We Made the List!

A few weeks ago we asked you to vote for us in Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza's "Best State-Based Political Blog" contest.

He was compiling a list of the best political blogs in each state. We asked you to vote for us, and you came through, we made the list!



Thank you for your support and readership. Chris, Derek and I try our best to provide regular updates while juggling our "real" jobs and other obligations. We hope to have The Sausage Factory show back up and running real soon too.

Stay tuned!

Nevada's pathetic state

Residents of Nevada watched (some of us in horror) for nearly an hour as new Governor Brian Sandoval giggled and grunted his way through his first Sate of the State address.

Much will be said within the next 24 hours about the speech. Numbers crunched, facts checked, soundbites and rebuttals broadcast. I quickly want to get out what bothered me the most about the speech (and I want time to do more research on Michelle Rhee who was at the address and is apparently going to help fix our education system. I worry that our press corps will not accurately represent her body of work in DC. I've already seen some fuckery on facebook and twitter).

Okay, so....Governor Sandoval said in his State of the State address that government is not the answer to our problems. That is a generic, bumper sticker slogan intended for the base to react with seal-like clapping. If the Governor truly believed that, he wouldn't have worked in government his entire adult life. He would've started his own private business and helped the state that way.

Governor Sandoval said he will terminate 20 (TWENTY!!!) government agencies. Who knows how many more unemployed people that means, or what Nevadans will be forced to give up. However, by the end of the speech, Governor Sandoval announced the creation of three (3) new government agencies.

I know, right?

Government is not the answer and can not solve our problems, so I will expand government to help solve our problems.

*sigh*

For a re-cap of live-tweets and live-chat, go here: http://laurakmm.coverpage.coveritlive.com

We have some funny people on Twitter in Nevada. Thought it was interesting there weren't very many right wing tweet.

--
Laura
laurakmmartin@gmail.com

Nevada State of the State

Trying something new: live-blogging the state of the state.

Cover It Live will bring all tweets related to the NVSOS to one spot you can keep your eye on

I hope this works!



__

Laura

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY PREMIERES!

The Sausage Factory premiered with lots of fun and information on hand. Just some of the topics covered were the weeks primary elections, Cindy Reid (the next first lady of Nevada),DADT and the latest in Vegan Ice Cream and dining & hanging out in Las Vegas!

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID ISSUES LGBT PRIDE MONTH STATEMENT

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID STATEMENT ON LGBT PRIDE MONTH

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement in support of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month:

“Our state and our country have always been strengthened by diversity in our workforce, businesses and our military. This month we celebrate that diversity and the people who have worked so hard to create a more just and equal society in Nevada and across the country.

“I stand with President Obama and military leaders in support of ending the policy of 'Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,' which often prevents qualified and willing individuals from honorably serving their country because of their sexual orientation. Our nation’s security is too important to deny those who want to serve because of this flawed policy. I am encouraged by recent steps in the Senate and House to repeal this policy, and I will continue to advocate for the a fair review of for distinguished military service members who face dismissal until this policy is ended.

“I have pride in our nation and in Nevada’s LGBT community. We must end discrimination in the workplace and in our military. I will continue to fight to ensure Dignity and equality for all Nevadans.”

Senator Reid has a long record of supporting Nevada’s LGBT community. He was instrumental in passing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which gives more support and funding to federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. Reid supported the creation and reauthorizations of the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides care, treatment and support for those living with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, Reid supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

http://reid.senate.gov/

DMV TO RECOGNIZE GENDER MARKER CHANGES UPON DOCTORS CONFIRMATION!

The ACLU of Nevada is very pleased to announce that we learned today that the DMV is going to make changes that allow transgender people to obtain gender marker changes with a standardized form completed by their doctor. This change rightly puts the determination of whether someone’s gender has changed in the hands of medical professionals rather than individual DMV employees.



The ACLU of Nevada heard disturbing reports that individual DMV employees were asking inappropriate personal questions of transgender people who have submitted requests for gender marker changes, and even, in violation of HIPAA, contacting applicants’ doctors. After a particularly disturbing complaint that a DMV employee told a transgender person that God would not approve of her, we brought the incident to the attention of the DMV and a broader letter about the issues was sent on behalf of numerous community groups, from the Stonewall Democrats to the Log Cabin Republicans and the Abundant Peace Church.


The ACLU of Nevada and Jane Heenan from Equality Nevada met with the DMV and a representative from the Attorney General’s office, and negotiated the changes.



We understand that while the changes will not go into place immediately because they need to finalize the materials, the DMV is committed to instituting a humane policy that allows people whose gender has changed to get drivers’ licenses that reflect their identity and enable them to avoid harassment and discrimination. The representatives from the DMV and the Attorney General’s office that worked with have been extremely responsive and understanding, and we are glad that we could work with them to make this important change. We are also very grateful to Jane Heenan and Equality Nevada for insight into how the driver’s license issue affected the lives of transgender people. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to everyone who shared their stories and everyone who gave their support to the cause.


In Liberty,



Maggie McLetchie

Interim Southern Program Director and Staff Attorney