students expelled for sexual orientation

Yep, that's the word, from an article in today's SF Chronicle.

Two students who were presumed to be lesbians were expelled from California Lutheran High School for their presumed sexual orientation. They were interviewed by the school's directors, suspended based on their answers, and then expelled a month later.

According to Justice Betty Richli, "The whole purpose of sending one's child to a religious school is to ensure that he or she learns even secular subjects within a religious framework."

Way to go, Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Bernardino. If Proposition 8 got you riled up, then this story should send you through the roof. According to Justice Richli, secular education is anti-gay. As if we needed more evidence that religious organizations are in the Dark Ages where issues of civil rights are concerned.

For the past month I've been going to Glide Memorial Church, where gays and lesbians worship alongside their straight counterparts. For the past five years my dad has been the pastor of a GLBTQ church in Palm Springs. It seems odd that there should be so few places where gays and lesbians can worship freely---and out. It's past time for churches to embrace gays and lesbians as equals and get over the toxic rhetoric and belief systems that this ever-visible segment of the population is somehow less-than or damned to hell. The Catholic and Mormon churches already made a huge mess in California, funneling money and energy that could have been so much better used into a campaign that strips loving partners from basic civil rights. Now this Lutheran high school is stepping up to condemn its gay students. As if navigating your sexuality in high school isn't hard enough.

When is it going to stop?

---Brooke

36th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade

Today is the 36th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade and I felt it was fitting to post some of the news that I've heard regarding this event, as well as discuss a book that encompasses it all: Abortion Under Attack: Women on the Challenges Facing Choice, edited by Krista Jacob.

"Our Bodies, Ourselves" has a really nice round up of all the political news surrounding this anniversary and I urge you to take a look. There is a lot going on, including the possibility of President Obama reversing many of the anti-abortion policies that were enacted by George W. Bush, the annual March for Life on the National Mall, and a Weeklong Blog-a-Thon. "Bloggers at Amplify, a youth-led online community are commemorating Roe’s anniversary by posting stories about what the right to a legal and safe abortion means to them and to women around the world and by sharing ideas for how we can preserve our right to choose. The blog-a-thon continues through Jan. 27." Go to Our Bodies, Ourselves for all the links.

Today is great day to talk about a book that Seal Press published in 2006. Abortion Under Attack addresses a spectrum of personal and social influences, ranging from dealing with remorse to the impact that economics, race, and culture have on a woman's choice to have an abortion. Krista Jacob, a longtime advocate for reproductive rights and former abortion counselor, compiled an impressive collection of writings by a diverse group of pro-choice activists who go beyond the same old analysis of reproductive rights to document and deconstruct the issues currently facing the pro-choice movement. This book is perfect to read at a time like this.

Today is a day to educate ourselves and each other. It's a day to remember what this anniversary means.

Happy Anniversary Roe V Wade,

Eva

Oh happy day!

It's hard not to be in a good mood this morning following the awesome and monumental swearing in of President Barack Obama. We made it! It's been a long, downward-spiraling eight years of Bush, and so I had to smile yesterday when I saw this in downtown SF:


So as to leave on a positive rather than a kicking-Bush-to-the-curb note (as gleeful as I feel), can I just say I wish I could have been in DC this morning. Two million people. Yes we can!


Adios Bush! Bienvenido Obama, y gracias a Dios!!

---Brooke

Half-Assed Author, Jennette Fulda's Blog Tour

The New Year is here, and everyone is trying their hardest to stick to those freshly-made resolutions. Jennette Fulda, author of Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir (Seal Press/ May 2008), has seen that trend. Published last spring, Half-Assed has recently seen a lot of momentum and we'd like to keep spreading the word. Join the author and six of her favorite bloggers as they team up, January 19th through January 24th, to create an awesome six day virtual tour for Jennette.

Learn more about Jennette and the book that may just become your inspiration. Through reviews, Q & A’s, video posts, and guest posts by the author, on six wonderfully unique blogs, this tour is sure to have a great following. Here's the line up:

Monday, January 19th: http://mizfitonline.com

Tuesday, January 20th: http://morgangetsthin.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 21rst: http://www.thismamacooks.com

Thursday, January 22nd: http://www.johnisfit.com

Friday, January 23rd: http://escapefromobesity.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 24th: http://lynnsweigh.blogspot.com

Michelle Goodman in Curve Magazine

Michelle Goodman appears in the January/February 2009 issue of Curve Magazine featuring the cast of The L Word on the cover. In the short blurb they discuss The Anti 9-to-5 Guide and My So-Called Freelance Life.

Sweet Charlotte in the Sacramento News & Review

There was a great article with Cori Crooks in the Sacramento News & Review this week talking about her new book, Sweet Charlotte's Seventh Mistake. Kel Munger, the reviewer, really got to the heart of Crooks' upbringing. They discuss Crooks'difficulties growing up with a chaotic childhood and an unstable mother and what inspired her to put together Sweet Charlotte's Seventh Mistake! Read more here!

New Year, New You

We have the ultimate New Year, New You book this year in the recently released THE LIST: 100 WAYS TO SHAKE UP YOUR LIFE, by Gail Belsky. If you haven't checked out the blog, please do! I gave this book to my mom for Christmas. It's an awesome gift for your mothers, sisters, and close friends. The book is aimed at women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, and it's all about shaking up your routine.

I felt inspired to write about this book today, my first day back in the office after the holidays, when I saw this great write-up about it in The Aspen Times.

Sometimes when I work on a book I forget about the inspiration that kick-started the project to begin with. And for The List, Gail was all about picking things big and small. Some of the things are going to be way beyond your comfort zone, but what's life-changing for one woman might be no big deal to another. Which is why there's something for everyone, and even space at the end to list your own shake-ups. So check out the book and consider challenging yourself in the new year to do at least one or two of them.

---Brooke