And now for something not really very different

[morgan_dhu]

... there's not a lot of good news among the various local ballot measures that I was able to easily find information on. I don't know if these are just the high-profile measures, or how many others there might have been.

In Arizona, a ban on same-sex marriage passed.

In Arkansas, a ban on adoption by same-sex couples passed.

In California, Proposition 8 passed, taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry, a right declared constitutional by the state supreme court.

In California, a law requiring a physician to inform the parents or guardian of a minor 48 hours before performing an abortion also passed.

In Colorado, a law defining human life as beginning at conception (thus effectively banning abortion) passed.

In Florida, a ban on same-sex marriage passed.

In Nebraska, affirmative action was declared unconstitutional.

In South Dakota, serious limits were enacted on the right to a medical abortion (it will now be legal only if the patient's life or health is at risk, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, and then only in the first 20 weeks.

Edit: Looks like the news was better than it appeared when I wrote this last night: the anti-choice initiatives in California, Colorado and South Dakota failed when all the votes were in. Thanks to lawlesslawyer and lavendertook for clueing me in on the good news on the pro-choice fronts.

Alas, as lawlesslawyer points out below, it appears that a majority of voters in the U.S. still don't get it that queer people are people like other people who deserve rights because they are people.




The good news:

Michigan will legalise medical marijuana and allow stem cell research.

Washington will allow limited physician-assisted suicide.

Comments

[jenwrites.livejournal.com]

Massachusetts changed our marijuana laws to make possession of up to an ounce punishable by a mere $100 fine and banned dog racing.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

I've always said that if I had to live in the U.S., Massachusetts would probably be the place for me. ;-)

[jenwrites.livejournal.com]

Massachusetts: come for the gay marriage, stay for the weed :)

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me!

(Odd personal fact: my mother was born in Everett. Her mother was in Mass visiting relatives. I probably still have relatives somewhere in that region, even though I have no idea who they are.)