Twelve states have moved to ban "ex-gay therapy" for young people -- dangerous "therapy" that tries to change someone's sexual orientation. "Ex-gay therapy" has been linked to suicide, depression, isolation and anxiety, and has been condemned by nearly every medical and psychological body as dangerous, destructive and something no child should be forced to undergo. And yet in 38 states -- including states like New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio -- "ex-gay therapy" remains a practice that's largely legal under the law. But there is national momentum as more and more states move to ban "ex-gay therapy" and protect minors from attempts to "cure" them of their sexual orientation. Hawaii just became the 12th state to ban "ex-gay therapy," and New Hampshire and Delaware are close to following suit. They join states like California, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, New Mexico, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Oregon. That's nearly 25% of the country! But it's not enough. LGBT kids are still facing dangerous "ex-gay therapy" attempts in more than 30 states around the country.  All these states have seen bills introduced to ban "ex-gay therapy". New York -- which touts itself as one of the most LGBT-friendly states in the country -- has seen legislation pass the State Assembly three times; Pennsylvania has had a bill introduced several times; Ohio now has a bill as well that legislators are pushing; and activists in Minnesota have been pushing for a ban on "ex-gay therapy" programs for years. Let's build on this national organizing momentum, and work to get these states added to the list of states stepping up to protect LGBT youth, and banning harmful "ex-gay therapy" that tries to "cure" LGBT people and change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This is no longer ONLY about gun control and the 2nd amendment. Governor Wolf is blatantly violating the US Constitution through misuse of his gubernatorial position during this COVID-19 situation. He needs to be stopped before he causes further damage to our great commonwealth. During this time he has been using this pandemic and the panic as an opportunity to push all of his controversial legislation, going so far at one point, to state that he will not reopen the state until his list of state legislation is passed. How can we stand by and allow him to hold our state economy and residents hostage over his unconstitutional policies?  Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf recently signed an executive order to "combat gun violence" without disclosing the details of said order. He followed up that "ceremony" with saying "this is just a start."  Update: When this petition was started, Govenor Wolf had not yet disclosed any details about his executive order. Details have now been released and you can find them in the following link.  https://www.governor.pa.gov/executive-order-2019-06-reducing-gun-violence/ Addendum: Prior to this current development in Wolfs consistent attacks on our rights to own firearms, Wolf pushed and was able to pass a gun registry bill in the house. This was a blatant violation of our constitutional rights and was rather alarming to say the least. It generated multiple and repetitive fees and fines, gave state police the right to deny ownership at any time for any reason, and placed unrealistic burdens and expectations on legal gun owners. Link below. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2019&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0768&pn=0818&mobile_choice=suppress&fbclid=IwAR2TS-YpXZObLeAC2EOSyXKX7VLtATR1J4ZqrH_OaEy4mf-xZry-Dh6eRCk Refer to Pa constitution article 1, section 21. "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned." "We, the People are the government in this country, sir. NOT you! WE rightfully DEMAND that YOU obey our Pennsylvania Constitution, in particular Article I. YOU, sir, are Usurping authority that you have NOT been given BY that Constitution, and THIS, SIR, is nothing less than an ACT OF WAR against the Free Citizens of this Commonwealth. ANY firearm law or infringement upon Art I Rights of our Constitution is an Act of Treason on your part against that Constitution."  - Concerned citizen.  The gentleman who stated the above shall not be named, unless he chooses to release his name. However, what he states is true. This IS nothing short of an act of war against the free people of our commonwealth and is a blatant act of treason against our commonwealth's constitution. As such we are well within our rights to demand impeachment proceedings begin IMMEDIATELY against Govenor Tom Wolf on the grounds of betraying Article 1, Section 21 of our constitution, misbehaving in office through deliberate use of an executive order which violates Article 1, section 21, and for being disloyal to the obligations of his office to uphold our laws and constitution.  Failure to act on this clear attack on our state and federal constitutional rights will reflect significantly upon state legislators in following elections.  Please share this petition as much and often as possible to get the word out and push it up to the Pennsylvania State Senate, the Pennsylvania House of representatives, the Pennsylvania State Attorney General (Joshua Shapiro), your local representatives, friends, family, President of the United States, and/or anyone who may feel that it is vital that we are not stripped of our state and federal right to bear arms.  Update: So apparently, another Avenue that wolf is pushing is unconstitutional "red flag law" legislation. Here is a link to an article with details, as well as a strong message as to why red flag laws are wrong and ineffective.  https://www.timesonline.com/opinion/20190825/guest-opinion-red-flag-law-is-not-solution-to-mass-shootings "The Wolf is approaching... We can simply join the flock and fall prey to the wolf, or we can take on the role of the shepherd and fend off the wolves." - Jeremy D. Bemis *Note: Significant and relevant portio ns of related definitions and articles were typed in bold to stand out in the following listed information.  https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/00/00.001..HTM  Article 1. § 21.  Right to bear arms. The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. 1966 Amendment.  Joint Resolution No.10 amended and renumbered former section 2 to present section 5. Article 4. § 6.  Officers liable to impeachment. The Governor and all other civil officers shall be liable to impeachment for any misbehavior in office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of trust or profit under this Commonwealth. The person accused, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. (May 17, 1966, 1965 P.L.1928, J.R.10)   Definitions: trea·son/ˈtrēzən/Learn to pronouncenoun- the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.- the action of betraying someone or something.  be·tray·al/bəˈtrāəl,bēˈtrāəl/Learn to pronouncenounnoun: betrayal; plural noun: betrayals• the action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; treachery."the betrayal by the king by his daughter"synonyms:disloyalty, treachery, perfidy, perfidiousness, bad faith, faithlessness, falseness; Moreduplicity, deception, double-dealing;breach of faith, breach of trust, stab in the back, Judas kiss;double-cross, sellout;trahison des clercs;rarefalse-heartedness, Punic faith"a cowardly act of betrayal" dis·loy·al/ˌdisˈloi(ə)l/Learn to pronounceadjectiveadjective: disloyal• failing to be loyal to a person, country, or body to which one has obligations."she felt that inquiring into her father's past would be disloyal to her mother"synonyms:unfaithful, faithless, false, false-hearted, untrue, inconstant, untrustworthy; Moretreacherous, perfidious, traitorous, subversive, seditious, unpatriotic, two-faced, Janus-faced, double-dealing, double-crossing, deceitful;dissident, renegade;adulterous;informalbackstabbing, two-timing;archaicrecreant;rarehollow-hearted, double-faced, Punic"many of her colleagues judged her disloyal"antonyms:loyal•(of an action, speech, or thought) demonstrating a lack of loyalty."disloyal mutterings about his leadership"

