UPDATE: Spa World posted a statement on their facebook page referring to the backlash as "ignorant comments", told the Washington City Paper that this was a "miscommunication," and that "SpaWorld does not, and never has refused entrance to our facility based on sexual orientation." In order for Spa World to be truly welcoming of its LGBT customers, we are asking for a policy of non discrimination and gender inclusion developed with local organizations and activists. -- Spa World recently issued a statement that they do not allow "abnormal sexual oriented" and transgender customers into their facility, going as far as to remove someone who didn't fit conventional gender norms. All people should be allowed to use this facility without fear of discrimination. Many LGBQT people have been loyal customers of Spa World for years, and no longer feel comfortable going. Many others may have avoided going for fear of discrimination. And while it is news that this is official policy, LGBTQ people have long complained of Spa World staff assigning gender at the door through different colored uniforms. Beyond a new policy, there are many ways Spa World could become welcoming - training, family rooms, gender neutral rooms and clothing - we look forward to working on solutions in partnership with Spa World. Life is hard enough - let's enjoy Spa World together. A recent story is here: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20130222/NEWS/130228867/0/fairfaxTimes&template=fairfaxTimes

NVEnergy will now charge any customer who opts out of a smart meter a $53 opt-out fee. In addition to the $53 you will be charged an additional $9 a month. Smart meters have been shown to have a toxic effect from exposure to microwave and radio wave radiation the meters emit. They are also an invasion of privacy. We should not be charged fees to protect our Constitutional rights to protect the health and privacy of our families in our own homes.

Senate Bill 538 would change the way the electoral college votes in Pennsylvania are allocated.

Our small community (Price, Utah) has recently suffered two horrific murder-suicides that left five children without a father and four other children orphaned completely. As part of a school fundraiser Pinnacle Canyon Academy is raffling off a 12 gauge shot gun.

Beginning on March 25, the North Carolina DMV will begin issuing pink drivers licenses to non-citizens. Who gets them? Deferred action recipients, those under temporary protected status, legal permanent residents, and anyone else in North Carolina, according to the state's Department of Transportation spokesperson, that doesn't have the right to vote. This is discrimination and we're fighting against it.

My daughter is a Special Needs Child within the Mesquite Public Schools. We were asked if we wanted her to Participate in Special Olympics (Young Athletes). Can you believe our surprise when we were told that the school district has nothing for Younger Children with Special needs.

Last November, over 57 percent of Michigan voters cast ballots for President Obama. Now Lansing Republicans want to change the rules of the game by rigging Michigan’s electoral votes ahead of the 2016 election. Lansing Republicans have already tilted the scales in their favor in Michigan’s legislative and congressional districts. Last year Republican politicians drew new maps that gave themselves a majority of seats, even though Democrats won more total votes in Michigan This isn’t what our founding fathers had in mind when they drafted the constitution. Help fight back by signing the petition and urging Gov. Snyder to stand up for fair elections.

