Ohio Republican Governor Forces Schools To Partner With Religious Groups If They Want Taxpayer Dollars

In a blatant violation of separation of church and state, Ohio’s Republican governor is literally forcing public schools to partner with religious groups if they want taxpayer funding. Because Ohio voters are apparently gluttons for punishment and chose not to oust incumbent Governor John Kasich, they now have to live with the reality that one way or another, their kids are going to be preached to and possibly indoctrinated into a religious sect. That’s Kasich’s “vision” under a mentoring program that requires schools to partner with a business and a church if they want to qualify for a piece of $10 million given to schools that work with at-risk students. There are no exceptions to the rule and schools who fail to comply with Kasich’s demands will receive zero funding. Despite religious groups clearly being given the red carpet welcome into schools with or without the approval of students and their parents, an Ohio Department of Education analyst insists that religious partners won’t be preaching to students in an effort to convert them.

“The faith-based organization is clearly at the heart of the vision of the governor. We do not foresee any proselytizing happening between mentors and students. That’s not really what we’re seeking.”

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols told the press, “The governor believes faith-based organizations play an important role in the lives of young people” when asked about why religion is being forced upon schools as a requirement for them to receive public funds. Of course, one wonders if the religious organization requirement only restricts schools to partnering with Christian groups, or can other groups such as the Satanic Temple, atheists, and pagans become partners as well? Because we all know that if these other religious groups are prohibited from being partners, Republicans will once again be forced to show their cards and reveal themselves as the conservative “Christian” lackeys we know they all are. The fact is, withholding public money from schools just because they don’t want to intermingle with a church is wrong. It’s also unconstitutional. There is a reason we have separation of church and state. It would be acceptable if religious groups helped students without preaching to them and pushing religious beliefs on them, but it’s inevitable that a religious partner will do that exact thing, thus violating the constitutional rights of the students and outraging many in the process. In the end, this is just another idea concocted by the GOP to insert religion in schools where it doesn’t belong.

Ohio strippers take topless protest to church that harassed them as ‘whores, tramps’ for nine years

A group of topless dancers in Ohio on Sunday turned the tables on a fundamentalist church that has picketed their club for almost nine years.

According to the Coshocton Tribune, at least six bare-breasted women, employees and friends of the Foxhole North club marched outside the New Beginnings Ministries church in Warsaw.

Club owner Thomas George said that church members have come to his club every weekend for nine years to harass employees and patrons.

“This is what’s going on in the name of Jesus,” one of the women at the demonstrations points out. “Is anybody else disgusted by this?“They surround people who are trying to come into my club, and try to shame them into not coming,” George explains in a video posted on the Foxhole’s Facebook page. “They call the girls whores, tramps.”

The topless protesters have vowed to return every weekend until the church finds a new target.

The Tribune reported that Pastor Bill Dunfee hired an off-duty deputy to guard the church. Even though the demonstration turned out to be peaceful, Dunfee said he would hire a deputy next weekend if the protesters return.

“I hope [George] will realize that the Foxhole has no business in this community,” Dunfee told WBNS. “”I take very seriously the responsibility as a pastor to see to it that the gospel of Christ is lifted up, that Christ himself is lifted up, and that evil is confronted.”

Teachers Leave Archdiocese Of Cincinnati Over Controversial 'Morality Clause' In New Contract

A revised teachers' contract in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has forced some teachers to leave their positions even after years of service.

First-grade teacher Molly Shumate and high school English teacher Robert Hague are among the veteran teachers choosing to leave the diocese over a 'morality clause'included in the new contracts. The clause reportedly prohibits teachers, whether Catholic or not, from having sex or living with a partner outside of marriage, using in-vitro fertilization, leading a gay “lifestyle,” or publicly supporting any of the above.

For teachers like Shumate, whose son is gay, the clause threatens to pit teachers against friends and family in order to keep their jobs.

“For me to sign this (contract)," Shumate told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I feel like I would be telling my son I’ve changed my mind, that I don’t support him as I did. And I won’t do that."

Even as a lifelong Catholic and a teacher of 14 years in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Shumate says the morality clause is where she draws a line.

"In my heart, I know I need to go," Shumate told CNN. "I need to find another avenue because I am going to support my son. If in five or 10 years he finds a partner and he wants to be with that person, I'm going to be in the front row with the biggest bouquet."

Cincinnati Archdiocese spokesman Dan Andriacco sees nothing new or unusual in the revised contract, he told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"Nobody who signed this year's contract or last year's contract should hesitate to sign the 2014-2015 agreement. All say the same thing – that the teacher will not publicly act or speak against the teachings of the Catholic Church."

