Via Gay Poltics Report:

• Barney Frank to end congressional career
  Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the longest-serving openly gay member of Congress and among the most high-profile LGBT advocates in America, has decided not to stand for re-election to the U.S. House next year, citing redrawn congressional districts that would make it much tougher for him to win another election. First elected in 1980, Frank came out while serving his fourth term in 1987. "His decision to come out as gay more than two decades ago gave LGBT Americans an authentic voice and a persistent champion in Washington. ... We will miss that voice," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. Frank said he expects he’ll write and teach, but vowed not to become a lobbyist. The Boston Globe/Political Intelligence blog (tiered subscription model) (11/29), Washington Blade (11/28), Gay City News (New York) (11/28)     

 

• Gay, lesbian House colleagues laud Frank's leadership: Openly gay and lesbian U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline praised their colleague, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., following his announcement that his current term in Congress will be his last. "Barney Frank was a groundbreaking pioneer and one of the most insightful, knowledgeable and humorous people ever to grace the halls of Congress," said Polis, a Democrat from Colorado. Metro Weekly (Washington, D.C.)/Poliglot blog (11/28)     

• Frank wants to debate Gingrich on marriage: Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., this week said he'd like to debate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on the issue of marriage. "I look forward to debating, to take one important example, the Defense of Marriage Act with Mr. Gingrich. I think he is an ideal opponent for us, when we talk about just who it is, is threatening the sanctity of marriage," Frank told reporters assembled to hear his announcement that he would not seek re-election. The Huffington Post/Gay Voices (11/28)     

Incantation for Peace on Vimeo - Kathmandu

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

 November 29, 2011

Let Your Practice Come Alive

We can choose to get lost in our personal terror, but the fact remains that we are the only ones who can heal fear, anger, and pain by the way we use our minds. The ten thousand things, all the barriers, all the peace and the joy of this world, are nothing but the self. The question is, how do we understand it? Now more than ever we need to trust ourselves and let the years we have put into our practice come alive.

– John Daido Loori, "Between Two Mountains"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Harvey Milk Memorial 2011

Heritage Minute: Canada Gay Marriage

Via JMG: Mittens Brochure: I Hate Gay Marriage

A just-published brochure from the Romney campaign emphasizes his support for a federal ban on marriage equality. In late summer Romney signed NOM's hate pledge to campaign vigorously against the civil rights guaranteed to to all Americans by the Constitution which he and NOM want to destroy. Over at Think Progress, Igor Volsky details Romney's flip-flops on LGBT rights.

While running for Senate in 1994, Romney argued that same-sex marriage is “a state issue as you know – the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction.” He told the Log Cabin Republicans, “We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern” and promised to co-sponsor a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). In fact, during an interview with the Nashua Telegraph just last week, Romney said “I favor gay rights,” adding, “I don’t believe in discriminating in employment or opportunity for gay individuals.”

Labels: 2012 elections, asshattery, GOP, Mitt Romney

reposted from Joe

JMG Urban Dictionary's Word Of The Day

Over at Urban Dictionary, today's word of the day is "Jeebus." According to some of the posts there, Jeebus predates its current Simpsons-inspired usage. Some say Frank Zappa used it on one of his records and Zappa fan Matt Groening got it there. Others say the term dates back centuries as just one of many words people used to avoid that whole "name in vain" extravaganza. Below is my favorite definition from the above-linked article.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lon)

Labels: Jeebus, language, Urban Dictionary

reposted from Joe

Barney Frank Explains Retirement Decision

Via JMG: Barney Frank Retirement Reactions

President Barack Obama

"This country has never had a Congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him. For over 30 years, Barney has been a fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of families and businesses and helped make housing more affordable. He has stood up for the rights of LGBT Americans and fought to end discrimination against them. And it is only thanks to his leadership that we were able to pass the most sweeping financial reform in history designed to protect consumers and prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking that led to the financial crisis from ever happening again. Barney's passion and his quick wit will be missed in the halls of Congress, and Michelle and I join the people of the Bay State in thanking him for his years of service."

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

“Barney Frank is one of kind. He has brought his own brand of brashness, boldness, unmatched wit, discipline and skill to Capitol Hill, at times ingratiating and infuriating friend and foe alike. We thank him for his years of service. As an openly gay member of Congress for nearly a quarter century, Barney Frank has made his mark on history. Yet his legacy is much more than that — for 30 years, he has dedicated himself to bettering the lives of the people he serves, and the country he serves. His voice — often loud and uncompromising — will be missed by many, including me.”

