Obama Administration endorses UN declaration to decriminalise homosexuality

[DMB]

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_7731/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=OT1HOeUm

The Obama administration on Wednesday formally endorsed a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W. Bush had refused to sign...

...When it was voted on in December, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration, which backers called an historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with anti-gay discrimination. It was endorsed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia and Mexico.

But 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality - and in several, homosexual acts can be punished by execution. More than 50 nations, including members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, opposed the declaration.

So many gay people face terrible danger in illiberal countries. This will give them some moral support.

[lpetrich]

It's nice to see the UN doing something good for a change; it looks like those homophobes will be outvoted.

And it's nice to have a sensible President in the White House. What a relief from that Religious-Right panderer of the last 8 years.

[Schneibster]

It's good to have the adults in charge.

[DMB]

It's still going to take a very long time before homosexuality is decriminalised everywhere. Most of Africa and the Islamic world have stringent laws against it. It's an awful struggle.

[BWE]

Obama Administration to Stop Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensers


WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Wednesday outlined a shift in the enforcement of federal drug laws, saying the administration would effectively end the Bush administration’s frequent raids on distributors of medical marijuana.


Speaking with reporters, Mr. Holder provided few specifics but said the Justice Department’s enforcement policy would now be restricted to traffickers who falsely masqueraded as medical dispensaries and “use medical marijuana laws as a shield.”

In the Bush administration, federal agents raided medical marijuana distributors that violated federal statutes even if the dispensaries appeared to be complying with state laws. The raids produced a flood of complaints, particularly in California, which in 1996 became the first state to legalize marijuana sales to people with doctors’ prescriptions.
from NYT but I lost the link. Sorry.

[Christina]

Here's the link (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/us/19holder.html), BWE. This is really good news. I have a few friends that run a co-op that grows their own and distributes it for free to people with terminal illnesses here. Because they don't charge for it they've be in the lead with court cases fighting the raids in California. Santa Cruz is supportive enough that some of the councilmembers even gave out MM on the steps of City Hall for a press conference. When WAMM was raided people all over town donated pot to keep their patients going.

TBH, I don't care if the growers that are selling commercially under the auspices of MM get busted. They're the ones that have been creating most of the problem and giving the feds a smokescreen and excuse for the raids.

[BWE]

In oregon the state refused to assist the feds and they went away. True story. Bush was angry

Pot isn't illegal here though. Or, not criminal. If you really piss off a cop or smoke out on the town square, they can write a $50 citation, same as a parking ticket. But it's not a criminal offense.

[Christina]

It's the same here in effect. We have a proposition that says that all marijuana smoking should be the cop's lowest priority and they let WAMM have events in a non-smoking park and put up a tent for people to smoke in. It's not legal to grow unless you have a card or are listed as a caregiver but no one cares if someone is growing a few plants for personal use.

[Ray Moscow]

About 10 years ago I attended a course in which we had several participants from Gulf (ME) countries.

During a break, one Muslim guy told me that he had visited San Francisco, where a cop told him to stop smoking in a public place. He objected, pointed out a gay couple holding hands nearby.

"That's their own business, not yours," the cop replied. "You're the one breaking the law."

This led into a boast about how although there were gays in his country, and although they couldn't help themselves, the government just killed them. He felt this was the right thing to do.

Nice religion and government they've got there!

[DMB]

Yes, homophobia seems to be rampant in the ME.

[Ray Moscow]

Of course, it's not just homophobia (fear of gays), but the belief that they have a right to kill gays, backed up by both religion and law.

[DMB]

Of course, it's not just homophobia (fear of gays), but the belief that they have a right to kill gays, backed up by both religion and law.

I think they see it as crushing cockroaches. I expect Pope Ratzi would love to burn gays at the stake.

[Uthgar the Brazen]

I think they see it as crushing cockroaches. I expect Pope Ratzi would love to burn gays at the stake.

And I'd like to see him give it a try. I've been itching for a fight all day. :evil: