It's an election year, right?
Arizona bill on service for gays divides GOP
"Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, faced intensifying pressure Monday from chief executives, politicians in Washington, and state lawmakers in her own party to veto a bill that would allow business owners with strongly held religious beliefs to deny service to gay people. The chorus of opposition has grown each day, and on Monday, three state senators who voted for the bill changed course and said they oppose it."
What is this footsie shit?
"Arizona governor vetoes religious rights bill" by Fernanda Santos | New York Times, February 27, 2014
PHOENIX — Ending days that cast a glaring national spotlight on Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have given business owners the right to refuse service to gay men, lesbians, and other people on religious grounds.
Her action came amid mounting pressure from Arizona business leaders, who said the bill would be a financial disaster for the state and harm its reputation.
Because it's all about money and imagery.
Prominent members of the Republican establishment, including former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain of Arizona and Governor Rick Scott of Florida, sided with the bill’s opponents, who argued that the measure would have allowed people to use religion as a fig leaf for prejudice....
In other words, it would have allowed us all to act like Israelis.
The governor castigated the Republican-controlled Legislature, which passed the bill last week, for making it the first piece of legislation to reach her desk this year. Her priorities, she said, are a budget, continuing the state’s economic growth, and “fixing our broken child protection system.”
Yours, too, huh?
Related: Overhaul of Ariz. child welfare urged
Also see: Shining a Light on Patrick's Legacy
Hundreds may be missing in child welfare system
Who knows where the little runaways are, and who cares about the hair-splitting lies told by the heads of government agencies?
The bill was inspired by incidents in other states in which florists, photographers, and bakers were sued for refusing to cater to same-sex couples. But it would have allowed much broader religious exemptions by business owners.
A range of critics said it was broadly discriminatory and would have permitted all sorts of denials of service, allowing, say, a Muslim taxi driver to refuse to pick up a woman traveling solo.
Supporters said the bill was needed to allow people to live and work by their religious beliefs.
“This bill is not about allowing discrimination,” State Senator Steve Yarbrough said during debate on the measure last week. “This bill is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith.”
At her news conference, Brewer acknowledged the qualms that many people have about same-sex marriage and noted that society was undergoing many dramatic changes....
Reactions of relief came swiftly. McCain said in a statement, “I hope that we can now move on from this controversy and assure the American people that everyone is welcome to live, work, and enjoy our beautiful state of Arizona.”
Even as she deliberated — hour by hour — the state began to lose business: The Hispanic National Bar Association said Wednesday it had canceled plans to hold its annual convention of 2,000 lawyers here next year, citing the bill.
The National Football League, which had planned to hold the Super Bowl here next year, started actively exploring its second-choice location, Tampa, in case Brewer passed the bill, Sports Illustrated reported.
The money speaks louder than any moan.
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"US judge voids Texas same-sex marriage ban" by Manny Fernandez | New York Times, February 27, 2014
HOUSTON —The ruling by Judge Orlando L. Garcia of US District Court for the Western District of Texas, who was appointed by President Clinton in 1994, was the latest in a series of legal decisions that have overturned bans or lifted restrictions on same-sex marriage in several states, some in the South and the Bible Belt.
A federal judge overturned Virginia’s ban early this month, a day after Kentucky was ordered to honor same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Related:
Va. gay marriage supporters celebrate
Judge orders Ky. to recognize gay marriages
Ky. ordered to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages
That should start a fire and let off the political fireworks in Kentucky.
In Oklahoma, the state’s amendment barring same-sex marriage was recently ruled unconstitutional, while a federal judge in Utah reached the same conclusion about that state’s amendment.
See: Judge calls Okla. gay marriage ban unconstitutional
Bunch of devil-worshippers down there.
In the Texas case, lawyers for two gay and lesbian couples who sued the state had argued that the ban on same-sex marriage perpetuated discrimination and put a financial, legal, and emotional burden on homosexual couples.
One couple in the case, Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman, traveled to Boston in 2009 to get married, but Texas does not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, under one law overturned Wednesday. De Leon is the biological mother of the couple’s 2-year-old son, but Dimetman had to adopt the child because Texas did not consider her the child’s parent.
