In a letter sent out Wednesday afternoon, Baraboo School District Administrator Lori Mueller indicated the district has finished part of the investigation into a pre-prom photo showing students making gestures associated with white supremacy.
The letter, sent via student information system Infinite Campus, stated the 10-day investigation involving local authorities, parents and others has left “some key details” unclear. They were seeking to understand the events leading up to the photo being taken, as well as what happened after.
“As previously stated, we cannot know the intentions in the hearts of those who were involved,” Mueller wrote. “Moreover, because of students’ First Amendment rights, the district is not in a position to punish the students for their actions.”
The photo in question of the 60 boys was taken outside the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo last spring. The parent who took the photographer said he simply asked the boys to “wave goodbye” to their parents before heading to prom.
Obviously Baraboo School district needs to take a Civics class itself.
The First Amendment would cover the students having the right to do this and not be jailed by the government. Nothing tin the First Amendment says that a school can’t punished with detentions or suspensions for making a disgusting and hateful gesture.
Now that SCOTUS has denied review of the appeals in seven Marriage Equality Cases, and same sex marriage legal in 30 states and those cases are over. The appellate court decisions, which upheld district court decisions holding marriage discrimination provisions unconstitutional, stand. Since the cases are over and since the Supreme Court’s denial of review is final word on the matter, the stays, whether issued by appellate courts or district courts, will end shortly and that is making for some world-class whining happening today from our cast of non-favorite grifters, charlatans, and fear mongers.
Peter “Porno Peter” LaBarbera calls for rioting! And Bryan Fischer again dreams of sodomy:
Julaine Appling, head of Wisconsin Family Action: (Poor bitch. Her life is slipping away. Whooops I misspelled “career is slipping away”)
“The high court’s denial of our Wisconsin case and these other cases is profoundly disappointing. However, at some point the US Supreme Court will take a case on this issue. Wisconsin’s marriage amendment is on hold, but should the Court ultimately rule that the US Constitution does give the states the right to determine for themselves what marriage is, our amendment will be reinstated.”
Ben Shapiro, the virgin Jew melting down at Breitbart.com
“On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to take on the issue of gay marriage – and by doing so, essentially greenlit same-sex marriage across the nation, encouraging low-level courts to continue knocking down traditional marriage laws across the country. This is the beauty of Supreme Court doctrine: they don’t even have to do their judicial dirty work anymore. They can rely on lower-level courts to violate the Constitution, then declare the Constitution magically changed because of an ’emerging’ consensus on violating the Constitution. And the people have no recourse. They cannot pass laws that for two and a half centuries have been fully Constitutional. They cannot fight state attorneys general who betray their voters. They must sit by as the courts play legal games while awaiting the great Obama-esque ‘evolution’ – an evolution that is almost entirely top-down, and that will then be dictated to us by our betters.”
National Organization for Marriage hate group leader Brian Brownshirt posting on the NOM Blog:
“We are surprised and extremely disappointed that the US Supreme Court has refused to grant review of the same-sex marriage cases pending before them. This is wrong on so many levels. First, the entire idea that marriage can be redefined from the bench is illegitimate. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman; it has been this throughout the history of civilization and will remain this no matter what unelected judges say. Second, it’s mind-boggling that lower court judges would be allowed to impose the redefinition of marriage in these states, and our highest court would have nothing to say about it. Third, the effect of the lower court rulings is to say that a constitutional right to same-sex ‘marriage’ has existed in every state in the union since 1868 when the 14th Amendment was ratified, but somehow nobody noticed until quite recently. That’s the absurd belief we are being told to accept.
“It’s possible that the Supreme Court wants to wait to take a case when a Circuit split develops so that it can rule in favor of the people’s right to define marriage as it has always been defined. We’re hopeful that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will rule in our favor and that the Supreme Court will then take that case and decide that marriage is not unconstitutional. NOM will continue to devote all our energy and resources to stand for the truth of marriage, and to advocate the importance of preserving it. While we are disappointed in what has happened today, we are not defeated or dispirited. Indeed, we are determined as never before to fight for the institution that God created and humankind has proven is the best arrangement for the well-being of men and women, for children, and for society as a whole.”
And last but certainly not least………
KKK-affiliated Family Research Council hate group leader Tony “PeeWee” Perkins, via press release.
“Unfortunately, by failing to take up these marriage cases, the High Court will allow rogue lower court judges who have ignored history and true legal precedent to silence the elected representatives of the people and the voice of the people themselves by overturning state provisions on marriage. Even more alarming, lower court judges are undermining our form of government and the rights and freedoms of citizens to govern themselves. This judicially led effort to force same sex ‘marriage’ on people will have negative consequences for our Republic, not only as it relates to natural marriage but also undermining the rule of and respect for law.
