[Onthebarricades] Protests, December 2008 - women, gay and disability rights

[global resistance roundup]

Women's liberation and gender protests

* INDIA: Protests over BJP insult, TDP remarks
* SCOTLAND/UK: March against domestic violence
* GLOBAL: Protest over Facebook breastfeeding crackdown
* KOREA: Riot cops attack comfort women protest
* US: Indiana - Protest against slave trafficking

Gay rights protests

* ITALY: Protest against Vatican homophobia at UN
* US: Seattle - Students protest anti-gay newspaper column
* US: Florida - Protest targets governor's wedding
* US: Arizona - Protest targets Mormon church
* US: "Day without a gay" falls short of expectations
* US: California - Bigot forced to resign after gay rights pickets
* US: California - Gay marriage protest wave continues

Disability rights protests

* INDIA: Candlelight vigil for disability rights
* UK: Direct action over benefits harassment
* US: Texas - Protesters storm meeting over disability school
* INDIA: Protest by special needs school students, teachers






http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/naqvi-draws-flak-for-remarks-against-women-protesters_100126334.html

Naqvi draws flak for remarks against women protesters
December 2nd, 2008 - 7:55 pm ICT by IANS -
New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president 
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is drawing flak for his remarks that some women 
“wearing lipstick and powder” were running down politicians in Mumbai, 
with a group holding protests outside the party headquarters here 
Tuesday.Around 25 protesters from the voluntary organisation Act Now for 
Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) carried lipsticks and talcum powder boxes 
with them, besides placards. They asked passers-by to sign a statement 
condemning the BJP leader’s remarks and demanding an apology from the BJP.
“Shame on BJP’s politics of reaping hate harvest from terror tragedy,” 
read a placard. “Stop dividing the nation,” read another.
ANHAD’s Shabnam Hashmi told IANS: “Women who use lipsticks and powder 
also have a right to protest. Democracy does not debar them.”
Naqvi Monday evening said: “Some women wearing lipstick and powder have 
taken to the streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians, spreading 
disaffection against democracy.”
“This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of 
saying ‘Pakistan murdabad’ (down with Pakistan), they are saying 
‘politicians murdabad’,” he said, referring to protests against the 
perceived inefficiency of the political leadership in preventing the 
terrorist strike that claimed 183 lives last week.
“These women have no faith in democracy and are similar to separatists 
who also worked with the same motive. There should be an inquiry into 
who these protesters are,” Naqvi told reporters in response to a query 
about the protests against politicians in Mumbai.
The BJP Tuesday distanced itself from Naqvi’s remarks. Party general 
secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters the comment might be Naqvi’s 
personal opinion.
“An expression of dissent should be dignified. This statement has gone 
beyond that,” Jaitley said.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122654810500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Mahila Congress protests against Naidu’s remarks
Staff Reporter
VISAKHAPATNAM: In a novel protest, women activists of the Congress 
gagged themselves with black ribbons on Thursday condemning certain 
remarks made by Telugu Desam leader and former Chief Minister N. 
Chandrababu Naidu against women in an interview with a TV channel.
About 300 activists from the Mahila Congress went to the Gandhi statue 
near Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation and staged a protest by 
squatting on the lawn.
City Mahila Congress president Vijaya Reddy later said that Mr. Naidu, 
who served the State as Chief Minister for nine years made uncharitable 
comments against women on Wednesday.
He had lowered the image of women and shown utmost disrespect to them. 
Hence, he should tender unconditional apology, she said.
Ms. Vijaya Reddy alleged that Mr. Naidu had behaved in most uncivilised 
manner at a time when Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was trying a 
lot for empowerment of women.
She said Mr. Naidu should hang his head in shame for his remarks.





http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7762336.stm

Wednesday, 3 December 2008
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Printable version

Protesters to march against abuse

Research suggests a victim will be abused 35 times before asking for help
Campaigners against domestic violence are to take part in a special 
march through Stirling city centre.
Marchers wearing white ribbons from local support groups, Central 
Scotland Police, the area's three councils and NHS Forth Valley are 
taking part.
Those involved will make their way from Stirling Castle to the city's 
municipal buildings at Viewforth on Thursday as part of the 16 days of 
action project.
The campaign aims to eliminate violence against women and raise awareness.
Research shows a victim of domestic violence will be abused 35 times 
before they go to police.
Figures also suggest that one in four women will be affected by domestic 
abuse at some time in their lives.
Supporters of the campaign are being encouraged to wear white ribbons.
Anne Salter, Stirling Council's lead officer for child protection, said: 
"A man wearing a white ribbon is making a personal pledge never to 
commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
"By participating in the white ribbon campaign men can help create a 
culture where the behaviour of a minority, who treat women and girls 
with contempt or violence, becomes unacceptable.
"Men can help to create a world based upon gender equality."
The march, led by Central Scotland Police pipe band, is due to begin at 
Stirling Castle Esplanade on Thursday at 1800 GMT.