The Cincinnati branch of Catholic activist group Voice of the Faithful launched a billboard campaign opposing the new contracts with signs saying, "Would Pope Francis sign the new Catholic teacher contract?"

Others call the clause "unnecessary" and "intimidating," including Catholic lawyer Tim Garry who called the document "a contract in search of a problem."

Robert Hague, who has taught high school English for 50 years and is now leaving the archdiocese, told CNN the contract could alienate many more of the current 2,200 current teachers. "It is an embarrassment and a scandal," Hague said, "and will drive even more Catholics away from an institution so out of touch with its times."

Dirtbag Ohio Secretary of State Gets Blasted for Cutting Early Voting

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd grilled Ohio’s GOP Secretary of State Jon Husted on his recent decision to cut early voting, and it is truly a joy to behold. Photo: Screen grab.

On MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown, Chuck Todd grilled Ohio’s GOP Secretary of State Jon Husted on his recent decision to cut early voting, and it is truly a joy to behold. A flustered-looking Husted insists that he did no such thing, and that Ohio offers far more chances to vote than other states, but Todd calls him on his bold-faced lies.

For those who don’t follow politics in the state of Ohio, let’s flash back to February when Husted cut early voting on Sundays and weekday evenings, leaving voters with only two Saturdays for casting early ballots. In his press release, Husted wrote:

“In 2014, absentee voters will have the option of voting in person for four weeks, or they can vote without ever leaving home by completing the absentee ballot request form we will be sending all voters. Our goal is to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat and to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity in the voting process no matter which method they choose.”

Alas, the press release — actually all of Husted’s press releases — have mysteriously vanished into thin air. Maybe that has something to do with the lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — along with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the League of Women Voters of Ohio, and several African-American churches — just filed on his sorry, lying @ss.

Sybil Edwards-McNabb, president of the Ohio Conference of the NAACP, states for theACLU’s press release:

“Together these cuts will impact tens of thousands of low-income voters, elderly voters, student voters and African-American voters who turn to early in-person voting as their best option for casting a ballot.”

The press release adds that over 157,000 Ohio residents voted on the days being cut in the 2012 election.

John Husted doubles down on his early voting lies.

Cincinnati Catholic School Members Protest Against Anti-Gay Contract, 'Morality Clause'

Cincinnati teachers and parents are protesting the local archidocese requirement that all Catholic school teachers sign a contractual “morality clause” forbidding any public or private support or practice of homosexuality, artificial insemination, pre- and extra-marital sex, or abortion.

WLWT reports:

At least a hundred Catholic teachers, parents and students protested at Fountain Square on Tuesday. Their message to the archdiocese: is fix the contract.

Protestors have signed a local petition with more than a thousand signatures. The national one has 23,000.They will walk to the archdiocese offices to deliver the petitions.

One of the teachers is refusing because of her gay son:

“The main reason I will not sign this contract is my son is gay, and the day he came out to me, the world was lifted off of his shoulder as well as mine, and it was at that moment that I said to myself I will never hide who he is, be embarrassed of who he is and at that point I said I’m going to use this opportunity to make a difference,” Molly Shumate said.

Protestors hope to increase dialogue with the archdiocese and to revert to last year's teacher contract that did not contain the so-called “morality clause."

Presumably the archdiocese revised the contract to avoid high-profile firings like that of Mike Moroskin, the Ohio administrator who was fired for publishing a pro-marriage equality blog post last year, and Carla Hale, the Ohio teacher who was also fired last year after her mother’s obituary listed the name of Carla’s female partner.

Cleveland Cabbies Protest ’Gay Games’ Promotional Campaign

Muslim cabbies say no way to Gay Games  (Source:www.19actionnews.com)

Despite the fact that the 2014 Gay Games promises to bring millions of dollars in tourism revenue to the beleaguered city, Cleveland’s cabbies have reportedly refused to drive their cabs, protesting Cleveland Hopkins International Airport taxi’s rooftop signs promoting the LGBT sporting event. The event is expected to bring 30,000 people to Cleveland and Akron from August 9-16.

According to 19 Action News, the majority of the cabbies who have stepped away from the wheel are Muslims and citing religious reasons.

In addition to one driver at AmeriCab, about 16 or 17 drivers who work for Ace Taxi are no longer driving. Though representatives at Yellow Cab did not comment, representatives at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport said they were committed to providing this necessary customer service to arriving passengers, and had thus come to a working arrangement.

"An agreement has been brokered by the airport between the taxi cab stand operator, Standard Parking, and the affected taxi cab companies that will allow for the replacement of those drivers who no longer wish to participate in CLE’s taxicab program," said Airport Director Ricky Smith in a statement. "The affected taxicab companies will backfill the airport’s dedicated fleet with metered taxi cabs until each company can hire permanent drivers for the airport’s taxicab program. It is expected to take approximately two to three weeks to repopulate the airport’s Taxi fleet."

