Misogyny and Sexism in the News

[femmeInterrupted]

http://jezebel.com/florida-girl-face...mate-508849336





Kaitlyn Hunt's parents knew their 18-year-old daughter was dating a 15-year-old girl whom she met through classes and varsity sports at the Florida high school the two attended. But when the younger girl's parents learned about the relationship, they had Kaitlyn arrested on two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child ages 12 to 16. Kaitlyn must now choose whether to go to trial — if found guilty, she'd have to register as a sex offender and could serve up to 15 years in prison — or accept a plea deal of two years' house arrest and one year of probation. The Hunts hope growing publicity will pressure the state to drop her case and focus on protecting and educating teenagers instead of prosecuting them for falling in consensual love.

Steven Hunt told Jezebel in a phone interview that his daughter Kaitlyn, whom friends and family call "Kate," grew close with her 15-year-old former girlfriend through classes and the varsity basketball team the two played on at Sebastian River High School in Sebastian, Fla; the younger girl was a freshman student enrolled in International Baccalaureate courses with upperclassmen, so they were peers in the same social circle. Kate's mother, Kelley Hunt Smith, wrote on Facebook that the two girls hung out with the family at their home and before basketball games. Since Kelley had seen the girl's father at sporting events, she assumed her family knew about and accepted the relationship. Kate had always dated boys, but when she told her mother she was dating a girl, Kelley "didn’t want to make it a big deal," she wrote. "I talked to her about it, and figured it was just a social thing, times have changed and a lot of kids are experimenting, so I didn’t make much of it."

"We knew about her sexual preference for a long time," Steve said. "It wasn't an issue for us."

But it was an issue for her former girlfriend's parents. When the girls' basketball coach found out the two were dating, she kicked Kate off the team and told the younger girl's parents, who told police. That's when Kate was arrested. According to Kelley:

On Saturday February 16th our families world was shattered and our daughters nightmare begun. The police came to our home and arrested my daughter, put her in hand cuffs and we had no idea why. They refused to tell us anything at first because she had turned 18. Kate was ripped out of our arms, terrified, crying hysterically. My younger daughter was there at the time, my husband and myself, we were mortified. They finally told us she was being arrested on “probable cause”. I asked them probable cause of what, they said sexual battery on a person 12-16 years old. My heart dropped, I knew then that it had to have been her girlfriend's parents. These people never came to us as parents, never tried to speak to us, didn’t try to get the school involved to speak to us and tell us they had a problem with the girls dating, not one single word. Instead, they set out their vengeance and had my child arrested on FELONY charges.
Kate, who agreed to cut off contact with her former girlfriend and was subsequently expelled weeks before graduation to boot, has until Friday to decide whether to go to trial or take the plea deal. Her parents don't want her to choose either option.

“The (assistant) state attorney, Brian Workman needs to use taxpayers money to prosecute REAL criminals, not a high school student who has never been in trouble a day in her young life, all because she had a mutual consenting relationship with someone who has bigoted parents,” wrote Hunt Smith. "...they feel like my daughter “made” their daughter gay. They are bigoted, religious zeolites that see being gay as a sin and wrong, and they blame my daughter."

Kate's father said this case highlights glaring problems with age-of-consent laws and sex-education. The age of consent in Florida is 18, but should 18-year-old high schoolers really be responsible for setting boundaries with the 14 to 17-year-olds who take the same classes and participate in the same after-school activities as they do? "There's no education at her school that describes what to do and what not to do within a consensual relationship in terms of age," Steve said. "The fact that this was a same-sex relationship was clearly the motivation factor [behind the arrest]. But this law is ridiculous regardless of whether teenagers are gay or straight."

From the "Free Kate" Facebook page:

The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children's sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for exercising poor judgement in their dating life. Such students are not predators. They're just kids. Likewise, we believe the law should not be arbitrarily enforced based on a parent's anger. Parents should be empowered to protect their children, but not at the price of destroying another young person's life forever.
The Hunts have launched a Change.org petition, which has over 52K signatures, and a fundraising site to help with extensive legal fees. "Kate is strong but scared," Steve said. "We hope she gets her freedom soon."