http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5417278.ece

December 31, 2008
Protest as Facebook removes breastfeeding photos

As part of a Facebook users' rebellion against the site, a group blitzed 
it with breastfeeding photos, some of which were taken down
Mike Harvey, Technology Correspondent
Alpha Mummy: Facebook needs to grow up
A mass online protest movement is gathering pace after Facebook banned 
some breastfeeding photos from the social network site.
Angry mothers even picketed the Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, 
California, in a live "nurse-in" to complain about a ban on photos of 
mothers suckling their children that exposed too much of the mother's 
breast. Hundreds of women have had their pictures removed without 
warning and have been informed that they may be barred from using the site.
More than 80,000 people have joined a Facebook petition group "Hey 
Facebook, Breast-feeding is not Obscene" with hundreds joining every 
hour. More than 11,000 women from around the world have also taken part 
in an online "nurse-in" protest on Saturday by posting more 
breastfeeding pictures. The protest's organisers reported that many have 
since had these photos removed from the site.
Facebook has said that it has no problem with breastfeeding but photos 
that showed nipples or aureolae were indecent and had to be removed.
Barry Schnitt, a Facebook spokesman, said the website takes no action 
over most breast-feeding photos because they follow the site's terms of 
use.
"We agree that breast-feeding is natural and beautiful and we're very 
glad to know that it is so important to some mothers to share this 
experience with others on Facebook.'' But, he added, some photos were 
removed to ensure the site remains safe and secure for all users, 
including children.
"Photos containing a fully exposed breast - as defined by showing the 
nipple or areola - do violate those terms on obscene, pornographic or 
sexually explicit material and may be removed," he said in a statement. 
"The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention 
by other users who complain."
Patricia Madden, from San Jose, had a photograph of her breastfeeding 
her daughters Zoe and Isobel removed from the site. The birth doula, who 
encourages new mothers to breast-feed, was photographed by her husband 
while feeding in the bathtub.
"It's amazing to me that we're living in a world where people are upset 
by this,'' she said. "You can't see my nipples. It's completely legal to 
breast-feed in public. Breast-feeding is completely natural and healthy. 
They took off the photo, without my permission," she told the San Jose 
Mercury News.
The live protest in Palo Alto, under the banner of the Mothers 
International Lactation Campaign, attracted a handful of mothers and 
supporters who picketed peacefully, armed with suckling children and 
placards.
It is legal to breastfeed in public in most states in America and in 
many countries around the world including Britain but Facebook's terms 
of service give it the right to remove content that it deems it to be 
inappropriate. Campaigners say that breastfeeding is natural and healthy 
and should be not bracketed with pornography. Facebook's stance demeans 
and stigmatises women, they say.
Heather Farley, 23, of Provo, Utah, said she was surprised when Facebook 
took down two photos of her nursing her 6-month-old daughter, one of 
which was her profile picture. She became of the protest's organisers. 
She said: "Where I live, I can breast-feed in public or private, and 
there are laws that say it's not obscene or lewd or indecent. If I can 
do it in public, why can't I do it on Facebook?"
Censoring such images, she said, reinforces stigmas that discourage 
mothers from a healthy, natural practice. Angry at the site, but not 
wanting to lose her online friend network by unsubscribing, she decided 
to take action.
The online petition on Facebook, which has more than 120 million members 
around the world, has sparked a furious debate with more than 1,500 
discussion topics on the petition's homepage. Most comments are 
supportive but some ask why, if breastfeeding mothers don't like being 
censored on Facebook, they don't join another free site which does allow 
them to post their pictures.





http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/16/south-korea-riot-police-suppressed-comfort-women-protest/

South Korea: Riot Police Suppressed Comfort Women Protest

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 @ 06:24 UTC
by Oiwan Lam
Michael Solis from Ohmynews! reported (with a video) about the Korean 
comfort women protest on 10 of December, 60th anniversary of the United 
Nations' proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
However, the government sent riot police to suppress the peaceful protest.






http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_337212845.html

Published: December 02, 2008 09:28 pm
ISU Students protest sex slave problem in the world
By Crystal Garcia
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State University’s Dede Plaza was filled with 
chains and signs Tuesday as members of the International Justice Mission 
student chapter worked to bring awareness to human trafficking.

 From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students chained themselves to pillars, holding 
signs that read “Children are forced to have sex in 112 countries 
(including the U.S.),” or “4 and up = sex slaves.” They are expected to 
be out again today during the same time.

“We’re out here trying to raise awareness about the truths of human 
trafficking,” said Ashley Chase, chapter president.

Chase said there are 27 million slaves around the world, which is more 
than at any other time in history. Of those, 2 million are sex slaves as 
young as 4, she said.

She emphasized that this is a problem in the United States as well, 
which will be showcased in a movie the group is showing for free at 7 
p.m. Friday at the Cunningham Memorial Library.

“Ninety-two percent of adult Americans believe slavery no longer 
exists,” Chase said, noting that 17,000 people are trafficked across 
American borders a year.

Reactions from passersby varied, she said, explaining that some people 
knew about the issue but didn’t know how to get involved. Others ignored 
them altogether.

What surprised her, though, were the people who told them they didn’t 
care about the problem, Chase said. She said she has expected some 
people to ignore them, but not to actually tell them they didn’t care.

“These people are not that different from us,” she said. “They’re not 
from impoverished nations where we can’t relate.”

International Justice Mission began in 1997. It focuses on seeking 
relief for the abused and oppressed as well as raising awareness and 
educating citizens about the injustices around the world.

Cases include bonded slavery, commercial sexual exploitation and abuse, 
illegal land seizure, wrongful imprisonment and police brutality. ISU’s 
chapter was established three weeks ago and has between 30 and 40 members.

For more information, visit www.ijm.org, or contact Chase at 
achase2 at indstate.edu.







http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/244506,gay-rights-activists-protest-vaticans-stance-on-undocument.html

Gay rights activists protest Vatican's stance on UNdocument
Posted : Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:12:19 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Europe (World)

Genoa, Italy - A group of gay rights activists in Italy staged Wednesday 
a protest against the Vatican's refusal to endorse a proposed United 
Nations resolution calling on governments to de- criminalize 
homosexuality. The demonstrators, numbering around 20, unfurled a banner 
reading "The Vatican is an accomplice in our martyrdom," in front of the 
offices of the archdiocese of Genoa, the ANSA news agency reported.
The north-western port city is scheduled to host Italy's national Gay 
Pride celebrations in 2009.
Also Wednesday, Italian Communist daily Liberazione invited protestors 
to take their grievance directly to the Vatican when the resolution will 
be tabled in New York, possibly later this month.
Protestors could attend the Pope's traditional Angelus blessing in St 
Peter's Square "wearing pink, a shirt or something else," in a reference 
to the colour of the triangle gay people were forced to wear in Nazi 
death camps during World War II, Liberazione said.
The protests stem from remarks on Monday by the Vatican's permanent 
observer to the UN, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, that the Holy See 
would oppose the resolution, which France is due to propose later this 
month on behalf of the 27-member European Union.
Migliore said its implies the possibility that nations which did not 
recognize same-sex unions as "matrimony" would face pressure to do so.
Gay rights groups and many commentators in Italy and elsewhere have 
assailed the Vatican's stance towards a move which they say is intended 
to safeguard human rights.
Homosexuality is currently punishable by law in more than 85 countries 
and by death in a number of them, including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi 
Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
The Vatican has since moved to quell some of the uproar caused by 
Migliore's remarks.
Pope Benedict XVI's spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said "no one 
wants the death penalty or jail or fines for homosexuals."
However, he noted the Holy See was not in the minority on the resolution 
as "fewer than 50" member states of the UN have adhered it while more 
than 150 have not.
The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, 
homosexual acts are. It also says that sexual intercourse between men 
and women should only take place within marriage with the objective to 
procreate.






http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Protest_near_Vatican_denounces_policy__1206.html

