Tag Archives: stimulus

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Drafted


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Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Man Selected In The NFL Draft

Another barrier for equal rights for all fell on Saturday when Michael Sam, from the University of Missouri, was drafted into the NFL by the St. Louis Rams with the 249th overall pick. Sam, who was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year for 2013, is the first openly gay man to be drafted into any of the four major professional sports in America.

The event happened just one day after Arkansas became the latest in a long line of states to see its same-sex marriage ban struck down.

In the immediate wake of Sam’s courageous decision to come out, NFL teams and players had encouraging things to say, with many general managers explicitly stating it would have no impact on their evaluation of Sam as a player. But “all the NFL personnel members” that Sports Illustrated spoke to off the record “believed that Sam’s announcement will cause him to drop in the draft.” It appears that if may have contributed: Sam is only the second person ever to hold the title of SEC Defensive Player of the Year and fall out of the top 33 picks of the NFL draft–let alone to number 249. Before the draft, he was projected to go 169th, in part because of a worse-than-expected performance at the NFL combine.

Buzz of the potentially historic moment had been building as draft day approached. Early last week, ESPN selected Sam as the winner of this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, given to individuals who transcend sports. Then Sam signed a sponsorship agreement with Visa, tackling his off-the-field notoriety head on in a TV ad that aired during the first night of the NFL draft: “Judge me for what I do on the field,” he said. The audience for ESPN’s Saturday draft coverage, with a focus on Sam, was up 22 percent or almost 2 million viewers from the previous year.

When Sam was finally selected, he celebrated the moment as many others would: with an embrace and a kiss from his significant other, who just happens to be another man (watch the video of Sam getting the call saying he’d been picked here):

michaelsam

Sam now faces the next challenge in the process of becoming the first openly gay NFL athlete in history: making it through training camp and securing a spot on the roster. It’s not a given, according to those in the know: “Sam is considered undersized for an NFL defensive end and may have to become a linebacker in the pros.”

And to be sure, he will have to face more controversy around his sexual orientation. Even as he was selected, one Miami Dolphins player tweeted, “horrible.” But in an indication of how the league will treat any behavior of this nature, the player was promptly fined, suspended and forced to apologize.

BOTTOM LINE: The fight for LGBT equality took another big step forward on Saturday. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player drafted into one of America’s four major professional sports.

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Put Prevention Barrier around the Golden Gate Bridge

My teenage son killed himself by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. If the bridge had a suicide prevention barrier (like other landmarks do), Kyle might still be alive today. Please sign my petition to install a barrier and save lives.

My son Kyle was only 18 when he took his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in September 2013. I still have no idea why he made that terrible decision. He had never been depressed, never mentioned suicide. It seems he decided to kill himself completely on impulse.

If the Golden Gate Bridge had a suicide prevention barrier, like other major bridges do, my son might still be alive today.

After my son died, I found out that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. But unlike other landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge doesn’t have a life saving suicide prevention barrier to save people like my son from jumping to their deaths.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on the California Senate Budget Committee to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge. Please sign my petition.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Kyle. He was just starting his senior year in high school, captain of the basketball team, planning on college. He had just gotten his passport for a trip to Australia after graduation. My son had excitements and hope in his life, and where does that go now? I still can’t believe he’s gone.

There’s a common misconception that people who attempt suicide once will just try again — that’s not true. In fact, one study showed that 94% of people who were talked down from the Golden Gate Bridge did not go on to kill themselves. If a barrier had been in place, my son could have been among that 94%.

It is appalling for California and America that the Golden Gate Bridge has more suicides than any landmark in the world. This is a problem that can be easily fixed, and lives will be saved as a result.

It is too late for my son, but if enough people sign my petition, I know we can help save someone else’s loved one. I know we can make sure no other family has to live through something like this.

Please sign my petition calling on the California Senate to approve funding for a suicide prevention barrier for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thank you,

Kymberyrenee Gamboa
Fair Oaks, California
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the most inspirational 90 seconds


The work that teachers do is too often under-appreciated and overlooked.

In states across the country, Republican governors are slashing public education and then blaming teachers for the disastrous results. We simply don’t agree with that philosophy. Public education is one of the most important institutions in our democracy, and teachers are the key to students’ success.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week—and in honor of teachers everywhere we’d like to share this inspiring short video from DGA Chair Governor Peter Shumlin, who overcame a severe learning disability with the help of one very special educator.

Watch the 90-second video here, then share it with your friends in honor of teachers everywhere.

DGA Chair Peter Shumlin

It’ll be the most inspirational 90 seconds you spend this week—I guarantee it.

Sincerely,

Mark Giangreco
Digital Director
Democratic Governors Association

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Conservati​ves For Regulation


 

Jordan Klepper discovers a chemical spill in West Virginia that led some conservatives to inexplicably begin supporting regulation of the chemical industry

 

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3 Major companies divest from private prisons !


We need better research tools to take on the private prison industry.

$60M divested from private prisons so far. We are just getting started.

Please donate $20 to help us win more divestment victories:

Three companies—Scopia Capital, DSM, and Amica Mutual Insurance —have divested nearly $60 million from leading private prison companies CCA and GEO Group after ColorOfChange members like you urged executives to reconsider the moral, financial, and political risks of investing in for-profit prisons.1 This is the first time any corporations have publicly confirmed divestment and condemned the industry.

It’s a huge deal — and is great leverage to convince other companies to do the right thing and divest. But we need more precise information to keep winning. Key details on companies that support private prisons are buried in complicated financial documents that could take months to go through —time we don’t have. There are a number of programs that would give us the intel we need, but we can’t afford a subscription without your help.

It costs $2,000 a month to access hidden market data we need. Can you donate $20 to give us an edge to win more victories?

Private prisons are one of the pre-eminent civil rights concerns of our time. The despicable profit motive of these companies leads to some of the most abusive and inhumane conditions in the country, which disproportionately harms Black and brown communities due to the discriminatory policies of the failed War on Drugs.2 Equipped with a strong lobbying arm, CCA and GEO Group push hard for criminal justice policy and lucrative contracts that allow them to turn a profit while torturing our families.

The unprecedented leadership of these three corporations sets a new national standard: private prisons are an unacceptable investment. We can now leverage this standard to move companies that remain invested to divest, but we need the most accurate data to move forward. For months, our small staff has been working hard to gather the most up-to-date information on what companies help to keep this industry alive, and then hold them accountable. So far, we have reached out to more than 150 companies and remain in conversation with dozens of executives about ending their support. Help us take this campaign to the next level.

Help give us the power and independence we need to win the movement to end private prisons.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad, Matt, Aimée, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
May 9th, 2014