Tuesday, March 6, 2012

R-rating prevents kids from seeing anti-bullying documentary

From America Blog Gay comes this news.

ByNick Seaver

I’m a little late to this story, but there is a new documentary coming out from The Weinstein Company entitled, Bully. While it would seem a movie about the problem of bullying wouldn’t be too controversial given it's about what kids deal with everyday, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has given it an R rating.

Here’s the problem – kids are the ones who need to see this and an R rating stops it from being played in a lot of schools. It’s rated R for the language, which fails to recognize that every word in this movie has been heard in every high school in America.

The irony here is that the MPAA seems to be trying to protect kids from seeing what bullying looks like while the movie is trying to show the impact of bullying in an effort to elevate efforts to stop it. These kids don't need to be sheltered - they see it or live it every single day. Looking the other way doesn't stop kids from bullying, it doesn't reduce the damage done by those words and actions, and doesn't stop kids from seeing suicide as a reasonable escape from bullying. Sticking our heads in the sand isn't the solution (it clearly hasn't worked so far).

There’s a petition at Change.org that you can sign telling the MPAA to reduce the rating to PG-13. Take a second and sign on and share it.

Here’s the trailer:

Sunday, March 4, 2012

"8" The Play

I just finished watching "8". The play based on the Prop 8 trial.
I can't say enough. Watch it and learn what happened. Please pass this on to everyone you know and love no matter which side they are on.
Thank you to everyone involved.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Don't Go To Russia

OHIO: Gay Activists Work To Place Repeal Of Marriage Ban On November Ballot

From joemygod.com

This my home state. Good luck. I don't think it will pass. Lived there, done that, only go back for a funeral.

Activists in Ohio have launched a drive to place a repeal of the same-sex marriage ban on the November ballot.

The Freedom to Marry Coalition expects to file more than 1,700 signatures of registered Ohio voters; 1,000 valid signatures are required in the first step of placing a constitutional issue before Ohio voters this fall or possibly next year. The proposal would change the Ohio Constitution — amended in 2004 to block same-sex marriage — to say that the state and political jurisdictions define marriage as “a union of two consenting adults, regardless of gender.” It also would stipulate that “no religious institution shall be required to perform or recognize a marriage.”
The proposed amendment will be submitted to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today. (Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)