Free Republic

...in return for $825,000 under an agreement that settles a long legal battle over the organization's ban on gays, Mayor Michael Nutter's office said...[t]he Boy Scouts Cradle of Liberty Council staff will leave its downtown Philadelphia headquarters of 85 years by June 30...

Ken Mehlman's fundraiser for same-sex marriage will be, among other things, a gathering of some of the most high-profile -- and deep-pocketed -- backers of gay marriage on the right. The names of Bill Weld, Christie Todd Whitman, Steve Schmidt, and Mary Cheney's didn't surprise me. Other names did a bit: Bush aides Mark and Nicolle Wallace are on there, as is top GOP lawyer Ben Ginsberg. Most notably, Mehlman's fundraiser extends the reach of same-sex marriage backers to the very top Republican donor pile: The private equity titan Henry Kravis (who's also Mehlman's boss at KKR) is among the...

On the surface, St. Vincent's Cathedral School of Bedford seemed like a perfect fit for Tracy and Jill Harrison's 4-year-old daughter. It was a good school that would provide much more than your average day care center, Jill Harrison said. It was close to their home, and the hours matched the family's busy schedule. The couple also thought that, as nondenominational Christians, their values would align with those taught at the school. But there turned out to be a wide disparity in beliefs. Less than one week before young Olivia's first day – and days after her teacher called...

the current policy was essentially written by six admirals and generals who made up the second study group assigned by Clinton. The first head of this group was Lt. Gen. Robert Alexander, who told me his team "didn't have any empirical data," so the conclusions it drew were purely "subjective." It was "very difficult to get an objective, rational review of this policy," he said. One group staffer, Vince Patton, tried to provide research to the flag officers in charge, but he said it was never even considered. According to Patton, the policy was created "behind closed doors" by people...

Alaska school district adds ‘gender identity’ to official policy By Joel Davidson Anchorage, Alaska, Mar 11, 2009 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- The third largest school district in Alaska approved a new policy last month that will allow students to choose their own "gender identity." Gender identity — meaning the gender a person believes he or she has internally, regardless of their given biology — has been added to the nondiscrimination policy of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.As no other district in the state recognizes gender identity in official policies, it was unclear how the Fairbanks decision would affect...

Russell Harding....... son of former Liberal Party boss ----a key ally of ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani---tried to keep his sick internet fantasies about sex with children under wraps but a judge ruled they were never placed under seal. Harding served 63-months for downloading kiddie porn and stealing $400,000 from the city as Giuliani's Housing Development Corp appointee. Harding's blog, rudyveritas.com accused the government of violating rules of criminal procedure.

Federal judge rules denial of health coverage to same-sex spouse unconstitutional 10:54 AM, February 5, 2009. A federal judge has deemed unconstitutional the government’s denial of healthcare coverage and other benefits to the same-sex spouse of a Los Angeles public defender, calling into question the validity of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt said the federal government’s refusal to grant spousal benefits to Tony Sears, the husband of deputy federal public defender Brad Levenson, amounted to unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation. “Because there is no rational...

Gay-rights activists meeting in Denver start the tough work Friday of mapping out plans to see the new administration adopt policies they favor, while recounting what went wrong last year in failed attempts to defeat anti-gay ballot measures in California and other states. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force wants to see President Barack Obama make federal changes they say are years overdue, such as repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on openly gay service members. But gay-rights activists say they're afraid they'll be on the back burner in Washington as the economy dwarfs all. And activists...

http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2009/01/26/commentary/editorials/doc4976c02a91af7940488985.txt Boy Scout Troop 358, one of the oldest African-American troops in the county, participated in history as it marched in the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. as the first African-American became President of the United States. Truly an honor for any Scout troop, however have the leaders of this troop taken a close look at an issue that will directly affect the very existence of Boy Scouting in America? The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide family group, is questioning whether they realize President Barack Obama supports the very policies that are targeting their headquarters...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has bought $100,000 of television airtime to urge Californians to vote to save the right to gay marriage in a November ballot, campaign organizers said on Friday

HARTFORD - Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions. The divided court ruled 4-3 that gay and lesbian couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry under the state constitution, and Connecticut's civil unions law does not provide those couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples. "I can't believe it. We're thrilled, we're absolutely overjoyed. We're finally going to be able, after 33 years, to get married," said Janet Peck of Colchester, who was a plaintiff with her partner, Carole...

If we are at war like your socialist neocon idol suggests, then why is he going on vacation. Shouldn't he be manning the command post? AND closing down the borders. Geez, I bet enough illegals swam into Texas just this week to pick a year's supply of lettuce. Yeah, I know, go back to DU or whatever. I just figured that since this is BOT Central, I'd just like to see you Bots try and defend this. And those of you who are eligible for military service shouldn't be here anyway. You should be over in Iraq helping to fight...