Protest near Vatican denounces policy on gays
by AP News
Protest near Vatican denounces policy on gays
Peaceful protest near St. Peter's Square denounces Vatican policy on gays
Staff
AP News
Dec 06, 2008 15:02 EST
Gay rights proponents have denounced the Vatican's policy on homosexuals 
in a small protest near St. Peter's Square.
About 200 people, including some Italian politicians, gathered just 
outside Vatican City's borders Saturday evening to protest the church's 
opposition to initiatives to decriminalize homosexuality in all countries.
The Vatican's envoy to the United Nations recently said that the Holy 
See opposes a proposed U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality.
The Vatican says unjust forms of discrimination must be avoided. But it 
is worried that any U.N. resolution against discrimination on gender 
could pressure countries to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful.
Source: AP News






http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/156252.asp?source=mypi

Students protest anti-gay column in UW paper
Students at the University of Washington are assembling in the Husky 
Union Building to protest the publication of an opinion piece in their 
student newspaper last month that argues against gay marriage and calls 
homosexuality an "emotional" tendency and a "problem that needs to be 
dealt with, not denied."
For a campus issue, this has wide interest. The Facebook group 
associated with the protest has more than 1,100 members. And events 
leading up to the protest have received frequent, aggressive and by no 
means neutral coverage from the Seattle weekly The Stranger -- as well 
as coverage from the P-I School Zone blog and this article in today's 
Seattle Times.
"The Daily has the right to post what it wants," rally organizer Kyle 
Rapinan told The Stranger. But "we want The Daily to apologize for the 
image it chose and not checking Fay's article for accuracy."
Daily editor-in-chief Sarah Jeglum told the Times she supports balanced 
viewpoints and doesn't plan to give the apology student protesters have 
asked for.
The protest is scheduled from 12:30 to 1:30.






http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008474894_webuwrally05m.html

Originally published December 5, 2008 at 6:05 PM | Page modified 
December 5, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Comments (36) E-mail article Print view
Hundreds rally at UW against anti-gay marriage column in campus newspaper
About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington 
to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student 
newspaper, The Daily. Protesters say language in the column, including a 
reference to bestiality, coupled with the accompanying image of a man 
standing next to a sheep, amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed 
on whether the paper should be censured.
By Nick Perry
Seattle Times higher education reporter
About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington 
to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student 
newspaper, The Daily.
Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to 
bestiality, coupled with the accompanying image of a man standing next 
to a sheep, amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether 
the paper should be censured.
Ana Mari Cauce, the UW's dean of arts and sciences, talked about her own 
struggles coming out as a lesbian and the hurt she felt in reading the 
column.
"But the antidote to free speech is more free speech," she said. "I am 
thankful that I am living in a country where everyone has the right to 
express their opinions."
On the other hand, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) 
this week passed a resolution demanding the paper apologize.
However, the editor-in-chief of The Daily, Sarah Jeglum, said this week 
she stands behind the decision to run the column and isn't planning any 
sort of apology. In a Friday column, Jeglum said she'd learned "Free 
speech is for everyone. It's not just for the majority, and it's not 
just for the minority."
That difference of opinion, if not resolved, could lead to a showdown 
between the editors of the paper and the elected student-body 
representatives who sit on the publications board which oversees The Daily.
Dave Iseminger, GPSS vice president, hinted at such a showdown when he 
said at the rally that lacking an apology, his group may work to change 
the composition of the paper's editorial board.
UW President Mark Emmert has also weighed in, taking out a half-page ad 
in The Daily on Friday in which he says the university is committed to 
ensuring a welcoming environment for students from "all different 
backgrounds, including sexual orientation." He goes on to say the 
university is also committed to free speech and the free exchange of ideas.
Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry at seattletimes.com






http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008475558_uwrally06m.html

December 6, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (119) E-mail article Print view
Voices raised over column at UW
About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington 
to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student 
newspaper, The Daily.
By Nick Perry
Seattle Times higher education reporter
KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
 From left, University of Washington students Kyle Rapinan, Katy Rice 
and Jessica Eggerth and Carl Davis, a senior at The Evergreen State 
College, lead a protest against The Daily, which published an 
anti-gay-marriage column with a controversial illustration.
About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington 
to protest an anti-gay-marriage column that ran in the student 
newspaper, The Daily.
Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to 
bestiality, and the accompanying image of a man standing next to a sheep 
amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether the paper 
should be censured.
Ana Mari Cauce, the UW's dean of arts and sciences, spoke of her 
struggles coming out as a lesbian and the hurt she felt in reading the 
column.
"But the antidote to free speech is more free speech," she said. "I am 
thankful that I am living in a country where everyone has the right to 
express their opinions."
On the other hand, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) 
this week passed a resolution demanding the paper apologize.
However, The Daily's editor-in-chief, Sarah Jeglum, said she stands 
behind the decision to run the column and isn't planning an apology.
In a Friday column, Jeglum said she had learned "Free speech is for 
everyone. It's not just for the majority, and it's not just for the 
minority."
That difference of opinion, if not resolved, could lead to a showdown 
between the editors of the newspaper and the elected students who sit on 
the publications board that oversees The Daily.
Dave Iseminger, GPSS vice president, said his group might seek changes 
at the newspaper through its seat on the publications board — unless the 
paper apologizes.
UW President Mark Emmert has weighed in, taking out a half-page ad in 
Friday's issue of The Daily in which he says the university is committed 
to ensuring a welcoming environment for students from "all different 
backgrounds, including sexual orientation."
He went on to say the university is committed to free speech and the 
free exchange of ideas.
Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry at seattletimes.com









http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/02/na-gay-rights-protest-set-for-nuptials/news-breaking/

