I am a Hoosier. I was born in Indianapolis, I did my undergrad at Indiana University, and I’ve lived in the state of Indiana for most of my 31 years on this planet. When the news first started trickling out about SB101, Indiana’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, I was dismayed that such blatantly discriminatory legislation would be considered, much less had a chance in passing. Then it was passed, and I felt genuinely ashamed of the state from whence I came. Then I watched Indiana Governor Mike Pence struggle through a softball interview with George Stephanopoulos, and I realized I could stay silent no longer. Continue reading
gay rights
7 posts
So today and tomorrow the Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on CA’s Prop 8 (Overturned in the 2010 case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger )and the U.S.’ s DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act signed into law by the Big Dog himself Bill Clinton in 1996.) Continue reading
Today in a 2-1 decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that California’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. In a bold statement by the majority, the court stated: “Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California.” The holding, though limited to California, is another big step towards recognizing equal rights for gays and lesbians in the country. Continue reading
Since our children don’t have enough to worry about, Michigan’s Republican led House has passed what some consider a “pro bullying” bill. Yes, kids, you heard me correctly. Not only does the bill neglect LGBT rights but…..
wait for it….. Continue reading
A New Jersey teacher, Viki Knox, was not happy her high school was celebrating October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History month.
So she complained about it, on her personal Facebook page. She wrote: homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation”, and that she was ‘pitching a fit’ about it. Continue reading
I’m sure you’ve heard or come across people who sit there and talk about how the Bible condemns homosexuality. I’m here to tell you that those folks are . . . misguided at best. Some of them are just plan full of it, but I’d like to think that most of them just haven’t actually looked it up. I’d really like to think that they’ve just followed what other people have told them, like so many other popular culture things in America. So, hopefully this will be a quick(ish) guide to what the Bible really says about homosexuality. Continue reading
A decade after the start of the Yugoslavian Civil War, Serbia is still grappling with extreme nationalist groups that advocate violence against their opponents both within Serbia and in neighboring countries. The groups also participate in violent activities and have battled with police during political protests. This is especially troubling because these groups are not hold-outs from the war in the 1990s, but rather are are increasingly made up of young people who barely remember the conflict. Continue reading