Sphinx & pyramid in Giza, Egypt

Some of the notable artifacts that will be on display include:

• Decree of Neferirkare (carved on limestone)
• False door of Inty
• Priestess of Inty
• Relief scene from the tomb of Qar and Idu
• Ptolemaic sarcophagus lid
• Stone vessels and ceramics
• Jewelry and amulets
• Cat mummy

Most of the artifacts were found in an expedition sponsored by Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  Over a period of about 40 years, archaeologists worked in the tombs and temples of the Nile Valley, and uncovered artifacts that had been hidden for thousands of years.

“World of the Pharaohs: Treasures of Egypt Revealed”  will be on display at the Arkansas Arts Center (located in MacArthur Park, 9th & Commerce in Little Rock, Arkansas), from September 25th, 2009 to July 5th, 2010.  While admission to the museum is FREE, tickets are required for the special exhibit.  Advance tickets are now on sale, and it is highly suggested that you order tickets in advance.  This exhibit will attract a lot of attention from around the area, so order early to ensure your choice of date and time.  Single ticket pricing ranges from $14-22, and a companion audio tour is $5.  A variety of packages are also available.

While you’re at the Arkansas Arts Center, be sure to check out the rest of the great exhibits.

Photo credit: Paul Mannix @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

See a Mummy & a Picasso in Little Rock

The Arkansas chapter of the ACLU filed the lawsuit in Pulaski County to attempt to overturn Act 1, which was approved last month.

To read more…ACLU of Arkansas sues over adoption restrictions.

Post from: Blisstree

ACLU sues over Adoption Restrictions

Although the title of the measure is “unmarried couples” the agenda clearly is aimed at keeping gay men and women “from becoming foster or adoptive parents”.

My husband with AJ at the orphanage in Russia.

On November 25 a Florida court pointed out that allowing gay couples to adopt is less about protecting gay couples than protecting children. These laws, it seemed, were originally written to discriminate against gays and have thus ended up harming the thousands of children in foster care.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman found the 1977 Florida law unconstitutional because it violated the rights of these foster children to receive equal treatment under the Florida law.

The big problem with states like Florida, Missisippi, Arkansas, and Utah is that laws like these do not allow children in foster care to be placed with unmarried gay couples (or unmarried people in general…the law created to keep foster children out of the homes of gay individuals). Even if loving, stable couples wanted to foster or adopt they are just not able to.

However, in other states there are 65,000 children who are being raised by same-sex parents, according to a March 2007 report (Urban Institute and the Williams Institute at University of California at Los Angeles School of Law).  The report also mentions that about 14,100 foster children are living with one or more gay or lesbian foster parent.

Currently, 11 states and Washington D.C. specifically state that sexual orientation cannot legally prevent gay and lesbians from adopting but three states (Arkansas, Mississippi, and  Utah) have gotten around this by dying unmarried couples the right to foster or adopt.

And, even though states (like Michigan) don’t have bans it still can be difficult, as there are few judges and adoption agencies that will officially “allow” same-sex adoptions.

How does this affect children? For those being denied good care it can be devastating. Personally, I would much rather any child be in a loving home, no matter the race or sexual orientation than be left to hop foster homes or be institutionalized like my son was.

Post from: Blisstree

Gay Adoption: Fighting the Battle