Gay Rights Protest Set For Nuptials

By CATHERINE DOLINSKI
cdolinski at tampatrib.com
Published: December 2, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Gay rights activists plan to demonstrate outside Gov. 
Charlie Crist's wedding to Carole Rome this month.
The group Impact-Florida has called on its members to gather in pink 
T-shirts outside First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg on Dec. 
12 to "congratulate" Crist and Rome while their wedding takes place 
inside. The demonstration will continue outside the wedding reception at 
the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg.
"After the positive congratulatory observance, there will be a 
candlelight vigil close to the Vinoy in downtown St. Pete to mourn the 
loss of gays' right to get married," the group's Web site states, 
referring to the gay marriage ban that passed by ballot initiative in 
November.
Crist endorsed Amendment 2 before its passage. It needed 60 percent of 
the vote to become part of the state Constitution; it got 61.9 percent.
Impact-Florida spokeswoman Lorna Bracewell said the event will be 
peaceful and respectful. The group hopes for 1,000 protesters.
"Our goal is to celebrate the governor's and every Floridian's 
fundamental right to marry," said Bracewell, a singer and songwriter 
from St. Petersburg. "Our theme is going to be, Congratulations Governor 
- When I Can Get Married?"
Bracewell, who voted for Crist in 2006, said she does not blame Crist 
for the amendment's passage. "But our organization sees in his wedding 
an opportunity to illustrate the unfairness and the injustice of 
Amendment 2."
She was surprised when Crist endorsed the measure and said she would not 
vote for Crist again. Bracewell and her partner of three years entered 
into a domestic union in May 2007.
John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, which 
led the charge to pass Amendment 2, said the activists "ought to be 
ashamed of themselves" over protest plans.
"It's just extraordinarily bad taste," Stemberger said. "Irrespective of 
politics and what you think about the man, this is his and his new 
bride's special day. It's very upsetting to me that they would take 
advantage of that and turn it into some kind of political thing."
Crist's office did not respond to a request for comment.






http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081213-177811/Gays-protest-Florida-governors-wedding

Gays protest Florida governor's wedding

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 16:04:00 12/13/2008

Filed Under: Politics, relationships and dating, Wedding, Protest
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- Hundreds of protestors convened on the church 
where Florida Governor Charlie Crist was married Friday to express their 
anger at the state's decision to outlaw same-sex marriage.
Around 250 demonstrators gathered outside downtown St. Petersburg's 
red-brick First United Methodist Church where Crist, 52, and Carole 
Rome, 39, were married. It was the second marriage for both.
Some held up signs of protest while others wore pink T-shirts with black 
decals on the front and back that read "Congratulations Governor Crist. 
When can I get married?"
The demonstration was organized by a group called Impact Florida, which 
opposes Amendment 2, a ban on same-sex marriage that was added to the 
state's constitution in the November election.
Similar state amendments banning same-sex marriage passed last month in 
California and Arizona. The US federal government does not recognize gay 
marriage, which is currently allowed only in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
"Our goal is to have marriage for all Floridians," said the group's 
director, Lorna Bracewell.
"There's not a pleasant way of bringing out injustice and there's no 
version of protesting injustice without hurting somebody's feelings."






http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/02/1202gay.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76

Ceremony affirms gay partnerships, protests legal barrier to marriage
By Ken Kaye
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE — They stood hand in hand and exchanged vows on a 
breezy, cloudy morning on the front lawn of a church. When the ceremony 
came to an end, the Rev. Durrell Watkins declared, "You may now kiss 
your significant other."
And so they did, about 50 couples in all, in what appeared to be a mass 
wedding. In reality, however, it was more of an affirmation between 
partners because most of the participants were gay. In Florida and 29 
other states, gay couples are not allowed to legally marry.
For that reason, the ceremony Sunday at Sunshine Cathedral, a Christian 
church that welcomes gay and lesbian members, also was a protest against 
the recently approved Amendment 2. The new addition to the Florida 
Constitution defines marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
"We are gathered here as friends, and we are gathered here as justice 
seekers," Watkins said, addressing the congregants. "We are waiting for 
the day when all partnerships will be legally recognized."
Among the gay couples were men and women, young people and senior 
citizens. While some have been together for 25 years, Dennis Winstead 
and Richard Killian met only last week.
Winstead said the ceremony was an opportunity for gay people to be more 
visible.
"We can express true feelings for each other and for our fellow man - 
and woman," he said.
Russ Wilson and Scott Lappin of Boca Raton, who have been together four 
years, wore matching white shirts and gave each other a single red rose 
for the ceremony.
"We're just celebrating the plunge we've already made together," Lappin 
said.
"This is a milestone," Wilson added.
During a sermon prior to the ceremony, Watkins noted the gay community 
is battling two "oppressive" diseases, one being AIDS and the other 
homophobia. He said hope is needed to combat both. "Now, discrimination 
is being written into state constitutions," he said. "We will speak out. 
We will reclaim our sacred value and we will not give up hope."
Although Watkins made clear that his Rite of Blessing ceremony was not 
legally binding, he still provided certificates commemorating the event 
to those couples who wanted them.
"Today we stand in the open to celebrate who we are," Watkins told the 
participants. "We are bound not by a law, but by integrity."






http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705266867,00.html

Gay-marriage supporters protest at Arizona LDS temple
Associated Press
Published: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 11:31 a.m. MST
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MESA, Ariz. — Supporters of gay marriage were out in force when 
Christmas displays were lit Friday night at an LDS Church temple.
They were upset with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 
opposition to same-sex marriage and the passage of state constitutional 
amendments banning gay marriage in Arizona, California and Florida in 
the Nov. 4 election. LDS Church leaders urged members to support the 
gay-marriage bans through fundraising and grass-roots organizing.
"They're shining their light, we're shining ours," said Bobby Parker, a 
gay Mormon who organized the event.
Many members of the gay, lesbian and transgender community view Mormon 
votes and dollars as the deciding factor behind the passage of 
Proposition 102 in Arizona and Proposition 8 in California.
Proposition 102 amends the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as 
being between one man and one woman and maintains the current statutory 
laws that ban gay marriage in Arizona. Proposition 8 amended the 
California Constitution in a similar way and nullified a state Supreme 
Court ruling that allowed gay marriage.
Members of the LDS Church contributed about $3 million of the $8 million 
raised in the "Yes on 102" campaign to amend the Arizona Constitution, 
according to the East Valley Tribune/Scottsdale Tribune.
Community members and organizers spread word of Friday night's vigil 
through the Internet and by word of mouth. Protesters holding candles, 
rainbow flags, peace signs and banners with the words love, acceptance 
and harmony gathered at a park in support of gay marriage rights.
Others raised concerns that political and religious suppression of gay 
rights contributed to the suicide of religious gay teens, and many were 
upset about church involvement in political affairs.
Many counter-protesters said the core definition of a family was at risk 
from gay marriage. Others said their rights as a voter would be violated 
if the recent Nov. 4 decision were to be overturned.






http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/10/BAUV14LPE2.DTL

'Day without a gay' protest fizzles
Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 11, 2008

Activists had billed Wednesday as "a day without a gay," when gays and 
lesbians across the country would call in sick, boycott shopping and 
show the impact of their absence from everyday life.

