If you're gay, read this. If you're straight, read this. There's a war going on in California that affects any of us that plan to be parents one day-- especially those of us (gay or straight) who may end up using alternative methods of conception. As a gay man who's trying to start a family with my partner, we're lucky to live in a state that's historically been progressive in regards to non-traditional families-- but as in the case of my brother Jason Patric, there are still ways, no matter what your orientation, to fall through the cracks-- unless, that is, he can have his day in court to demand partial custody of the son he has spent the past three years co-raising. And to have that, we need SB 115 to pass in the California Assembly this month. Unfortunately, six months ago, Jason's son Gus was taken away unceremoniously by his then girlfriend. After spending three years helping to raise his son, he now is unable to seek formal paternity because of 7630 of the California Family Code-- but the passing of SB 115 will give him the chance to seek custody. California has a laudable history of crafting legislation to support the intended family structures of people using reproductive technologies-- in many ways, it's a model for the nation. Unfortunately, 7630 of the Family Code inadvertently fails to live up to this standard. It creates more than a rebuttable presumption against a sperm donor (that a court could weigh and set aside based on the evidence of the parties), it creates an absolute ban on fatherhood, despite the intention or action of the parties and despite the best interests of the child. This not only serves to undermine individuals who did not obtain legal advice at the time of insemination, but sees fatherhood as the singular event of procreation, rather than as a process of nurturing a child by bringing it into one’s home and holding it out as one’s child. Surely, that cannot have been the legislature’s intent, as it would be inconsistent with the State’s other legislation that respects family choices of individuals using reproductive technologies and recognizes the benefits to children of supporting familial relationships. SB 115 will allow courts to provide for father’s rights in cases where the parties are able to establish that their actions proved a father-child relationship rather than rely on a lawyer having prepared a contract about a hypothetical future relationship a donor might have with an unborn child. SB 115 will only bring 7630 in line with other reproductive legislation in the State and could only serve the best interests of the child. SB 115 goes to a vote in the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, August 13th. It is imperative that it gets to the floor for a vote after already passing through the Senate at 38-0. Please realize that the passing of SB 115 is not only important to my family, but to all parents who want the continued opportunity to be in their child's life. Sincerely, Joshua John Miller

Israel Hernandez was killed by the Miami Beach Police for scribbling an "R" pictured here on a McDonald's wall. The 18-year-old skater was chased down, pushed up against a wall, and tased, after which he started to show signs of "medical duress." One witness even said the officers were congratulating each other after tasing him. Hernandez might have been fleeing out of fear of deportation. He was a recently documented Columbian immigrant. Regardless of the circumstances, no one should have to die for scribbling an "R" on a wall. Sign and share to tell the Miami Beach Police department that you want the officers who did this to be held accountable and action taken to make sure this never happens again.

Genetically Engineered Organisms are one the largest threats to our health, environment, and economy, all of which we depend on for survival. Sign this petition and let consumers choose, as the essence of Democracy calls for it!

My sister was given a lethal combination of medication by doctors at Morristown Memorial Hospital that caused her death. I filed a complaint with Gov Christie's Office. He has taken no action but to continue the cover up. He refuses to meet with my family and I.

Now that the Boy Scouts of America have stopped excluding gay youth, some anti-gay extremists are trying to kick Boy Scout troops out of Catholic parishes. The latest example comes from Altoona, Wisconsin, where Boy Scout Troop 90 has been meeting at Saint Mary's Catholic Church for more than 20 years. The troop doesn't even have any gay members, but the local parish priest is nevertheless kicking out the boy scouts because of the Boy Scouts of America's national policy allowing gay youth to participate. The same thing is happening to another troop in the same diocese. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that gays and lesbians "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity," and that "every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." And numerous Catholic bishops, including the official liaison to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, have said that the scouts' new policy doesn't prevent parishes from hosting scout troops. It's time for the local bishop to stand up to the anti-gay extremists in his diocese -- and beyond -- by publicly announcing that parishes in his diocese may not expel Boy Scout troops.

Currently, there is a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. It is imperative that an African American candidate be considered to ensure that there is diversity on the Court. Racial equality is an important factor that must be considered.

I believe in equality, and I am working to take after Oregon's example with their current same-sex marriage initiative which has collected over 240,000 signatures.

When States can use discrimination to suppress the vote it creates devastating social and economic problems on Reservations. The State of South Dakota continued denial of equality have placed Reservations as the poorest counties in the United States to this day.

These rebel flags, which are being erected along our highways, by the Virginia Flaggers, represent division and serve only to terrorize those who have to view these flags on a daily basis. This symbol has only one place ~ in a museum. One only has to read the Cornerstone Speech of the Confederacy to be reminded of the hate that accompanies this symbol: "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a species of insanity. One of the most striking characteristics of insanity, in many instances, is forming correct conclusions from fancied or erroneous premises; so with the anti-slavery fanatics. Their conclusions are right if their premises were. They assume that the negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges and rights with the white man. If their premises were correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails. I recollect once of having heard a gentleman from one of the northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of the South would be compelled, ultimately, to yield upon this subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics, as it was in physics or mechanics. That the principle would ultimately prevail. That we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with us, were warring against a principle, a principle founded in nature, the principle of the equality of men. The reply I made to him was, that upon his own grounds, we should, ultimately, succeed, and that he and his associates, in this crusade against our institutions, would ultimately fail. The truth announced, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics as it was in physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a principle. They were attempting to make things equal which the Creator had made unequal."

Nearly 300 billion plastic bottles are thrown out each year, but this wasted resource can be used to make products and create jobs. Waste plastic is a global crisis that affects everyone and is a problem we can solve with the help of beverage companies. The Reuse Everything Institute (REII) has developed a technology that converts waste plastic bottles into low-cost roofs. We have also developed a program to get this technology into the hands of people around the planet that can install REII’s low-cost roofing while improving their environment and earning a living wage within their communities. We need the financial and logistical support of the major beverage companies to make this vision a reality. These companies created this global waste problem and benefit from the sale of these beverages, they should contribute a small amount to cleaning up the waste. The program developed by REII will help address the waste plastic bottle problem, create better low-cost roofing and make better jobs available. What's not to like? - Less waste, Less poverty; Better housing and a Cleaner environment - We all win! Help us get the message to these global beverage companies. Thank you for your support! Visit www.reuseeverything.org for more details.

After a decade of declining summer beach closures in Rhode Island, they are back on the rise in 2013, with over 100 closures around the state already this summer. EPA was supposed to propose a new rule to curb this pollution in June, but we’re still waiting. Let’s urge EPA to keep our beaches safe from sewage.

Start supporting Organic/local farmers. Stop buying GMO and GE foods. Start eating food the way that we are meant to eat food...Organically. We were given ORGANIC food from the very start of time, and to make food in a LAB is not the way it is supposed to be. The rise of cancer and disease, definitely has a lot to do with eating FAKE food. Doesn't everybody see what's going on here? Eat Organic and support your local Organic Farmers.