In Pennsylvania, insulin costs $270 a vial - a prohibitively expensive price for many diabetics. This vial lasts a month at most for many diabetics. Others require three or more vials per month, skyrocketing the price up to $1000 a month for something they need to survive. However, pricing elsewhere shows that this high cost is not necessary. Canada’s price for insulin is $90, and Colorado recently passed an insulin price cap of $100 per month. It's time for Pennsylvania to join Colorado in passing a price cap on this life-saving drug. Sign and share this petition today to ask Pennsylvania state legislators to take a stand for those with diabetes by instituting an insulin price cap. Because of the incredibly high cost of insulin and other expensive supplies to handle their diabetes, many diabetics are forced into dire situations. Many diabetics have resorted to rationing insulin, risking their lives every day because they can’t afford to pay for their next vial. People are forced to choose between the insulin they need to survive, and keeping a roof over their head and food on the table for their families. I know firsthand how stressful paying for insulin can be. My girlfriend has Type 1 diabetes, and worries constantly about whether her insurance will continue to cover the costs of her insulin and related supplies. People’s lives shouldn’t be put at risk because the insulin they require to live isn’t deemed “necessary” by insurance. The insulin price cap in Colorado has shown that it’s possible for states to take control of outrageous insulin pricing and as a result, to save lives. It’s time for Pennsylvania to join them in protecting Pennsylvanians with diabetes from avoidable health risks. Please sign this petition to urge Pennsylvania state legislators to save lives with an insulin price cap.

In recent days Tom Wolf has posted upon social media that PreK-12 Sporting events are not allowed spectators. Therefore, parents cannot, for example, watch their five-year-old kindergartner play for the first time, or their high school senior play for their last time. Collegiate level sports may have spectators with social distancing. The state will allow this just for tax money. Please sign this petition if you want to help coaches, players, families, and fans to be able and coach, play, or watch their favorite sports and/or loved ones. All sporting teams also do better with cheering from the crowds. As a student athlete myself, I can confirm it’s something we need and get pumped from, resulting in playing better!

