Why Prop 8 Won | Closing Gitmo at Top of Obama's To-Do List | Palin Blamed for Threats Against Obama

Rights & Liberties Newsletter November 12th, 2008 More from Rights & Liberties »

Why the Prop 8 Gay Marriage Ban Won By Richard Kim, The Nation The Christian right outmaneuvered gay rights activists when it came to reaching out to California's huge minority populations. Read more »   The past week has seen thousands of people rally against the bigoted measure called Prop. 8, which cruelly eliminated the right of gay Californians to marry their partners. After so much joy and celebration earlier this year, once again the LGBT community faced a legal slap in the face. It was particularly sad because it came at the same time that the country's voters made history by voting for our first African American president. As Deb Price writes this week: In his uplifting victory speech, President-elect Barack Obama told the story of 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper of Atlanta and the remarkable changes that have transpired during her lifetime. Born just one generation after slavery, when people like her were barred from voting both because of the color of their skin and their gender, she saw America overcome the Depression, crush the Nazis, dismantle racial segregation, land on the moon and inspire freedom-seekers to knock down the Berlin Wall. "And this year, in this election," Obama said, "she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can." For those of us who're gay, Ann Nixon Cooper's story is a well of hope to draw from as we continue our own difficult journey to equality after a bittersweet election. Read the rest of her column here. And continue to check AlterNet's Rights & Liberties section for more on the unfolding legal battle against Prop 8. Thanks for reading, Liliana Segura Editor, Rights & Liberties Special Coverage     Election Results Are Bittersweet for Gays By Deb Price, AlterNet In a reminder that time always sides with those fighting for equality, a majority of young people voted against the gay marriage ban in California. Read more »   Report: Closing Gitmo at Top of Obama's To-Do List By Leonard Doyle, Independent UK The president-elect has been a longtime critic of the U.S. gulag at Guantanamo Bay. Read more »   Let's Hope the Rumors About Jane Harman in an Obama Admin Aren't Serious By Linda Milazzo, AlterNet The idea that the author of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act will work with Obama is a scary one. Read more »   Could an Obama Presidency Dampen Enthusiasm for Jihad? By Bramantyo Prijosusilo, New America Media If Obama upholds democratic values abroad without double standards, jihadi ideologues will have a much harder time recruiting. Read more »   Waiting to Die: The Cruel Phenomenon of "Death Row Syndrome" By Michael J. Carter, IPS News As prisoners across the country spend decades awaiting execution, the psychological effects are devastating. Read more »   Sarah Palin Blamed by the US Secret Service Over Death Threats Against Barack Obama By Tim Shipman, The Telegraph (UK) Palin's attacks on Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against him Secret Service agents say. Read more »   PEEK and Video: The hottest buzz and videos on the web     Gay Marriage and You: Keith Olbermann's Excellent Statement By Mole333, Culture Kitchen Amazing: Olbermann's comments on Calif. Prop 8, gay rights, marriage, love and more. Read more »   Another Election Victory: Anti-Muslim Rep Goes Down in VA By John Nichols, The Nation Virgil Goode, the creepy congressman who launched an ugly campaign following the election of Muslim Rep. Keith Ellison, was defeated Tuesday. Read more »   Obama and Guantanamo: A Sign of Things to Come? By Steve Benen, Washington Monthly Some detainees would be released and many others would be prosecuted in U.S. criminal courts. Read more »   Legal Challenges Filed Against Prop 8 By Joe Shaulis, Jurist Legal News and Research One day after California voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage, the issue is before the state Supreme Court. Read more »

Support AlterNet  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe from Rights and Liberties Unsubscribe from all future AlterNet communications. You are subscribed as fpac.rangola@blogger.com © 2007 Independent Media Institute All Rights Reserved 77 Federal St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110