Free Republic

Straight talk from Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps: “How dare we, then, exclude a group of people who want to do the same thing you do right now, something that is honorable and noble?” “Get over it,” he said. “We’re magnificent, we’re going to continue to be. Let’s just move on, treat everybody with firmness, fairness, dignity, compassion and respect. Let’s be Marines.” bit.ly The Command Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps addressed a group of Marines at a base in South Korea several key topics, including the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy...

Some Christian leaders have expressed support for President Obama’s order to extend hospital visitation and health care decision rights of same-sex couples. The leaders agree with the president that patients, whatever their sexual orientation, need their love ones by their sides and have a right to choose who they want to make medical decisions on their behalf. Focus on the Family Senior Vice President Tom Minnery said in a statement Friday that the Christian pro-family group supports the principle in Obama’s Presidential Memorandum regarding hospital visitation. Likewise, several evangelical leaders voiced support for ensuring gays and lesbians access to their...

OLYMPIA -- The Legislature is having trouble coming to terms with its feelings about taxpayer-financed sex-change operations. Earlier this year lawmakers added a line to the budget to end the policy when reports based on a 2004 Medicaid audit revealed the state had paid for a sex-change operation and other questionable procedures such as penile implants. The amendment, which read "no funds ... shall be expended upon gender reassignment surgery or treatment," passed with broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, and supporters thought the matter had been resolved. But as the Legislature adjourned last week, leading Democrats reversed...