Gay Games organizers were disappointed, but not surprised.

"When you look at what’s going on around the world it’s not a huge surprise. In some parts of the world LGBT folks are not very welcome," said Tom Nobbe, executive director of the Gay Games. "Even though there will be a handful of folks who are not comfortable the vast majority and we’re seeing it now are totally enthusiastic and ready to welcome all these folks into town."

Nobbe told Outlook Ohio Magazine that the cab drivers’ objections run counter to the overall reaction to the international event in northeastern Ohio. Organizers have offered to line up LGBT-inclusive diversity training for transportation, safety, hospitality and other businesses and agencies whose employees will help Gay Games visitors, he said.

"This could accelerate those efforts," Nobbe said. "It’s unfortunate they feel this way. It’s the first time something like this has happened."

Racist Who Terrorized Disabled Black Kids and Their Mother Forced to Wear ‘I’m a Bully’ Sign

A despicable racist has been sentenced to an unusual punishment in a suburb of Cleveland. 62-year-old Edmond Aviv was ordered to hold a sign that says in part, “I’m a Bully” at a busy intersection this weekend. Mr. Aviv has been accused of harassing his neighbor of more than ten years, Sandra Prugh.

He allegedly called Ms. Prugh “Monkey Mama” as she held her disabled, African-American adopted children. He has also spit on her and smeared dog feces on the children’s wheelchair ramp and on their car windows. His record also includes trying to run down the wheelchair-bound kids, blaring loud music at their house, and shining spotlights in their windows at all hours of the night.

South Euclid Municipal Court Judge Gayle Williams-Byers handed down the sentence after Aviv pleaded no contest to charges of fourth-degree disorderly conduct last month. He will be spending this Sunday, April 13th sporting the sandwich board. The sign and its lettering must be large enough to be read from 25 ft. away and must say:

“I AM A BULLY! I pick on children that are disabled, and I am intolerant of those that are different from myself. My actions do not reflect an appreciation for the diverse South Euclid community that I live in.”

If this seems humiliating, but still not harsh enough for this horrible creep, not to worry. The sentence also includes 15 days in jail, seven months’ probation, 100 hours of community service, anger management classes and mental-health counseling. He will also be required to publish a letter of apology to Prugh in a local paper.

Ohio State Rep: 'Public Education In America Is Socialism, What Is The Solution?'

A Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives denounced the entire American public school system as "socialism" in a blog post published earlier this month.

"Socialism, defined on Wikipedia, 'is a social and economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and co-operative management of the economy,'" state Rep. Andrew Brenner (R ) wrote in a post published Mar. 3 on Brenner Brief News, a website founded and edited by his wife. "That seems to summarize our primary education system. Public education in America is socialism."

Brenner serves as vice-chair of the Ohio House Education Committee. 

In the post, titled "Public education in America is socialism, what is the solution?," Brenner laid out his argument. He noted that the Tea Party, which "will attack Obama-care relentlessly as a socialist system," rarely brings up "the fact that our public education system is already a socialist system[…] and has been a socialist system since the founding of our country." He addressed teachers unions -- "an outgrowth of our socialistic education system" -- which he granted originally improved things "temporarily" before they ultimately "became bureaucratic and they started to take the place of school boards and school management."

"I’m not blaming the teachers unions or the local school boards who are bound to the contracts, because if they don’t they will end up with strikes and an arbitrator will rule against them," Brenner wrote. "These issues all stemmed from the fact that we have a socialist education system in the first place."

Brenner's solution: more privatization. 

"In a free market system parents and students are free to go where the product and results are better," he wrote. "Common core and standardized tests under such a system will not be necessary, because the schools that fail will go out of business. Government will not be there to prop them up with more tax dollars and increased regulations. Successful schools will thrive. The free-market system works for cars, furniture, housing, restaurants, and to a lesser degree higher education, so why can’t it work for our primary education system?"

Read the whole thing here.

John Arthur, Terminally-Ill Man Who Challenged Ohio's Gay Marriage Ban, Has Died at 48

John Arthur, who in July flew to Maryland with his partner of 20 years, Jim Obergfell, so that they could marry on the airport tarmac before Arthur's ALS, a progressive neurological disease that robs patients of their ability to walk, talk and eventually breathe, became too difficult, has died, Cincinatti.com reports.

Mr. Arthur was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011, and his terminal illness played a prominent role in the couple’s decision to marry and in the ensuing legal battle. He and Obergefell had been a couple since 1992 but decided to marry after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 26 decision striking down portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Following their marriage, they decided to file a lawsuit challenging Ohio's same-sex marriage ban.