[Kobi]

This Free Kate story is making me twitch a bit.

Its another of those where, to me, the issue isn't quite as clear cut as these parents might be trying to make it sound.

I'm trying to sort why I am feeling the way I am .

First off, I have a real problem when parents, trying to protect their kid, are wanting to challenge the protection of consent laws for children by turning it into an issue about homophobia and sexual experimentation.

They are also faulting the law for existing, the school for allowing mixed age mingling of students without some parameters of some sort, the school for telling the other parents, the other parents for reporting it to the police, and the district attorney who should spend taxpayers money prosecuting real criminals. Whoa.

We only have the alleged perpetrators parents side of the story. What's the other side?

Second, I don't always get the concept of "legal consent". Somehow on the morning of their 18th birthday, it seems we expect some wisdom and growth was wasn't there the night before.

Third, the parents are giving conflicting stories. The mother is saying her daughter always dated boys but had told her she was dating a girl now. The father says they had known about their daughters sexual preference for a long time. To me, this sets up a credibility issue.

Fourth, the mother indicates she made many assumptions about this. She assumed the other family knew. She assumed the other family accepted it. Why assume? Why not just ask your kid? Was she aware of the differences in their ages and the potential pitfalls?

Part of this is sounding like she wanted to be supportive of her child's developing sexuality but was reluctant or unsure of how to go about it.

Fifth, if these young women are both in the IB program, they are very bright kids, albeit still kids. Did anyone talk to these kids?

Sixth, if this was an 18 year old boy and a 15 year old girl, would I look at it differently?

Seventh, the Free Kate page is postulating the following:

"The law needs to change, not only to protect Kate, but to protect the millions of teenagers, boys and girls, straight and gay, whose lives are regularly ruined because parents disapprove of their children's sexual choices. We want justice for all 18-year-old high school seniors who have undergone criminal prosecution for exercising poor judgement in their dating life. Such students are not predators. They're just kids. Likewise, we believe the law should not be arbitrarily enforced based on a parent's anger. Parents should be empowered to protect their children, but not at the price of destroying another young person's life forever."

This is the same type of rationale I have seen used when male high school athletes have been accused of taking sexual advantage of intoxicated young classmates. Just poor judgment. Shouldn't destroy a young persons life or their potential future athletic career.

I don't know what to think.

[Soon]

MY DAUGHTER WAS ARRESTED, EXPELLED AND CHARGED WITH A FELONY FOR A SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD AS A MINOR

On Saturday, February 16, our family's world was torn apart and our daughter's life turned upside down.

The police came and arrested my daughter, put her in handcuffs and no reason was given at all.

They refused to tell her mother anything at first because she had turned 18.

My daughter was ripped out of her mother's arms, hysterical. The police finally told us she was being arrested on “probable cause." When they said sexual battery on a person 12-16 years old, it was clear what was going on.

It had to have been my daughter's girlfriend's parents.

My daughter, Kaitlyn, was in a romantic relationship with a student at her school who was also a teammate on the basketball team.

She is a high school senior living in Indian River County, Florida.

Until halfway through the school year, she was a student at Indian River High School, where she had been a cheerleader, a varsity basketball player and was busy preparing for a career serving others in the nursing field.

Kate was a popular student who was voted as the student with "most school spirit." Kate's girlfriend was a freshman student enrolled in international baccalaureate courses with upperclassmen and a fellow player on the basketball team with Kate.

While Kate was three years older than her girlfriend, they were peers. But when Kate's girlfriend's parents learned of their relationship, they went directly to the police to press charges without sharing their objections with Kate or her family.

The police taped a conversation between Kate and her girlfriend, which led to Kate's arrest. Kate was interrogated extensively without a lawyer present. I am a former police officer, so she trusted the police and didn't feel she had anything to hide. Kate was eventually charged with two counts of felony lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12-16.