Designed to be a protest against the Nov. 4 passage of Proposition 8, 
which bans same-sex marriage, the day's events drew only scattered 
support in the Bay Area, the heart of the gay rights movement, and also 
criticism.
Several gay and lesbian people said they couldn't afford to take the day 
off, particularly in a tightening economy where many are concerned about 
their jobs. And in the Castro district, business owners were livid that 
people were encouraged to not shop during the holidays, a peak time for 
retailers.
"Our rights have been taken away as much as anyone else's," said Rich 
Boutell, who runs Whatever comics on Castro Street and whose marriage 
was thrown into limbo with the Nov. 4 election. He and his husband, 
Cougar Andrews, kept their store open and wished the "day without a gay" 
organizers had encouraged gay-allied individuals to patronize gay-owned 
businesses. "The whole purpose should be to support your own, not to 
boycott. If you're going to have a protest, it should be a positive 
thing. The gay dollar is powerful."
Those who did take off work said they did it with the cooperation of 
employers.
They included Glenn Coffee, 48, a Noe Valley resident who works at 
Macy's and said the store has always been supportive of gay employees 
and the gay community. The main purpose, he said, of calling in sick was 
to show that "as a community, we can show we have worth."
The day's events prompted a mixed response, which might indicate that 
the gay rights movement is still finding its voice. Gay and lesbian 
people are included in ways never imagined decades ago, such as domestic 
partnership rights in states across the nation and being included by a 
presidential candidate in his election-night victory speech.
But there are also dramatic challenges. Thirty states, including 
California, explicitly ban same-sex marriage, and Arkansas voters 
recently passed a ballot measure to ban unmarried couples from adopting 
children, an initiative directly aimed at thwarting gay and lesbian 
parenthood.
Religious groups, students, business owners and shoppers all had 
different views of a day focused on gay rights.
A group of Bay Area Catholics gathered in the Castro district on 
Wednesday evening for a prayer vigil to atone for the actions of church 
leaders. Because Wednesday was also International Human Rights Day, they 
focused their efforts on the rights of gays and lesbians.
"The church we belong to, that I adore, that I feel very much a part of 
in terms of social justice, supported the passage of Proposition 8," 
said Linda Swan, 57, of San Francisco, who attends St. John of God 
Church in the Inner Sunset. "That just doesn't seem to be right. The 
church has the right to say who can receive the sacrament of marriage in 
the church, but not to keep people from their civil rights. "
Some of the most disparate ideas emerged at a noontime rally at Sproul 
Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus.
Organizers joined two causes not often put in the same context: 
financial aid for undocumented immigrants and same-sex marriage rights.
"We're all Californians," said Yvette Felarca, as she stood with roughly 
a dozen activists speaking to students. "We all have a right to the 
dignity and respect of the state we built."
One audience member, Mary Pham, said she was listening because she came 
to learn.
"I'm not sure what a day without gays is," said Pham, 21, who is 
bisexual and who heard of the events through friends and Facebook, an 
online social networking site. She wasn't aware of the movement for 
financial aid for undocumented students, but, she said, "I want to undo 
Prop. 8."
A larger event occurred Wednesday evening in San Francisco's Mission 
District, where roughly 500 same-sex marriage supporters gathered for a 
rally at the 24th Street BART station before marching north on Valencia 
Street while joining in chants such as "Gay, straight, black, 
white/Marriage is a civil right."
One speaker, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, said that continued protests in 
response to the passage of Prop. 8 are important "so people understand 
that this is sustainable ... What I like is that it's organic."
Earlier, In the Castro district, Luis Felix said that he learned of the 
"day without a gay" only on Tuesday night. Even if he'd learned earlier, 
he still would have come into work at Louie's Barber Shop.
The reason was simple, he said: "I need to work."






http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8517

The Protests Are Working--Keep Them Up!
by: MauraHennessey
Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 10:11:14 AM EST

The protests are working. Every time that the enemies of our equality 
fire back and try to intimidate us into disavowing the protests, they 
are admitting fear of us and that we are succeeding. If we buy into 
their propaganda by reacting to it this time, we lose what is obviously 
a winning strategy.
We cannot win the war of words or a debate because they are incapable of 
compromise or change. Their understanding of their God forbids it.
Yes, we are protesting, yes it is directed at a conspiratorial 
organisation claiming to be a religion as well as individuals. And yes, 
we will KEEP ON protesting to deter others from denying us citizenship, 
equality.
Come on, people, we are human beings and American Citizens. Have we 
bought into their "special rights" claim and thereby ceeded our right to 
demand, to insist upon freedoms guaranteed in the US Constitution and 
the California Constitution?
Are we giving away our right to oppose an oppressor who for over two 
centuries has used Biblical Nuremberg Laws to try and to exclude us from 
American Life, as the ones in Germany excluded the Jews?
Wake the f+ck up!!!!
MauraHennessey :: The Protests Are Working--Keep Them Up!

Denying us rights to adopt sets in stone our status as unfit parents for 
cases involving biological parents.
Denying us marriage keeps the mythos of promiscuous fornicators alive.
And they will deny us our freedom to love, they want Lawrence reversed. 
These same groups are very clear on that.
Denying us equality sets us apart from the American mainstream and lends 
a governmental sanction in favour of those groups inciting violence 
against us in the end..
We cannot be scared off by this propaganda from these Goebbels' of the 
Christian and Mormon Right.
Yes, we protest; yes we make their activities against us a burden and 
yes we are interfering in their lives just as they have interfered with 
the most intimate aspect of our lives
And yes, we will continue to do so til we have full American Citizenship







http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465413,00.html

Major Victory for Prop 8 Protesters
Thursday, December 11, 2008 | FoxNews.com
By Greg Gutfeld

Today, I salute gays for a major civil rights victory: They forced some 
old lady to quit her job.
After Proposition 8 passed, angry gays discovered that Margie 
Christoffersen — who fills pitchers at El Coyote restaurant in Los 
Angeles — had given cash to the cause, which restricted the definition 
of marriage to include only straights. So they picketed her place of 
business with hilarious protest signs until the evil lady finally resigned.
Now, some might say this is nothing like Rosa Parks on the bus. But 
they're wrong. I mean, it takes guts to ruin some old lady's life just 
because she supports a bill based on her silly religious beliefs!
Seriously, if I was there, I would have thrown paint on her — a soft 
lilac shade, of course.
But why stop there? Now that you banished the old broad, get your ass 
down to those other parts of town where you don't brunch and give those 
blacks and Mexicans a piece of your mind. And, when you're done, why not 
the Muslims — who are not only against you marrying, but living too!
Look, I'm all for gay marriage, but just because some folks aren't as 
enlightened as you are, doesn't mean you can treat them like poop. No 
one is going to take you seriously until you protest more seriously. 
Blacks sat in restaurants where they weren't welcome and women protested 
outside the White House for days on end.
But instead of picketing a Cineplex playing a Tyler Perry movie, gays 
hit a joint in West Hollywood a few blocks from a busy gay bar.
And to that I say: Comer con gusto!






http://www.wsoctv.com/politics/18330880/detail.html?rss=char&psp=nationalnews

Prop. 8 Opponents Stage Protests
Debate Over Same-Sex Marriage In California Continues
Posted: 4:09 pm EST December 21, 2008Updated: 5:01 pm EST December 21, 2008
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The debate over same sex-marriage in California 
continues.
Calif. Sees More Prop 8 Protests

California Attorney General Jerry Brown is now urging the state's 
Supreme Court to void Proposition 8.
Those against gay marriage said they are hoping the courts will nullify 
marriages that happened before the proposition was passed.
Opponents of Proposition 8 staged protests across the nation and around 
the Central Coast Saturday.
The stories are different in scope.
"I don't believe that this is a sexual preference issue. I believe that 
it's an issue of civil rights and equal rights," said Julie Wooden, of 
Boulder Creek.
Yet, they remain connected.
For Louis Bonsignore, a former member of the Log Cabin Republicans, most 
members in his party have taken their opposition to same-sex marriage 
too far.
"To see the Republican Party become so anti-gay, to see it become 
intolerant of any lifestyle, other than the one they believe in, has 
really upset me," Bonsignore said.
It's why Bonsignore and nearly 500 others said they held a vigil in 
downtown Santa Cruz to support the 18,000 same-sex marriages in question 
because of Proposition 8.
"We have friends and relatives I believe should have the same rights we 
do, as a happily married couple," Wooden said.
Wooden said she and her family braved the brisk elements to participate 
in this battle to change hearts and minds.
"I believe that lots of peoples' resistance is based on fear and 
ignorance and I believe that once that's removed, people will understand 
and change their minds," Wooden said.
Wooden, her family and many others said they intend to continue their 
rallying cry until Proposition 8 is overturned.
"I will stand and fight for their rights as long as I'm breathing," 
Wooten said.
"We will continue this fight until marriage equality is the law of 
California," Bonsignore said.
The California Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on the 
validity of Proposition 8 in the spring of next year.






http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-naftali/proposition-8-and-religio_b_140716.html

Timothy Naftali
Posted November 3, 2008 | 07:57 PM (EST)

Los Angelinos won't naturally see the corner of Imperial Highway and 
Yorba Linda Boulevard in Northern Orange County, if they can conceive of 
where it is, as a mirror of social change. But every night last week 
dozens of people were demonstrating on both sides of Proposition 8, the 
attempt to roll back the California Supreme Court's decision in May to 
end the state ban on same-sex marriages.
The marching formed a revealing pattern. Late in the afternoon a group 
of middle-agers (with a few kids) would start waving "Yes" signs only to 
be equaled in number by young people waving "No on 8" signs, some 
handmade, by dusk.
Both sides believed they were standing up for the best traditions of 
this country. Some of the "Yes on 8" signs made the argument that voting 
against this civil right was a vote for "freedom of religion" and "free 
speech." Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday at least, I noticed that 
the only demonstrators carrying an American flag were those with "No on 
8" signs.
American history, logic and justice are on the "No" side.
The "Yes on 8" forces are trying to win by confusing people about what 
this proposition means. Freedom of religion or free speech is not at 
stake. Our governments -- local, state and the federal government -- 
regularly license activities by consenting adults that some religious 
groups find incompatible with their beliefs. But do the existence of 
state liquor licenses imply a curb on the freedom of religion of members 
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? And what about the 
Food and Drug Administration's monitoring of pork products? Is this, in 
any way, an attempt by government to hamper the religious practices of 
Orthodox Jews or Muslims? No, of course not. Our earliest founders were 
Puritans who had experienced discrimination because their beliefs and 
practices differed from those of the Established Church in England. As a 
result, from the Mayflower through the formation of the United States, 
our civic leaders sought to create a society where individuals were free 
to practice whatever religion they chose and where government would 
remain neutral on religious preferences.
The "No on 8" kids carrying the US flag had it right because Proposition 
8 would do what this country was set up not to do: to use government 
(state government, in this case) to take sides in a religious debate.
In its decision, the Supreme Court of California did not mandate that 
churches perform same-sex religious ceremonies or that same-sex 
marriages be discussed in schools. It is left to churches and school 
boards to make those decisions.
Voting "Yes," on the other hand, would place a clause in the California 
state constitution that would discriminate against gays and lesbians. It 
would send a message that as a matter of principle same-sex marriages 
were illegitimate. One handmade "No on 8" sign in Yorba Linda pointedly 
reminded passing motorists that some of the same arguments used by the 
"Yes" side were once trotted out to outlaw interracial marriages. 
Indeed, until the Supreme Court of California's decision in Perez v. 
Sharp in 1948, interracial couples did not share the constitutional 
"right to marry" in California.
Somehow gays and lesbians forming enduring, loving couples is a threat 
to traditional families. It boggles the mind why American society would 
have an interest in promoting promiscuity and a sense of exclusion in 
our community. We are your friends and neighbors. The "No on 8" kids 
marching in Yorba Linda get that. The fate of this issue is still too 
close to call. But if "Yes" should eke out a victory tomorrow, it is 
only a matter of a few years before this blot on the California 
constitution is repealed. Let's hope that we don't have to wait more 
than a matter of hours for Proposition 8 to be consigned to the ash heap 
of bad political ideas.






http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=421076

GLOBAL NEWS : New star-studded Web video protests Proposition 8
Updated December 04, 2008 09:16 AM