“The Court decision ensures that the debate over natural marriage will continue and the good news is that time is not on the side of those who want to redefine marriage. As more states are forced to redefine marriage, contrary to nature and directly in conflict with the will of millions, more Americans will see and experience attacks on their religious freedom. Parents will find a wedge being driven between them and their children as school curriculum is changed to contradict the morals parents are teaching their children. As more and more people lose their livelihoods because they refuse to not just tolerate but celebrate same-sex marriage, Americans will see the true goal, which is for activists to use the Court to impose a redefinition of natural marriage on the entire nation.
“Congress should respond to today’s announcement by moving forward with the State Marriage Defense Act, which is consistent with last year’s Windsor ruling and ensures that the federal government in its definition of marriage respects the duly enacted marriage laws of the states.
U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb today struck down the discriminatory amendment to the Wisconsin state constitution preventing same-sex couples from marrying. The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the law on behalf of eight couples seeking the freedom to marry in Wisconsin or to have their out-of-state marriages recognized. Two of the plaintiffs, Kami Young and Karina Willes of West Milwaukee, were legally married last year in Minnesota and have a newborn daughter. But because Young is the birth mother, she is the only one who is recognized as the legal parent on the birth certificate.
“Our daughter has two parents who love her dearly,” said Willes. “I am no less a mother to her than Kami is, and she deserves the security of having both of her parents legally recognized. Our daughter shouldn’t have second-class protections.” “We are tremendously happy that these loving and committed couples will now be able to access the security and recognition that only marriage provides,” said Larry Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “These discriminatory laws are falling around the country and it is only right that Wisconsin move forward as well.
Part of Friday’s ruling reads: “It is DECLARED that art. XIII, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution violates plaintiffs’ fundamental right to marry and their right to equal protection of laws under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Judge Crabb referenced SCOTUS’ decisions in the WINDSOR ruling (not the Prop 8 Case) 12 times in her decision.
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, today issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin’s ruling that Wisconsin’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional: “The federal district court in Madison took another step toward ensuring full equality for every American. It is clear the growing momentum of support for marriage equality will put an end to discriminatory laws that treat LGBT couples as second-class citizens. In ruling after ruling, it has become unmistakable that the promise of America is everyone should be treated equally and with dignity. Today’s ruling brings us one step closer to fulfilling that promise.”
Meanwhile, County clerks in Milwaukee and Madison are trying to figure out if and when they could begin issuing marriage licenses. Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki said he was keeping his office open while an attorney reviewed the decision in case he could begin accepting marriage licenses Friday evening.
Judge Crabb referenced SCOTUS’ decisions in the WINDSOR ruling (not the Prop 8 Case) 12 times in her decision.
Wisconsin GOP Governor, union buster and all round douchebag ScottWalker is claiming that same-sex marriage will not be be coming to Wisconsin anytime soon if he has anything to do with it.
Walker a virulent homophobe the past has compared same-sex marriage to incest and pedophilia. In 2011 he tried to end hospital visitation rights for gay couples.
Catholic Bishop David Laurin Ricken has informed the over 300,000 members of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin that voting for candidates (Democrats) whose positions contradict any so-called “non-negotiables” of Catholic teachings puts “one in grave moral danger.” (Translation: You’re going to HELL.)
Ricken wrote:
I would like to review some of the principles to keep in mind as you approach the voting booth to complete your ballot. The first is the set of non-negotiables. These are areas that are “intrinsically evil” and cannot be supported by anyone who is a believer in God or the common good or the dignity of the human person.
They are:
abortion
euthanasia
embryonic stem cell research
human cloning
homosexual “marriage”
These are intrinsically evil. “A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program that contradicts fundamental contents of faith and morals.” Intrinsically evil actions are those which have an evil object. In other words, an act is evil by its very nature and to choose an action of this type puts one in grave moral danger. [emphases added]
But what does this have to do with the election? Some candidates and one party have even chosen some of these as their party’s or their personal political platform. To vote for someone in favor of these positions means that you could be morally “complicit” with these choices which are intrinsically evil. This could put your own soul in jeopardy.
This story hits close to home for me, as I was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and used to be very active in the Green Bay Catholic Diocese. I come from a family of liturgical musicians and was even a previous bishop’s favorite cantor (until I was unceremoniously dismissed for my “scandalous” marriage to another man); my parents — both fixtures of Green Bay’s Catholic community — are outspokenin their support of LGBT equality, as are many friends. According to all the reports I’ve heard so far from them and others, Bishop Ricken’s letter has outraged and divided local Catholics. There are even rumors that, inspired by Catholic communities in Washington State, some parishes might defy Ricken’s order and refuse to distribute his letter. For the sake of the Catholic LGBT youth in Northeastern Wisconsin — many of whom, like me, are still growing up falsely believing that they are somehow “intrinsically evil” — I hope as many churches as possible do just that.