The prosecutor later offered a plea deal of felony child abuse, with two years house arrest followed by one year probation. Today, the girls are 18 and 15.

Kate's girlfriend has taken no part in her prosecution and adamantly denies she is a victim, but the law grants her no rights in this matter. Kate has offered to permanently cease contact and leave the state if charges are dropped, but that offer has been rejected by the prosecutor and the girlfriend's parents.

Before the legal trouble began, Kate was already a target at her school.

After the relationship started, the basketball coach approached her and said, "Kaitlyn, can I talk to you? I heard you have something going on with another female player on our team, and I can't have that kind of drama on my team, I don't allow it and I wouldn't ever. So, I'm sorry, but playing on our team won't work out for you."

Yes, that's right, my own daughter was removed from a sport she loves simply because she was in a relationship with another "student."

Now, it didn't stop there. The girl's mother found out about the relationship, and, as several people told me, the girl's mother said that there's no way her daughter could be gay.

Anyone who knows my daughter Kate knows how wonderful she is.

Kate is an 18-year-old senior about to graduate with an exemplary record at school and home. She has always been a wonderful student, respected and well liked. She has cheered on the varsity cheer team all throughout high school, sung in chorus and was voted most school spirited. She has never been in trouble, ever. She truly is the model student and child.

This relationship occurred when they were both minors, and my daughter's girlfriend's parents waited until she turned 18 to arrest her.

These people never came to us, never tried to speak to us, didn’t try to get the school involved to speak to us and tell us they had a problem with the girls dating, not one single word.

Instead, they set out their vengeance and had Kate arrested on felony charges.

It was Kate's senior year -- she only had a few months until graduation and we wanted her to finish. But the parents petitioned the court and asked the judge to remove Kate from school, even though the judge already ruled Kate could continue school. But this other student's parents feel like my daughter “made” their daughter gay.

My daughter's girlfriend has said from day one, she cares about my daughter, she never wanted her parents to do this, she was 100% consenting and it was by her own choice that she was with my daughter.

She doesn’t want Kate to be punished.

My daughter's life is being destroyed. Kate is deeply depressed, crying all the time and suffering night terrors.

I will do whatever it takes to fight for my daughter.

And I'm finding out that I am not alone.

Internet activist group Anonymous launched #OpJustice4Kaitlyn on May 19 and released a statement addressed to the Indian River County State Attorney's Office that reads in part: "Kaitlyn Hunt is a bright young girl who was involved in a consensual, same-sex relationship while both she and her partner were minors. She has a big future ahead of her and there are people, thousands of people in fact, that have no intention of allowing you to ruin it with your rotten selective enforcement."

How can you help?
First, sign this petition.

Second, if you would like to help with the considerable legal fees, you can purchase a bracelet that says "STOP THE HATE, FREE KATE."

Third, if you're a resident of Florida, please contact your state legislators and tell them the law needs to protect high school peers from prosecution.

Find your state legislators here.

Fourth, share this story!

Share with everyone. If you know a high school student, make sure he or she knows the law.

Please -- let's stop the hate. Free Kate.

[femmeInterrupted]

"This relationship occurred when they were both minors, and my daughter's girlfriend's parents waited until she turned 18 to arrest her.

These people never came to us, never tried to speak to us, didn’t try to get the school involved to speak to us and tell us they had a problem with the girls dating, not one single word.

Instead, they set out their vengeance and had Kate arrested on felony charges.

It was Kate's senior year -- she only had a few months until graduation and we wanted her to finish. But the parents petitioned the court and asked the judge to remove Kate from school, even though the judge already ruled Kate could continue school. But this other student's parents feel like my daughter “made” their daughter gay."

It's also part of the discourse of this case that the younger girl's parents are Evangelical, and had reacted very badly to their daughter being 'gay'.