NEW YORK (AP) -Since Proposition 8 passed in California, much of 
Hollywood has been up in arms. Now, they are singing and dancing, too, 
in a new Web video called "Prop 8: The Musical."
The video was posted Wednesday on FunnyOrDie.com, the video site 
co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The site has found a niche in 
getting professional talent to quickly create topical comedy videos.
"Prop 8: The Musical" may be a 3-minute Internet video, but it has a 
blockbuster cast including Jack Black (who plays Jesus), Neil Patrick 
Harris, John C. Reilly, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Margaret Cho, 
Rashida Jones and others.
Though Jesus doesn't bring the two sides together, Harris has better 
luck. He argues gay marriage could save the economy: "Every time a gay 
or lesbian finds love at the parade, there's money to be made."
The video was conceived and written by Marc Shaiman, the Tony 
Award-winning composer of "Hairspray" and "South Park: Bigger, Longer & 
Uncut." McKay, who had previously collaborated with Shaiman on the 
song-and-dance routine Ferrell, Black and Reilly did at the Oscars 
earlier this year, sent him an e-mail floating the idea of a video.
Shaiman had been involved in a more serious debate over Proposition 8.
After voters approved Proposition 8, which changed the state's 
constitution to ban same-sex marriage, it was revealed that Scott 
Eckern, the artistic director of the California Musical Theater in 
Sacramento (the state's largest nonprofit musical theater company) had 
donated $1,000 to the "Yes on 8" campaign.
Shaiman's "Hairspray" had played at the theater and he said he would 
never allow anything he wrote to play there because of Eckern's 
donation. Others protested and Eckern resigned in November.
In an interview Wednesday, Shaiman regretted that it came to Eckern 
losing his job and said: "It's a tragedy for everyone involved. You'll 
certainly see that no one called for him to resign."
The video for Funny or Die was a lighter-hearted protest.
Shaiman wrote the piece in a day, recorded it the next and shot it in a 
single day last week.
"It was like, `Eureka! That's right, that's what I do!" said Shaiman of 
the mini-musical. "If I'm going to stand on the soap box, at least let 
me sing and dance."






http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08345/933978-51.stm?cmpid=generalbusiness.xml

Gays, lesbians weigh protest plans, work as volunteers
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
By Ann Belser, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the wake of the passage of Proposition 8 -- the California initiative 
that reversed the ability of gay men and lesbians to marry in that state 
-- some activists began calling for a protest that would carry economic 
heft.
Modeled after the "day without a Latino," in which Hispanic immigrants 
called in sick to protest immigration laws, the "day without a Gay," 
planned for today, was supposed to show how vital to the economy members 
of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community were.
But one activist is trying to turn that anger into something useful by 
encouraging gay people who weren't going to work to, instead, give back 
to the community by making it a day of volunteer service.
Sean Hetherington, 30, of West Hollywood, Calif., is now a stand-up 
comedian, but he worked in a restaurant when Latinos staged a boycott in 
2004. In that situation, he said, he saw many people who couldn't afford 
to lose even a day's wages lose that and, in some cases, their jobs.
"It didn't go well," he said. "The truth of the matter is [that] this is 
the worst economy I have ever seen. This is an insane time for gay 
people to be planning a boycott."
He thought the protest could have more impact if, instead of people just 
staying at home, they made it a chance to help someone. "Let's at least 
do it in a positive way," he said.
His idea has taken off. There are volunteer opportunities all across 
America, such as baking cookies for firefighters in California, wrapping 
Christmas presents for family and children's services in Minnesota, and 
stuffing envelopes for the American Civil Liberties Union in 
Philadelphia, all listed on Web site www.daywithoutagay.org. None were 
listed in the Pittsburgh area.
Members of the gay and lesbian community in Rome, Italy, are looking for 
people to stage a sit-in outside the U.S. Embassy.
For those who don't feel comfortable taking time off work, Mr. 
Hetherington suggested using their lunch hour to write a letter to their 
U.S. senators to support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act.






http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/thousands-of-disabled-people-stage-candlelight-protest-lead_100126827.html

Thousands of disabled people stage candlelight protest (Lead)
December 3rd, 2008 - 10:50 pm ICT by IANS -
New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Some were on wheel chairs, others were using 
sign language to communicate and hundreds were standing firm with white 
sticks - over 10,000 physically challenged people took part in a 
candle-light march here to highlight their plight on World Disability 
Day Wednesday.Having come together at the India Gate lawns in the heart 
of the capital, these differently-abled people from across the country 
stood shoulder to shoulder and later sat with lit candles to protest 
“the lack of political will to deal with disability” and demanded a 
separate “ministry for disability affairs”.
“The event was not for celebrations but to demand a separate ministry 
for disability affairs and fulfilment of promises in the 11th Five Year 
Plan - that every ministry should have a clear cut plan of action on 
disability issues and each ministry should allocate three percent of 
resources for improving the disableD people’s condition,” Javed Abidi, 
convenor of the Disabled Rights Group (DRG), told IANS.
The wheelchair-bound Abidi said they did not stage an agitation keeping 
in mind the terror attacks in Mumbai that had claimed 183 lives.
Voicing the sentiments of the hundreds of deaf and mute, blind, autistic 
and other physically challenged individuals, Abidi said: “We, the 70 
million disabled people, are very much Indian. We just want equal 
treatment to be self-reliant and to be able to serve our nation.”
“We are ready to become tax payers and not a burden on society.”
Neha, who cannot hear, shared her personal wish to watch captioned TV soaps.
“I know that being deaf there are certain things one misses out on. But 
if the government (information and broadcasting ministry) makes a little 
effort, I could at least understand what my relatives are glued on to on 
TV,” she said.
Mohan Chowdhury, president of the Bihar Disabled Development 
Association, said small efforts like a ramp at bus stands and schools, 
and more spacious toilets in government and business establishments can 
go a long way to ease their problems.
“Authorities need to be little sensitive,” said Chowdhury, who is 
himself confined to a a wheel chair.
The massive gathering of people hailing from states like Tamil Nadu, 
Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi 
also expressed their condolences to the families of those who died in 
the Mumbai terror strikes.






http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/disabled-stage-mass-protest-at-india-gate_100126778.html

Disabled stage mass protest at India Gate
December 3rd, 2008 - 8:01 pm ICT by IANS -
New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Over 10,000 people with various disabilities 
assembled at the India Gate in the centre of the capital Wednesday for a 
night-long vigil and silent protest to demand, among other things, a 
separate ministry for disability affairs.Delhi-based Disabled Rights 
Group (DRG) organised the protest on the World Disability Day (Dec 3) 
initially to draw attention of the government authorities to the plight 
of the disabled.
“The event was not for celebrations but to demand for a separate 
ministry for disability affairs and fulfillment of promises in the 11th 
five year plan - that every ministry should have a clear cut plan of 
action on disability issues and each ministry should allocate three 
percent of resources on the same,” Javed Abidi, convenor DRG, told IANS.
Voicing the sentiments of the hundreds of deaf and mute, visually 
impaired, autistic, physically challenged individuals that had gathered, 
he said: “We, the 70 million disabled people of India, just want to be 
equal partners to be able to work, to be self reliant, to be able to 
serve our nation, to be able to contribute its economy, become tax 
payers and not to be a burden society.”
The participants also lit candles of ‘hope’ in light of the recent 
terror strikes in Mumbai.






http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414258.html

DAN protest today about the welfare reforms
an ally | 03.12.2008 13:54 | Social Struggles
Just been Fwd'ed this about the action carried out in london today by 
the Disabled Action Network (DAN)

DISABLED PEOPLES' DIRECT ACTION NETWORK

PRESS RELEASE (3/12/2008)

DISABLED PEOPLE TAKE DIRECT ACTION IN CENTRAL LONDON TO PROTEST AND DRAW
ATTENTION TO NEW BENEFIT HARASSMENT

Instead of celebrating the International day of Disabled People today, we -
and our supporters - are in central London protesting against the
government's
"Employment Support Allowance" (ESA) and "Work Capability Assessment" (WCA)
which are replacing "Incapacity Benefit" (IB). This punitive economic 
attack
will hit thousands of the poorest in society, forcing them further into
poverty and a discriminatory job market, while thousands more are losing
their jobs due to the deepening recession.

A DAN spokesperson said: "If the government were sincere in their attempts
to help Disabled Claimants, they wouldn't be cutting benefits or adding new
hoops in the process. They would target discriminatory employers and fully
appreciate the difficulties those with Invisible and Fluctuating conditions
will have in the job market. This is a cynical exercise designed to move 
the
goal-posts in assessments and ensure that many will no longer qualify for
the benefits they have been legitimately receiving."

* Political and media spin - suggesting there has been significant
increases in Incapacity Benefit claims - is misleading. The DWP confirms
there has actually been a drop in IB claims since 2000.

* A much higher percentage of Disabled People than previously are now 
living
in the community and claiming benefits, rather than being 
institutionalised.

* A long hours / short breaks culture (instead of providing flexi-time or
work from home) makes it harder for Disabled People and those with medical
conditions to cope with employment.

* There is a lack of access to meaningful education and training for
Disabled People, leading to a lack of qualifications, job skills and
therefore decent jobs with adequate incomes.

* ESA and the WCA is an even more punitive benefit and assessment than the
previous procedure (IB). Claimants who fail the new assessment will lose
entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as well as ESA.

CONTACTS (ON ACTION):

Barry: 07508 634 228

Clair: 07970 959 791

FOR PHOTOS (ON ACTION):

Nick: 07956 682 830

PRESS CONTACTS:

Stella: 07904 935 413

Mike: 07956 856 060
an ally






http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-stateschools_11tex.ART.State.Edition1.4ac8359.html

Protesters disrupt meeting about Texas' state schools for the disabled
12:00 AM CST on Thursday, December 11, 2008
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
eramshaw at dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Advocates for closing Texas' state schools for the disabled 
disrupted a state board meeting Wednesday morning to protest 
mistreatment at the facilities, which a recent federal report blamed in 
part for the deaths of more than 50 people in the last year.

JACK PLUNKETT/The Associated Press
Candie Reyes and other protesters disrupted a meeting of the Department 
of Aging and Disability Services council Wednesday. Some chanted 'people 
are dying, shame on you' and '53 deaths on your watch,' and threw red 
spray-painted wristwatches at the dais.
With chants of "people are dying, shame on you" and "53 deaths on your 
watch," close to 20 protesters shouted at members of the Department of 
Aging and Disability Services council and threw red spray-painted 
wristwatches at the dais.
"Who's standing up for these people?" asked Jeff Garrison-Tate, who 
heads Community Now, an organization that supports moving people with 
disabilities into community-based care. "If 53 dogs died, people would 
be marching in the streets."
After 10 minutes and efforts by agency Commissioner Addie Horn to calm 
the group, the protesters were escorted out by security. The routine 
meeting resumed.
"It's unfortunate that this small group of narrow-minded people came to 
disrupt this public meeting," said agency spokeswoman Cecilia Fedorov. 
"We asked them to behave in an orderly manner and told them we wanted to 
hear from them during the public comment period."
In a letter to Gov. Rick Perry last week that threatened legal action, 
the Justice Department said all the residents at Texas' 12 state schools 
– which care for the mentally and physically disabled – are in imminent 
danger of neglect and mistreatment, a violation of their constitutional 
rights and of federal law.
Andrea Williams said she's been trying for too long to be heard. In the 
year her 26-year-old son has lived at the Austin State School, she's 
found him in unclean conditions and with red choke marks on his neck. 
She's been trying to get him out for more than six months, she said. 
That's one reason she came to Wednesday's protest.
"I'll walk in and see gnats flying everywhere, a strong urine smell," 
she said. "But they keep telling me they can't reach his level of need 
in the community."






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120951780300.htm

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Special children stage demonstration
Staff Correspondent
DHARWAD: Special children and their educators took out a protest march 
here on Monday seeking better facilities to the special schools and also 
for the teaching staff.
The children and the educators staged a demonstration in front of the 
office of the Deputy Commissioner to press for their demands under the 
aegis of District Association for Special Educators and Supportive Staff.
The special educators and the supportive staff of the special schools 
complained that although “World Disabled Day” was being observed 
regularly, successive governments had failed to take note of the 
problems being faced by the staff of the special schools, which are 
mostly run by private organisations.
According to statistics, there were around 9.4 lakh mentally challenged 
persons in Karnataka and of them 3.67 lakh were children. These children 
were being taught in 210 private schools where 1,500 special educators, 
3,500 assistant teachers and more than 2,500 supporting staff were 
working. But there was no job security to the employees of these 
schools, they said.
President of the association Tara Fernandez and secretary Saroja 
Narsapur, who led the protest, said that the staff of special schools 
were making every effort to bring the mentally challenged children into 
the mainstream, but their efforts were not being recognised and they 
were not being paid wages in commensurate to their work.
They said they would urge the Government to bring all the special 
schools under the jurisdiction of Department of Education and to extend 
the facilities being given to the teachers of aided private schools.