Olivia Events

There's a pedophilia scandal and some kids in preschool. Guess who gets punished? The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c

From an ACLU press release:   (Jackson, Miss.) The Mississippi Department of Corrections  agreed to end the segregation of prisoners with HIV, a longstanding discriminatory policy that has prevented prisoners from accessing key resources that facilitate their successful transition back into the community. The decision by Mississippi’s corrections commissioner Christopher Epps, prompted by recent advocacy by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, leaves Alabama and South Carolina as the only states in the nation that segregate prisoners based on their HIV status. Epps made the decision ahead of a forthcoming report by the ACLU and Human Rights Watch analyzing the harmful impact segregation policies have had in the three states. “Commissioner Epps deserves a tremendous amount of credit for making this courageous decision to replace a policy based on irrational HIV prejudice with a policy based on science, sound correctional practice and respect for human rights,” said Margaret Winter, Associate Director of the ACLU National Prison Project. “The remaining segregation policies in South Carolina and Alabama are a remnant of the early days of the HIV epidemic and continue to stigmatize prisoners and inflict them and their families with a tremendous amount of needless suffering.” Public and correctional health experts agree that there is no medical basis for segregating HIV-positive prisoners within correctional facilities or for limiting access to jobs, vocational training and educational programs available to others. Since 1987, however, the Mississippi corrections system has performed mandatory HIV tests on all prisoners entering the state prison system, and has permanently housed all male prisoners who test positive in a segregated unit at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, the state’s highest security prison. As a result, prisoners with HIV have been faced with unjustified isolation, exclusion and marginalization, and low-custody prisoners have been forced unnecessarily to serve their sentences in more violent, more expensive prisons. The change in policy will enable prisoners with HIV to participate in jobs, training programs and other services to which they were previously denied access because of their HIV status and which are designed to prepare prisoners for a productive return to society. Prisoners with HIV will now be able to participate in kitchen work, for example, which can be beneficial to them in many ways. Many prisoners worked in kitchens, cafes or restaurants prior to their incarceration, and continued employment in that area can help them upon re-entry into the workforce. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there is no medical basis for preventing persons with HIV from working in kitchens or other food service employment. Additionally, prisoners with HIV will no longer be assigned to a segregated HIV unit, which resulted in the public disclosure of their HIV status and left them at risk of being ostracized and subjected to hostility and violence at the hands of other prisoners. Epps said he will phase in the new desegregation policy gradually for prisoners currently housed in the HIV unit, and will form a committee to make individualized placement decisions for these prisoners. Starting immediately, incoming prisoners will be housed using only criteria set out in the state classification plan such as criminal history, length of sentence and other factors unrelated to their HIV status. “Prisoners with HIV were often forced to live in cruel, inhumane and degrading conditions, and we’re delighted that Mississippi has changed its policy,” said Megan McLemore, health researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Integrating prisoners with HIV is the norm across the United States and MDOC deserves significant credit for making this decision.” Additional information about the ACLU National Prison Project is available online at: www.aclu.org/prison [1] [1] http://www.aclu.org/prison