They have directed their homophobia by creating a difficult situation in that laws need to be prosecuted consistently, regardless of gender and orientation, or it leaves room for being seen an unenforced law.

My thoughts are that had their daughter been dating an 18 year boy, this would not have happened. If, as the father in the above quotation states, the relationship occurred while they were both minors, the Prosecution may have an out if it could be seen as malicious intent of the parents to wait to file charges until she was 18... why the delay in reporting something they were so bothered about. I believe they called it 'sinful'.

I don't know statistically, how many males don't get charged with sexually interfering with a minor female-- but i'm also thinking that this feels like 'selective prosecution' with the younger girl's religious parents fanning the flames. Not long ago, there was overwhelming lament for the 'poor young men' who had raped a girl, having their 'promising futures' tarnished by being held accountable.

This was a consensual relationship that began when they were both minors, the implications of an 18th birthday were only significant to the younger girl's parents, it seems.

[Gemme]

Ad for surf apparel and accessories resembles a Carl's Jr. ad

I don't even use this company and, from this ad and their FB response to the backlash, I won't ever.

[Kobi]

[Soon]

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner apologizes, admits 'I need help'

SAN DIEGO -- Facing calls for his resignation amid sex harassment claims, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner issued an apology Thursday for his treatment of women and vowed to change his behavior, admitting "I need help."

Filner indicated he will not resign but that "I have reached into my heart and soul and realize I must and will change my behavior." He said he and his staff will take the sexual harassment training offered by the city.

On a DVD given to the media, Filner said, "As someone who has spent a lifetime fighting for equality for all people, I am embarrassed to admit that I have failed to fully respect the women who work for me and with me, and that at times I have intimidated them."


He said he knew that San Diego residents "have every right to be disappointed" in him but asked that "you give me an opportunity to prove I am capable of change, so that the vision I have for our city's future can be realized."

Filner's admission came just hours after an an emotionally charged news conference in which three longtime friends and supporters called on him to resign for what one called "truly reprehensible" behavior toward women.

Although no details were given about alleged sexual harassment, former City Councilwoman Donna Frye and lawyers Marco Gonzalez and Cory Briggs said they will help the women if they decide to come forward and file lawsuits.

Frye, her voice breaking, said the women "are too scared to speak."

Briggs said his message to the women is, "When you're ready to file lawsuits, I'll be standing in court."

"The mayor is in control of the script," Gonzalez said. "The next chapter will largely be defined by his response."

The three said the alleged victims do not want to be in the media spotlight. Briggs asked reporters not to attempt to find out the women's names and interview them.

Frye and Gonzalez said they met recently with Filner. They declined to discuss what took place at the meetings. Gonzalez referred to Filner as "our friend and our ally."

But Frye said, "There are community standards in our society that need to be upheld."

The calls for his resignation are the latest in a series of turbulent events involving the 70-year-old Democrat, who was elected in November after 10 terms in Congress.

On Monday, Filner's fiancee sent an email to friends and supporters, announcing she and the mayor have broken their engagement and ended their relationship. The email from Bronwyn Ingram, whom Filner had referred to as San Diego's first lady, provided no details.

There also have been published and broadcast reports that federal officials are looking into a deal between Filner and a land developer.

The developer donated $100,000 to two of Filner's pet projects — one for veterans, one for bicyclists — allegedly in exchange for Filner dropping his opposition to a land-use project. Filner has since returned the money.

KGTV-Channel 10 has also raised questions about the use of public money for a trip to Paris Filner took to participate in a rally organized by Iranian dissidents. San Diego police went on the trip to provide security for the mayor.

While there has been grumbling in some Republican circles that a recall movement should be mounted against the combative Filner, particularly due to his feud with the Republican city attorney, Jan Goldsmith, the resignation demands signal the first defection from his supporters.

Briggs, Gonzalez and Frye each sent letters to Filner on Wednesday, calling on him to resign.

