Witches But Not Gays Now Openly Allowed In Military

The US military now gives full recognition to witches in the military, yet they will not allow gays into the military. http://www.washtimes.com/national/20070423-104939-6596r.htm

Gay Tolerance Punished In Indiana

A teacher in a backwoods town in Indiana was punished and nearly fired for allowing an editorial promoting gay tolerance to be published in the high school newspaper.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/27/school.newspaper.flap.ap/index.html

Surge Causing US Soldiers To Be Killed Easily

Increasingly across Iraq, U.S. forces are leaving the comfort and safety of their fortified mega-bases and establishing small combat outposts and patrol bases like the one insurgents struck outside Baquba that left 20 soldiers wounded as well. Some patrol bases are well protected with blast walls and large numbers of troops. Others are little more than abandoned houses that a few platoons circle with Humvees while hunkering down inside. As a reporter frequently embedded with U.S. forces, I've visited many such patrol bases, and the sense of vulnerability at them is all too palpable. The paratroopers tasked with controlling the volatile territory on the outskirts of Baquba knew they would face attacks from insurgents in the area as they stepped up their presence by manning such patrol bases. But they saw little choice, since the ongoing surge strategy calls for U.S. forces to abandon the old notion of return-to-base patrols in favor of living full time in deadly areas.
Word of yesterday's deadly assault in eastern Diyala Province spread quickly among U.S. troops as far away as the western city of Tikrit, where soldiers with the 82nd Airborne kept a close watch on reports of their comrades sent to the Baqubah area to deal with rising violence there. The strike was what U.S. soldiers call a complex attack, one involving elaborate planning to maximize casualties. Initial assessments suggest that first a suicide car bomber rammed a vehicle into the gates of a small U.S. patrol base outside Baquba in the same area where single car bomber attacked a patrol base last month. A second suicide car bomber apparently followed the first in yesterday's attack, however. And at the same time insurgents fired small arms and rocket propelled grenades, according to soldiers from the 82nd Airborne. In the end, the patrol base was all or mostly destroyed, with several soldiers dead beneath the rubble.

New York Gov To Propose Gay Marriage

The news that Gov. Eliot Spitzer will soon introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage — what he calls “a simple moral imperative” — is welcome and could give new national momentum to this important cause. Mr. Spitzer would be the first governor in the nation to introduce a gay marriage bill. But if he is going to make a real difference, rather than simply checking off a box to fulfill a campaign promise, he will have to fight for the law vigorously.
Even in a progressive state like New York, this will be a steep political climb. So far, only Massachusetts has enacted a gay marriage law — after its highest court held that gay couples had a right under the State Constitution — and while there is a similar bill working its way through the Connecticut legislature, its prospects are uncertain. Civil unions or domestic partnerships involving same-sex couples are now recognized by a small but growing number of states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, California, Hawaii and Maine. It is an indication of how big a challenge Mr. Spitzer faces that New York is not, and hasn’t come close to being, on this list.
Mr. Spitzer is right to be fighting for gay marriage. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are an important recognition of gay relationships by a state. But they still represent separate and unequal treatment. One federal study identified more than 1,100 rights or benefits that are accorded only to the legally married. That means that even in states recognizing civil unions and domestic partnerships, gay couples often have to use legal contortions to protect their families in ways that married couples take for granted. Gay couples may also be discriminated against when it comes to taxes and pension benefits.
The next step in building momentum for gay marriage in New York will be to get the State Assembly, which has a Democratic majority, on board. Speaker Sheldon Silver has said he will not take a stand until he talks with his fellow Democrats. But most of those Democrats have already publicly expressed support for gay marriage, so Mr. Silver has no excuse to delay. He should make it clear that he will join Governor Spitzer and press for the legislation’s swift passage.
The biggest stumbling block is likely to be, as it always is for gay rights measures in New York, the State Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. The majority leader, Joseph Bruno, has made it clear that he is against same-sex marriage, but he is also a pragmatist whose views on these issues have evolved and become more humane over the years.

Washington Grants Marriage Benefits

The State of Washington is now granting same sex partners the same benefits granted to hetersexual married partners. http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/04/042107wapart.htm

Alli looses good job with Marc Dann

Rick Alli lost his new job working for Attorney General Marc Dann because he stayed on the Youngstown payroll after he had taken his Columbus job. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/295733257087928.php

Ohio Republicans Trying To Ban Stripping

The same group that pressed for issue 1 to ban gay marriage just got the ohio legislature to pass a law requiring strippers to remain at least six feet from the customers.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/04/social_conservatives_1_strippe.html

Gov Strickland Fights Bush Use Of National Guard

April 10, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
I write to you today in concern for the continued and unprecedented sacrifice our men and women in the Ohio National Guard bear in relation to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced an alert order for the possible deployment of additional replacement units in support of the war in Iraq. Four National Guard brigade combat teams, including the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Ohio, could be deployed as soon as December 2007.
As you are aware, the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was originally in line for possible mobilization in 2009. The timeframe has been moved up dramatically. This is a significant departure from the commitment made to Ohio soldiers and their families, and I believe it is a breach of faith.
While this alert purportedly is not associated to the current "surge," I remain troubled by the significant burden Ohioans continue to shoulder during the recent conflicts, with over 9,000 Ohio soldiers deployed since 9 / 11.
The brave men and women who serve in the Ohio National Guard are putting their lives on the line. I am asking for your assurance that prior to deployment, every Ohio soldier has the most up-to-date equipment, including individual body armor systems, M-4 rifles and other weapons systems, night vision devices, and up-armored type wheeled vehicles. I am also asking for your assurance that every Ohio soldier has appropriate training.
Our soldiers and their families deserve nothing less. On behalf of the men and women in the Ohio National Guard, I look forward to your response and assurances.
Sincerely,
Ted Strickland
Governor, State of Ohio

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown put out his own release also taking issue with the call-up.
"Our citizen soldiers are paying far too high a price for the president's misguided policy in Iraq," Brown said.

Gay Students At Black Colleges Are Ignored

Predominately black colleges commonly refuse to allow gay organizations on campus.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/09/gays.blackcolleges.ap/index.html

Disney To Allow Gay Fiary Tale Weddings

Disney World will begin allowing gays to pay to have "fairy tale weddings" at the theme park.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/06/disney.weddings.ap/index.html

White House Used Govt Employees For Politics

Cong. Waxman is going after the white house for violations of the Hatch Act.

http://thinkprogress.org:80/2007/04/04/waxman-rnc-emails

Democrat Dann helps Youngstown

Democrat Attorney General Marc Dann has begun moving State jobs to Youngstown.

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/288567775064998.php