TRIGGER WARNING: GRAPHIC ABORTION CONTENT. Longshot presidential candidate to put abortion in your face during Super Bowl

…

Section 315 of the FCC Telecommunications Act says stations must air ads for candidates for federal office and are prohibited from altering the content. That means they can’t refuse to run political ads even if the ads contain material the stations would ordinarily reject.

…

Obama and the evangelicals and Catholics who voted for him in 2008 are the main targets of Terry’s ad, but anti-choice hopefuls including David Lewis, who is vying for Republican House Speaker John Boehner’s Ohio seat, and Angela Michael, who is challenging Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, are running similar ads in their districts.

…

He estimated he has raised about $40,000 so far and, ideally, would like to see the ads air in more than two dozen cities spanning seven states.

TRIGGER WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT OF ABORTIONS,

Watch the ads on Terry’s campaign site (graphic content)

STOP FORCED STERILIZATION IN SWEDEN: TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

If you are a transgender person in Sweden today looking to legally change your gender, in the 21st century you are still forced to undergo surgery that will render you permanently infertile and forever unable to have children. This barbaric practice of forced sterilizations has to stop!

The majority of the Swedish parliament is in favor of modifying this law - but up until now Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has let a small conservative party block this long awaited reform.

Let’s make sure the Prime Minister knows that the majority of Sweden, and Europe - wants to see Sweden on the right side of history - by eliminating this archaic practice.

Please take one minute to sign this urgent letter to the Prime Minister of Sweden asking him to stop playing politics with the fundamental human rights of Swedish citizens. Our friends at RFSL, the Swedish LGBT Federation, will deliver your signatures directly to the Prime Minister’s office.

Thanks Girl Scouts! This Year I'm Eating Thin Mints for EQUAL RIGHTS!: Petition

Recently when a transgender child tried to join her local Girl Scout troop, she was excluded, despite identifying as a girl. Thankfully, Girl Scouts of America came out with a response saying “Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members. If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout.”

Girl Scout of America’s statement is exactly what (often at risk) LGBT children need to hear to know it really does get better. 

Unfortunately, bigoted people have responded to Girl Scouts of America’s statement with prejudice and suggestions of boycotting the cookies. 

Fight the boycotts and show Girl Scouts of America just how much support there is for equal rights for LGBT kids. Buy as many thin mints as you want this year and report back on just how many boxes of cookies you’re eating for equality.

Girl Scout Cookie Anti-Boycott (Buycott)

Recently, there has been contriversy in the Girl Scouts of America because a Colorado based Troop admitted a transgender girl into their Troop. Their decision has caused three Louisiana Troop leaders to resign and has prompted a California Girl Scout to make a YouTube video calling for a boycott on Girl Scout Cookies.
She wants the Girl Scouts to know that America is not happy with Transgendered people, and we NEED to prove her wrong. Whether you are Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Pansexual doesn’t matter. If you are a friend to the LGBT community, buy Girl Scout Cookies this year. Please, your friends need your support.

NARAL Pro-Choice America: Hall of Fame and Shame 2011

Thousands of people have spoken, and the winner of this year’s NARAL Pro-Choice America Hall of Fame is:

Mississippians For Healthy Families!

This coalition of faith leaders, reproductive-justice and pro-choice allies, and other Mississippi-based groups successfully convinced their neighbors to reject a dangerous and far-reaching “personhood” measure.

Hats off to them!

And while we celebrate our pro-choice heroes, we recognize that 2011 brought a slew of new attacks on women’s freedom and privacy, ranging from the tragic to the ridiculous.

Every bushel has its rotten apples, and this year, Fox News Channel was voted rottenest of them all.

Remember when a Fox News commentator compared insurance coverage of birth control to manicures and pedicures?

Remember when Bill O’Reilly said that many women won’t use birth control because they’re “blasted out of their minds when they have sex,” and then said no-cost birth control would increase unemployment?

