Mark and Dante just married,and they need your help

01/20/2011 Nativegrl77

Last month, members Mark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup got married in Washington, D.C., where same-sex marriage is legal. After their wedding, they couldn’t wait to get home to Texas and share the joy with their Dallas community.

Unfortunately, the Dallas Morning News didn’t share their sentiments — turns out the paper refuses to print gay wedding announcements in its Wedding section.

Mark and Dante are fighting back. Join them in telling the Dallas Morning News to print same-sex wedding announcements in its Weddings section.

As Mark told Change.org: “Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness about how this is blatant discrimination and send a clear message to the Dallas Morning News and news outlets around the country.” Together, we’re planning to do just that.

Sign the petition today to tell the Dallas Morning News to print same-sex wedding announcements:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/hey_dallas_morning_news_same-sex_marriage_announcements_belong_in_the_weddings_section?alert_id=cinvxWkIEa_PNWFqjgevG&me=aa

Thanks for taking action,

Eden and the Change.org Team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress … The Republican led House of Representatives -in Session …the Senate back on 1/25

01/20/2011 Nativegrl77

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 20, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

2:05 P.M. –

The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 24, 2011.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Wolf moved that the House do now adjourn.

11:47 A.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

11:45 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H. Con. Res. 10 : http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/bill-information.php?num=400010

providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President

11:41 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

Considered as privileged matter.

11:40 A.M. –

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, January 20, 2011 it adjourn to meet at 12 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2011, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

H. Res. 9 : http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/bill-information.php?num=100009

instructing certain committees to report legislation replacing the job-killing health care law

11:08 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 253 – 175 (Roll no. 16) . http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2011&rollnumber=16

11:00 A.M. –

On agreeing to the Matheson amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 428 – 1 (Roll no. 15). http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2011&rollnumber=15

10:36 A.M. –

The previous question was ordered on the amendment and the resolution pursuant to the rule.

10:30 A.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 26, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Matheson (UT) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Matheson.

An amendment printed in Part B of House Report 112-2 to instruct the committees of jurisdiction to include a permanent fix to the Medicare physician payment formula in legislation to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Car Act.

9:15 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 9. http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/bill-information.php?num=100009

9:14 A.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2 and H. Res. 9. Measure provides for consideration of H.R. 2, as amended, with the amendment printed in Part A of the report. H.R. 2, as amended, shall be debatable in the House for seven hours, equally divided and controlled. Measure provides for consideration of H. Res. 9 which shall be considered as read, debatable for one hour, equally divided and controlled, and makes in order the amendment printed in Part B of the report.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 26. http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/bill-information.php?num=100026

9:03 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

9:02 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

9:01 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

9:00 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Deadline TONIGHT: Fight for marriage in 2011

01/19/2011 Nativegrl77

We’re looking for just 403 more new HRC members to help start 2011 strong – and there are only hours left before our midnight deadline.

Your membership gift right now could decide whether we see new federal assaults on equality and new bans on same-sex couples marrying – or whether millions of couples will have their love recognized for the first time.

I hope you’ll read this email to find out how and then stand with us.

Help us reach our NEW goal of 3,000 new members before MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. Join HRC now – and add your voice to thousands of other straight supporters.

In the wake of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the far-right is furious – and re-energized.

Here’s what’s happening: In New Hampshire and Iowa, they’re focused on ending marriage equality. In West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Minnesota, constitutional bans on same-sex marriage could be on the table. And just last week, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced that it would spend $100,000 on ads opposing marriage equality in Rhode Island.

In Congress, a host of radical new representatives and senators are ready to follow through on their hateful, anti-LGBT campaign promises.

And we’ve learned from experience that right-wing groups like NOM will stop at nothing – and spare no expense – to block our very real chances of winning marriage equality in New York and Maryland and securing civil unions in Hawaii and Delaware. Meanwhile, we are gearing up to help Washington and Oregon achieve marriage equality in 2012.

Our movement must have the strength to overcome extremist lies, support pro-equality champions in Congress, invest in state campaigns, and expose radical hate groups.

After years of fighting for equality, I know I’m not the only one that feels the weight of this moment of opportunity – our opponents feel it, too. Their ads and literature are desperate. They sense the cultural shift. They’re afraid of our momentum.

But they still have a chance to do terrible damage. I believe you know what’s at stake. The only question now is: Will you help us fight?

ONLY HOURS LEFT before our midnight deadline. Become an HRC member now.

NOM can count on their tiny band of massive donors. Right-wing politicians can count on hateful activists with limitless energy. We rely on our members for 85 percent of our funding, not foundations or grants – and I know we can count on you.

Thank you for believing in equality, and being willing to fight for it.

Just hours to go,

Joe Solmonese

President

P.S. If you’ve already put a check in the mail or given to HRC through some other means, thank you. If you’ve yet to contribute, though, please consider making a gift now. Your gift is critical to maintaining our fight against hate and bigotry in all its forms.