Right-Wing Hijacks MLK and Civil Rights Movement

While Glenn Beck holds his neo-fascist "Restore America" rally on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream Speech" to promote militarism, capitalism and theocracy, we need to remember that MLK's dream was a radical, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST vision of equality and social justice that called for ending the Vietnam War, slashing military spending and REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH to alleviate the suffering of the poor and create a more just and equal society.

Glenn Beck is con-man and is using religion to promote a neo-fascist corporate agenda that opposes MLK's pro-labor, anti-capitalist legacy.

King's Dream Was Radical Economic Message

Glenn Beck Needs a History Lesson on the Civil Rights Movement

Glenn Beck Has Long History of Racial Mockery--His "Civil Rights" Talk is a Fraud

Glenn Beck's Perverse Revision of King's Dream is Nothing New

Glenn Beck is NOT Martin Luther King Jr.

Former Memphis Officer Pleads Guilty in Transgender Beating Case

Former Memphis Officer Pleads Guilty in Transgender Beating Case

Finally some justice for Duanna Johnson. Former Memphis police officer Bridges McRae admits to using excessive force against Johnson while booking her into the Shelby Co. Jail.

Memphis Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Withdrawn

Sad day in Memphis when a weak ordinance that would only have protected LGBT people from discrimination in city employment had to be withdraw because of opposition from Memphis religious groups and lack of support in the city council.

Memphis Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Withdrawn

From the Commercial Appeal:

The Tennessee Equality Project and City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove on Tuesday morning withdrew the proposed ordinance, designed to prevent the city from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring or promotion of employees. An accompanying resolution would have included the ordinance's language in city contracts.

Fullilove and TEP members said it was clear the ordinance, which was scheduled for the second of three readings Tuesday afternoon, lacked support from the 13-member council and Wharton's administration.

Michelle Bliss, vice chairwoman of the Shelby County committee of the TEP, said council members were making decisions based on "fear and prejudice."
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No wonder gay people flee Memphis...

Target Boycott Expands

Target Ain't People Protest

HRC Removes Target/Best Buy from LGBT Buyer Guide

Target Boycott

Third World America: The Collapse of American Capitalism

As most working class Americans realize, the American capitalist system is collapsing, along with the "middle class" and the "American Dream" (home ownership, living wages, college, etc.)

As profits soar on Wall Street and among the financial institutions the American working class bailed out, workers and the middle class are losing wages, jobs and living standards. While demand is falling, the U.S. political and media elite are still focused on giving more tax breaks to the wealthy corporate elite who have declared war on labor and the middle class.

The irony is that while Obama and the corporate Democrats focused on saving American capitalism, they will suffer the wrath of the American voters as the system collapses.

Arrianna Huffington: Third World America--Chronicling the Assault on America's Middle Class

Eight Facts About the Shrinking Middle Class

Economic Fears Rise as Disappointing Figures Pile Up

Jobless Millions Signal Death of American Dream for Many

James Petras: What Crisis? Profits Soar!

Mexican States Ordered to Honor Gay Marriages

The Mexican Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that each of the country’s 31 states must recognize same-sex marriages registered in Mexico City, potentially giving gay and lesbian couples full matrimonial rights nationwide.
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Revelry in Mexico City last week as the Supreme Court upheld a same-sex marriage law. The court went further on Tuesday.
The court had already ruled this month that Mexico City’s same-sex marriage law, which took effect in March and has resulted in hundreds of same-sex marriages, was constitutional.

But on Tuesday, the court went a step further, ruling 9 to 2 against a complaint from the attorney general’s office, which had said that other jurisdictions should not be required to honor marriages that were performed in Mexico City.

While the court made it clear that state governments were not obligated to enact same-sex marriage laws of their own, it did require them to recognize the legality of such marriages performed in Mexico City.

So now the United States is behind Mexico in recognizing equal rights for gays and lesbians!

Maybe gays should start migrating to Mexico. I'm going to start brushing up on my spanish

Memphis Non-Discrimination Ordinance Passes First Vote

From Memphis Daily News:

Tuesday Memphis City Council
•Approved a non discrimination ordinance on the first of three readings after the item was removed from the council’s consent agenda. Items up for first reading are usually approved en masse with one vote. Council member Barbara Swearengen Ware wanted the item removed, saying it had not been approved in committee. There was no recommendation in committee and committee recommendations cannot stop an item from being considered by the full council even if there is a negative recommendation. An attempt to water down the ordinance on first reading was also voted down by the council.

A separate resolution that would prohibit companies doing business with the City of Memphis was tabled after some concerns were raised about the scope of the resolution.

Memphis Flyer: Non-Discrimination Ordinance Placed on Hold Note: the Resolution, NOT the Ordinance, was placed on hold--there is some confusion between the two in the media.

Commercial Appeal: Resolution to include Anti-Discrimination in City Contracts Tabled

Memphis Socialist Party Statement on Memphis ND Ordinance

Victory! Prop. 8 Overturned

A great victory in California today!

Federal judge Vaughn Walker rules California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional, stating that "California has no interest in differentiating between same-sex and opposite-sex couples."

In a highly anticipated decision with potentially far-reaching implications in the national battle over marriage equality, a federal judge has struck down California's Proposition 8.

U.S. district judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the ballot measure violated both equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution in a 136-page opinion released Wednesday, nearly seven months after an unprecedented trial over marriage rights began in his San Francisco courtroom.

In a sweeping ruling, judge Walker turned down every argument opposing same-sex marriage rights.
Read Ruling here

Keep in mind that Judge Walker is a conservative Republican appointed judge, not a flaming liberal, and the persuasive arguments by conservatives like like Ted Olsen obliterated all the opposition arguments against same-sex marriage. Now can he and other conservative marriage equality supporters convince enough conservatives on the SCOTUS?

Supporters of Prop. 8 are appealing the decision, which is expected to go to the Supreme Court, so the battle for equality continues!

Check out photos from San Francisco

NGLTF Responds to Ruling

Human Rights Campaign Statement

Lambda Legal

Americans United Applauds Court Ruling Against Prop. 8

White House Statement on Prop. 8

UPDATE:
The Best WORST Reactions to Prop. 8 Ruling