I’m Jenifer Bass, a U.S. Navy veteran, who served for 10 years, one-third in the Asia-Pacific region. It was due to my travel between ports in countries like Japan and Thailand that I first encountered amerasian children, and descendants, of U.S. service members and civilian contractors previously stationed overseas. Filipino Amerasians are abandoned and neglected biracial children of Filipino mothers and American fathers (mostly members of the US armed forces). In the Philippines alone, more than 52,000-plus children were born and left behind after the U.S. Navy withdrew the last of its military personnel in 1992. Right now, the U.S. government won’t legally recognize them as U.S. citizens, despite having been born to an American parent. The Philippine Embassy won't help them either. As a former US colony between 1898 and 1946, the Philippines was home to millions of US soldiers and their dependents, even after its independence. Until 1992, the country hosted two of the largest US military facilities outside the US – Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, which played major roles during the Vietnam and first Gulf wars. In 1982 US Public Law 97-359, or the Amerasian Act of 1982, allowed children from Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, or Thailand to move to the US and eventually become American citizens, but those who were from the Philippines were excluded from the law, an exclusion which was upheld by the US Senate on the basis that many Filipino Amerasians were “conceived from illicit affairs and prostitution”, and were born during peacetime. Today, there are estimated to be more than 250,000-plus children. Many amerasians are caught in a no-man’s land of discrimination and poverty -- most left behind by U.S. service members who are unaware that they’ve fathered children overseas. My friend John Haines is one of these sailors. In 2011, John discovered he was the father of a half-Filipino daughter, Jannette. He attempted to unite with her through the American Homecoming Act -- but was frustrated to learn that the Act did not apply to Filipino children of U.S. service members. Today, all John wants is to be united with his daughter and grandchildren. He, like so many other veterans are living with a “hole in their hearts” as they search for ways to unite with their children. There is hope. The Uniting Families Act of 2018, HR 1520, creates a specialized visa allowing military veterans and eligible civilian contractors to sponsor their children and grandchildren for U.S. citizenship. Currently, blood relationship must be proven by DNA test and the total number of visas granted will be capped at 5,000 each year. The issue takes on more urgency as so many of our veterans from our wars in Southeast Asia are getting older and dying each day -- without the chance to connect, or in some cases, reconnect with their own children. John’s daughter Jannette has already undertaken the DNA testing process, conclusively proving her relationship to her American father. All she’s waiting for is the opportunity to permanently unite with her father. There is a PBS documentary, "Left by the Ship" (2010), documenting a day in the life and the personal struggles as a Filipino amerasian on the never ending search for identity and their struggles to connect to their American military families. Please sign this petition to tell Congress that these families cannot wait another day. Pass the Uniting Families Act of 2017, HR 1520, now!

Conversion therapy is an attempt by one individual to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of another individual, in this case, of a minor. Conversion therapy, and other forms of discrimination against LGBTQ+ children and adolescents have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including higher rates of bullying, depression, and suicide. The proposed policy would ban the practice of conversion therapy statewide from mental health professionals with youth under age 18. o   Approximately 700,000 adults in the US have gone through conversion therapy, half of them as teens.  o   LGBT youth are 8 times more likely than their peers to attempt suicide (Human Rights Campaign). o   16,000+ US children will go through conversion therapy from a mental health professional by age 18 (UCLA School of Law). o   Conversion therapy can involve extremely traumatic practices, such as shock therapy or medically induced vomiting. HB1293 has been passed off to the House Health Committee in April 2019, where no action has been taken. Please take the time to contact your local representatives. Encourage them to support this bill and have it reintroduced in the 2021-2022 legislative session.  Sign this petition to ask members of the Pennsylvania House to reintroduce this bill and ensure they are passed in the next legislative session. 

PennDOT wants to cut public access to Graffiti Highway. They claim that the road is much too dangerous, even for foot traffic. This is not the case. Graffiti Highway is a gathering spot for tourists and residents of NEPA. The road itself is no more hazardous than a common PA hiking trail. Graffiti Highway is an outlet of expression for artists of all kinds; it should not be shut down.