State of Ohio voting rights

Protect the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965/64 The Coalition for A Better Macon Thomas E. Perez c/o Jennifer Assistant Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Main Washington, D.C. 20530 Our organization stands in opposition to the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 25, 26, 30 and 31, which effectively made all municipal elections in Macon-Bibb nonpartisan. This county is now facing a totally new form of government; whereas the Republican led legislature (Sponsored Legislation) - Rep. Allen Peake, Senator Cecil Staton, Rep. Nikki Randall, Rep. James Beverly, and former Senator Miriam Paris, under HB 1171 Consolidation and redistricting plan drawn by these individuals and approved by the State legislature shall discriminate and retrogressively impact against minorities as affirmed by the maps drawn – the Congressional, State House of Representatives, and the State Senate – are in violation of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These legislators in a hurry rushed referendum to the voters for consolidation without informing the people what they were actually voting on and pushed through the Georgia General Assembly which effectively makes the majority (African American) voters in this county a minority. The Republican led legislators took districts with low voter turnout in Primary elections and specifically abridged voter turnout to effectively dilute African American voting strength whereas lower voter turnout among African American precincts is expected in a Primary July election with expected high voter turnout among whites in now predominately white precincts, based on data from the Municipal Elections 2011, Special Election and General Election 2012, which on paper shows a likely AA district. In reality this shall lead to a higher voter turnout among white voters in support of white candidates winning the seat once held by African American candidates. Furthermore, it is the expressed desire of the Republican led legislator to willfully and knowingly subvert the will of the people through this process, whereby we as a community want to elect candidate(s), we choose to represent our interest(s). As demonstrated by the Republican led legislature their express desire and now law forces those same constituents that make up this community to adhere to nonpartisan elections as a local voting law, which was not voted on by the people. Essentially, by will of the State and Republican led Legislature to subvert and abridgment of the people that choses to exercise one of the basic freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution, the 14th Amendment, and particularly Section 5, Voting Rights Act of 1965 whereby people of color, Negro, Black, and/or African American have the right to vote and be represented accordingly. This master-plan as represented by the aforementioned requires your immediate attention. Under Section 5 and as an Officer of the Court, elected by the people you have a duty and responsibility to act; Section 5 enforcement demands an immediate investigation…. 1. Consider whether a covered voting change has occurred; 2. If so, whether the requirements of Section 5 have been met, preclearance has been obtained; and 3. If not, what relief by the court is appropriate 4. Consider whether or not the State has violated Section 5, by not enforcing the 14th Amendment; The framers of Section 5, considered this to be a tool to enable “Congress, in case the States shall enact laws in conflict with the principles of the Amendment, to correct that legislation by a formal congressional enactment.” Lopez v. Monterey County, 519 U.S. 9, 23 (1996). The only court that can make the determination that change is not discriminatory is purpose or effect is the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon finding non-compliance with Section 5, the Local Federal Court shall consider an appropriate equitable remedy. The general objective of such remedies is to restore the situation that existed before the implementation of the change. Thus, the typical remedy includes issuance of an INJUNCTION against further use of the change. In certain circumstances, other remedies have included voiding illegally-conducted elections, enjoining upcoming elections unless and until the jurisdiction complies with Section 5, or ordering a special election; in some cases courts have also issued orders directing the jurisdiction to seek Section 5, review of the change from the Attorney General or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Respectfully, The Coalition for A Better Macon And Mr. Stanley Phillip Brown, Jr. (Citizen and African American Candidate for Office) Cc: Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Washington DC Michael J. Moore, US State of Georgia Attorney Representing Sam Olsen

The R-Word is a word used to belittle people but it is used on the backs of our friends that have little or now way of defending them selves.

On February 22, 2013, the federal court in Illinois refused to reconsider its December decision that there is a Second Amendment right to carry concealed weapons in public places. That decision threw out the Illinois law that had banned carrying concealed guns. Fortunately, this decision can now be appealed to the United States Supreme court, because on the same day that the federal court in Illinois announced its decision, a case was decided by the federal court in Colorado that reached the opposite conclusion. The Colorado case held that there is no right under the Second Amendment to carry concealed weapons. When there is a conflict between federal courts, as there is in the Illinois and Colorado cases, the U.S. Supreme Court is the only court that can decide which court decision is correct. But the Supreme Court will not consider the Illinois case unless Lisa Madigan appeals it. In the Illinois case that was just decided, Madigan has already said that based on her analysis of all prior Supreme Court decisions, it is her opinion that states can ban carrying guns in public, as Illinois had done. She should stand by this position and appeal the Illinois case to the Supreme Court. Lisa Madigan is the elected attorney for the people of the State of Illinois. She is the only person who can appeal the decision. If she does not appeal, Illinois will have to allow people to carry loaded guns on the streets and in other public places. Tell Lisa Madigan to represent your desire to have safe streets, to stand behind her legal opinion, and to appeal the case.

When Governor Kasich took office he took away our right to have union representation. In doin that he took away our right to bargain for better health care and he cut the pay of 7,000 Independant Home Health Care Aids along with Independant Day Care Workers. Since Governor Kasich says the state of Ohio is doing so well I'd like him to restore our pay. Cutting our pay by 26% he's cause a LOT of hardship for a lot of Independant Home Health Care Aids and their families. A lot of us used to spend some of that money on our clients, which we haven't been able to do.