“Ultimately, the repeal of Texas’s ban will mean that our son will never know how this denial of equal protections demeaned our family and belittled his parents’ relationship,” De Leon and Dimetman said in a statement. “We look forward to the day when, surrounded by friends and family, we can renew our vows in our home state of Texas.”
In court papers and at a recent hearing, the state’s lawyers argued that the Supreme Court decision in June, which declared parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, left states the authority to define and restrict marriage. The lawyers denied that Texas’s laws were rooted in prejudice, linking the bills instead to the state’s interest in protecting traditional marriage to promote procreation and child-rearing by a mother and a father in “stable and enduring family units.”
That is under attack by the gay rights movement, but you can't say that without being called antisemitic or a homophobe.
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Also see:
Illinois sends bill allowing gay marriage to governor
Same-sex couple’s wedding a first for Illinois
Michigan gay-marriage ban at stake in trial
Oregon won’t defend gay marriage ban
Passions high as Hawaii debates gay marriage
Governor signs bill legalizing gay marriage in Hawaii
Gay marriages begin in Hawaii as 40 get licenses
No longer an endangered species or threat to kids.
Gay teen achieves Eagle Scout milestone in Md.
They must be possessed.
"The other plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuit are three lesbian couples living in the Cincinnati area who married in states that have legalized gay marriage. One woman in each of those marriages is pregnant through artificial insemination, and their babies all are due to be born this summer in Cincinnati hospitals."
If you wanted a kid.... this is really getting sick.
What's next sperm farms?
And now for the backlash:
Not Happy With This Post About Uganda
"Uganda’s president defies West, signs antigay law" by Alan Cowell | New York Times, February 25, 2014
LONDON — Brushing aside Western threats and outrage, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda strengthened Africa’s antigay movement on Monday, signing into law a bill imposing harsh sentences for homosexual acts, including life imprisonment in some cases, according to government officials.
I think prison is an overreaction, but there is no antigay agenda. It's a defense of families agenda.
The move came weeks after Museveni’s Nigerian counterpart, Goodluck Jonathan, took similar steps in his own country, threatening offenders with 14-year prison terms.
Related: African Confusion
Looks like his luck is running out.
The Ugandan law seemed even tougher, threatening life terms on charges including “aggravated homosexuality,” meaning homosexual acts with a minor, a disabled person, or someone infected with HIV.
“We Africans never seek to impose our view on others. If only they could let us alone,” Museveni said, according to the Associated Press, alluding to Western pressure to reject the bill.
It's a rule I try to live my life by.
He signed the legislation at his official residence at Entebbe, near the capital, Kampala, in front of government officials, journalists, and a team of Ugandan scientists who had said they found no genetic basis for homosexuality — a conclusion that Museveni cited in support of the new law, the Associated Press said.
There probably isn't a biological gene per se, but who knows why people make certain choices?
While Western gay-rights campaigners have accused US evangelical Christian groups of promoting antigay sentiment in Uganda, Museveni accused “arrogant and careless Western groups” of seeking to draw Ugandan children into homosexuality.
Some perverts do want that, and many get involved in the gay rights group. That doesn't mean most gays that are not connected to these fringe groups feel that way.
The Ugandan government spokesman, Ofwono Opondo, said Museveni wanted to sign the bill “with the full witness of the international media to demonstrate Uganda’s independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation.”
“It’s a gloomy day, not just for the gay community in Uganda but for all Ugandans who care about human rights, because this law will affect everybody,” Julian Peppe Onziema, an advocate for gay rights in Uganda, told Reuters.
The country’s Parliament approved the law in December, saying it was aimed “at strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family.”
Last week, President Obama called the legislation “a step backward for all Ugandans,” and administration officials were quoted as saying the law could result in a review of relations with the United States.
What business is it of his?
Washington is one of Uganda’s biggest aid donors. Museveni also is an important ally in the West’s efforts to curb Islamic militancy in Somalia.