About 600 people have said on Facebook [1]they will dress in evening wear on April 2 to protest the Mississippi school that cancelled prom [2] instead of letting a lesbian in a tuxedo and her girlfriend attend. The event, called Dress You Up in my Love/The Nationwide Equality Prom, is the brainchild of activist Jen Dugan [3]. It Details below. Will you dress up?   Dress You Up In My Love (The Nationwide Equality Prom) When: April 2nd, 2010. Why: In solidarity with Constance McMillan  Constance McMillan wanted to take her girlfriend to prom. Rather than allow a same-sex couple to attend, her school canceled the prom for everyone.  Well, that's just uncalled for.  April 2nd was the original date for the dance. If her school won't hold it - then let's dress up in support of equality and have a nationwide prom that day.  Here's what to do:  Schools (without dress codes), universities, clubs, organizations, & interested individuals:  On April 2nd, dress up in your absolute FINEST. If you have a suit or old tuxedo and want to wear it - put it on. If you have a nice dress or an old prom gown that fits - wear it. If you have none of this, just find whatever nice clothes you have and feel comfortable wearing.  "But I'll look completely out of place and ridiculous. People don't wear formal clothing every day."  Exactly.  Wearing a tuxedo, suit, gown, or formal dress clothes to class, work, or grocery shopping IS out of the ordinary. And it's going to draw attention and get some questions asked.  So, if anyone asks why you're all dressed up - tell them: A young woman in Mississippi wanted to go to prom with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. Instead of being allowed to do this, the administration canceled the prom for everyone.  Since April 2nd was the original date for the prom - you're dressing up to show your solidarity with Constance and support for equality.  Get a group of your friends to dress up with you. April 2nd is a Friday. Have fun with this while taking a stand.  (Extra points if you can manage to organize some type of prom-esq social or function in your local community on this day).  RSVP on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=365198770039 [4]  Email: equalityprom@me.com [5] [1] http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=365198770039 [2] http://www.365gay.com/news/lesbian-teen-sues-to-force-school-to-hold-prom/ [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jen_Dugan [4] http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=365198770039 [5] http://www.365gay.commailto:equalityprom@me.com

The company that created the gay and lesbian cruise concept is commemorating its 25th birthday with a Silver Anniversary Cruise in Hawaii. RSVP Vacation said Monday that it will be the company's first cruise in the islands. The seven-day cruise aboard NCL's Pride of America departs Honolulu Oct. 30. It makes calls at Maui, Kauai and the Big Island before returning to Honolulu Nov. 6. Hawaii Tourism Authority's vice president of marketing, David Uchiyama, says Hawaii is honored that RSVP selected the state for its Silver Anniversary Cruise. The Minneapolis-based company hosted its first all-gay cruise in 1986. Since then, RSVP says more than 80,000 men and women have participated in its ship and riverboat cruises, land tours and resort vacations. over the campaign documents could push back the closing arguments. Editor's question: Have you ever been on a gay cruise? To where? With whom? What did you think?

(San Francisco) More legal wrangling in the federal trial over California's gay marriage ban is threatening to delay the case. The sponsors of Proposition 8 are seeking access to the internal campaign documents of gay rights groups that opposed the measure. But the groups, including Equality California, want to block that request. At a hearing Tuesday, their lawyers told Judge Vaughn Walker that the e-mails and memos are irrelevant because the groups are not officially part of the litigation. Walker is presiding over the first federal trial on whether the U.S. Constitution prevents states from outlawing same-sex marriages. Testimony ended in January, and Walker had planned to schedule closing arguments after he's had time to review evidence. Now apeals over the campaign documents could push back the closing arguments.

Pennsylvania's Republican-majority Senate Judiciary Committee killed 8-6 a bill to amend the state constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer [1]. This is the third time in four years a gay marriage ban bill has been tabled. There was no debate. Committee Chairman Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican, told the Inquirer that the vote "was a referendum on gay marriage" and that the "measure would not come up again this session." Said the Inquirer: "I believe that Senate Bill 707 is the antithesis of what Pennsylvanians need and want, and I am happy that the majority of my colleagues agree with me," said Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery). Earlier this year, Leach introduced a measure (S.B. 935) that would provide for marriage equality in Pennsylvania. It has drawn just one cosponsor. Pennsylvania already bans gay marriage, but opponents have sought to write the ban into the constitution to prevent a judge's decision from reversing it. Currently, there are no legal challenges to the statute, said Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. [1] http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/88051127.html

(Blantyre, Malawi) Church leaders say they have met in this fiercely conservative southern African nation to "understand the phenomenon" of same sex partners days ahead of a court verdict that could send two gay men to jail for up to 14 years. Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe, head of the Malawi Council of Churches, says the leaders gathered Wednesday in the southern town of Mangochi to discuss homosexuality as an issue "most Malawians do not understand." Blantyre magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa is scheduled to deliver a verdict Monday on Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, arrested and jailed since Dec. 26 after holding a public engagement ceremony. Homosexuality is illegal in most sub-Saharan African countries. The arrests have outraged human rights groups and Western donors in Malawi, one of Africa's poorest nations.