Rickens letter was posted on the diocesan website and emailed to the offices of every parish. The diocese is also ordering churches to include the letter in their bulletins this weekend or next.
Madison, Wisconsin’s Colton Boettcher has directed, produced, and editied one of the best “It Get’s Better” videos to come down the pipe in a long
With the help of his friends at Bondeul High School, Colton has turned Lady Gaga’s song “Hair” into an amazing and inspirational video to LGBT youth, from LGBT and LGBT/Straight supportive youth.
It’s being reported that Tea Party/GOP Candidate Herman (999 is 666 unside down) Cain covered up the fact that he had a gay staffer named Scott Toomey (A GOProud follower) who was and senior political adviser through last May when “allegedly” Toomey’s sexual orientation became known and allegations of misconduct in his role as treasurer of the Madison Pride Board was discovered which caused a a bit of a shock and embarrassment for Cain supporters so Cain the Godfather Pizza CEO and his staff “took care of it.”
Kevin Hall, the former Iowa straw poll coordinator for Herman Cain made these allegation in a letter applying for unemployment benefits and in testimony during a hearing last week.
Hall said that on June 9, his second day on the job, campaign spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael told the staff that Toomey was no longer involved in the campaign in any capacity and they should tell that to anyone who asked. Hall said he learned weeks later that Toomey was still “very much involved” as an outside consultant despite what he and others had been telling the media and supporters. The campaign would conceal Toomey’s continued employment by paying his newly-formed consulting firm so his name would not show up in disclosure filings. Filings with the Federal Election Commission show Toomey, of Chicago, was last paid salary from the campaign June 13. The Soarin’ Group, which Hall testified was Toomey’s firm, started receiving payments the same month
“A conservative candidate, Mr. Cain is on the record as stating that he believes homosexuality is a sin and a choice. And they know that, if his top adviser, his highly paid adviser, is openly gay that it would cast a negative light on Mr. Cain and would cost him in his efforts to become president,” he testified. “Basically the campaign was trying to cover up the fact that Mr. Toomey was still involved. They asked … me to help them cover up that fact.”
Its quite telling that the allergations of Toomey stealing money from Wisconsin Pride was secondary and had little to no effect on Cain’s campaign still using Toomey as a consultant.
To Cain obviously being gay and at the forefront of the campaign was much, much, worse than being a thief
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has announced her plans to fun for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl. This is great news! If elected, Baldwin would be the first openly gay U.S. Senator. Please visit http://www.TammyBaldwin.com and help in anyway you can. We need a “Progressive Fighter for Wisconsin”…and the United States.
The Minnesota Independent is reporting that the anti-gay Wisconsin Family Action group has in conjunction with Americans for Prosperity, a group founded by the Koch Brothers who have ties to Gov. Scott Walker been sending out absentee ballot applications with inaccurate deadline information for the state’s Aug. 9 recall election. The absentee ballot applications tell voters they needed to be returned by Aug. 11, two days after the Aug. 9 deadline set by the state and the address listed on the ballot as “application processing center” belongs to Wisconsin Family Action and not the county clerk’s office where the ballots must be returned by the deadline.
The mailing was sent out in the districts of Sheila Harsdorff and Rob Cowles who are both anti-gay GOP representatives who backed Govenor Scott Walker’s attempt to take away collective bargaining rights from public employees and are facing recall challenges from progressive Democrats Shelly Moore and Nancy Nusbaum
Matt Seaholm of Americans For Prosperity, blamed the mistake on a typo. “This just went out to our members,” the group’s head Matt Seaholm told the Journal Sentinel. “I’m sure the liberals will try to make a mountain out of a molehill in an attempt to distract voters’ attention from the issues.”
But some fliers were received by “card-carrying Democrats” two of which have filed complaints with the Wisconsin State Government Accountability Board
The Republican party is shit. Flaming dog shit actually.
Destroying America’s middle class, trampling on women’s rights, and fucking with with us LGBT’s aren’t enough for the GOP. Now they are going after man’s best friend and fuck with PUPPIES!
GOP Rep. Don Pridemore, R-Hartford, Wisconsin and his Repubtards want to ease restrictions on “puppy mills” that would significantly raise the number of dogs that may be sold by people who don’t have licenses from the state and possibly cause pain, suffering and death to many animals.
The current limit for those who need licenses is 25 dogs, a policy signed into law in 2009 by former Gov. Jim Doyle in an effort to eliminate “puppy mills” where service dog doctor letter live in abusive and neglectful conditions. Pridemore wants to raise the limit to 100 dogs and gut the protections completely.
Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now pounced on the proposal. “This is another extremist bill from the Republican legislature that won’t create jobs and serves special interests. “Not content with hurting working families and our children with their draconian cuts, the Republicans are now going after puppies.”
You can contact Pridemore or perhaps send him a baggie of dog shit in protest at
Rep. Don Pridemore- Room 318 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
The Minnesota Independent