Uruguay News
September 11, 2009
About two weeks ago I saw a story that really made me proud to be a human being, while at the same time making me feel ashamed at being an American. The story surrounds some legal developments in the small country of Uruguay. For those not familiar with the country, heres the wiki:
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country located in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to 3.46 million people, of whom 1.7 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. An estimated 88-94% of the population are of mostly European and/or mixed descent.
Uruguays only land border is with Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to the north. To the west lies the Uruguay River, to the southwest lies the estuary of Río de la Plata, with Argentina only a short commute across the banks of either of these bodies of water, while to the southeast lies the South Atlantic Ocean. Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America, larger only than Suriname.
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguays oldest European settlement, was founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Montevideo was founded by the Spanish in the early 18th century as a military stronghold. Uruguay won its independence in 1825-1828 following a three-way struggle between Spain, Argentina and Brazil. It is a constitutional democracy, where the president fulfills the roles of both head of state and head of government.
The economy is largely based on agriculture (making up 10% of GDP and the most substantial export) and the state sector. According to Transparency International, Uruguay is the least corrupt country in Latin America (along with Chile), with its political and labor conditions being among the freest on the continent.
Uruguay is one of the most economically developed countries in Latin America, with a high GDP per capita and the 47th highest quality of life in the world. It was the first Latin American country to legalize same and different sex civil unions at a national level in the year 2007.
The story surrounds an important development in rights of homosexuals around the world: setting into law the fact that same-sex couples can (and are protected by law) adopt children.
Uruguay, like the United States, is a secular country with a firm division between the church and state. As many in the US attempt to tear down that division and impose their own superior morals on others, its very refreshing to see a country with similar ideas making a public declaration about what is a family unit and that same-sex couples have the same parenting rights as hetero couples.
The United States needs to wake up and join the rest of the world in the twenty-first century. The antiquated Puritan values that many hold has done nothing but stifle the development of its population and created a lazy nation. If the United States is to return to its place as the Greatest Nation on Earth, it needs to pick itself up by the bootstraps and make the hard changes that will allow itself to do so.
These include:
* A declaration of Gay Rights.
* Universal Healthcare for all.
* An end to government bail-out programs.
* Higher standards of education.
* A flat tax across the board.
* An end to lobbying.
If these things can happen then America will be great.
Duration : 0:1:16
Sacramento Gay Pride Week, June 2009
June 17, 2009
CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark, Kevin and William interview people outside Faces night club about Sacramento Gay Pride.
Sacramento Pride 2009 Parade and Festival take place Saturday June 20, 2009 at Southside Park.
www.sacramentopride.org
Duration : 0:7:29
Assemblymember Lowenthal: Equality Takes A Hit With High Courts Prop 8 Ruling
June 15, 2009
(Sacramento) California State emblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) joined several members of the embly Democratic Caucus at a capitol news conference to express their individual and collective dismay over the California Supreme Courts ruling that upheld Proposition 8, the ban on same sex marriage. emblymember Lowenthal says the ruling legalized discrimination against millions of Californians. Despite the ruling the Long beach Democrat says she remains hopeful and says shes ready to support the ongoing struggle to bring equal rights to all Californians, regardless of the sexual identity. Heres more in this embly Access video.
Duration : 0:1:21
Sacramento Gay Pride Week, June 2009
June 15, 2009
CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark, Kevin and William interview people outside Faces night club about Sacramento Gay Pride.
Sacramento Pride 2009 Parade and Festival take place Saturday June 20, 2009 at Southside Park.
www.sacramentopride.org
Duration : 0:9:47
Dismayed by Courts Decision to Uphold Ban on Same Sex Marriage
June 9, 2009
(Sacramento) – Following the release of the California Supreme Courts ruling to uphold Proposition 8, the ban same sex marriage, several members of the embly Democratic Caucus held a news conference at the state capitol to express sadness and anger over the decision. emblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) said she was extremely disappointed that the court chose to allow the discriminatory law to remain in place. Heres more in this embly Access video.
Duration : 0:0:28
Assemblymember John A. Pérez Responds to Prop 8 Ruling
June 7, 2009
(Sacramento) Following the release of the California Supreme Courts ruling on Proposition 8 that bans same sex marriage emblymember John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) said despite the high courts decision, justice and equal rights will prevail. emblymember Pérez went on to say the fight for same sex marriage is for more than just a marriage certificate, its about equality in everyones eyes. emblymember Pérez made his remarks at a capitol news conference, where he was joined by more than a dozen other lawmakers who also expressed sadness at the courts decision. Heres more in this embly Access video.
Duration : 0:1:29
Assemblymember Swanson: Prop 8 Ruling Disappointing
June 1, 2009
(Sacramento) emblymember Sandré Swanson (D-Oakland) joined more than a dozen other members of the California State embly Democratic Caucus at a capitol news conference to express his disappointment with the state Supreme Courts decision to uphold Proposition 8, the ban on same sex marriage. emblymember Swanson compared the ban on same sex marriage to the misguided ban on interracial marriage that was on the books for many years, saying it is a question of equality. Heres more in this embly Access video.
Duration : 0:1:11
Assemblymember Evans: Shameful Decision by High Court
May 31, 2009
(Sacramento) After the California Supreme Court released its ruling that upheld Proposition 8, the ban on same sex marriage, several members of the embly Democratic Caucus held a news conference at the state capitol to express their dismay over the decision. emblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) said she was very disappointed that the court chose to allow the discriminatory law to remain in place. She compared it to previous court rulings that banned interracial marriages, denied the right to own property because of race, and justified the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two. Heres more in this embly Access video.
Duration : 0:0:45
Rainbow Festival 2008 at Faces
May 2, 2009
CHECKERED NATION hosts Mark and William with some lively interviews at Faces nightclub celebrating Sacramento’s Rainbow Festival 2008.
Interview topics include the Rainbow Festival, gay marriage in California, coming out and celebrating diversity.
Guests include locals and out of towners, drag queens, go go boys in underwear and Terry Sidie who tells us the history of the Rainbow Festival.
The Rainbow Festival is a benefit for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (formerly the Lambda Center).
www.saccenter.org
Duration : 0:10:1
CLUB PAPI SACRAMENTO
April 25, 2009
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Duration : 0:0:58