After writing an email to South Carolina Senator Mike Fair asking him to consider a ban on "pray away the gay" therapy, the Senator sent me an email back saying “Your warped advocacies are shameful” and that he is tired of the “sick behavior involving same sex” people. It was extremely inappropriate for the Senator to call a gay advocate “sick” and “shameful” from his government email account. Is this even proper protocol when responding to a concerned citizen? If he disagreed with my email, he should have been civil and respectfully said “I disagree” or “thanks” or simply not responded. Where his comments were absurd and disrespectful, his email certainly empowers me to keep up the important fight. Senator Fair is failing to protect our young people and the State of South Carolina. Please join me in urging him to immediately resign. A copy of the correspondence can be found below: Coverage by Advocate Magazine: http://www.advocate.com/politics/2016/4/15/sc-senator-lgbt-advocate-youre-warped-sick-shameful --------------------------------------------------- Begin forwarded message: From: Mike Fair Subject: Re: Ban Conversion Therapy Date: April 10, 2016 at 10:34:23 AM EDT To: Caleb Laieski Please do not ignore the science in promoting your agenda. Pediatric neurologists recognize and stand by the claim, empirically proven, that the brain's elasticity doesn't disappear following puberty and kids continue to change remarkably right through the end of adolescence which could be the mid twenties. Your encouragement of life altering surgery as a young teen but fighting against counseling from those who are no longer in the ethereal and sick behavior involving same sex sexual profligacy is beyond irresponsibility. Your warped advocacies are shameful. MF On Apr 9, 2016, at 2:38 AM, Caleb Laieski wrote: As an elected leader, I urge you to ensure legislation is introduced and passed to ban damaging conversion therapy. Conversion therapy refers to the practice to change and help "cure" someone's sexual orientation. Sadly, this practice is used on minors, who have no legal authority to make their own medical decisions. These practices lead to depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, suicidal behavior, and frequently result in suicide. That is why physiological, medical, and counseling associations are against this practice. The associations also agree that this practice is ineffective, as well as extremely harmful, and damaging to individuals that go through these programs. A few of these organizations include: The American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, and the World Health Organization. Without question, there is very clear evidence that conversion therapy does not work and only traumatizes patients more. Several states have passed laws banning licensed therapists from subjecting minors to such treatment, and I urge you to join the movement. Please introduce and pass legislation that prohibits state-licensed mental healthcare providers from advertising or providing “conversion therapy” or "pray away the gay" therapy to anyone under the age of eighteen. Thank you very much for your time and consideration, Caleb Laieski National Advocate for the LGBT Community, Public Safety, and the Environment

Blue Crest Energy of Texas will begin fracking off the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska this June. As data begins to come in about hydro fracking from states and communities that have been adversely affected by fracking, the news that this beautiful and wild area of Alaska is next to be fracked is disturbing. This area is home to the Kenai Moose Refuge, salmon fishing, and Beluga Whales. Tourism in this area is based on the health of the ecosystem. Fishing is world class and the area is home to many whose recreation and economics are dependent on this area being uncontaminated and having clean air and clean water. In addition, this area is very seismic, prone to earthquakes on a regular basis without the risk of fracking creating more and uncontrolled earthquakes. This affects all who live here and those who love this area and come to visit and appreciate one of the last great wild places.

I have personally witnessed the gradual erosion of funding for inner-city schools due to slick marketing campaigns from nearby "public" charter schools. These schools often participate in the practice known as "creaming." Charter schools routinely remove low-performing students, English language learners, and students with disabilities who might make their data appear less than marketable. The public schools are then left to educate these students once they are removed from local charter schools. The marketing campaigns have resulted in a loss of student population in public schools, and thus a loss of funds necessary to operate needed programs. This system, already declared unconstitutional in Washington state, has resulted in a two-tier system effectively reintroducing educational segregation. Separate but equal funding is inherently unequal. Outlaw these predatory charters. "Public" charter schools are the For-Profit Schools of K-12 education. Don't line the pockets of investors with my tax dollars!

It's the right thing to do. Because the masses have voted with their collective wallet. Because the constitution says, in effect, that what a man does, so long as it doesn't harm another, isn't the state's business. Because the time is right and the law is wrong. Stand with me on this.

I personally suffer from bipolar disorder and scoliosis. The only relief I have ever experienced was through using marijuana in several different forms.

It's about time that we start acting like grown ups and let the police focus on real criminals. It can also be a great source of income for the state.

As has been seen with places like Colorado, legalizing the sale and use medical and recreational marijuana in Texas would not only bring much needed money into the state's economy (especially in the way of easing financial burden on state-run correctional facilities and giving more financial assistance for schools statewide), but will dramatically reduce the crime rate when it comes to nonviolent drug offenses involving not only local residents, but with Mexican cartels as well.

Numerous state governments in the United States, in their important and urgent efforts to protect elephants and rhinoceros from poaching and slaughter, are unknowingly undermining the rights of Alaska Natives and their historical and contemporary use of ivory by adopting state law that "prohibits import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession of ivory". Alaska Native peoples continue to rely on walruses, seals, whales, etc., as primary food sources, as they have for untold centuries, particularly in remote communities with little alternative food sources, with the tusks, membrane, sinew, bones, and other by-products of hunting used for trade with other indigenous individuals, or converted into artwork, a vital contemporary practice in remote villages with few alternative resources, revenue, or employment opportunity. For centuries, these materials were used in the making of sacred objects, tools, clothing, toys, housing construction, and in trade practices during both pre-contact and post-contact eras. Unfortunately, in most, if not all of the adopted or pending state law, the term "ivory" is written in a broad fashion: "'Ivory' means any tooth or tusk composed of ivory from any animal, including, but not limited to, an elephant, hippopotamus, narwhal, walrus, or whale, or any piece thereof, whether raw ivory or worked ivory, or made into, or part of, an ivory product." Confusion over existing and pending laws will hamper vital sales of Alaska Native artwork and handicraft. There is an absolute need to recognize and respect cultural rights of Alaska Native peoples and their long-standing use of ivory, as well as its contemporary use and dimensions. Therefore, the undersigned respectfully request that all congressional and state law makers correct any and all actions that undermine the federal exemptions in favor of Native peoples. Such existing and pending laws must acknowledge and make exemptions for Alaska Native use of old and new ivory (and other relevant marine mammal products) consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Bill Clinton on Friday April 15, 2016 in Washington Heights in New York City while stumping for his wife Hillary Clinton said that “I think it’s fine that all these young students have been so enthusiastic for her opponent and it sounds so good, just shoot every third person on Wall Street and everything will be fine.'” This type of slander and criminal association is shameful and both the Hillary Clinton and her surrogate husband Bill should apologize.

Our right, as citizens, to have access to the truth!

It is apparently a move to restrict voters in NY State from voting in the NY State Presidential Primary on Tuesday, April 19, 2016...By starting this petition I am personally stating my strong objection to this move. I am urging all voters in the USA to join along in support of our right to vote in our elections!

Everyone deserves the same freedom, regardless of sexual orientation. This is just another jab at the fight for LGBT rights.