Post Your Online Petitions Here!

[DapperButch]

Hi, folks. I thought it would be helpful to have a place where we could post online petitions for various causes that are important to us. People could come and check them out and then sign if interested.

Here's one for asking ebay to stop selling live animals in their classifieds.

Please consider signing the petition.

http://www.change.org/petitions/ebay...g-live-animals

[DapperButch]

http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...new=t&opt_fb=f

They are trying to get to 50,000 signatures before today's rally.

[Soon]

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s/i_do

Lawmakers Introduce DOMA Repeal Bill

By Josh Bell
Mar 16, 2011 at 10:31 am

UPDTATE 2:20 PM: The Senate announcement introducing a DOMA-repeal bill is now underway. Here are some comments by lawmakers at this morning's House announcement:

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY): "The time for dumping DOMA is long overdue, and rather than prolonging litigation in the courts, Congress should act to repeal this ugly law… When Congress passed DOMA in 1996, it was not possible for a gay or lesbian couple to marry anywhere in the world. Today, tens of thousands of gay and lesbian couples are married. Far from harming the institution of marriage, these couples have embraced this time-honored tradition and the serious legal duties of civil marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act will send this shameful law into the history books where it belongs."

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA): "Years of experience with same-sex marriage in several states has conclusively refuted the arguments of DOMA that were never valid in the first place. It stands now only as a symbol of bigotry and should be repealed."

Rep. Tammie Baldwin (D-WI): "The administration's decision not to defend DOMA intensifies the urgent need to repeal this discriminatory law... Anything less than full equality is most likely unconstitutional, and most certainly un-American."

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI): "Discrimination of any kind against a person based on their sexual orientation is just wrong and it should be prohibited by law."

ORIGINAL POST:

Today is a major day in the fight for winning marriage nationwide: lawmakers in the House and Senate are introducing a pair of bills to repeal the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" – and momentum is on our side, with a new poll showing that a majority of Americans oppose the law. Freedom to Marry Founder and President Evan Wolfson joined legislators on Capitol Hill for the official announcement on the Respect for Marriage Act.

The House bill already has more than 100 co-sponsors. The lead sponsors are Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), Tammie Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), David Cicilline (D-RI), and John Conyers (D-MI). Rep. Nadler introduced a repeal bill in 2009, but there was not a Senate version to go along with it. This time, a Senate bill is being introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

"Today Freedom to Marry is ramping up the campaign needed to overturn DOMA and return the federal government to its longstanding practice of honoring marriages celebrated in the states – without a 'gay exception,'" Wolfson said.

Every day that DOMA remains in effect, real families are hurt, whether it's a widowed spouse who could lose his or her home because of an unfair inheritance tax, or a binational couple facing being torn apart because of one partner's immigration status.

Also on Capitol Hill today is our new Federal Director, Jo Deutsch, who is opening a Washington office for us and will guide the bills through congress and end federal marriage discrimination once and for all.

"This is a superb choice for Freedom to Marry," added Congresswoman Baldwin. "I've worked closely with Jo for many years, and know how effective she is at building coalitions and making the most persuasive case in Washington. I am thrilled to have the chance to work with her in our efforts to ensure that everyone’s marriage is fully respected at the federal level."

We're far from alone in this fight. A poll released yesterday found that a majority of American voters oppose DOMA, as well as efforts by the House Republican leadership to defend the law in court. Only 34% are in favor of DOMA. Significant majorities also favor granting the same federal benefits to married same-sex couples that straight couples get, like the ability to file a joint tax return or add a spouse to federal employee health insurance. DOMA blocks these benefits, even for gay couples legally married in the states.

President Obama has called repeatedly for DOMA to be repealed. But he has not yet publicly voiced his support for the freedom to marry itself. Freedom to Marry has joined with major figures from entertainment, sports, and business to urge the in an open letter President Obama to say, "I do" to marriage for all. You can join them and nearly 30,000 other marriage supporters by adding your name to the letter here:

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s/i_do
--------------------------------------------

P.S. According to a recent poll by the Human Rights Campaign, only 34% of Americans support DOMA.

[Corkey]

http://americasvoiceonline.org/page/s/DontHuntHumans

Kansas rep. wants to hunt undocumented people from helicopters.

[DapperButch]

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/page/s...415taxdayemail

[DapperButch]

http://www.change.org/petitions/dema...-a-trans-woman

Please be aware that video is disturbing.

More info. on the case in trans forum

[Linus]

http://www.petitiononline.com/20CV11/petition.html Petition to allow Canadians living outside the country to vote, as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If one has been out of the country for more than 5 years, then one loses that right (as per Elections Canada) but the Charter has not been changed so this is a violation of the Charter.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by Corkey

http://americasvoiceonline.org/page/s/DontHuntHumans

Kansas rep. wants to hunt undocumented people from helicopters.

Sarah Palin must be jealous as all get out...she only gets to hunt critters from helicopters.

[weatherboi]

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell...not-acceptable

this petition is trying to stop websites that promote "gift giving" and "bug chasing" and methamphetamine use within our community. bare backing and drug use when hiv positive is not ok...in fact it is criminal!!! please sign and help stop this disastrous trend from growing!!!!

[weatherboi]

Please please please!!!
Go and check out this petition and sign it if you agree! Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by weatherboi

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell...not-acceptable

this petition is trying to stop websites that promote "gift giving" and "bug chasing" and methamphetamine use within our community. bare backing and drug use when hiv positive is not ok...in fact it is criminal!!! please sign and help stop this disastrous trend from growing!!!!

[EnderD_503]

In 24 hours, the Ugandan Parliament may vote on a brutal new law that carries the death penalty for homosexuality. Thousands of Ugandans could face execution -- just for being gay.