The letter from Frye, first revealed by KPBS, mentions "credible evidence of more than one woman being sexually harassed by you. Despite past rumors, I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[Soon]

Man Named Kim Gets Zero Job Offers Until He Adds ‘Mr.' to His Name

When Kim O' Grady was applying for jobs in the late 90s, he was excited. He writes that he had the relevant qualifications, experience and could also show a successful track record in his chosen career path — unfortunately for him, he also had a name that many people automatically assume belongs to a woman.

The rejections poured in, and he was confused. He was an ideal candidate, and to not even get interviews was very odd. He examined and re-examined his CV and couldn't figure out what was front with it.

Then, he had a thought:

I made one change that day. I put Mr. in front of my name on my CV. It looked a little too formal for my liking but I got an interview for the very next job I applied for. And the one after that. It all happened in a fortnight, and the second job was a substantial increase in responsibility over anything I had done before. In the end I beat out a very competitive short-list and enjoyed that job for the next few years, further enhancing my career.
Gender discrimination — it's a real thing, folks.

Interestingly, I talked to a man named Lauren who writes woman-centric comedy stuff and he tells stories of the exact opposite problem. It's obviously an exception to the rule, but when producers call in someone named Lauren who wrote a spec for "Labia Landia", they do a double take when an old dude walks through the door. Names, am I right?!

[Kobi]

GULLANE, Scotland (AP) -- Pragmatic yet defiant, the head of the Royal & Ancient issued a Hootie Johnson-like salvo in the latest battleground over male-only golf clubs: The British Open will not yield to pressure over three of its venerable clubs refusing to admit female members.

The way Peter Dawson looks at it, to compare this to racial or religious discrimination is ''absurd.''

At his customary news conference on the eve of the British Open, the R&A chief executive faced a barrage of questions Wednesday about the no-women-allowed membership at Muirfield and two of the other nine venues in the tournament rotation, Troon and Royal St. George's.

He was prepared for the issue, reading from notes that made it clear he believes single-sex clubs do little harm to the game and have largely been targeted by the media, politicians and interest groups.

''Obviously the whole issue of gender and single-sex clubs has been pretty much beaten to death recently,'' Dawson said. ''And we do, I assure you, understand that this is divisive. It's a subject that we're finding increasingly difficult, to be honest.''

One reporter, touching on the racial discrimination that once pervaded the game, asked Dawson what was the difference between a male-only club and one that allowed only whites to join.

''Oh, goodness me, I think that's a ridiculous question,'' he replied. ''There's a massive difference between racial discrimination, anti-Semitism, where sectors of society are downtrodden and treated very, very badly indeed. And to compare that with a men's golf club, I think, is frankly absurd. There's no comparison whatsoever.''

He later added: ''It's just kind of, for some people, a way of life that they rather like. I don't think in doing that they're intending to (bring) others down or intending to do others any harm.''

Dawson disputed any suggestion that male-only clubs stifle the growth of the sport. Still, he knows it will continue to be a point of contention - especially since Augusta National admitted its first female members last year - so the organization that governs golf outside the U.S. and Mexico plans to take it up once the Open is completed.

He wouldn't say what steps might be taken.

''Our natural reaction is to resist these pressures, because we actually don't think they have very much substance,'' Dawson said. ''But I'd like to stress we're not so insular as to fail to recognize the potential damage that campaigns like this can do to the Open championship. And it is our championship committee's responsibility to do what is best for the Open, and to maximize the benefits which the Open brings, not just to golf, but also to the local area.''

The debate has lurked over golf since Martha Burk and her women's advocacy group targeted the home of the Masters in 2002 for admitting only men as members. Then-chairman Johnson famously said the club would not be bullied into accepting women ''at the point of a bayonet,'' even at the cost of cutting loose television sponsors for two years.

Eleven months ago, with no advance notice and an understated announcement, Augusta National invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become members. Tiger Woods called the move ''important to golf,'' and now the battle has moved across the pond to the oldest of golf's four majors.

