Monday October 12, 2009, 6:26 pm
What the heck is this????

Whoops! That page cannot be found. Now that's embarrassing.

We eat our vegetables, recycle, compost, use nontoxic cleaners and practice random acts of kindness, but with 12 million folks using our site, on occasion, we just can't find what you're looking for.


Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:30 pm
Unfortunately, THE LINKS AREN'T WORKING. I am still new, and a KLUTZ at this!
Can someone PLEASE HELP ME OUT! Either link to my SHARE {where these are supposed to link to!};
or else, DIRECTLY TO THE PETITIONS.

These are VERY IMPORTANT PETITIONS; and this week is officially "COMING OUT WEEK" {out of the Closet, that is}; as well as the week of the March on Washington for LGBT Equality; and also supporting Marches in several U.S. cities, and even Internationally! So this is a good time to PUSH for these issues!
Care2 members have been very responsive to these petitions! Still, I WISH they could get on the News somehow! SORRY for the ERRORS! BMutiny T
==================================================================

Since April, we've experienced several tragic suicides of middle-school aged children -- each provoked by anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment.

These heartbreaking student suicides are a chilling reminder to all of us that we need to stand up and take action to prevent the perpetuation of soul crushing anti-LGBT behavior that is claiming young lives.

Passing the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262) would mark a pivotal turning point in the crucial fight for safer schools. It would establish -- for the first time in our nation's history -- a federal mandate for schools to adopt anti-bullying policies that include the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. This act would ensure that schools no longer get a "pass" when they turn a blind eye to anti-LGBT behavior, and it would require them to address all forms of bullying.

Take a stand today. Urge your representative to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act today

....What the Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to do is compel schools to act on homophobia in the classroom and to draw up policies to deal with anti-gay bullying and the issues faced by LGBT students, rather than just ignoring them. Currently, schools lack a federally approved framework to do so.

If you would like to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act, please sign this Care2 petition.

Take Action Now:

Click here to urge your senators to take action on ENDA today.

Click here to show your support for a DADT repeal.

Click here to sign Care2's Defense of Marriage Act repeal petition.

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:32 pm
Thought it was just meeeeee...LOL

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:33 pm
Oh, Gorilly Girl! YESS, so embarassing! I got the same thing!!!

SOMEBODY out there, knows how to DO this!!!
{This is only the SECOND time I've tried this, making a News Item; but, my FIRST time, worked better!!!}

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:34 pm
heeeeeeeellllllllllllllpppppppppppppp....LOl

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:39 pm
Plugging along anyway......

What if you had to lie everyday in order to keep your job or even worse, prevent imprisonment? "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the current U.S. policy prohibiting gays from serving openly in the military, is the only law in the country that forces people to do just this.

Sexual orientation has no bearing on a person's ability to serve in the military. What the U.S. military and America need are the best and the brightest soldiers and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is currently limiting our nation's skilled service members. In fact, denying enlistment to patriotic Americans and terminating serving members based on sexual orientation threatens military readiness and national security while simultaneously putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk!

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a failed and antiquated policy. Send a message to your member of Congress letting them know that you believe in equality and encourage them to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283). Urge Congress to enact a policy of non-discrimination and improve national security by allowing all talented and capable Americans to serve their country.
================================
19,097 Signatures on this one so far! NOT TOO SHABBY, Care2 members!
THANKS TO ONE-AND-ALL!!!

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:47 pm
In 29 states, it's still legal to fire someone because they're gay; in 38 states it is legal to fire someone for being transgender. {UNBELIEVABLE!!!
in a DEMOCRACY! BMT}

Thousands of hardworking lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have lost their livelihoods simply because of who they are. HRC is working to end this bitter injustice by passing a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Senate has, for the first time, introduced a fully-inclusive ENDA. Send your Senators a message today and encourage them to co-sponsor this critical legislation.
===============================
This is a relatively new Petition: with 4,460 Signatures last I looked.
NOT TOO SHABBY, Care2 Members! THANK YOU!

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:56 pm
Target: President Obama and the U.S. Congress
Sponsored by: Human Rights Campaign

Thanks to a string of state-level victories, tens of thousands of loving, same-sex couples across the country have finally been able to join in marriage in the last few years.

Yet because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), enacted in 1996, the federal government doesn't recognize a single one. This hurtful and discriminatory law denies millions of Americans federal recognition of marriage and the protections that come with that -- Social Security survivors' benefits, equal treatment under U.S. immigration laws, the right to take leave to care for a spouse, and more.

New legislation to repeal DOMA has just been introduced! Now is the time to let Congress and President Obama know that DOMA must go. Send your message urging them to push forward legislation to REPEAL DOMA.
deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 30,000

5,854
signatures!
=================
Now, if we could just get some WORKING LINKS GOING on this posting, we could get a LOT MORE SIGNATURES....! BMT
THANK YOU CARE2 FOR SPONSORING THIS; AND CARING SIGNERS!

I KNOW there's somebody out there knows how to establish links.... I'm going to send out a call!
So we can put this on the FRONT PAGE, without embarassment!!!!! ;-]

Monday October 12, 2009, 6:59 pm
Hey dang it your tryin....Big Kudos to you for that sweets....