You know it's bad when Mark Foley [1] and Ted Haggard [2] can't even be in the top five. For a little humor go examine the top 10 list of  anti-gay politicians caught doing the gay. [3] They are all there, from Larry Craig [4] and his bathroom antics to good ol' Roy Ashburn [5], who voted against rights for gays and immigrants but was enthralled with Latino male tail (who isn't?). Some of these guys are really low-down dirty dogs. There is Richard Curtis [6], a Washington State representative who voted consistently against  domestic partnerships and discrimination laws. How did his sodomy loving ways come out? He hired an escort (no problem there), but reneged on the agreed upon price. Really Curtis? That's so not classy and rather cheap. Glad the working lad had pictures of you in sexy red negligee. Then there is creepy Bruce Barclay [7], although his creepy nature saved him from living as a guest of the state. He and a young guy had some booty time. The young thing called it rape. The authorities were called in. Mr. Barclay had many videotapes preserving his sexual conquests, filmed without the consent of his fellow actors. The tape didn't show rape; however, if you meet this guy in  bar and want to give him shot, take him to your place. Go check the list out. Any glaring omissions? Any problems with the order? [1] http://www.365gay.com/video/video-ross-palombo-has-the-latest-on-mark-foleys-case/ [2] http://www.365gay.com/video/haggard-sex-scandal-the-sequel/ [3] http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-anti-gay-activists-caught-being-gay/joanne# [4] http://www.365gay.com/news/larry-craig-defense-fund-fizzles/ [5] http://www.365gay.com/news/calif-state-senator-says-hes-gay-after-dui-arrest/ [6] http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/10/richard_curtis_more_shocking_details [7] http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/12/ex-cumberland_county_commissio.html

(Jackson, Miss.) School officials in a rural Mississippi county told a lesbian student to get "guys" to take her and her girlfriend to a high school prom and warned the girls against slow dancing with each other because that could "push people's buttons," according to documents filed Tuesday in federal court. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Itawamba County School District and some officials at Itawamba Agricultural High School on behalf of Constance McMillen, 18, who wanted to escort her girlfriend to the prom and wear a tuxedo. A hearing is scheduled for Monday to hear an ACLU motion that seeks to force the district to hold the April 2 prom it canceled after McMillen made her requests. In the court documents, McMillen said Rick Mitchell, the assistant principal at the school, told her she could not attend the prom with her girlfriend but they could go with "guys." Superintendent Teresa McNeece told the teen that the girls should attend the prom separately, had to wear dresses and couldn't slow dance with each other because that could "push people's buttons," according to court documents. The school district last week said it wouldn't host the prom "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events." District officials said they hoped private citizens would sponsor a dance. The decision came on the same day the ACLU asked the district to act on McMillen's prom requests. McMillen said she approached school officials weeks ago about wanting to take her girlfriend to the prom. "I want my prom experience to be the same as all of the other students, a night to remember with the person I'm dating," McMillen said. The district, located in northern Mississippi near the Alabama state line, prohibits same-sex dates at the prom. The ACLU has said that violates the rights of gay and lesbian students. The school district had not responded to the ACLU filing by Tuesday afternoon. Christine Sun, a senior counsel with the ACLU's national gay rights project, said the organization is determined to put the prom back on the school calendar. Fulton Mayor Paul Walker said he has heard that parents are making plans for a private dance but he didn't know the details. It's unclear if gay couples would be welcome at that event. The ACLU has taken on similar cases in recent months. In October, the ACLU sent a demand letter to the school district in Copiah County, Miss., after officials refused to let 17-year-old Ceara Sturgis be photographed in a tuxedo for the yearbook. The district stood by its decision and the ACLU said it is still considering litigation. In November, officials at Tharptown High School in Franklin County, Ala., reversed an earlier decision to bar a lesbian from attending the prom with a female date. After the ACLU issued a demand letter, the decision was reversed, said Gary Smith, superintendent of Franklin County Schools. "The ACLU told us we were infringing on her rights as a student. In view of that, we had to let her bring her," Smith recently said.