Dawson said the issue will be addressed.

Just not right now.

''When things are a bit quieter, after the championship,'' he said, ''I'm quite sure we'll be taking a look at everything to see what kind of sense we can make of it for the future. But I think right now our concentration has to be on this wonderful event and making it a success.''

Eleven of the 24 questions to Dawson during the half-hour news conference involved male-only clubs or related issues. Most golfers have shied away from the debate leading up to the Open, including top-ranked Woods.

When Rory McIlroy, the world's No. 2 player, was first asked about it Wednesday, there was a long pause and a forced smile before he said, ''Muirfield is a great golf course.''

Later, when someone asked McIlroy if the players had been advised not to comment, he was more forthcoming.

''I just think it's something that a lot of guys don't want to get themselves into because it's quite a controversial issue,'' he said. ''It's something that shouldn't happen these days. It's something that we shouldn't even be talking about.''

Ernie Els said it's ''weird'' that some clubs won't admit both sexes, while Luke Donald said ''we'd love to see these policies be a bit more inclusive.''

''Wherever the governing bodies decide to play a tournament, it's my job to turn up and be ready and play, and that's what I am going to,'' Donald said. ''I think the R&A is certainly trending in the right direction.''

But the leading Scottish politician won't be attending this year's event in protest.

''I just think it's indefensible in the 21st century not to have a golf club that's open to all,'' said Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, a huge golf fan who played a round with Phil Mickelson last week.

Two British government members - Maria Miller, the secretary of culture, media and sport, and sports minister Hugh Robertson - have also turned down invitations to attend, though Robertson downplayed the impact of his decision.

''I haven't had a call from the R&A saying we are going to change our policy next year, nor would I really expect one,'' the minister said.

Indeed, Dawson said the organization would not give in to political pressure.

''We've been through over 250 years of existence without getting into political comment, and I don't really intend to break that rule here,'' he said. ''We've got politicians posturing; we've got interest groups attacking the R&A, attacking the Open, and attacking Muirfield.''

While conceding that some changes are likely, Dawson made clear he believes the issue has largely been manufactured by those who don't necessarily have the best interests of the game at heart. He claimed there are very few clubs in Britain that allow only one sex, and that half of those are female-only.

''You can dress it up to be a lot more, if you want,'' Dawson said. ''But on the Saturday morning when the guy gets up or the lady gets up and out of the marital bed, if you like, and goes off and plays golf with his chums and comes back in the afternoon, that's not on any kind of par with racial discrimination or anti-Semitism or any of these things.

''It's just what people kind of do.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/r-study...109--golf.html
--------------------


Way too many things are coming up that are rendering me speechless these days. Add this to the list.

[Martina]

Link

In a newly released interview with the Sanford Police Department, a female cousin of George Zimmerman claimed he sexual molested her over a period of 10 years.

In the almost 30-minute interview taken in March with the woman, who was dubbed “witness 9” throughout court proceedings, she detailed five specific instances where she claimed Zimmerman touched her inappropriately throughout the years.

The instances would occur when their families were together, she said, and began when she was 6-years-old and he was 8. The woman told police she and her sister were sent to stay with the Zimmermans while her parents moved from Louisiana to Florida.

“He would reach under the blankets and try to do things,” she said. “I don’t know how I didn’t say anything but I didn’t know any better.”

The cousin told police there was also another victim, but through their conversations the second victim has refused to come forward and also said she would deny any allegations.

Over the years she said Zimmerman would continue to touch her inappropriately at family gatherings.

“Every time that we that we would go up there I could just look at him and he would give me a certain look and I would know if it was going to happen when we got together for family gatherings,” she said. “Cause he just got this look in his eye like he was going to.”

The final instance, said the woman, was when she was 16 and Zimmerman was living in his parent’s home in Lake Mary alone. She had come over to see the house, she said. After Zimmerman began massaging and groping her, she ran out of the home. Zimmerman was 17 at the time.