Heck send it to me let me see what I can do....

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:00 pm
[If you CAN'T get to the links, or UNTIL the links are established here, and you are a FRIEND of mine, or a FRIEND-OF-A-FRIEND; THEN you have received my SHARE and can go to the links there, which SHOULD work!!!]

This is REALLY IMPORTANT, guys, if you haven't signed yet!

Pliz Heellllppppppp!

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:09 pm
Dear Representative,

Last month the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262) was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. It is my hope that you will do the right thing and support this essential piece of legislation that will help make schools safer for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

H.R. 2262 would require schools that receive Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that enumerate categories often targeted by bullies, including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and others.

Up until this point we have failed our students and young people by allowing anti-LGBT bullying to go unfettered and unchecked. The most recent result of our negligence to respond collectively and proactively to this endemic problem has been the loss of two young lives this past April. Within just two weeks this spring, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Springfield, MA, and Jaheem Herrera of DeKalb, GA, returned from school with broken spirits and hanged themselves following relentless bullying and anti-LGBT taunts. These were just the reported cases -- thousands more suffer silently.
=======================================
10,557 Signatures so far. IMPRESSIVE!

Please help us get MORE signatures, by helping us open up the LINKS!

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:13 pm
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/338765130

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/571620678

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/279228291

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/880742034

There all four are listed here.....

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:15 pm
You will have to copy and paste into your Search engine but they will take you to each one,,,,best I could do...sorry..

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:16 pm
Sorry guys but this is the best I could do...you will have to copy and paste nto your search engine but they will take you to each one.

Goirlly

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:19 pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH, Gorilly Girl!

Does somebody know how to make the links work DIRECTLY? from here?
I've seen that done!

If somebody can't go to the petitions DIRECTLY, with just one lazy click, it's worth it TAKING THE EXTRA TROUBLE to go there {the long way}!

These petitions will literally SAVE LIVES.

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:22 pm
DON'T apologize, Gorilly Girl!
You did GREAT!
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THIS!

These petitions will SAVE LIVES; and keep other lives from DESPAIR.
What's wrong, I ask, with THAT??????? :-] Big smile!

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:40 pm
Thank you!
You already signed this petition at 7:14 pm PDT, Oct 12, 2009.
see more petitions
Thank you for signing “Equal Opportunity for All”
Thank you for signing “Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"”
Thank you for signing “Equal Rights for All Families”

All four are done...finally...lol

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 7:47 pm
Sending a Green Star is a simple way to say "Thank you"
You cannot currently send a star to BMutiny because you have done so within the last week.

Um BMutiny we already have 17 comments between us.....LOL

Big Gorilly Hugs

Monday October 12, 2009, 8:00 pm
So, SHADDAP, AWREADY! Ooops, that makes another comment!
;-] LOL LOL LOL
{Shaddap, awready, is for ME! ;-]}
======================================
Please sign the Petitions and ignore the byplay!
We are havin' kindof a borin' day with nuffin' to do.....NOT!
;-] LOL!

Monday October 12, 2009, 8:04 pm
Okay my buddies please let us know you are listning and signing


Goirlly

Monday October 12, 2009, 8:08 pm
Thank you for signing, ALL -- and, ESPECIALLY, Gorilly Girl for your invaluable and much-needed help!

You guys MAKE MY DAY......! There's HOPE yet!

Our Prez wants US to make things happen.... he wants EVERY CONGRESSPERSON IN EVERY STATE to be convinced. {So they can't yammer that "Obama's a fascist/communist dictator pulling one over on us!"} So we HAVE TO PRESSURE CONGRESS. {As well as confronting parents, neighbors, friends, religious people, who haven't seen the light yet.}
This is an area where we are MOVING FORWARD, FAST.
So don't "leave it up to the President". WE have to do OUR part to make this happen!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, I can't say that enuf!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday October 12, 2009, 8:20 pm
Signed! It's the 21st Century & this is the Only Discrimination that's NOT been dealt with.. I've been married to my husband for 35 years - gay marriage does not effect hetero marriages! Only weasley, bible-thumping homophobics are worried about gay marriages.. maybe they're afraid they'll "accidently" wake up in Vegas married to another man???;)
I think homosexual marriages should be Legal in ALL states - since ALL states accept hetero marriages as valid no matter which state they were performed in! Discrimination is UnConstitutional!

Monday October 12, 2009, 9:15 pm
Already signed TY BMutiny

Monday October 12, 2009, 9:42 pm
Yvonne, love your saying "they're afraid they'll 'accidentally' wake up in Vegas.....{next to} another man" {'married' to him or not!}.

It always seems like the very WORST homophobes, are 100% of the time, Closet Cases themselves! In Case after Case after Case, in the news......

It's gotten so that if a Preacher or Public Figure, is REALLY Homophobic, you just NATURALLY figure he's got a SECRET GAY LIFE, himself.....!

