(I wrote this for my newspaper column the day of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I hope 2013 is the year we as a country begin to take serious steps to ensure such tragedies never happen again.)
This was going to be a very different column. Then 20 children died in Connecticut.
Gun control is only one part of what our country must do to reduce the chances of another school shooting like the one December 14 in Newtown, Connecticut—but it is a vital one. There are a number of petitions out now to let our elected officials know our thoughts on the matter. I’m highlighting a petition and a pledge from Moms Rising because they’re good folks who do a lot across the board to help those of us who have the honor of being called moms.
Like many people, I am still going through periods of fear and sadness as I think of the school shooting last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut. There is no lack of commentary on the tragedy, but here are a few that I found rise above the rest.
I am stunned and horrified by the school shooting in at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut today, that left 27 dead, including 18 children. I grew up in Connecticut. My own son is in elementary school one state over. Not that the nearness should matter—this is a tragedy for our whole country. My thoughts are with the families and community in Newtown, and I can find no more words right now. Give your kids extra hugs today. I know I will with mine.
It was a week full of mostly national news: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance to state Medicaid agencies to clarify “that they are able to offer same-sex couples many of the same financial and asset protections available to opposite-sex couples when a partner is entering a nursing home or care
The U.S. Labor Department clarified that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives an employee who assumes the role of caring for a child the parental right to family leave—regardless of the legal or biological relationship. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at a State Department event commemorating Pride Month, and equated LGBT rights
U.S. National News Democratic leaders said they plan to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) in next year’s defense authorization bill. The American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution calling for full repeal of DADT, saying that it “clearly has a negative impact on military healthcare, military medical providers, and our troops.” A new study
“Public officials aren’t supposed to change their minds,” said Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT). He has written a great piece, however, on how having young daughters has helped him turn towards marriage equality. This is a welcome breath of fresh air after all of the right-wing nonsense about how marriage equality will harm children. Dodd posted
The Connecticut border, where hordes of maritally minded same-sex couples from New York are pouring across into towns like Greenwich and Stamford to get hitched, according to several recent newspaper reports. “Connecticut Border Town Is Same-Sex Marriage Haven” declares Newsday, making it sound a little like a refugee camp. The Connecticut Post adds, “Aside from
Three of the four states to enact marriage equality for same-sex couples are ignoring the existence of those with two moms or two dads. On the marriage license applications for Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont* (PDF’s), applicants are asked to enter their names, with no requirement that one be “groom” and one be “bride.” So far