“I just wanted it to stop,” she said. “I didn’t want to have to tell anyone.”

The cousin did eventually tell her parents, who met with Zimmerman at a restaurant in Lake Mary to confront him. At the meeting, she said, he simply sat down said “I’m sorry,” and left.

Since then, she said, she has not seen him at family functions because the family now caters to her.

The reason it took her so long to speak out about his actions, she told investigators, was because she was afraid no one would believe her.

“He was a different person to me. He was very intimidating,” she said. “And the fact that he made everyone love him and he made everyone laugh and be so happy around him – I knew that if I said anything he would just deny it.”

She came forward to investigators in March because she said she no longer had to fear him.

On June 18 Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara filed a motion to block the public release of the cousin’s statement contending, “The content of this statement is not relevant to the issues of this case, and it would not be admissible in the State’s case in chief.”

O’Mara also stated releasing the statement would lead to widespread hostile publicity which would impair Zimmerman’s right to fair trial.

Zimmerman is currently out of jail on a $1 million bond after being charged with the second-degree murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman shot and killed Martin Feb. 26 at The Retreat at Twin Lakes and claims the shooting was in self-defense after Martin attacked him.

O’Mara also filed a motion Monday stating Judge Kenneth Lester should not have ruled to released the statements, since a motion to disqualify him as judge had been filed. Lester’s order to release the statement and O’Mara’s motion to disqualify him were both issued Friday.

However now that the statement has been publicly disseminated, O’Mara said Zimmerman’s defense team will defend him against the allegations.

“Now that this statement is part of the public record, the defense will vigorously defend Mr. Zimmerman against the allegations,” said O’Mara. “In the next several weeks, there will be reciprocal discovery filed regarding Witness #9’s statement.”

In addition to the accusations that Zimmerman sexual molested the cousin, the woman also told investigators in a separate interview that she was afraid Zimmerman may have shot Martin because he was black. It’s widely known in their family, she said, that the Zimmermans are racists.

“Growing up he and his family said that they don’t like black people if they don’t act like white people,” she said. “They like black people if they act white.”

She also told investigators that during a conversation about then presidential candidate Barack Obama Zimmerman’s mother proudly said she was a racist.

[Gemme]

This hits a whole lot of -isms for me.

Rape Victim Sentenced to Jail in Dubai

[Allison W]

Originally Posted by Gemme

This hits a whole lot of -isms for me.

Rape Victim Sentenced to Jail in Dubai

This kind of thing is one of the better arguments I've heard for cultural imperialism. Sadly, we still have plenty of savagery of our own, in our populations of old white male Republicans and ultraconservative Christian patriarchy holdouts.

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Gemme

This hits a whole lot of -isms for me.

Rape Victim Sentenced to Jail in Dubai

Dubai pardons woman at center of rape dispute:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Norwegian woman at the center of a Dubai rape claim dispute said Sunday that officials have dropped her 16-month sentence for having sex outside marriage and she is free to leave the country.

http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-pardons-...093407907.html

[UofMfan]

CNN's Victoria Arbiter: Kate Middleton 'Brilliant' For 'Delivering A Boy' On The 'First Time'

This woman is a freaking MORON!

[Medusa]

Yeah, I was grossed the fuck out this morning with all of the talk on the morning tv shows about Kate Middleton's vagina.

I mean, there was some asshole medical correspondent on Good Morning America (I think it was that show anyway?) pontificating about whether or not Kate Middleton would have a C-section or a vaginal delivery.

Who fucking does that? And who the fuck thinks her method of birth is their business???????

[girl_dee]

in a book i read about Queen Elizabeth, who, upon giving birth to a boy, was praised for "not letting her country down" as if she had some control over it and rose to the occasion.

i am fascinated and nauseated by the whole Monarchy.

[UofMfan]

Weiner Communications Director Fires Back At 'Slutbag' Campaign Intern, Shoots Self In Foot