How EMBARASSING for them, that other Gay people, and especially Gay people who do-it-for-money, are no longer coerced by shame and guilt into keeping silent about their activities!
Geez, a guy can't find any PRIVACY any more, for his "Secret Gay Life" he keeps from his Family and his Church Congregation.......

Monday October 12, 2009, 9:58 pm
I'd signed two of these, BMT,
and I was more than happy to sign
the other two!
I've been following these issues closely
lately, with the marriage battle going on
in Maine and the National Coming Out day in
D.C. this past weekend. It's been fascinating
and exciting to watch the present and next generations
of activists coming together to end the apartheid
going on in country toward the LGBT community.
Thanks so much!
noted.

Monday October 12, 2009, 10:28 pm
For any who may want to do more, or discuss broader issues:
There are I assume other Gay Rights groups on Care2; but here is one that I host, which puts LGBTQ Rights to the Foreground:

Left Bank Supports LGBTQ Rights!& Women,Cannabis,& No ImperialistWar
(80 members} visible to public, open membership

LGBTQ is for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Trans-gender, and QUEER: that is, "Undecided" or "Questing". It is often appropriately applied to YOUNG PEOPLE; whose "sexual identities" may not be FIRMLY FIXED, yet.

Contrary to what pseudo-"Science", old-fashioned "Psychology", and fundamentalist "Religion" state, our Sexual-preference and Gender Identities are NOT NECESSARILY "fixed" for all time; some people's apparently are, and some people's apparently aren't. Some people's CHANGE with time or circumstances. Some people get to choose; and some don't. Some people are "borderline", could go either way {but that doesn't necessarily mean they are "Bi", either!}.

There is a WONDERFUL HUMAN VARIATION in this, as in everything else that is Human!
A Variation, a beautiful Variety, that the Patriarchy and Patriarchal Religions in general, have always, both historically and presently, found VERY, VERY THREATENING...... Threatening to its need for CONTROL......!

Monday October 12, 2009, 10:33 pm
Let's ensure equal rights for all people! : )

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 12:04 am
In Ironic Defense of 'Traditional Marriage': an Instructive Morality Tale of 4 Jacks and 4 Jills
[Sing it!]

Jack and Jill

Went up the hill

To get a marriage li-cense;

Jack fell down

And fractured his crown

And Jill got to visit him in the hospital

{And got survivor benefits after}.

Jill and Jill

Went to Catskill

Couldn't get a marriage li-cense;

Jill felt, down

And tried to commit suicide

And Jill couldn't visit her in the hospital

{Or get survivor benefits after --

Or the custody of their daughter}.

Jack and Jack

Built a shack

Without a marriage li-cense;

The shack fell down

In a big windstorm

And there was a helluva legal hassle about insurance, liability, ownership, etc.

{And about inheritance

And survivor benefits after}.

Jill and Jack

Had a publicity flack

Who got them a marriage li-cense;

They got married downtown

In front of bright lights and cameras --

And divorced a fortnight after!


[BMT 2004]

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 10:46 am
Here are links to the petitions in this thread:

PETITION: SSIA (Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262) to stop bullying)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/338765130

PETITION: ENDA (End Workplace Discrimination)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/571620678

PETITION: DADT (Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/279228291

PETITION: DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/880742034

Thanks Gorilly Girl, for the links.

As Yvonne said, this is the last remaining (legal) discrimination in the US. Let's break down this horrendous barrier now. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself and our own homophobia. Thank you, Barbara!!

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 10:56 am
Great lyrics, Barbara. Sad story that men and women who contribute so much to society and have the right to love who they want cannot receive the same benefits as other citizens who get them merely for breathing.

One last comment on homophobia: I think this condition exists with people who are out of touch with their own sexuality and don't know who they are. Love is as necessary as the air we breath, the water we drink and the food we eat. Love is wherever we find it, and it is not up to anyone else to dictate who we love.

Is it any wonder that wars are usually dictated and created by homophobes? And many of those homophobes lead double lives in the closet? We need to stop the discrimination so everyone can come out of the closet and stop hiding.

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 5:38 pm
Oh, thank you, Marion, you saved me! I don't know how to do that, yet, there's so much about this stuff I don't know, as I try to teach myself and I'm not sure about the terminology!

RIGHT YOU ARE about homophobes and homophobia! and the double lives led by the "leaders" or rather, mis-leaders. {Who often have not only big egos and big ambitions, but larger-than-usual sex drives as well! Their shame about their "sinful needs" leads them to TOTALLY LACK SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY for their fellow humans! so they make the best exploiters and sadists....}

Oh, NOW there should be more people NOTING this!
[I was afraid I'd have to do it over again and LOSE all the good stuff on this thread!]

Tuesday October 13, 2009, 8:20 pm
Thank you!
You already signed this petition at 9:01 am PDT, Jun 25, 2009.

Thank you!
You already signed this petition at 6:03 pm PDT, Sep 24, 2009.

Thank you!
You already signed this petition at 4:55 am PDT, Jul 13, 2009.

Thank you!
You already signed this petition at 7:09 am PDT, Sep 21, 2009.

Signed & noted..
Thanks BMutiny