Then this is either empty hot air from Obummer, or they are getting ready to turn on Uganda (I doubt it).
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"Newspaper lists Uganda’s ‘200 top’ gays" by Rodney Muhumuza | Associated Press, February 26, 2014
KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan newspaper published a list Tuesday of what it called the country’s ‘‘200 top’’ gays, outing some and raising fears of violence against those named just a day after the president enacted a severe antigay law.
Many on the list ‘‘are scared and they need help,’’ said Pepe Julian Onziema, a prominent gay activist who was named in the Red Pepper tabloid. ‘‘Some want to leave the country and they are asking to be helped.’’
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Monday’s signing of the bill by President Yoweri Museveni marked ‘‘a tragic day for Uganda and for all who care about the cause of human rights.’’ He warned that Washington could cut aid to the East African nation over the new law, which punishes gay sex with up to life in prison.
Good! Cut it all off! We can't afford it, and I was never for using Uganda's military as a regional proxy.
‘‘We are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our antidiscrimination policies and principles and reflect our values,’’ Kerry said in a statement.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon demanded the revision or repeal of the law, warning that it could fuel prejudice and harassment against gays.
The Red Pepper ran its list of names, and some pictures, in a front-page story under the headline ‘‘EXPOSED!’’
News editor Ben Byarabaha said the paper published the full names of only the well-known activists and tried to use nicknames for those not publicly gay. A popular Ugandan hip-hop star and a Catholic priest are among those on the list. Byarabaha offered no details on how the names were compiled.
Onziema, who has warned that Uganda’s new law could spark violence, said the tabloid had provided enough information to identify many people who had not come out publicly.
‘‘Some of the employers have read the paper, and from the descriptions they can tell who these people are,’’ he said.
Few Ugandans identify themselves publicly as gay, and the tabloid’s actions recalled a similar list published in 2011 by a now-defunct tabloid that called for the execution of gays. A prominent Ugandan gay activist, David Kato, was killed after that list came out.
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"Uganda losing aid over new antigay law" by Rodney Muhumuza | Associated Press, February 28, 2014
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s government has been hit with substantial aid cuts after the president enacted a severe antigay measure over that some Western governments had warned of consequences.
At least three European countries are withdrawing millions in direct support to Uganda’s government, which depends on donors for about 20 percent of its budget.
So the life of the average Ugandan, gay or straight, will become a little more impoverished.
The Dutch government said in a statement Thursday that it is suspending aid to Uganda’s government but will continue supporting nongovernmental groups, joining the governments of Norway and Denmark in taking such action.
Washington has also signaled it could cut aid to Uganda over the antigay measure, which the White House described as abhorrent.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday compared the law to oppressive government crackdowns on German Jews in the 1930s and black South Africans during apartheid, saying he was going to direct American ambassadors to look at how the United States deals with what he called a human rights challenge.
There he goes, jumping the shark again! He should just shut up with all the outrageous statements flying out of his mouth these days.
As for human rights, when does the torture stop?
Ugandan officials have been reacting with scorn, saying that Western governments can keep their money.
I applaud them! People eventually reach a point where money and pressure doesn't matter. They are just sick of you. Now go away!
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, told African leaders attending a summit in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa Wednesday that although the matter of gay rights is ‘‘dear’’ to the West, ‘‘even the homosexuals need electricity.’’
No, no, no, gays don't need all of those other things we do. If they did those issues -- wealth inequality, good health care, clean environment -- would be getting much more attention from the agenda-pu$hing whoreporate pre$$.
Museveni enacted the bill on Monday, drawing widespread condemnation from the United Nations and rights groups.
When they start leveling it at Israel, let me know. Of course, we all know there are no gay Palestinians so that oppression is okay.
In signing the bill, Museveni said he wanted to deter Western groups from promoting homosexuality in Africa. The law is widely popular in Uganda, however, and some analysts believe Museveni’s enactment of it will boost his popularity ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.
Law is popular with their people?
Yeah, you can't listen to them over the AmeriKan government.
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I'm sure China will be happy to step in and help with military and financial aid to help further their influence.
