I'm in Budapest at the Global Voices Advocacy Summit, where over 50 blog and internet activists from around the world are here to talk about defending free speech online In morning sessions, presenters described the ways that countries block and filter bits and pieces of the Internet, including blogs and blog hosting sites. Currently, BlogHer readers are mostly from the U.S. and do not face government censorship. Yet privacy issues for women can also be domestic issues.

One of my favorite aspects of feminism is that it encourages women to speak out about issues that matter to us and make our ideas, opinions, and thoughts heard. Feminism values women's voices; it understands that, in general, the more discourse happens, the more people can understand one another. However, what happens when some women use their voices to oppress others? Is it ever OK to tell a woman to sit down and shut up?

Nine years after the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. sparked a national debate, the US Congress has passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. as an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill. The provides "Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes." Opponent say that what it really does is criminalize condemnation of homosexuality. The President has promised a veto. (.pdf)