The Cool:The US Senate starts us off on a good note, reintroducing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act which would include crimes committed on the basis sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, and disability as hate crimes under federal law. The House gave the OK to the bill, passing it on a 249-175 bipartisan vote. Thanks for saying no to hate, Congress!
We have the Senate to thank for the next tidbit, too - former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius (photo at right) was confirmed as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, rounding out President Obama's new cabinet.
Finally, a big cheer for the 8 year-old Saudi Arabia girl who won a divorce from a 47 year-old man.
The UnCool:
The Missouri State House approved restrictions to Emergency Contraception in the Show Me State by passing an amendment to allow pharmacies to refuse to stock EC, also known as the morning-after pill or Plan B. The California Supreme Court also refused to hear an appeal in a sexual orientation expulsion case from a Lutheran high school.
On the global scene, human rights violations against juveniles are continuing in Iran, with the execution of Delara Darabi as the most recent example. In Afghanistan, there is rising concern about potential voting fraud for Afghan women as the August election approaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment