Last night I attended a fundraiser for She19, a recently formed movement focused on getting more women to vote. Why? Check out these astounding stats:

• 22 Million unmarried women who were eligible to vote did not cast ballots in the election in 2000.
• If unmarried women voted at the same rate as married women, over six million more voters would have gone to the polls in 2000.
• 16 million unmarried women were not registered to vote in 2000.
• 56% of all women not registered to vote are unmarried.
• 46% of all voting-age women are unmarried.

The 19th amendment, ratified in 1920, guarantees all American women the right to vote. The fight for the amendment’s ratification took many years and composed of a variety of methods of protest. Woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, went to court, and practiced civil disobedience. Fierce opposition including verbal and physical abuse and imprisonment often confronted supporters.

Click here for a summary of that struggle or click here to buy a very cool t-shirt to help support the movement and to look very cool.

The BIO 2004 Annual International Convention that begins today in San Francisco is the world's largest biotechnology gathering. BIO 2004 runs June 6-9 at the Moscone Center and offers 23 tracks of programming, including sessions on policy, finance, business development, science and regulatory affairs. The convention also features forums on bioethics, business development and global opportunities with over 440,000 square feet of exhibit space. I'll be covering the conference with a heavy focus on neurotechnology over the next few days.

"A little more than a month ago, I took the oath of office here at City Hall and swore to uphold California's Constitution, which clearly outlaws all forms of discrimination," Gavin Newsom said. "Denying basic rights to members of our community will not be tolerated."

As today's S.F. Chronicle recounts, "San Francisco was the first city in the nation to pass a law requiring city contractors to provide the same benefits to their employees in domestic partnerships as married workers receive." In addition, "the city assessor also has awarded the rights when it comes to property transfers."

On the national level, President Bush plans to endorse the following language introduced by Representative Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colorado, for a constitutional amendment: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."

For his part, Senator John Kerry, Democratic front-runner, opposses gay marriage but does not support a constitutional amendment, according to his campaign.

My great uncle was a Jesuit priest at USF. Another great uncle was a Jesuit missionary in China. My great aunt was a nun in Los Angeles. My grandfather attended the seminary before marrying my grandmother. While I love and respect the passion of my deceased relatives, I believe they'll be squirming in heaven today when I provide my full support for Gavin Newson's decision to support same sex marriages. Why? People are people, beliefs are beliefs, and we our country is based on the premise of liberty and justice for all.

If you are in the Bay Area tomorrow night, please come here my talk on The Neurotechnology Wave (2010-2060) at the Bay Area Futurist Salon.  I'll be sharing many of the thoughts from my forthcoming book -- Brain Wave: Our Emerging Neurosociety.  If you are interested in having me speak at one of your events please email me. 

Also: A Big THANKS to Pat Kane, Steven Johnson and Paul Zak for their guest blogs.  They have made it possible for me to make significant progress on the book as well as setting the bar pretty high for the Wrye and Richard who will be focusing on neuroethics in the coming weeks, not to mention the other two amazing guest bloggers that will follow them.