Afternoon Roundup: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Signed Into Law!

Congratulations to our Gay and Lesbian servicemembers today - and to all Americans who believe in justice for all - as Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal is signed into law; it's not really those birth control pills which are responsible for increased estrogen in our water supply; and a Colorado physician is in hot water over a prescription for medical marijuana for a pregnant woman.

Congratulations to our Gay and Lesbian servicemembers today – and to all Americans who believe in justice for all – as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal is signed into law; it’s not really those birth control pills which are responsible for increased estrogen in our water supply; and a Colorado physician is in hot water over a prescription for medical marijuana for a pregnant woman.

  • President Obama signed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell into law today. It’s a historic day for all Americans but especially for gay and lesbian servicemembers who will soon, we hope, be able to serve our country without need for hiding an integral part of who they are. To all of my gay and lesbian friends, and to all Americans: this is an amazing day. As President Obama said in his speech,

“No longer will thousands of men and women in uniform be asked to live a lie or look over their shoulder while serving the country they love.”

“Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well,” he said. “This is the right thing to do for our military, and I believe it is the right thing to do period.”

  • A new study debunks the idea that increased estrogen levels in our water supply are due to birth control pills. It may have more to do ,says the authors, with modern farming practices.  In particular, the authors implicate industrial sources of chemicals that mimic the activity of estrogen hormones as harmful. One thing they know for sure? That while oral contraceptives do play some role, “removing OCs from the market would be detrimental to women’s health and their ability to decide the timing and spacing of their children and would have societal and global implications.”
  • A Colorado doctor is in trouble with the state’s Medical Board for prescribing medical marijuana to a woman he did not know was pregnant. Now, the board is considering revoking his license. The woman gave birth to a healthy baby in April who, notes the complaint, had “initial feeding difficulties.” That said, I’d like to self-promote for a moment and direct folks to the piece I just happened to write about the use of marijuana to treat extreme nausea and vomiting and pregnancy and the lack of major medical evidence to support marijuana, as a medicinal, being detrimental to newborns and mothers. There is evidence to support that it may have some effect and evidence to support that it’s relatively safe in smaller quantities.