Obama Extends Hospital Visitation Rights to Same-Sex Partners

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama issued a memo on Thursday that would require hospitals accepting Medicare or Medicaid funds to allow visitation rights to gay and lesbian partners...

He also ordered hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid to ensure that all patients' advance directives, which include appointing someone to make healthcare decisions if necessary, are respected."

Real Reason for the Easter Season

Neutered Marriages in Washington, DC

From the AP:

"About 150 couples were eligible to pick up marriage licenses Tuesday after applying on the first day the licenses were made available. Many of them stood in line for four or more hours last Wednesday.

The District of Columbia is the sixth place in the country permitting same-sex unions. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont also issue same-sex couples licenses."

Marriage DOES Matter

Opine has a link to an article summarizing social science research that shows that marriage is important and does play a positive role in society. Check it out for some good reading.

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.