President Obama is throwing his support behind the Respect For Marriage Act - the bill to repeal the 1996 Defense Of Marriage Act, which banned the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage even for couples married under state law.
The president has “long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on families,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at Tuesday’s briefing. He said the president “is proud” to support the Respect For Marriage Act, “which would take the Defense of Marriage Act off the books for once and for all.”
The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
In February, the Obama administration announced that the Department of Justice will no longer defend DOMA in court.
On Wednesday the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the new bill, which would repeal all three sections of DOMA — which federally defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman — including section 1, which is the name; section 2, which instructs states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states; and section 3, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing legally performed same-sex marriages.
Representatives from both pro- and anti-gay marriage groups will testify before the panel.
(via equalitopia)
Today the nation says its final goodbyes to First Lady Betty Ford and tonight we honor her legacy of teaching Americans to not be ashamed to talk openly about their personal struggles. In her early years Ford was a dancer, a passion she always held onto, having a bit of fun and dancing on the White House Cabinet Room table Jan. 19, 1977, the day before departing the White house. (Credit: David Hume Kennerly)
a little late, but still pertinent and worthwhile.
(via awomansplace)
Relationships: In 2002 the UK Home Office published the findings of a British Crime Survey to which 6,944 women had responded. Nearly half (45%) of rapes reported to the survey were committed by perpetrators who were victims’ partners at the time of the attack. (As of 2010 this has now gone up to an astonishing 54%). Strangers were responsible for only 8% of rapes reported to the survey.
Drinking: Research with mock juries has demonstrated that people are more likely to blame women for rape if they have been drinking (Wenger & Bornstein, 2006).
Intimacy: A survey of 986 Scots carried out by TNS System Three in February 2008 for the Scottish Government found that if a woman was flirting before being sexually attacked, 25% of adults under 24 believe she should be held at least partly responsible, but among those aged 65 and over, that rose to 50%.
Dress: A fifth of the broad cross-section of the Scottish population (700 interviewees) who took part in research carried out by Progressive on behalf of Rape Crisis Scotland in August 2007 believed that women contribute to rape if they wear revealing clothing.
So a newer version of this campaign popped up on my dash recently which got me thinking. A couple of years ago Rape Crisis Scotland put billboards up all across Scotland with the above posters. I remember sitting on a bus and seeing the one of the braless woman (ingeniously put up next to a high school, I might add) and doing a double take because holy shit that’s effective. The campaign “this is not an invitation to rape me” was something I’d never seen before but god almighty, was it long overdue. Finally a campaign that not only caught the average passer-by’s attention but one which challenged the really ridiculous misconceptions of rape. It’s since been followed up by the equally effective “Not Ever” campaign.
As great as these campaigns are however, the sad truth is that the conviction rate for rape in Scotland is just 3%. Three fucking per cent. Equally horrifying? I was on a Child Protection course recently and found out that the conviction rate for child abuse is also less than 5%.
It really does make you wonder why the most vulnerable people in this country are continually being let down by the justice system.
All images and quotes taken from: http://www.thisisnotaninvitationtorapeme.co.uk
Two new studies released on Wednesday add to the growing body of evidence that taking a daily pill containing one or two drugs can keep an uninfected person from catching the fatal human immunodeficiency virus.
(via harmreduction)
LGBTQ* Equality in the United States of America
DID YOU KNOW? —
(Yes, you can be fired for being LGBTQ* in the workplace.)
29 States DO NOT Offer Protection To Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual* Employees.
35 States DO NOT Offer Protection To Trans* Employees.
ONLY 15 STATES (!) ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.
(picture from blogger: buckmire )
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
