Utah Bans Polygraph Tests for Those Reporting Sexual Assault
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A state legislator was moved to sponsor the bill — now signed into law — following a Salt Lake Tribune-ProPublica investigation that showed how polygraphs can retraumatize sexual abuse victims.
https://www.propublica.org/article/utah-polygraphs-sexual-assault-law?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Utah #Police #Law #SexualAssault #Abuse #MentalHealth

Our 2023 investigation found that one man felt compelled to drop his sexual assault complaint against his therapist after a failed polygraph test.

The therapist, now in prison, continued to practice for two more years.
https://www.propublica.org/article/utah-therapist-built-reputation-for-helping-gay-latter-day-saints-they-say-he-sexually-abused-them?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#Utah #SexualAssault #Abuse #MentalHealth #Therapy #Police #Law

RE: https://martinh.net/@m/116301135810257660

Gotta love this, queerfolk shredding Nazis...

Mathematicians are threatening to boycott the field’s largest, most prestigious gathering this summer
if it takes place in the U.S., as currently planned.

Every four years since the turn of the twentieth century,
the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) has brought together mathematicians from all over the world to share the latest breakthroughs and plot the field’s future.

Famous speeches delivered at the congress have gone on to redefine entire subfields of math.

The ICM is also where math’s most hallowed prize, the Fields Medal, is awarded.

This July, the ICM is slated to take place in Philadelphia
—the first time in 40 years that it’s been held in the U.S.

Now a petition to move the event elsewhere is circulating among mathematicians.

It cites the recent American military actions in Venezuela and Iran,
the suspension of visas from 75 countries
and the continued presence of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across major U.S. cities
as contrary to the ICM’s goal of fostering “a sense of international unity amongst mathematicians.”

As of this writing, more than 1,500 mathematicians have signed the petition,
which states that they plan to boycott the event if it isn’t moved outside the U.S.

The list of signatories includes many of the field’s most prominent names,
more than 50 of whom have spoken at previous congresses.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-mathematicians-are-boycotting-their-biggest-conference/

I’m not trans. As far as I know, my kids aren’t at the moment. Nobody in my family is. None of my good friends are. I don’t prescribe medication for gender affirming care. I don’t specifically treat folks for gender dysphoria. So why do I give a fuck?

You don’t punch down. There’s no transgender machine producing trans judiciary and trans politicians and trans PACs to come for my cisgender. There are trans folks being discriminated against, outed, beaten, jailed, and killed. I hate bullies.

"Help me," the duke said. "My physicians can't say what ails me, but I've lost all pleasure in what I used to enjoy."

The witch examined him, and paused over his hand.

"Nice ring. It is new?"

"A recent gift from the king. Why? Is it cursed?"

It was made to dampen cruelty.

"No," said the witch.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

What could possibly go wrong?

Exclusive: #US deploys uncrewed #DroneBoats in conflict with #Iran

The US has deployed ​uncrewed #drone speedboats for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, the #Pentagon said, ‌the first time Washington has confirmed using such vessels in an active conflict.

#TrumpsWar #war #Trump #RegimeChange #RulesOfWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #inflation #economy #oil #energy #EnergyCrisis
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-deploys-uncrewed-drone-boats-conflict-with-iran-2026-03-26/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement

#US uses hundreds of #Tomahawk missiles on #Iran, alarming some at #Pentagon

More than 850 have been fired in just 4 weeks, people familiar with the matter said, raising concerns about the weapon’s limited supply.

#kakistocracy #idiocracy #TrumpsWar #war #ForeverWars #Trump #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #GovernmentWaste
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/27/iran-war-tomahawk-missiles/