A few days after their wedding the couple were contacted by civil-rights attorney Al Gerhardstein, who had been working on challenges to Ohio’s marriage ban. Several days later they filed a lawsuit in federal court in Cincinnati against the state and the city of Cincinnati, claiming that failure to recognize their marriage violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, because Ohio recognized other marriages performed outside the state that Ohio itself banned, such as marriages between first cousins or minors.

Mr. Arthur’s terminal illness allowed the case to move more quickly through the court. It also allowed Gerhardstein to argue that the couple would face “irreparable harm” if Mr. Arthur was listed as single on his death certificate. Additionally, Mr. Arthur’s family plot at Spring Grove Cemetery is limited to direct descendants and their spouses, so the question of recognizing their marriage also was likely to influence where he was buried and whether his partner could someday be buried next to him.

In July, Federal Judge Timothy Black issued a temporary order requiring that Arthur be listed as married on his death certificate and Obergefell be named his surviving spouse.

Arthur was 48 years old. Our thoughts go out to Jim Obergfell, and their friends and family, and we thank Arthur for his courage.

Ohio Lawmaker Wants Judge Impeached for Ordering State to Recognize Gay Marriage

Ohio Rep. John Becker, (R-Union Township, pictured below) wants to impeach Judge Timothy S. Black, who in July ordered the state to recognize the marriage of John Arthur and Jim Obergefell.

Arthur and Obergefell, you may recall, chartered a plane to Maryland with the help of friends, family, and social media, so that they could marry because Arthur is terminally-ill with ALS, and married on the airport tarmac. They also filed a lawsuit challenging Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage.

Becker wants Black impeached for “malfeasance and abuse of power," and is calling on Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) to start the proceedings, Cincinatti.com reports:

“I am writing you today to express my concerns about the federal government’s ever growing propensity to violate state sovereignty,” Becker wrote Friday in a letter to Wenstrup, a Columbia-Tusculum Republican.

Federal judges are appointed for life. The only way to remove a federal judge is for the House of Representatives to impeach the judge and the Senate to vote to remove the judge from office.

“Judge Black has demonstrated his incompetence by allowing his personal political bias to supersede jurisprudence,” Becker wrote. “This will begin the process of restoring state sovereignty back to the original intent of the US Constitution.”

Wenstrup released a statement: “While Judge Black’s ruling violated the Ohio Constitution and the will of Ohio voters, the question of whether this decision also violated the U.S. Constitution remains before a higher court. I will watch those appellate proceedings closely to see if Judge Black’s decision is upheld and I have full confidence in the Ohio’s office of the Attorney General during the appeals process.”

Federal judge orders Ohio to recognize marriage of dying gay man

In a big move, but not a surprising one (I’d argue), a federal judge in Ohio has ordered the state to immediately recognize the recent marriage of a gay Ohio couple in Maryland.

One of the two men is terminally ill, and now in hospice care, but they raised they were able to raise enough money to fly a private jet to Maryland last week, where marriages of gay people are legal, and get married on the tarmac (the dying partner in a hospital bed) before immediately flying back to Ohio.

The men, Jim Obergefell, and his ailing husband, John Arthur, sued the state of Ohio to require them to list them as married on Arthur’s impending death certificate.  The federal judge granted the couple a temporary restraining order, forcing the state to file the death certificate correctly.

More importantly, the judge mentioned the recent Supreme Court DOMA decision as part of his justification for granting the TRO.  (The case will still have to go to trial.)  More from Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:

Looking at Ohio’s bans on recognizing same-sex couples’ out-of-state marriages, while acknowledging its recognition of the marriages of opposite-sex couples who would not be allowed to marry in Ohio, Black concluded, “The purpose served by treating same-sex married couples differently than opposite-sex married couples is the same improper purpose that failed in Windsor and in Romer: ‘to impose inequality’ and to make gay citizens unequal under the law.”

Welcome to the post-Windsor world.

I really think the court granted us nationwide gay marriage in all but name.  Yes, the way they did it requires us to go state-by-state and strike down individual state-DOMA laws, but that was the genius of the court’s decision.  They paid homage to the notion that the court shouldn’t upend the “democratic experiment” taking place in the states, while at the same time coming up with a decision that basically leaves the states no wiggle room to say “no” to marriage equality for gays once the state DOMAs are challenged.

So yes, it will take longer for us to get marriage in 50 states – thus a nod to the notion that the court shouldn’t change everything nationwide immediately – but at the same time, they pretty much guaranteed that we’ll win.  And this Ohio ruling is quite possibly the first evidence of that fact.