Remember when Sean Hannity said birth control is “not about women’s health?”

We remember. And it looks like you did, too.

Fox News Channel is the newest member of the Hall of Shame.

How Gay Rights is Nothing like Legalizing Bestiality

^SEE PHOTOS with FULL DESCRIPTION^

Adam and Evelyn: They are both adults capable of making decisions; they are capable and can give consent. They are both US citizens and the government will recognize their marriage.

Adam and Steve: They are both adults capable of making decisions; they are capable and can give consent. They are both US citizens and the government will not recognize their marriage.

This is inequality…below examples are not.

Adam and his toaster: Adam is an adult capable of making decisions. Toasters are not capable of making decisions. Adam doesn’t get to give consent twice just because he owns the toaster. (Also, toasters can’t sign a marriage license).

Additional examples not like gay rights examples…

Billy: Billy is a 10 year old boy. He can not legally give consent or make life-altering decisions. He may feel love, but is not yet an adult. (Billy can’t legally sign a marriage license).

A Corpse: It much like the toaster cannot make decisions or give consent. It may have once been a US citizen but it is no longer. (A corpse can’t sign a marriage license).

A Dog: It could possibly feel love the way we do. However, it isn’t aware of its decisions. It can’t consent and is not a US citizen. (A dog can’t sign a marriage license).

This transman is committed to making it better

Read more

…Until our LGBT and queer communities and the world at large acknowledge the violence and hatred that trans people – and especially trans women – face on a daily basis, I am committed to bringing awareness to the problem by calling out sexism, transphobia and trans-misogyny when I see it. This transman is committed to making it better for his fellow trans folk by being out, honest and courageous in the truth he speaks and writes. I encourage everyone reading to examine your own thoughts about gender conformity and to eliminate the language and fear that constricts each of us.

One Million Moms article demanding Macy's apologize to and rehire woman fired for "protecting women's dressing rooms from cross-dresser"

drn007:

“Johnson said that he was wearing make-up and girl’s clothing, but clearly he was a male. The cross-dresser was accompanied by five other individuals.

The group argued with expletives that Macy’s is LGBT-friendly, to which Johnson replied that Macy’s is also non-discriminatory toward religion, and that it would go against her religious beliefs to lie that he was a woman or compromise with homosexuality.”

*slow clap*

WHAT THE FUCK?
Macy’s is non-discriminatory toward religion, as in, they can’t not hire or fire someone based on what religion they are or are not, and they can’t be discriminatory toward their customers for, say, wearing a cross on their necklace or for wearing a yamaka. Non-discrimination policies based on religion does NOT give an employee the freedom to be discriminatory toward customers. In fact, I’m pretty sure “the customer is always right” is most retail’s motto. You want the customer to have a satisfying experience and to shop there again, NOT discriminate against them based on their gender. This woman, was not a cross-dressing man, she stated that she identifies as female. Maybe she looked male to you, and was probably assigned male at birth, but she clearly identified as a woman, and making her use the men’s dressing room would be highly inappropriate, especially if Macy’s policies specifically allow trans people to use the dressing room that makes them feel the most comfortable. Why would you want your customer’s to be uncomfortable? If you were 1) not following your company’s protocol 2) making a customer uncomfortable and 3) discriminating against a customer, fuck yeah, you should have been fired. Macy’s WILL NOT and SHOULD NOT apologize for firing that woman. Before applying for the Macy’s job, she probably should have read through their policies, and if she felt uncomfortable with any of them, she could have decided to not accept the job or to not apply in the first place. Macy’s did not fire the female employee because she was Christian, they fired her because she cost them money, lost a customer, failed to follow their policies, discriminated against a customer, etc. I’m not even sure what this lady is even talking about; I was baptized and raised Christian, and I was never told that it was “against my religion” to allow a trans woman to try on clothes in a women’s fitting room. Seems like a really random rule. I remember the whole, don’t kill, don’t steal bits, but not this one.

