Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the greatest speeches ever given. This man changed a nation.

Haiti: How You Can Help

From the AP:

"Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake flattened the president's palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared thousands — perhaps more than 100,000 — may have perished but there was no firm count.

Death was everywhere in Port-au-Prince. Bodies of tiny children were piled next to schools. Corpses of women lay on the street with stunned expressions frozen on their faces as flies began to gather. Bodies of men were covered with plastic tarps or cotton sheets.

President Rene Preval said he believes thousands were killed in Tuesday afternoon's magnitude-7.0 quake, and the scope of the destruction prompted other officials to give even higher estimates."

Find links here to the Red Cross and other organizations where you can donate to help the relief effort in Haiti.

(Photo: LISANDRO SUERO / AFP / Getty Images)

Washington, DC Legalizes Gay Marriage

"The mayor of Washington has signed a bill legalizing gay marriage in the nation's capital, but it won't go into effect just yet....

The bill must pass a 30-day period of Congressional review."

Read the story here.

Marriage Victory in New York

"In a lengthy debate Wednesday that often focused more on theology than politics, the New York Senate defeated a “gay marriage” bill 38-24, handing homosexual activists another stinging defeat in the liberal Northeast."

See Beetle Blogger for all the details!

Maine Marriage Supporters Targeted

From Bangor Daily News:

"In a defiant speech to several hundred lingering supporters, No on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly pledged that his side “will not quit until we know where every single one of these votes lives.”

“We’re not short-timers; we are here for the long haul,” Connolly told the crowd, some of whom wiped away tears as he spoke. “Whether it’s just all night and into the morning, or next week or next month or next year, we will be here. We’ll be fighting, we’ll be working. We will regroup.'"

[Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin]

Maine Stands For Marriage

From Pearl Diver:

"Yes on Question 1 WINS, 53% to 47%, an almost identical percentage margin, I might add, to California’s Prop 8 results. Congratulations go to Mainers who GOT OUT THE VOTE and represented and protected the children who will ultimately be most affected by any marriage redefinition. It is clear that THE MAJORITY still recognizes the eternal and natural truth that children have a right to be raised by a mother and a father and that GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DO ALL IN ITS POWER TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT.

Says Fox News, “Gay marriage has now lost in every single state -- 31 in all -- in which it has been put to a popular vote.' "


Opine also has a bunch of news clips and commentary here.

Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislation

by Peter J. Smith, www.LifeSiteNews.com

President Barack Obama has now signed into law a controversial "hate crimes" bill that authorizes the federal government to intervene in violent crimes that appear motivated by hatred of homosexuals and apply stiffer penalties and sentences.
...

Opponents of the hate crimes legislation have charged that the bill violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution by making an individual's thought regarding certain groups as much a factor as the nature of his act in prosecuting a crime.

The US Commissioners on Civil Rights wrote letters to US House and Senate leaders condemning the legislation, saying they "regard the broad federalization of crime as a menace to civil liberties." The commissioners also pointed out that the law creates a legal loophole to the Constitution's prohibitions to double jeopardy, because it allows the federal government to try an individual who has already been acquitted in a state trial, for the same crime.

Read the full story here.

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Gay Agenda Bills

From Beetle Blogger:

"After a long midnight session with legislators, Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed SB 572 legislation that appoints May 22 as “Harvey Milk Day” in California public schools AND and SB 54 that recognizes same-sex marriages performed out of state.

The signing of these two bills is a slap in the face to voters who have consistently rejected same sex marriage and pushing homosexuality in schools."

Read the full story here.

Illinois State Senate to Consider "Equal Marriage Act"

A similar bill has already been introduced in the Illinois House.




And there is a helpful article here summarizing all of the legal activity
on "gay marriage" so far in 2009.

Texas Judge Rules Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

The ruling came in a gay divorce case, but will this help to open the door for gay marriage proponents?

Read the story here.