US States ranked on Discrimination

**the Black Prince** · June 04, 2006, 06:07 PM

Ok, thread title is slightly misleading, but i saw this article on 365gay and thought i'd post it here...

the following three groups have collaborated to produce an interactive map of US States based on their attitudes towards what they term "gay and reproductive rights"
Ipas, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective

tied in 1st place, i.e. the best two states to be in if you're gay or female in the US are New Mexico and New York. tied for last place are Ohio and South Dakota.

the map analysises factors such as abortion laws, discrimination laws, laws relating to marriage and adoption

the report highlights two things i think...
1, the fact that some US states have a shocking attitude toward the rights of women and gay people, with South Dakota recently voting into force a law that bans abortion even for rape victims

2, as the article on 365gay indicates, there is quite a wide disccrepancy between the states on these issues

"In this country, freedom depends on where we live", said Leila Hessini, a policy adviser with Ipas. She said South Dakota's recently passed abortion law - which would ban abortions even in cases of rape and incest if it goes into effect - "has more in common with Afghanistan than Oregon."

Jason Cianciotto, research director with the Gay and Lesbian Task Force, recounted the story of a lesbian couple who felt compelled to move from Florida because it did not allow them to jointly adopt their child. "No one should have to shop around for rights, from state to state," he said.

Original Article
Interactive Map

filtering the map for just hate crimes legislation is especially interesting, i thought...

**Shaun** · June 04, 2006, 06:08 PM

So much for land of the free...

**Last Roman** · June 04, 2006, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Shaun

So much for land of the free...

there is discrimination everywhere

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · June 04, 2006, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Last Roman

there is discrimination everywhere

So... because other places also aren't free of discrimination, that somehow makes it correct to say the US is?

**Octavius Valorius** · June 04, 2006, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Atheist Peace

So... because other places also aren't free of discrimination, that somehow makes it correct to say the US is?

No it doesn't. The U.S. isn't free of discrimination. all this crap wouldn't be going on if it was...

**Last Roman** · June 04, 2006, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Atheist Peace

So... because other places also aren't free of discrimination, that somehow makes it correct to say the US is?

I never said that

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · June 04, 2006, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Last Roman

I never said that

You appeared to be defending the lack of freedom in the U.S. by saying it isn't better in other places. How else should I have interpreted your post?

edit: nevermind, read your response to danzig's post.

**danzig** · June 04, 2006, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Atheist Peace

So... because other places also aren't free of discrimination, that somehow makes it correct to say the US is?

It doesnt however make the US 'worse' though which is probably his point. Discrimination will always exist in every country on some level. The US is no better or worse because of it then any other western country in that regard except when you consider specific groups, for the US it gays who have the most problems

**Last Roman** · June 04, 2006, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by danzig

It doesnt however make the US 'worse' though which is probably his point.

right on the nose

**Zuwxiv** · June 04, 2006, 06:23 PM

Interesting find, although it isn't surprising. 300 million people, or something big like that. They are sure to have different opinions. This does not, however, excuse the horrible conditions of freedom based on areas.

"Shopping for freedom" - that's what is inexcusable.

**NorCal Guy** · June 04, 2006, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Zuwxiv

Interesting find, although it isn't surprising. 300 million people, or something big like that. They are sure to have different opinions. This does not, however, excuse the horrible conditions of freedom based on areas.

"Shopping for freedom" - that's what is inexcusable.

I think that it is good to let states make SOME of their own laws instead of having the federal government force it upon us. That way if you can move to different states depending on your own beliefs. State rights is a big deal in america as we all know and i support it. I dont think that abortion should be a federal thing. To many people disagree on it so if south dakota says no abortions then let it be that. If you dont want to live there you dont have to. I dont agree with their ideas of rape situations though but they did this to force it to the supreme court in a couple years. They made the law severe to get attention and they know that any law based on the south dakota ruling will be ammended. Its just like when the house of representatives proposes a law. It then goes to the senate who change it and then it goes to the president. That is what will happen. I would also be very cautious of beleiving a obviously bias organization like that on the topic that it is arguing for. Comparing south dakota to the taliban because of abortion. STUPID.

**Kino** · June 04, 2006, 07:55 PM

Deleted by user.

**bdh** · June 04, 2006, 08:11 PM

Why are they linking homosexual issues with abortion issues anyways?

Its coalition building. They're trying to unify pro-homosexual and pro-abortion causes because they think they can get more support that way for either one of the two or both causes. It doesn't make logical sense, but people who are apathetic about one but supportive of another will 'link' the two ideas as being intrinsically the same. It happens all the time really for a variety of different political causes.

**Nationalist_Cause** · June 04, 2006, 10:29 PM

Not a bit surprised my state of Ohio ranks among the worst. I'm still trying to figure out why such laws that require parental notification before their minor child gets an abortion is considered "penalty legislation." I'm assuming every parent would like to know about something like that.

Anyhow, everybody has their agenda I guess.

**IamthePope** · June 04, 2006, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by the Black Prince

the report highlights two things i think...
1, the fact that some US states have a shocking attitude toward the rights of women and gay people, with South Dakota recently voting into force a law that bans abortion even for rape victims

This makes me want to move to South Dakota. I guess Texas will have to suffice. So according to this map, New York and New Mexico are the worst places to live?

**Last Roman** · June 04, 2006, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by IamthePope

So according to this map, New York and New Mexico are the worst places to live?

or the best (actually, I wouldn't want to live in New Mexico anyway)

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · June 04, 2006, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by IamthePope

This makes me want to move to South Dakota. I guess Texas will have to suffice. So according to this map, New York and New Mexico are the worst places to live?

Yeah, it's disgusting. I live in New York, and I have to put up with these homos and baby-killers running around with their "rights," murdering innocent children and sodomizing each other. Makes me absolutely sick.

**Sétanta** · June 04, 2006, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Atheist Peace

Yeah, it's disgusting. I live in New York, and I have to put up with these homos and baby-killers running around with their "rights," murdering innocent children and sodomizing each other. Makes me absolutely sick.

Gays are fine, but I feel bad that you have to live with murderers.

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · June 04, 2006, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mudd

Gays are fine, but I feel bad that you have to live with murderers.

Gays are not fine. They're unholy and evil. They only want to spread they're deviant lifestyle to kids and destroy the fabric of the good Christian society we have in America!

**Legio XX Valeria Victrix** · June 05, 2006, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by Atheist Peace

Gays are not fine. They're unholy and evil. They only want to spread they're deviant lifestyle to kids and destroy the fabric of the good Christian society we have in America!