Love Makes a Family: Submit Your Photo

Equality for ALL Families in 2012,

Submit your photo ^ lovemakesafamily.tumblr.com/submit

Dear MoveOn members,
Wow, you are incredible!!
Over 15 million people have seen my testimony about my two moms before the Iowa legislature, after MoveOn sent it out last Thursday. I can’t tell you how much that means to me, my moms, and my little sister, and families like ours all across the country.
I think that one of the reasons my video resonated with people is that it embodies a simple truth: love is what makes a family. It’s what binds us together as we work through the hard times, so we can enjoy the good ones.
I’m going to keep telling that truth. But I’m only one guy. Every single person has an incredible amount of power to shape and change our world for the better, but imagine what we can do together. That’s why I am asking for your help in telling this simple truth.
The folks at MoveOn and I had an idea: get as many people as possible to take their family holiday photos holding signs that say ‘Love Makes a Family,’ and ‘Equality for ALL Families in 2012’. This time of year is all about family, so let’s use our holiday photos to send a message of love for ALL families.
MoveOn has created a special Tumblr site where you can post your holiday pictures. It’s really easy, and they are going to make a video out of all of these Love Makes a Family photos.
You can see everyone’s photos by clicking here.
While we won the battle in Iowa, my moms’ rights as a married couple stop at our state’s border. And I know that hundreds of thousands of other families like mine aren’t lucky enough to live in a state where their parents can be married. Instead, they have to spend thousands of dollars to adopt their own kids and get power of attorney to take care of everyday life if or when something bad happens.
A lot of people out there just don’t know and haven’t met families like mine. And that’s why I’ve been traveling around speaking about my two moms, and why I’m writing a book about my family.
Now I’m asking you and other folks to show the people you love that you believe in equality for all.
Will you take a family holiday photo while holding an ‘Equality for ALL Families in 2012’ or ‘Love Makes a Family sign? Just click here for more instructions and a form to upload your family’s picture:
And check out all of the photos others have submitted.
Thanks for all the love and support.
Onward.

–Zach
P.S. I’ve been so honored that so many people shared the video of my testimony, and I’m working overtime to finish my book about all of this, appropriately titled “My Two Moms”—please check it out!

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members–no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Late yesterday afternoon, the FBI Criminal Justice Advisory Board voted unanimously to update the archaic definition of rape in the FBI Uniform Crime Report in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now, FBI Director Robert Mueller must give final approval to update the measure. TAKE ACTION!

^^TAKE ACTION^^

We did it! Late yesterday afternoon, the FBI Criminal Justice Advisory Board voted unanimously to update the archaic definition of rape in the FBI Uniform Crime Report in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Now, FBI Director Robert Mueller must give final approval to update the measure. This is the last step!

We’ve gotten this far thanks to you and the tens of thousands of emails we sent requesting a change in the way the FBI defines rape. Rally with us and ask Director Mueller to update the definition of rape today!

If approved by Mueller, this will represent a major policy change, and one that will dramatically impact the way rape is reported and tracked in the U.S. This new definition will mean that, at long last, we will begin to see the full scope of this horrific violence, and that understanding will carry through to increased attention and resources for prevention and action.

Ask Mueller to act now!

The current definition from the 1920s, which has been criticized for underreporting rape and omitting a significant number of rape cases, defined “forcible rape” only as “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will.” The proposed UCR definition of what constitutes rape will be more consistent with public understanding and state criminal statutes and will include previously excluded rape cases.

Yesterday’s unanimous vote recommends a new, more inclusive definition of rape in the UCR: “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina, or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”

We need to make sure this change is officially adopted. Please email FBI Director Mueller now, and share this with your networks urging them to do the same. Together we are helping to make sure that all rapes will be counted.

For women’s lives,

Ellie Smeal

Eleanor Smeal
President
Feminist Majority Foundation