To Be or Not Tou Bee...: 6/27/10

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Montana Wants To Arrest Gay People

The newly adopted GOP party platform in Montana says:

by Michael A. Jones
Yes, that's right. The Montana GOP wants to insert a telescope into the bedroom of every Montana resident, and each night check and make sure the fine folks of Montana aren't going to bed with someone of the same sex. And gay marriage? Well, forget that. The Montana GOP is pretty clear that relationships ought to only be between people of the opposite sex.

I am: a believer, not just a dreamer.
I have lived for: a little over 21 years and haven't truly LIVED yet.
I look up to: those that aren't afraid to be themselves.
I praise: those who embrace diversity.
I am proud: of all my accomplishments thus far in life.
I forget: to keep in daily contact with my family. I miss them so much.
I do not tell: my friends enough of how much I appreciate their friendship.
I want: it all to work out well in the end.
I have: the best siblings in the world. Wouldn't want it any other way.
I wish: the best for everyone.
I can't stand: IGNORANCE.
I miss: my family being one big happy family.
I fear: that the BIG day is coming soon. Not sure if I'll be able to handle it.
I feel: okay. Not happy, but just content.
I crave: success and glory.
I regret: a few things, but don't hold onto them.
I love: Edward Cullen.
I am not: perfect. I have to accept that.
I believe: that one day I'll be able to get married.
I dance: from time to time with friends.
I listen: to my heart...sometimes.
I cry: when my balloon of emotions have popped.
I can be: hard to handle at times.
I do not: love myself enough.
I fight: everyday.
I win: some.
I lose: some.
I am happy: when I'm with people who love me.
I expect: that the best has yet to come.
I think: way too much about the worst things in life.
I sing: all the time.
I'm confused: as to why people still say "That's so gay" and the "F" word.
I can be found: exercising, reading, or singing
I can't: settle down just yet. This is only the beginning.
I will: be me. And that's final.
I am committed: to change the world.
I may never be: the perfect son they envisioned, but I will be the best one they'll ever have.
I am MAD when: life hits a rough patch. It's difficult. It hurts sometimes...
I can live with: my soul mate…
I can never: love you ever again.

Go Google!!!

Google plans to pay gay employees more

Google is set to begin covering a cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, according to a report in the New York Times.
The increased pay is largely to compensate these workers for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, the newspaper said.
Google is not the first large company to make up for the extra tax, the Times reported, adding that Google’s move could inspire its Silicon Valley competitors to follow suit, as they compete for the same talent.
Right now Google offers benefits to the spouses or partners of both straight and gay employees.
Readers: We want to hear from you about Millennial job discrimination
Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent, the newspaper said, noting that the tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer. Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.
© 2010 msnbc.com

We've got Ireland!

The Dail in the Irish Republic has passed a bill which recognizes civil partnerships between same-sex couples!

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern says:

"Our society has changed substantially in recent decades. While marriage is more popular than ever, other forms of relationships have become increasingly common; they create some difficulties in the legal system and require in our law a measure of recognition and of protection."

The bill was supported by all parties in the Dail and it is expected to become a law in the fall.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Me Presenting On The Hmong

TV Advertisement Against Rape Victim Prejudice

Scotland's first TV advert aimed at tackling "prejudice" against rape victims is being broadcast.

It will be aired as new figures suggested nearly one in five Scots believe a woman can be partly responsible for rape if she is drunk.

The advert shows a woman enjoying herself at a bar in a new outfit with the message that there is never an "excuse" for rape.

Rape Crisis Scotland said the aim was to make people "stop in their tracks".

The survey of more than 1,000 people was carried out on behalf of the Scottish government by Cello MRUK.

It found that 23% of people thought a woman was partly responsible for a rape if she was drunk at the time of the attack.

A total of 17% thought the woman bore some responsibility if she was wearing revealing clothing.

In the advert, which is being broadcast for the first time on Monday evening, a woman is shown asking a shop assistant to help her decide which skirt to buy.

She tells the assistant: "I'm going out tonight and I want to get raped. I need a skirt that'll encourage a guy to have sex with me against my will."

National co-ordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland Sandy Brindley said the advert was designed to shake out ingrained prejudices many Scots have towards women who have been raped.

Scottish actress Laura Fraser, who has backed the campaign, said: "Changing these women-blaming attitudes is a solid starting point for making women safer in Scotland."

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

7 Consecutive Director's Cups

June 24, 2010

Anaheim, Calif. - Grand Valley State claimed top honors in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings for the seventh consecutive year it was announced today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup trophy, which is commonly known as the all-sports trophy, is presented to the top athletic department in the country. The scoring system is based on the national finishes of seven men's and seven women's sports.

"This is an accomplishment that really reflects on the quality of student-athletes we have at Grand Valley State," said athletic director, Tim Selgo. "I am extremely proud of our coaches and administration and thank the university for its wonderful support of our athletic program."

GVSU finished with 1021.50 points and was able to tally points in the maximum of 14 sports (7 men's, 7 women's). The Lakers placed a total of 16 teams in postseason play during the 2009-10 academic year, with eleven teams finishing in the top 10 nationally. GVSU used consistency throughout each season, collecting 355.00 points in the fall, 330.50 points in the winter and 336.00 points in the spring. The Laker women scored 570.5 points, while the men scored 451.0 points.

Grand Valley State claimed the National Championship in women's soccer, finished second in football, women's cross country and women's indoor track & field, third in women's outdoor track & field, fourth in men's swimming & diving, fifth in men's cross country, sixth in women's golf, eighth in women's swimming & diving, ninth in baseball and women's tennis, 17th in men's basketball, 23rd in men's outdoor track & field and 29th in men's indoor track & field. GVSU did not count the points scored by men's golf and women's volleyball.

Rounding out the top five nationally were California (Pa.) (703.00), Central Missouri (672.50), Minnesota State-Mankato (660.50), and St. Cloud State (643.50). GLIAC schools were also well represented with Ashland finishing seventh (636.75), Wayne State 21st (454.5) and Findlay 34th (392.25).

GVSU's seven Directors' Cup titles are tops among all NCAA DII school's and the 2009-10 campaign marked the third straight year that Grand Valley State has eclipsed the 1,000-point total.

Proud to be a Laker...

Gay Marriage Legalized In Iceland!!!

REYKJAVIK, Iceland —
Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said on Monday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse.
Sigurdardottir, 67, married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex.
The two had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month.
The new law was celebrated at a church service on Sunday, which was also the international day for homosexual rights.
The prime minister's office said Sigurdardottir had sent a message to the gathering saying the new law was a cause for celebration for all Icelanders and adding: "I have today taken advantage of this new legislation."
The Lutheran State Church has long been split on the issue of same-sex marriageand the church congress in April did not unanimously support the new legislation. The bishop of Iceland has urged parish ministers to comply with the law.
Sigurdardottir, who has children from a previous heterosexual marriage, is the world's only openly gay prime minister but her sexuality has never been an issue in Iceland, which, like the other Nordic states, has a history of tolerance.