriage between two persons born of the same sex to be considered bona fide ... ." California on the other hand "reissues birth certificates to transsexuals after sex change operations and legally recognize them as their new gender." Apparently Federal and State are conflicting each other. *baffled* I feel for this couple and they come from my home country. *shakes head*

There is still a long way to go in the same-sex marriage battle.

[sciencegeek.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, I feel badly for Americans. It's sad how Ontario just ruled that if a partner in a same sex marriage dies, they survivor is entitled to benifits, and then this happens in the states.

Good luck to you.

Do they even recognise same-sex common-law? That's what happened first, here, then it moved forward (in the case of Ontario, was forced by the Supreme Court) to further that to marriage. I guess, that would be a good first step. It would be great if state/US government just...allowed marriage to begin with, but I guess it would have to start somewhere.

[sciencegeek.livejournal.com]

If you want, here are some links

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/samesex/
That has a whole ton of links

Timeline starting from around 1965 for gay rights in Canada It was a long time coming, and is yet to be country-wide, but it's a start.

TMI

[jexay.livejournal.com]

I live in California and here the state recognizes a same-sex couple living together as 'domestic partners' although you have to register to be recognized as such. I am still not at that point. My significant other and I are getting closer to it I think. Especially since I have a medical condition (though not life-threatening... I think). Registering will entitle him to make medical decisions in the event I cannot do so myself among other things.

California, at least is making strides in the right direction: AB 205 Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003 (http://www.assembly.ca.gov/LGBT_Caucus/laws/2003/ab0205/factsheet.htm)

Thinking about being 'domestic partners' is also putting same-sex marriages more prominent in my mind.

Thanks for the info. Over here, everyone still waits with baited breath (and huge placards).

Emma: Sorry for spamming, but your LJ sparks the most interesting discussions. *hugs*

[lupin-spirit.livejournal.com]

the attendant asked if she was in the military because she was on a list for an extra security check

I was absolutely stunned at what it took for my husband (and other soldiers returning from leave) to get through airport security.

This is how we spent our last half hour together before he returned to Iraq:

He removed everything from his pockets.
He was required to remove his boots.
He was required to remove his BDU shirt. (leaving him in his army brown undershirt)
They went through his bag.
They patted him down. (extensively)
He was required to stand spread-eagle with his hands on the dividing 'wall' while they went over his entire body slowly with a wand (metal detector)

All of this took more than 20 minutes and as I said, this was not an isolated incident, this was happening to several other soldiers as well.

I was offended.
My 5 1/2 year old son was scared and upset by it.
My husband took it all in stride, apparently he had had to do this as every layover (in the U.S.) between Baghdad and Spokane.

Baltimore. Dallas. Denver. Seattle.

I really don't get it. These are U.S. Soldiers, in uniform, moving through U.S. airports. They do not carry weapons with them. This is the respect we show our soldiers who are sacrificing everything for the whims of a madman.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! I don't agree with his/her assertion that the government should get out of the marriage business, though. I know it's a popular Libertarian position, but I completely agree with Jonathan Rausch's argument in his book (that I'm currently reading). He talks at length about the benefits society affords people who are married, and argues that if there were no government standards for what constitutes a legal marriage and what doesn't, chaos would ensue. He's extremely convincing! :-)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Me too. It's just a bit too close to home.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yow. Now I'm even more pissed!

First story: It boggles my mind that anyone would deny health care to someone, essentially because they are gay. It's simply homophobia in sheep's clothing, and I'm sure it's only the beginning.

Second story: *pulls hair out in frustration* WTF? This is a marriage between two people who identify as male and female, and they're using the fucking DOMA to deny residency? Once again, it's homophobia -- plain and simple.

*steams*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Unbelievable! Does the US goverment trust anyone???