Paper Flowers.

THE ULTIMATE SILENCE ~ October 12th, 1998



Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts,
The impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves,
Then listen close to me ...
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.

~ Shel Silverstein

Fourteen years ago today, Matthew Shepard was murdered for being homosexual.

What will you do to end the silence?
For background information check out the HBO movie "The Laramie Project"
( Please read ... )

http://www.matthewsplace.com

http://www.matthewshepard.org

http://www.stophate.us/shepard/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112638393

Originally posted by teleens_journal at Please Share This. Thank You!

Dear UK Flisters,

I know I'm preaching to the choir with you guys when it comes to LGBT equality, but believing something is fair and actually getting off your bum and doing something about it doesn't always follow like it should. So here's a little (and slightly preachy) reminder!!

Three things I'd like you all to do before you go to bed tonight (if you haven't already)

1/ Go here and sign the C4EM's petition for marriage equality. This is the simplest and probably most visible way to show your support. It currently has 60,000 signatures -- the petition against (by C4M) has over 500,000!!!

2/ Go here and fill out the government's consultation. It might take a little bit longer, but you can bet that for every pro-person who doesn't find the time, there will be dozens of 'anti' people who will.

3/ Email your MP. There's a handy template there for you to use so you don't even have to think of what to say. Also, you can go here to see where your MP stands on the issue. A hugely important thing to do because the majority of MPs will be voting with their conscience rather than following the party line, so make sure you let yours know your feelings.

4/ Okay, so I lied. There's actually a fourth thing. And that is simply spread the word. The consultation ends in two day - it's our last chance to get as many people mobilised as possible. So tweet it, Facebook, blog it, beat your friends and family around the head with it until they give in!!! And if you want to repost to your own journal (and please feel free to edit), here's an ever-so helpful button

...based off my previous post about the congregation that encouraged a toddler to sing homophobic "hymns" during services, I am issuing a call to arms. Or rather, to wallets.

That "church" is located in Greensburg, Indiana. You know who else lived in Greensburg? A young man named Billy Lucas.

Billy Lucas may or may not have been gay, but he was bullied with gay epithets, among others, to the point where he took his own life. It was his suicide along with a rash of others (Asher Brown, Tyler Clementi, too many to list) that inspired Dan Savage and his husband to create the It Gets Better project.

So, my friends.

If you have a spare five bucks on your credit card, or more, it doesn't matter, please take a minute today and donate to Indiana Equality.

On the form, put in memory of Billy Lucas.

Put in honor of Pastor Jeff Sangl and his email address pastorsangl@apostolictruthtabernacle.net , and include the address of the "church" so they get notified by mail:

Apostolic Truth Tabernacle
1114 W. Westridge Pkwy.
Greensburg, IN 47240

I didn't come up with the idea, a commenter on Joe.My.God did, but it bears merit.

And please boost the signal.

CISPA would give the government and corporations vast new powers to track and share data about Americans’ Internet use.

But our hundreds of thousands of emails and tens of thousands of phone calls have had a real impact:

Amendments were adopted that made CISPA (marginally) better.

Earlier this month CISPA was supposed to sail through, but we helped foment opposition, and the vote was far closer than anybody could have imagined even a couple of weeks ago.

Most Democrats held firm in opposition, and more than two dozen libertarian-leaning Republicans defied their leadership and voted no.

Most importantly, President Obama has threatened to veto CISPA.

***Additionally, CISPA would destabilize the internet inviting cyber attacks and increasing the amount of identity theft.***

The Senate will consider cyber security legislation in the coming weeks. Let’s turn up the heat right away: Tell the Senate to reject CISPA and any and all legislation that doesn’t respect privacy and civil liberties.
Add your name at right to tell the Senate to reject cyber security legislation that doesn’t respect privacy.

http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/cispa_passes/?akid=1332.1998782.hoiowQ&rd=1&t=2

Please repost this? I have never begged for one of my posts to be boosted. I am just so worried for my friends and want you to know.

According to this article, dated March 15, 2012:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/webnews/major-isps-turn-into-copyright-police-by-july-says-riaa/

"File-sharers, beware: By July 12, major US Internet service providers (ISPs) will voluntarily begin serving as copyright police for the entertainment industry, according to Cary Sherman, chief executive of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The so-called “six-strikes” plan is said to be one of the most effective anti-piracy efforts ever established in the US."

The article goes on to give details. After six notices, internet providers will decide to throttle a person's internet speed, or cut it off altogether. I don't know if they will crack down on torrents only, or if it is up to the internet provider. I get the sense it is up to the internet provider. So some people could get away with downloading non torrents, while others might get their internet service cut off. I urge you to click it and read, as we all know people who download.

No more downloading eps of your favorite shows for vidding, gifs, or fanfiction art. No more downloading screencaps possibly. I'm so sorry my friends. I don't even know if BT Guard will work to protect you, but I would google it if I were you. It is a professional service that supposedly can protect you from the invasive eyes of your internet provider.

Just, my friends, please make each other aware. Please be aware of the date JULY 12TH. Mark your calendar and double check with your internet provider by then. If you start receiving notices of downloaded activity, this is why. And your internet service could be throttled or cut off.

Fox news confirms this:
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/17/us-isps-become-copyright-cops-starting-july-12/

Youtube video explaining this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5OG0R-yS-c

Originally posted by arynwy at The shaming room