Human Rights Campaign

“Barney Frank has exemplified true leadership over his more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the first openly gay Member of Congress, Barney defied stereotypes and kicked doors open for LGBT Americans. Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act would never have happened without his leadership. But it goes beyond that. His service as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during a time of great economic upheaval made a gay man one of the most powerful people in the country and he used that power for great good. America, Massachusetts and LGBT people are better off for Barney Frank’s service.”

Freedom To Marry

“As a public servant, Barney Frank has been an inspiration and a giant in an age where we've had few, and losing him as a leader in Congress and in public debate will be a painful blow for the country. Barney's excellence in shaping legislation and unparalleled voice in battling many of the wrong turns the country has taken have made extraordinary contributions to the history of our times. His singular and authentic personality has made politics look good at a time when so many events and electeds have made it look bad. I will miss his leadership, his brilliance, his liberal vision and values, and, of course, his corruscating wit. We need more Barney Franks in public life, not fewer, and fortunately we will always have his indelible example to work from."

Labels: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Congress, gay politicians, HRC, Massachusetts, NGLTF

reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

 November 28, 2011

Into the World

Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.

– Gary Snyder, "Just One Breath"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center

 

Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center

 

‎"The slogan, "Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one," is saying that one witness is everybody else giving you their feedback and opinions (which is worth listening to, there's some truth in what people say) but the principal witness is yourself. You're the only one who knows when you're using things to protect yourself and keep your ego together and when you're opening and letting things fall apart, letting the world come as it is - working with it rather than struggling against it. You're the only one who knows."

- From Start Where You Are by Pema Chödrön

JMG Bible Verse Of The Day

The Friendly Atheist tells the story of the Christian bookstore who denied a patron's request to place the above Bible verse on a t-shirt.

They had a t-shirt printer that was used to put verses. I asked if a printing of a Timothy 2:12 shirt was reasonable. Being Christians, they had never looked that far into the Bible, so they looked it up with their handy dandy on site Bible. When they recited the verse (A woman happened to be the reader of the Bible) they informed me of how disrespectful of their religion I was being. I was unsure of how I was being disrespectful by asking for a verse from their Holy Book.

I've been known to quote Proverbs 23:2. That one doesn't go over well either.

Labels: atheism, hypocrisy, religion

reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 27, 2011

 

Awareness of Death

As with many deep truths, people tend to look at the death awareness meditations and say, Yes, I know all of that. I know I'm going to die someday. I know I can't take it with me. I know my body will be dust. And as with other things—as with the law of impermanence itself-I would say we know it and we don't know it. We know it in our heads but haven't taken it into our hearts. We haven't let it penetrate the marrow of our bones. If we had, I can't help thinking we would live differently. Our whole lives would be different. The planet would be different as well.

– Larry Rosenberg, "Only the Practice of Dharma Can Help Us at the Time of Death"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Jennifer Saunders On Her Ab Fab Award - The Graham Norton Show - Series 10 Episode 5 - BBC One

Via JMG: First Gay Wedding For The Comics

For the mainstream comics, that is. Bleeding Cool has the backstory.

Labels: comic books, gay weddings

reposted from Joe

Via Blue Buddha

ॐ Blue Buddha Quote Collective

Master your words.
Master your thoughts.
Never allow your body to do harm.
Follow these three roads with purity
And you will find yourself upon the one way,
The way of wisdom.

Buddha

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 26, 2011

Absolute Stillness

If you wish to cultivate absolute stillness and clarity of mind, right here and now, sit down and imagine yourself on a peaceful shore or by a tranquil lake. If the mind is a snow globe whirling with thoughts, images, memories, and inchoate feelings, then the winds of internal energy and self-seeking—analyzing, evaluating, pushing and pulling, based on likes and dislikes—are what keep it stirred up and the snowstorm in motion, obscuring the inner landscape. Let the snow globe of your heart and mind settle by relaxing, breathing deeply a few times, and releasing all the tension, preoccupations, and concerns you’ve been carrying—at least for the moment. Let the gentle tide of breath carry it all away like the ocean’s waves, like a waterfall washing your heart, mind, and spirit clean, pure, and bright.

– Lama Surya Das, "Be Still"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

It's time.

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 25, 2011

Keeping a Good Heart

There is a saying that “the dharma has no owner; it belongs to whomever is most diligent.” Sometimes people say, “I don’t have time to devote myself to practice, I’m doing a lot of different things and I am obliged to do them.” But honestly, it’s not that one has to go to some other place and close the door and be quiet in order to practice. That’s not the only way. It’s definitely the case that we can practice at any given moment. We can always try a little more to be kind, to be compassionate and be careful about what we do and say and so forth.

– Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, "Keeping a Good Heart"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection