Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Scotland Approves Gay Marriage Bill
The Scottish Parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a gay marriage bill.
After more than 4 hours of debate, lawmakers approved the bill with a 105 to 18 vote.
“Today is one of those rare days where you can say as a politician 'I've made a difference,'” MSP James Dornan told colleagues during the debate at Holyrood. “If today was my last day in Parliament, I could leave office knowing I'd really accomplished something.”
During the debate, lawmakers rejected amendments aimed at weakening the bill, including one which provided “protection” to groups and individuals opposed to same-sex marriage.
Scotland's two largest churches, the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland, criticized the move, saying they would not conduct such unions. However, other religious groups, including Quakers, Buddhists and the Pagan Federation, supported the proposed changes.
Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, cheered the vote.
“With the freedom to marry bill clearing its final hurdle in Scotland today, same-sex couples can finally share in the freedom to marry alongside their neighbors in England and Wales,” Wolfson said in an emailed statement. “Today's win comes after a rich and extensive debate, and after an overwhelming victory in the parliamentary vote.”
According to the Herald Scotland, Scotland's first same-sex marriages could be held as early as July.
The law is expected to take effect by the end of the year. However, legislation to move up that date is under consideration.
Gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in South Africa, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Spain, Canada and New Zealand. A law in Britain and Wales takes effect later this year. In Mexico and the United States, protections for gay couples can vary widely depending on the state.
Thomas Bach Kisses Putins Ass And Warns Athletes Not To Protest
IOC President Thomas Bach accused world leaders Tuesday of using the Sochi Olympics as a political platform "on the backs of the athletes," and of snubbing the games without even being invited.
Three days before the opening of Russia's first Winter Games, Bach used a hard-hitting speech to call out politicians for using the Olympics to make an "ostentatious gesture" serving their own agendas.
Without naming any individuals, Bach's comments appeared directed at President Barack Obama and European politicians who have taken stands against Russia's law banning gay "propaganda" among minors.
The Olympics, Bach said, should not be "used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests."
"Have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes," he said at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "People have a very good understanding of what it really means to single out the Olympic Games to make an ostentatious gesture which allegedly costs nothing but produces international headlines.
"In the extreme, we had to see a few politicians whose contributions to the fight for a good cause consisted of publicly declining invitations they had not even received."
The buildup to the Olympics has been overshadowed by Western criticism of the anti-gay law and Russia's record on human rights and other issues, making Sochi among the most politically charged games in years.
Obama and key European leaders are shunning the Olympics. Obama, in a clear message against the anti-gay laws, has sent a delegation to Sochi made up of three openly gay athletes — tennis great Billie Jean King, 2006 Olympic hockey medalist Caitlin Cahow and figure skater Brian Boitano.
For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to an Olympics will not include a president, vice president or first lady. Former Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano leads the delegation.
German President Joachim Gauck and French President Francois Hollande are also not coming to Sochi. Neither is British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Bach reiterated again that Putin had given the IOC assurances that the Olympic Charter would be upheld during the games and that homosexuals would not be discriminated against.
Bach said Olympic values stand against any form of discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation.
But he stressed the IOC must be "politically neutral without being apolitical" and that athletes must not use the Olympic Village and venues for "political demonstrations."
The IOC has come under criticism for not doing more to fight the anti-gay law, but Bach said the committee was a sports organization with limited responsibilities.
"We are not a supra-national government," he said. "We are not a superior world-parliament. We do not have a mandate to impose measures on sovereign states."
Bach's speech was delivered at a ceremony marking the opening of the IOC's three-day session, or general assembly, ahead of the games. The German's sharp comments marked a strong contrast with the relatively anodyne, diplomatic speeches of his predecessor, Jacques Rogge.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Russia: Middle school girl accused of spreading ‘gay propaganda’ placed under supervision
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23 January, members of the UN Committee asked official representatives of the Russian Federation about what is being done to prevent violence, which is the direct consequence of the laws on «propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships», against LGBT adolescents. Also was asked the question about the statistics of accountability for such crimes, as well as about the persecution of LGBT adolescents in schools. By the UN Committee were raised questions about the current situation of children in LGBT families and provision of any support for them. These questions were ignored by representatives of the Russian delegation.
On the second day of the session expert of the Committee stated that the Committee was informed about cases of compulsory treatment of LGBT adolescents, and asked the official delegation of the Russian Federation, what happens with LGBT youth in this respect and do they have an opportunity to receive the confidential assistance. Despite the absence in the International classification of diseases such diagnosis as «homosexuality», the representative of the Russian Ministry of Health said: «the violent treatment of children-minorities is impossible. We guarantee the treatment only with the consent of the patient, or if the patient is a minor then on the consent of his parents».
January 17, immediately before the session of the UN Committee in Moscow, hosted a meeting of representatives of Russian ministries, with NGOs. These NGOs presented to Geneva alternative reports on children’s rights situation. For the first time Russian LGBT organizations were invited to this meeting. At the meeting Maria Kozlovskaya (Russian LGBT network) and Kseniya Kirichenko (LGBT-organization «coming out») raised questions about hate crimes, compulsory treatment of LGBT adolescents and the absence of legal protection of children of same-sex families. Representatives of the Russian authorities stated that LGBT people are not a vulnerable group, so such children do not need special protection from violence, and same-sex couples with children are not families. On the question of the application submitted to the activities of the movement «Occupy-gerontophilia», the representative of the Investigative Committee said: «We should not establish the victims, the victims must apply by themselves»
So yes, this girl, now under state supervision, is more than likely being forced to undergo reparative therapy to cure her from her evil homosexual choice.
I fully expect, after the worlds public eye on the Olympics, things like this will pale in comparison to what these fascist will impose on homosexuals.
They've stated, quite clearly, homosexuals are not a protected group, nor do they believe they need too be, ergo, they won't be considered victims of any violence committed against them.
Put simply...they don't care what happens to their homosexual citizens.
43 Gay Rights Activists Arrested In Idaho
Police on Monday carted off dozens of gay rights activists blocking entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers.
Wearing black shirts with white lettering that said “Add the 4 words Idaho” and covering their mouths, the demonstrators stood shoulder to shoulder demanding lawmakers take up legislation which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Idaho Human Rights Act. Similar laws in other states outlaw discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and credit.
Former state Senator Nicole LeFavour, the Idaho Legislature's first openly gay lawmakers and a 2012 congressional candidate, told the AP that the group would block the entrances until lawmaker agreed to consider the bill.
Police said the protesters blocked the entrances for more than two hours and 43 people were arrested.
Republicans, who hold large majorities in both houses of the Idaho Legislature, have refused to consider such protections.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Gay History
The great Austrian statesman Prince Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz was born in Vienna in 1711. Single-handedly he engineered an alliance between traditional enemies France and England, Eccentric, arrogant, conceited and always happy to hear the sound of his own voice, he had a virtual harem of young men.
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