clairecmc:

The question of marriage equality is a great American debate. Many people, some with strong religious faith, believe that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. Other people, many of whom also have strong religious faith, believe that our country should not limit the commitment of marriage to some, but rather all Americans, gay and straight should be allowed to fully participate in the most basic of family values.

I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love. While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry.

My views on this subject have changed over time, but as many of my gay and lesbian friends, colleagues and staff embrace long term committed relationships, I find myself unable to look them in the eye without honestly confronting this uncomfortable inequality. Supporting marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is simply the right thing to do for our country, a country founded on the principals of liberty and equality.

Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children.

The Emanuel administration kicks Persepolis out of class

cat-chicken:

thepoliticalfreakshow:

Map of 50 States Redrawn With Equal Population

Neil Freeman, of “Fake Is The New Real,” redrew the U.S. as 50 states with equal population. In a post, he explained his approach:

The fundamental problem of the electoral college is that the states of the United States are too disparate in size and influence. The largest state is 66 times as populous as the smallest and has 18 times as many electoral votes. This allows for Electoral College results that don’t match the popular vote. To remedy this issue, the Electoral Reform Map redivides the fifty United States into 50 states of equal population. The 2010 Census records a population of 308,745,538 for the United States, which this map divides into 50 states, each with a population of about 6,175,000.

 

Click the image above to see a full-size version. 

Quickly! To We The People!

(via fuckyesmaps)

Welcome to California

Not sure who to credit, but thank you for making this.

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The Deafness Before the Storm

The Bush administration was told, as early as May 2001, about the threat of an attack by Al Qaeda.

Source:

The Maternity Leave Myth

stfuconservatives:

Hey, American uterus owners: want to be completely put off by the idea of ever procreating? Then read this expose in the NY Post about how many women have gotten screwed by our country’s Stone Age maternity leave policies.

In Canada, you get 50 weeks of paid maternity leave. In England, you get 20 weeks paid. In Mexico, 12 paid. As a matter of fact, 178 countries around the world mandate paid leave for creating a totally new human. In America? Twelve weeks, unpaid, and only if you’ve worked for the company for at least a year, and only if your company has more than 50 employees. And they *technically* have to give you your job back, but as this article proves, your employer can probably find a way around that.

So hey, pro-lifers: where are your voices on this? Where are your rallies and signs to support new moms, instead of expecting ones? Where is there a single pro-life legislator fighting to make it easier to have a baby and keep your job? Where are the “family values” politicians when it comes to actually having a child and raising it?

thedailyfeed:

God bless Texas! Four cities in the Lone Star state are among the 10 cheapest places to live in the U.S.

Moving to SJ is still a possibility for me.  It’s a bit dirty, especially around campus, but at least I know that I won’t have a hard time finding a job there.

(via joteamob-deactivated20121218)

lady88:

It still shocks (and mostly just disappoints) me how SHOCKED people are when I tell them that it is 100% legal to be fired simply for being gay.

They look at me like I’m lying and say things like “nooooo, that can’t be right?”.

I have been fired twice (in Ohio) for being openly gay.

I have been asked:

• to not wear my wedding ring
• Not acknowledge my wife’s existence
• To “just say you have a husband”
• To just not answer “yes” when people ask if I’m married because “you’re not REALLY married”
• To not bring my wife to the company FAMILY Christmas party
• Let people just assume we’re sisters
• Just make it easier on everyone and “just say you’re divorced”

These were not requests made from some Mom and Pop shop, I was a corporate executive for a large chain of high volume restaurants. My boss was the Director of Human Resources, and she would walk into my office and say the most ignorant things you can imagine.

People in America need to be educated on the reality that is life as a gay person in  this country.

It’s not all gay pride parades and appletinis. 

We need a leg to stand on.

We need people to wake up and educate themselves on the rights we are denied.

We need people…gay, straight, and in between, to open their eyes, stop ignoring what doesn’t directly effect them, and educate themselves.

(via yousief)

gdfalksen:

One this day 92 years ago:
The 19th amendment is certified and women win the right to vote in the USA .

Happy Birthday

(via ne-daj-na-sebe)