Sunday, January 16, 2011

[Peckers_Pics] Twink Wars, PICS; Jan 17, 2011 - Safe PICS For All Ages, Rated G



Twink Wars, PICS; Jan 17, 2011
Safe PICS For All Ages, Rated  G


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Health - Wellness - Exercise - Reflections:
"Alert for El Paso, Texas"
 
How an Anti-Gay Law in El Paso Punishes Gay and Straight Citizens
 
by Asher Huey / January 16, 2011 / Change
 
This past election cycle, a group of social conservatives got together to try and make life just that much harder for the LGBT community. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Well, they messed up and also made life harder for some people they don't hate, and now everyone is trying to figure out how to fix it.

This time they set their sights on El Paso, Texas. They sponsored a ballot measure blocking the city from granting health-care benefits to same-sex partners. They ran a campaign around traditional family values by limiting these benefits to "city employees and their legal spouse and dependent children."

But the measure, which passed with 55 percent, was so poorly worded that they accidentally barred benefits from some 200 other people, and the number could supposedly grow to 10,000 over the next few years. There are many people who receive benefits, but are technically not city employees, including elected officials, retirees, contractors for agencies (i.e. Transportation Board) and grandchildren.

Well, now people are mad. Because it's okay to legislate against the gays, who cares about their health care, right? But God help us if we block benefits from elected officials.

So, the city council considered restoring the benefits to the non-gays. Local groups sued. A judge has temporarily blocked implementation of the hateful policy. And now the El Paso City Council is considering putting it back on the ballot.

There are so many issues with this, so let's take them one by one.

The fact that this day in age a measure like this can pass with 55% of the vote in a decently large city is a problem. The LGBT community has made great strides toward equality and acceptance; everything from positive media portrayals to legislative victories have worked to turn public opinion in our favor. But the disconnect comes in places like this where we clearly need to be more proactive in reaching out, engaging the community, and fighting blatant discrimination. As we do this, especially in places like Texas which are not known for progressive values, people will stop considering hateful measures and legislation permissible. Because what could be more hateful than possibly condemning a person to death, by denying their access to health care? Doing so is entirely urn-Christian and lacks any sort of value of human life.

The judge's response is, perhaps, the brightest point in this whole incident. We should see it as encouraging that the judge is recognizing clear constitutional issues involved. There is that whole equal protection clause that religious conservatives find so hard to grasp.

But the city council's timid reaction is disturbing. Considering restoring benefits to some people, rather than all people, is unacceptable. Gay couples need and deserve benefits as much as any straight couple. And then the city council considering putting the measure back on the ballot is terrifying.

At the very least, this whole incident should highlight the problems with voting on people's rights. The truth is, matters of equality should not be up to the voters. The city council should stand up for the LGBT community and overturn this discriminatory law.

The religious right won't be happy. If the courts overturn it, they will decry "activist" judges, even though we know that they don't exist. If the council overturns it they will decry them overturning the will of the people. If voters overturn it the religious right will decry us rejecting Gods law. But fortunately we have a secular government that is not beholden to "Gods law." There is no reason behind their argument, only fear and hate. And so the City Council, public officials with a sworn duty, must stand up and do their job; create a functioning, nondiscriminatory government that protects the rights of minorities.

Tell the El Paso City Council to protect the LGBT community and overturn these discriminatory laws.
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This group is called "Peckers Pics."  The English -  slang definition of "pecker" is to pluck at the truth. Therefore, we peck at items such as Gay Men's Health, Male Fitness, Gay (LGBT) Politics & Issues.  In this section you may peck at each photo in order to decide the winner of the "war of the fittest!"  Whereas, you should select the guy that may inspire you to exercise and "get fit!"   Warning: This may stoke you!
 
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Stonewall Street Festival on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, Florida
(Fort Lauderdale); May 29, 2010
Stoked?
Stonewall Street Festival on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, Florida
(Fort Lauderdale); May 29, 2010
Iowa: Chief justice to meet critic of court's gay marriage ruling
by O. Kay Henderson on January 16, 2011 / Radio Iowa
 
The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court has agreed to meet with one of the state's leading critics of the court's gay marriage ruling.
 
Chuck Hurley of a group that recently changed its name to The FAMiLY Leader says he'll ask the chief justice to "pray and search his heart" and Hurley says he's confident the justice will then resign.

"This court thinks they're smarter than nature," Hurley says. "…In the opinion, the justices said that they're holding the constitution up to an evolving standard and our view is that some things, like marriage, are transcendent."

Hurley says the judiciary needs to be "subordinate" to not only the other branches of government and to the people, but to the laws of nature. "Sodomy was called a crime against nature for centuries," Hurley says.

While Hurley plans to ask the chief justice to resign -- and to convince the three other justices to follow him off the court -- Hurley doesn't expect the meeting to be confrontational. "And as far as getting into hateful personality, casting aspersions, that's not who I am and I don't think that's who Mark Cady is," Hurley says.

Hurley, who is a lawyer, says impeachment is a "big deal" that requires serious contemplation, so The FAMily Leader organization isn't ready to endorse impeaching the four justices who remain on the court.

"They could help heal this state quickly and resolve this issue," Hurley says, "and orderly resign over time."

Chief Justice Mark Cady suggests his meeting with Hurley is part of the court's new outreach strategy.

"We'll meet with all Iowans," Cady said during a weekend appearance on IPTV's "Iowa Press" program. "What we're trying to do is open up our court system because I truly believe that that will be a way to give greater confidence in our court system."

According to Cady, last fall's judicial retention was a "wake-up call" for the court.

"We approached that retention election much like the judges and the judiciary has approached things.  We tried to stay in the back, do our work and do it in a competent way," Cady said on IPTV. "The retention election revealed something else to us and we have to make sure something like that doesn't happen against because it's very destructive to our goal and our mission and our duty."

The four justices on the court heard oral arguments on Thursday and Cady indicated the court will continue to accept cases, regardless of the level of controversy a case may bring.

"This whole thing just gives the court an opportunity to make itself more visible, more open, more transparent," Cady said, "because I'm really convinced…that the more Iowans can see their court in action and see it work, they'll be even more proud of what we have."

Cady, who lives in Fort Dodge, was elected by his peers to serve as chief justice in this interim period as the court waits for Governor Branstad to appoint three new justices.  Cady is the longest-serving member of the supreme court, appointed to the post by then-Governor Branstad in 1998.
"Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."
 
....Jake

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"Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."

...Jake (Moderator)



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