Leslie Cooper, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), stated, “It’s a license for child welfare agencies to make bad decisions based on their own religious beliefs rather than the child’s needs.”

Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun) criticized the bill on the grounds that the private agencies contract with the state government and thus as recipients of state funding, should not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville) added, “I will listen to the arguments and try to understand what the rationale behind it is…but I’m not include to support discrimination or use of tax dollars to support discrimination.” If the bill becomes law, Virginia would be the second state, following North Dakota, to allow private agencies to refuse placements on the basis sexual orientation.

Washington Post 2/7/12; Associated Press 2/4/12

Rick Santorum has been under fire for his statements opposing contraception. He has indicated that he is opposed not only to abortion but wants to repeal Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and allow states to ban birth control access. Moreover, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have signed an extreme anti- reproductive rights and health pledge indicating that they support state constitutional personhood amendments, which would give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg. The personhood amendments could also ban emergency contraception, birth control pills, and IUDs the amendment as well as all abortions, even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It could even eliminate medical choices for women like some cancer treatments, and in vitro fertilization.

Although Romney did not sign the Personhood USA pledge, he has indicated in an interview that he also supports “life” from the moment of conception.

Politico 2/8/12; Washington Post 2/8/12; New York Times 2/7/12

The Ninth Circuit judges continued the stay on Judge Walker’s decision while the litigation continues. In other words, lesbian and gay couples will not be allowed to marry until litigation is finished.

FMF Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Equality California Kathy Spillar praising the decision said, “We are thrilled with today’s ruling upholding the right of same-sex couples to marry. As the trial showed, there truly is no substance to the arguments of those who would deny full equality to lesbians and gay men. Same-sex couples should be able to enjoy the same freedom as other Californians to marry the person they love.”

In August 2010, Federal District Judge Vaughn Walker overturned a 6 to 1 ruling by the California Supreme Court in May 2009 that upheld the measure. In 2008, Proposition 8 was passed by voters in an electoral referendum.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, exclaimed, “The court’s ruling affirms what millions of people all across the country already know – loving, committed same-sex couples and their families should be able to share in the celebration and responsibilities of marriage. People from every background and every circumstance get this; they understand because being able to marry the one you love and care for your family are shared values that strike at the very core of who we are as a people. Denying loving couples and their families something so fundamental is to deny our common humanity…This is a great day for them, for all Californians, and for all Americans.”

Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and a longtime advocate for lesbian and gay rights, asserted, “This is a long and winding road but marriage equality, which is winning the hearts and minds of the people, will ultimately prevail in the courts.”

LA Times 2/7/12; The Task Force 2/7/12; Huffington Post 2/7/12; NPR 2/7/12; New York Times 2/7/12

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill went before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in May but was dropped from the Parliament’s agenda following condemnation from the President, the Secretary of State, members of Congress, and human rights groups. Bahati has since indicated that he would be willing to drop the provision of the bill calling for the death penalty.

Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries with the exception of South Africa, which recognizes gay marriage, but even there, anti-gay practices such as “corrective rapes” of lesbians, are commonplace.

The Daily Star 2/7/12; Associated Press 2/7/12; Feminist Daily Newswire 5/13/11

Alisha Sedor of NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota stated that CPCs “should not be allowed to advertise services that they do not provide.”

Currently, there are an estimated 3,500 CPCs nationwide, most of which are affiliated with one or more national umbrella organizations. CPCs often pose as comprehensive health centers and offer “free” pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and do not offer women neutral or comprehensive medical advice. Often CPCs are run by anti-abortion zealots who are not licensed medical professionals.

National Partnership for Women and Families 2/6/12; Feminist Daily Newswire 10/21/12