My first cousin Ira got married last week. So why post it here? Because his marriage would not be legal in Pennsylvania. And it may not be legal in California soon. I don’t generally cry at weddings. But I teared up at this picture. I hope it won’t be long before my cousin could get married in Pennsylvania. In the meantime, if you want to help preserve marriage equality in California go to http://www.noonprop8.com Continue reading
A lot of the opposition to emergency contraception (EC), also known as Plan B–which is being debated now in the PA House of Representatives–comes from the Catholic Church and other religious opponents of abortion. Because I’ve taught a course on Just War Theory, and most of the leading contributors to that theory work in the Catholic tradition, I have some familiarity with Catholic moral thought. And I must say that there is a plausible argument from within that tradition for allowing EC. Catholic just war theory teaches that it is permissible to do evil—that is, kill innocents—provided that one is doing so in a war of self-defense and provided that one is not aiming at the innocents. The doctrine of double effect says that so long as the death of innocents is not the intent of the military action but rather that one intends to strike at a legitimate military… Continue reading
Sometime this week—perhaps as early as tomorrow, although I don’t know for sure—the PA House of Representatives will take up once again HB 288, Daylin Leach’s bill to require hospitals to inform all rape victims about the availability of Plan B also know as Emergency Contraception (EC) or the morning after pill. We need your help to enact this piece of legislation. The bill probably had the votes to win a few weeks ago, but some presumed supporters— including Philadelphia Representatives Donatucci (D-185), Kenney (R-170), J. Taylor (R-177) and D. O’Brien (R-169) agreed to put off the vote for a time in the hopes of finding a compromise that would not incur the wrath of the lobbyists for Catholic Church. Rosita Youngblood (D-198) did not vote. Please act today to encourage these and other legislators to support HB 288, without any damaging amendments. Continue reading
I’m sure we are all having fun over another example of Republican hypocripsy on gay issues. But is anyone else disturbed about Craig being arrested for merely propositioning someone–and doing it in a way that most straight men would hardly recognize it as such? I can see why laws against people actually having sex in a public restroom might be a good idea. But laws against a fairly subtle come-on? What is the point—except to harass gay men. After all, straight men make sleazy come-ons, too. And in public. Craig’s actions were actually pretty subtle. I’ve seen a lot sleazier (and, sometimes, borderline violent) come-ons from straight men. But, of course, in our sexist and homophobic society lots of people laugh at sleazy straight come-ons and want to see much less sleazy gay ones prosecuted. It’s not just come-ons but public sex. I’ve seen women giving men head or a… Continue reading
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as today on HB 2381, a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that not only limits marriage to a heterosexual couple but could also take away existing legal protection, under local laws, for committed long-term couples and their children, such as hospital visitation rights, inheritance rights, pension benefits and health insurance coverage among others. It is likely to undermine the domestic partnership laws that have been created in many localities, such as Philadelphia. I urge you to contact your state legislators to tell them that you oppose HB 2381. Contact information for state legislators can be found on the Neighborhood Networks website. Continue reading