We've helped stop this bill before, and we can do it again. After a massive global outcry last year, Ugandan President Museveni blocked the bill's progress. But political unrest is mounting in Uganda, and religious extremists in Parliament are hoping confusion and violence in the streets will distract the international community from a second push to pass this hate-filled law. We can show them that the world is still watching. If we block the vote for two more days until Parliament closes, the bill will expire forever.

We have no time to lose. Let’s get to one million voices against Uganda's gay death penalty in the next 24 hours -- sign now then spread the word about this campaign!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/uganda_s...obia_petition/

[EnderD_503]

Update: May 11 2011 - The Pressure is Working -- the bill did not come to a vote today! But the anti-gay movement is fighting to bring it back in an emergency session on Friday. Our signatures are being delivered directly to Uganda's Parliament and media across the world are reporting on our campaign. Let's ramp up the pressure - if we can stop a vote on the bill this week -- we'll win this!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/uganda_s...obia_petition/

[EnderD_503]

Just to follow up on the result of the petition against the proposed Ugandan anti-gay law that would result in the death penalty for homosexuals who were caught "engaging in homosexuality" more than once, and how signing petitions can really make a difference in the world:

Dear friends,

Uganda's anti-gay law has failed! It looked sure to pass last week, but after 1.6 million petition signatures delivered to Parliament, tens of thousands of phone calls to our own governments, hundreds of media stories about our campaign and a massive global outcry, Ugandan politicians dropped the bill!

It was down to the wire - religious extremists tried to push the bill through on Wednesday, and then convened an unprecedented emergency session of Parliament on Friday. But each time, within hours, we reacted. A huge congratulations to everyone who signed, called, forwarded and donated to this campaign - with our help, thousands of innocent people in Uganda's gay community do not wake up this morning facing execution for whom they chose to love.

Frank Mugisha, a courageous leader of the gay community in Uganda sent us this message:

"Brave Ugandan LGBT activists and millions of people around the world have stood together and faced down this horrendous anti-homosexuality bill.The support from the Avaaz global community has tipped the scales to prevent this Bill going forward. Global solidarity has made a huge difference"

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs' Office also wrote to Avaaz:

"Many thanks. As you know, thanks to a very large extent to the intensive lobbying and combined effort of you, other civil society representatives, EU and other governments, plus our delegation and embassies on the ground the Bill was not presented to the Parliament this morning."

This fight is not over. The extremists behind this bill could try again within just 18 months. But this is the second time we've helped defeat this bill, and we'll keep going until the hate-mongers give up.

Transforming the deeper causes of ignorance and hatred behind homophobia is an historic, long term struggle, one of the great causes of our generation. But Uganda has become a front line in that struggle, and a powerful symbol. The victory there echoes across many other places where hope is desperately needed, showing that kindness, love, tolerance and respect can defeat hatred and ignorance. Again, a huge thanks to all who made it happen.

With enormous gratitude and admiration for this amazing community,

Ricken, Emma, Iain, Alice, Giulia, Saloni and the whole Avaaz team.

Anti-gay Bill Shelved: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13392723

[EnderD_503]

Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/let-...canada#updates

Background story:

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/Al...ass-10192.aspx

http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/O...ely-10177.aspx

[EnderD_503]

In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the ‘war on drugs’. This expensive war has completely failed to curb the plague of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating communities, and funneling trillions of dollars into violent organized crime networks.

Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.

This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment -- if enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public isn't ready for an alternative. Let's show them we not only accept a sane and humane policy -- we demand it. Sign the petition and share with everyone --if we reach 1 million voices, it will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global commission.

For 50 years current drug policies have failed everyone, everywhere but public debate is stuck in the mud of fear and misinformation. Everyone, even the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which is responsible for enforcing this approach agrees -- deploying militaries and police to burn drug farms, hunting down traffickers, and imprisoning dealers and addicts – is an expensive mistake. And with massive human cost -- from Afghanistan, to Mexico, to the USA the illegal drug trade is destroying countries around the world, while addiction, overdose deaths, and HIV/AIDS infections continue to rise.

Meanwhile, countries with less-harsh enforcement -- like Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Australia -- have not seen the explosion in drug use that proponents of the drug war have darkly predicted. Instead, they have seen significant reductions in drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, and are able to focus squarely on dismantling criminal empires.

Powerful lobbies still stand in the way of change, including military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are at stake. And politicians fear that voters will throw them out of office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear weak on law and order. But many former drug Ministers and Heads of State have come out in favour of reform since leaving office, and polls show that citizens across the world know the current approach is a catastrophe. Momentum is gathering towards new improved policies, particularly in regions that are ravaged by the drug trade.

If we can create a worldwide outcry in the next few days to support the bold calls of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we can overpower the stale excuses for the status quo. Our voices hold the key to change -- Sign the petition and spread the word.

We have a chance to enter the closing chapter of this brutal 'war' that has destroyed millions of lives. Global public opinion will determine if this catastrophic policy is stopped or if politicians shy away from reform. Let's rally urgently to push our hesitating leaders from doubt and fear, over the edge, and into reason.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/

[DapperButch]

I would very much appreciate some signatures on this petition. I have a personal investment in this one.

Thanks!

http://www.change.org/petitions/phil...EEe_gTOPviGmaj

[DapperButch]

Bump

[DapperButch]

https://secure3.convio.net/leahy/sit...rAction&id=182

[DapperButch]

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/bachmann_clinic/

According to what I have read, they don't actually do "conversion therapy", in the truest definition of the practice, but they do indicate to clients that prayer, etc., could "convert" them to being straight.

Oh, and the Phillies did make a "It gets better" video, so thank you for everyone who signed that petition. :-)

[DapperButch]

http://www.change.org/petitions/thom...he-highest-gpa

Teen mother had to share valedictorian status.