Today the new federal guidelines on hospital visitation go in to effect, which means that no one can be legally denied access to even unconscious loved ones based on the genders or legal status of the relationship. At least in any hospital that received federal funds, which is most, if not all, of them ( Read more... )

Ran across an article on Bilerico (yeah, I know; I do still read it sometimes) about a scary pediatrition trying to eliminate lesbian and butch women with prenatal dex (such Bad Idea, on so many levels). Go read and snarl ( Read more... )

Oh my gods, this thing just gets worse and worse. It's getting to where I can't stand to read news about it anymore. Now that BP has been trying since April 20th to contain it, and met with resounding failure (the thing is visible from space), there's talk about detonating a 'small' nuclear bomb in the hopes of somehow closing it. Now, this is very ( Read more... )

I poured my gel, and realized that I forgot to put in the comb :/
Got it in before it was completely set. I hope it works out ok. Some of the wells may be not quite right...

In other news, ENDA is coming up on a vote; you can just click and send letters to your representatives here. It's armchair internet activism, but then I still think it's ( Read more... )

The Oklahoma Legislature is in the process of overriding the governors veto of a bill that will permit physicians to withhold information about a fetus from pregnant women if they think she might have an abortion if she knew ( Read more... )

The good folk of the Westboro Baptist church did in fact show up in the 'burg today, and there was in fact a pretty rockin' counter-protest. Mostly consisting of students (though certainly some townies), largely in orange and maroon, and holding fun signs; "you guys just need a hug" (that was sir_alf), and "Pastafarians love everybody" (some guy in a ( Read more... )

If these are such common attitudes, how is common ground even possible?
It's the Daily Kos poll of self-identified Republicans, which is coming from an adimttedly partisan source...and I hope is thus overestimating Republican idiocy, but...

Over half think sex ed should not be taught in public school, 31% think contraceptives should be outlawed ( ( Read more... )

The VA bill for nondiscrimination in state employment passed the state senate with a (bipartisan) vote of vote of 23-17.
The question becomes now whether it will pass the house,and then, whether our dear gov'ner (remember this guy? will actually sign the thing, or just veto it.

Dunno what chance this has of actually passing...
VA is contemplating a bill prohibiting discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity in public employment. It's a step, anyway. In theory.
You can go and enter public comments hereI commented favorably of course, but I can't honestly claim to be super optimistic about it's chances ( Read more... )

We've got a goveners race coming up here in VA, and as is so often the case, I'm largely motivated by who I don't want to see in office. Bob McDonnell is a scary, scary man. He wrote a thesis on his views of correct public and family policy. Seems like a good place to look, if you're wondering what his actual views are, right ( Read more... )