When she started teaching at Mercy Waldron Academy eight years ago, Margie Winters told the principal of the Catholic school she was married to another woman. She was told that wasn't a problem. But now, the beloved director of religious education has been fired -- just weeks before Pope Francis visits Philadelphia. Parents are pointing fingers at Philadelphia archbishop Charles Chaput, who praised school leaders' "character and common sense" in deciding to fire Margie. Margie Winters is exactly the type of person Pope Francis is welcoming into the Catholic Church -- let's stand with Margie and show how many people are upset by her firing.

As further detailed in the SonomaIndependent.org, well before the implementation of the July 15, 2015 shutdown of showers at 44 State beaches, California State Parks had already met Governor’s agency-wide mandate for a one-time 25% reduction in water usage. With beach showers using just 4% of the 446 million gallons of water that California State Parks now consumes, there was absolutely no necessity to remove, for the first time in history, a public service that has improved hygiene and served millions of beach visitors for generations. Most Californians agree that we need to allocate water resources more wisely. This is especially true for agribusiness, which consumes 80% of all water used in the state. The state’s almond export crop by itself uses about 35,000 times more water than the beach shower shutdown purportedly saves. Nothing could be more contrary to the public interest than using the drought as an excuse to reduce public water services, like beach showers, campground wash stations, restrooms, and fountains. These services benefit millions while using relatively minuscule quantities of water. Incredibly, the Parks decision to shut down our showers will likely cause more water to be used. That’s because each beach shower uses just 1.2 gallons (people stay in cold water for shorter times), while the average American shower at home uses 17 gallons of water. If just half of the annual state park beachgoers had previously showered at the beach, and not taken additional showers, are now forced to shower at their home or hotel, then this shutdown will waste more than 100 million gallons of water each year! The misguided decision to shut the tap at beach showers across the state was made without a single public hearing, or independent analysis, of how it would impact water usage, or the public. It was made by Lisa Mangat, a recently appointed State Parks Commissioner who came from the State’s Finance agency without any experience in public parks or public services. Closing beach showers may also be a trial water balloon to use the drought as an excuse to further cut important services to the public. State park officials have said that they will not rule out further water cutbacks for sinks, bathrooms and pay toilets in state campgrounds and parks, or the closing of some parks all together. The water savings amount targeted by the beach shower shutdown is a minuscule drop in the bucket—yet this move directly affects more people than any specific water savings policy made to date by the State of California. The 18 million gallons allegedly saved by cutting beach shower service to 15 million beach visitors annually is the equivalent water usage as: • Two months of watering of a single golf course. California has 900 golf courses. • Two months watering of a single almond farm. California has 6,500 almond farms and exports more than 75% of the almonds produced. • About one day’s watering of state highways. California’s State Highway agency uses 11 more water than all state parks. On behalf of California’s park users, we urge Governor Brown and our state legislators to pressure Parks Director Mangat to reopen our state beach showers. In coping with this drought, we want to reduce water guzzlers—not public services.

I am starting this petition because it's time that religions learn they don't own marriage, education, morality or our country. WE ALL DO. We don't all trust in a God. Don't force us to live that way. Also we should be able to hold public office, and be married without a religious official. WE ARE AMERICANS TOO.

Mayor Patrick Rushing, of Air Heights, Washington, is refusing to resign after posting Facebook comments referring to Michelle Obama as "gorilla face" and President Barack Obama as "monkey man." Throughout his five-year tenure as Airway Heights mayor, Rushing's Facebook page has regularly churned out (mostly reposted) images and comments that have been racially insensitive. How can someone with so many racist preconceived notions serve racially diverse constituents?

My family spent all of Summer 2014 touring our amazing country, logging close to 15,000 miles by minivan. We stopped at numerous National Parks and Monuments, and a few Presidential Libraries that my mother wanted to see for the first time. At each spot, we wanted to purchase a souvenir. To our disappointment and dismay, it was challenging to find anything produced domestically. We love our global neighbors, but it is saddening to think of slapping a Grand Canyon magnet manufactured in China on my fridge to represent an American Treasure.

Most Richmonders and most enrolled at and working at VCU are unaware that the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel is located on the 17th Floor of the West Hospital (former MCV) at The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. This chapel must be renamed. The chapel, dedicated in 1963 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, is a fine place for worship but who can imagine a Black person choosing to do so? This monument to the traitor Jefferson Davis should not be on the property of a state-owned hospital dedicated to serving the region's poorest. It must be renamed and rededicated to those poor people seeking compassionate medical care. Michael Rao, President of Virginia Commonwealth University, can be contacted on Twitter at @vcupresident.

The Department of Justice must conduct an independent investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in Texas. The circumstances surrounding her traffic stop are suspicious and deserve an independent, thorough, accountable investigation--especially in light of new video footage. We cannot allow the local police to investigate themselves. The Department of Justice has the authority--and power--to find out what happened to Sandra Bland.

Keep Elmora Hills community and schools from becoming overcrowded.

I work for the Chicago Teachers Union. We are outraged that the Chicago Board of Education has known for four years that these toxic swaps with Bank of America were putting a tremendous strain on the school budget. However, despite being briefed, warned and provided ample information, they did nothing. We are taking matters into our own hands and giving the people an opportunity to create meaningful change and hold Bank of America accountable.

Offer competitive ISP. Regulations, maintenance, infrastructure owned and operated by the City of El Paso.

6000+ troops have died in the Iraq/Afghanistan war, more than 5 times that number have committed suicide, and 100,000+ have major injuries. One of those suicides was my friend's son. With so much unrest in our world at this moment, and our military troops being sent all over the world, a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear program is the best solution.

I, Dr. Patricia M. Harris have started this petition because since 1993 on the steps of an inner city high school, I saved one student but failed to save another from gun violence. I too could have been killed, however, the gunman decided to run instead of shooting me in the back. There isn’t one day of my life that I do not think about the ordeal. Our country is worsening and we are in a state of emergency with gun violence. It is clear to many that gun ownership and the lack of its control takes precedence over the brutal, savage, and inhumane execution of innocent men, women and children. Enough is Enough! Denial that, “No More Needs to Be Done” will only allow violence to continue and fester. How many more children must die? How many more innocent worshipers must die? How many more innocent by-standers must die? Just how many more people must die? Let’s WAKE UP and Ignite powerful voices for stricter laws for the possession, use, abuse, and control of Gun Violence.