Anti- Discrimination Legislation

North Dakota State Senate Passes Anti-Discrimination Legislation

On February 19th, North Dakota Senate approved a bill that would make their Human Rights Act incorporate gays, lesbians, bisexual, and trans gender people. The voting results were 27 to 19.

The bill will prevent employers to discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans gender people. The Human Rights Act already establishes a no discriminating policy according to sex, race, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, and public assistance status. It is clarified, however, that if a person is not doing their job to their potential that they can be fired whether the person be gay, lesbian, or straight. The main point is that employers cannot fire someone simply because they are gay. Also, religious organizations are amended from the bill.

I feel that this is a great step for gays, lesbians, etc. Although I do not agree with their choice of lifestyle, I still feel that everyone should be treated equally. Our nation is built on equality and I do not think that gays should be exempt for this. They are Americans as well and should receive the same treatment as every other American.

We all know that discrimination exists everywhere, but maybe this bill could help decrease the level of discrimination in the workplace. There should be a bill passed like this in every state. No one deserves to be treated badly. You cannot make a person's choices for them, and just because you do not understand their decision, does not mean that you should judge and make assumptions on what type of employee this person would be.

I hope that hen this bill goes through the House, that it will be passed and will go into affect. Everyone deserves a chance, not based on their lifestyle choice.

Obama Gender Balances First Presidential Press Conference

Obama Gender Balances First Presidential Press Conference

Barrack Obama's first prime-time press conference as President, of the United States, was close to being completely gender balanced. Of the reporters who questioned Obama, six were female and seven were male. The first question and the last question asked of Obama were from women.

This is a big step for women reporters in the U.S. The questions normally asked at press conferences are dominated primarily by male reporters.

One of the six females called upon was, 89 year old, Helen Thomas, born in Winchester, KY. She has been apart of the White House press corps since the Kennedy administration in 1961. She has questioned many presidents; Barrack Obama making the tenth.

This article really interested me. It seems to me that having a black president is already creating equality in all branches of society, blacks and whites, males and females. I think that this is a great change. Everyone wants to be treated equally, and I think we are finally on the right path to achieve this. Men, not being picked over women, is a huge accomplishment. Women have been the underdogs in society for so long, that it is most definitely time for a change.

I also found the information about Helen Thomas very interesting as well. I live in Mt. Sterling which is maybe 15 minutes from Winchester, where she was born. Whenever I hear about someone from around where I am from it gives me hope that people anywhere can achieve good things. I think it is awesome that a woman from right here in Kentucky was there asking the president of the U.S. questions.

Senator Boxer to Chair Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women's Issues

I read the article "Senator Boxer to Chair Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women's Issues". In this article it talks about Senator Barbara Boxer's new position in chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues. The article goes on to talk about how she will be able to focus her efforts on not only local women's issues, but global issues as well.

We want to believe that, in this day and time, women are treated equally to men. However, there are many nations in which women are tortured and remain treated as second class citizens.

I think that it is awsome that they are going to have someone working specifically for women's causes. So many things go overlooked in this world that can be prevented. Bringing the worlds attention to these issues could possibly lead to the elimination of them.

Feminist Daily News Wire
January 30, 2009

South Carolina Bill Would Require 24 Hour Waiting Period Prior to Abortion Procedures

This article talks about the proposed bill that will require a 24 hours waiting period after viewing the ultrasound of the fetus in South Carolina. Currently, there is only a one hour waiting policy in effect.

"Republican Representative Greg Dellaney told NBC that he supports the bill because abortion is 'a monumental decision' that deserves 'at least a 24-hour waiting period.'"

However, Democrat Representative, Todd Rutherford, opposes the bill. He feels that the women, going to have the abortion, already know what exactly they are doing. Other critics continue by calling the 24 hour waiting period costly to the mothers that live in rural areas that have to pay for transportation to and from the hospital.



How can a comparison be made of the cost of transportation, to the cost of a child's life? If this bill is passed, it could make an enormous impact on the mothers that are planning on having an abortion. Having that 24 hours to view their child inside of them, and realizing the reality of what they will be doing, may change their minds. This is not a decision you can make easily, and although some women may have thought that their minds were made up when agreeing to the abortion, the waiting period could make all the difference. One hour is not enough.

This bill should be passed, not just for South Carolina, but for all states. This would significantly decrease the amount of abortions in the United States. Every life deserves a chance at living, and this could give all of the unborn fetus' a chance at their lives.

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