On August 6, 2018, seven-year-old Kayden Mancuso was murdered by her father.  Kayden’s death was preventable. Her mother knew that Kayden’s father was violent and unhinged, and she knew that Kayden didn’t feel safe around him. Domestic violence experts know that it is often the most dangerous abusers who use custody courts to manipulate their victims into staying or punish them for leaving. Despite all the warnings, a judge made a legal decision to allow Kayden’s father to spend unsupervised time with her. And Kayden’s father used that time alone to murder her. We know he wanted to punish Kayden's mother because he left a note to say so. Every year, dozens of children are killed under similar, preventable circumstances. Tens of thousands more subjected to predictable abuse and trauma The judicial system responded defensively to the tragedy and the judge blamed both parents for the father’s sadistic crime. The Stop Abuse Campaign crafted Kayden’s Law with Kayden’s family, Child USA, interested legislators, and the governor's office [SB868 and HB1587]. It will protect hundreds of children from sexual abuse, physical abuse and witnessing domestic violence every year. And it will be the best way to honor a special girl and force something good out of such a despicable crime.  Sign this petition. Tell Pennsylvania’s leaders to pass Kayden’s law.   Find the Stop Abuse Campaign's other petitions. More information on the custody crisis in our family courts

A PETITION FROM THE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP & THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA TO THE HONORABLE TOM CORBETT AND THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEREAS, the Governor has expressed his conviction that state money should “follow the students,” and WHEREAS approximately 90% of Pennsylvania children attend public schools; WHEREAS, the $860 million in funding slashed from public schools in the 2011-2012 budget and the additional $100 million in cuts to public education proposed for 2012-2013 have decimated Pennsylvania public schools’ mandate to provide a complete, rigorous, and holistic education to all children; WHEREAS, the Upper Darby School District and its approximately 12,000 students, in spite of significant and remarkable progress toward standardized AYP goals, have suffered directly and indirectly under the stipulations of these budgets; WHEREAS, the loss of state reimbursement for the education of charter school students has cost the Upper Darby School District approximately $10 million over the course of the last five years; WHEREAS, the District is now faced with the need to eliminate art, music, library science, and physical education classes and their associated instructors from all District elementary schools and technology and foreign language classes and their associated instructors from District middle schools; WHEREAS, the academic, emotional, social, and cultural benefits of these programs to elementary and middle school-aged children are widely recognized; WHEREAS the loss of these beloved and enriching programs must be considered a blight upon not only the students of the Upper Darby School District but upon their parents and upon all citizens of Upper Darby Township whether publicly or privately educated, and; WHEREAS, the dismissal of certified, subject-specific instructors and the redistribution of their lesson plans and responsibilities to classroom teachers will marginalize the art, music, library science, physical education, technology, and foreign language curricula insofar as to make compatibility with the academic standards set down in Chapter 4 of the Pennsylvania Code vastly unachievable; BE IT RESOLVED, we, the undersigned parents, students, alumni, teachers, and taxpayers of Upper Darby Township and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania respectfully but emphatically call upon the Governor and the General Assembly to restore the millions of dollars slashed from funding public schools and public schoolchildren. We demand that our school district be funded in such a way as to enable it to do full justice to the academic, artistic, and fitness-related needs of our children and to properly prepare them for success in diverse communities both within and beyond the classroom. www.saveudarts.org

Click Here to Read the Full Letter. The University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board (SGB) is demanding action on gun violence prevention from the state and federal government. In an open letter to our representatives and lawmakers, SGB calls for stricter regulation on the sale of assault weapons, including, but not limited to: the expansion of background checks, the closure of the gun show loophole, and the banning of bump stocks. In the wake of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, SGB is calling upon our government to enact tangible change to ensure that we put an end to these mass shootings. It is time for change. It is time for action. Thoughts and prayers alone will no longer suffice.    “It is time for our lawmakers to put aside partisanship,” the letter reads. “This is not a matter of Democratic or Republican affiliation, but rather of safeguarding the most fundamental principles our nation was built upon – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” SGB has distributed the open letter to college and university student governments across the country, asking for their support and signature. “I want to commend the Pitt Student Government Board for taking action to make our country safer and curb the epidemic of gun violence that’s struck nearly every community,” said U.S. Representative Mike Doyle, who represents the City of Pittsburgh and many nearby municipalities. “As someone who’s been working in Congress for years to reduce gun violence, I know how hard it is to enact common-sense gun laws like universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons. Grassroots initiatives like this could make all the difference.” Signatures will be accepted through December 31st. When the 116th Congress is sworn in on January 3rd, SGB plans to deliver this letter to each and every congressperson. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Operations Director Jon Shaiken at jos202@pitt.edu.