Year: 2011

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No, Really.

This is amazing. The rabid (not in the good way) governor of WI has effectively locked up the state capitol, so state reps have moved their desks outside to meet with voters.

How incredible is that? Honestly, I feel at home here in a way I never expected; the WI response to this governor’s powergrab tells me WI has got bigger shoulders than Brooklyn or Chicago. Damn.

And by the way, it wasn’t more than 20 something degrees out today. These folks are not kidding around.

(h/t to my friend Matty for the photo)

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Women’s History Month: Forward

For the start of Women’s History Month, here’s a photo of two images of women in the Wisconsin state capital of Madison. The gold one, which sits atop the building’s cupola, is actually named “Wisconsin” but she’s often referred to as “Miss Forward” — which is the name of the statue that stands at ground level on the capital grounds.

Named Miss Forward for the state’s motto, she is a 7-foot tall allegorical representation of devotion and progress that, from Ms Miner’s experience, could also symbolize patience and persistence.

Jean Pond Miner is her sculptor, and “Forward” is the state motto (which people have been writing backwards on signs protesting the recent power grab by Governor Walker, or using in signs in other ways).

 

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Admirer in the News

Why does anyone care who this Congressman is having sex with?

I am forever at a loss as to why on earth I should care what anyone does sexually. It’s one thing if it’s illegal, but otherwise, really? Grownups worrying about what other consenting adults do with their bodies? Is that any of my business or anyone else’s? If it effects his job in some way – as in he’s too busy dealing with his sex life to do this work – then, maybe. But there’s no evidence of that.

That said, King voted *against* the repeal of DADT so he can suck eggs. I really don’t like hypocrites with power. However: liking trans women as dates/spouses is not kinky, perverted, or weird. It just is. Anyway, I think it’s lovely that he admires and prefers to date trans women.

Next?

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Solidarnosc*!

Wow. As someone who grew up pro union and Polish, this is really lovely news:

In a remarkable expression of international solidarity among working men and women, the president of  Solidarnosc (“Solidarity”) – the Polish trade union whose determination and courage led to the fall of the Iron Curtain – has written an open letter in support of the public employees of Wisconsin.

Piotr Duda, president of Solidarnosc, said the 700,000 members of the Polish union wished “to express our solidarity and support for your struggle against the recent assault on trade unions and trade union rights unleashed by Governor Scott Walker.”

The letter is printed as a full-page advertisement (pdf) in today’s issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

How great is that? That, plus the news that the police are now sleeping in the capital building with the protesters: gorgeous.

* Yes, I know I’ve left off the correct accents. WordPress seems to be translating them. This is the closest I could get to the Polish spelling.

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No Defense for DOMA

Here’s some good news that seems to be under reported:

The Obama administration said Wednesday that it will no longer defend the federal law that bans the recognition of same-sex marriage because it considers the legislation unconstitutional, a sudden and rare reversal.

Gay rights groups hailed the administration’s move, saying it will bolster their argument that laws that apply a different standard to people based on sexual orientation are unconstitutional. At least three challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act are working their way through the federal courts.

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What Democracy Looks Like

I can’t express how intense and amazing it has been to be here in the middle of all this, to see 500 people in front of the local hotel protesting the Republicans who were there for their president’s day dinner, to hear that the local high school students rallied in the local Houdini Square, and tomorrow, to know that 1000 people are gathering near Lawrence’s Mudd library to keep up the visibility of this… I can’t even call it a protest: maybe a testament, instead.

It’s a privilege to be in the midwest and to watch an American revolution happen, quietly and peacefully but passionately.