Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 12, 2013

Engagement through Meditation

You know in Vietnam, when you sat during the war, when you sat in the meditation hall and heard the bombs falling, you had to be aware that the bombs are falling and people are dying. That is part of the practice. Meditation means to be aware of what is happening in the present moment—to your body, to your feelings, to your environment. But if you see and if you don’t do anything, where is your awareness? Then where would your enlightenment be? Your compassion? In order not to get lost, you have to be able to continue the practice there, in the midst of all that.
- Thich Nhat Hanh, “Interbeing with Thich Nhat Hanh”
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Via JMG: BRITAIN: Pat Robertson Named Bigot Of The Year By LGBT Rights Group


 
We'd have chosen Scott Lively, but the AIDS ring thing was too much for Britain's Stonewall group.
Pat Robertson, the US televangelist, was named Bigot of the Year at the Stonewall Awards last night. Robertson, the host of the 700 Club and the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), was given the title after his bizarre theory concerning the transmission of HIV between gay men. In August, he said gay people purposely spread HIV by cutting people with “special rings”. As a response, gay CNN anchor Anderson Cooper criticised Robertson during the ‘Ridiculist’ feature on his show. Robertson beat four nominees for Bigot of the Year including historian Professor Neil Ferguson; Reverend George Gabauer; leading ex-gay activist Scott Lively; and, UKIP Parliamentary candidate Winston McKenzie.
Last year's Bigot Of The Year was disgraced Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who campaigned against same-sex marriage then resigned when several priests revealed that he'd been sucking their cocks.


Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 11, 2013

A Pure Mind

Experiences are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow that never departs.
- Gautama Buddha, "Rethinking Karma"
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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 10, 2013

Breaking the Sadness Habit

At times our tendency is to indulge in sadness—we don’t want to get rid of it, we want more. But there are many other situations in which we can see clearly how much energy is invested in trying to get rid of sadness. Lots of energy is literally thrown into the desire to get rid of it. Of course, I am not referring to those small acts of wisdom in which one gets together to talk things over with a friend, for example, or goes into nature. I am referring to something compulsive, something obsessive—thinking, judging, reacting about how to get rid of this unpleasant feeling. We might as well talk about total nonacceptance of sadness; we might as well talk about aversion to sadness. A lot of energy goes into this desire.
- Corrado Pensa, “Breaking the Sadness Habit”
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Friday, November 8, 2013

ia JMG: GM Recognizes Gay Marriages


General Motors will now recognize same-sex marriages for the purposes of insurance and pension benefits.
“GM will recognize a legal marriage for U.S. employees no matter the state of residence,” the automaker said in a statement. “For example, if a GM employee residing in Michigan, where same-sex marriage is not recognized, got married in New York, GM would recognize that marriage.” GM also changed its policies to allow same-sex partners of GM employees to inherit their spouse’s pension when they die. “Because marriage is considered a ‘life event,’ U.S. hourly and salaried employees can add their spouse to their health care coverage at any time within one year from their date of marriage or during the next annual enrollment period with proof of a valid, legal marriage license,” GM said in a statement.
Let's see if this prompts a Dump General Motors boycott by NOM.


Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Love for Everyone

Freedom To Marry Lights Up Times Square


Via press release:
Celebrating a year of big wins and marking the need to finish the job, Freedom to Marry today announced a new video billboard titled “Love for Everyone” featuring three diverse same-sex families and a message of love and commitment. The billboard will display in Times Square throughout the holiday season up until January 4, 2014. More than 1.5 million people pass through Times Square daily. “With the rapidly expanding importance of digital technology and new media, Freedom to Marry is using every opportunity to communicate our message of fairness for all committed couples and their families,” said Michael Crawford, Freedom to Marry’s digital director.




Reposted from Joe

Via George Takei / FB:


Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 8, 2013

To Become Free

I used to think that to become free you had to practice like a samurai warrior, but now I understand that you have to practice like a devoted mother of a newborn child. It takes the same energy but has a completely different quality. It's compassion and presence rather than having to defeat the enemy in battle.
- Jack Kornfield, "The Question"
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Via AmericaBlog: ENDA passes US Senate: 64-32; Boehner opposes passage in House


The US Senate today passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation banning workplace discrimination against gay and transgender people, by a hefty 64 t0 32 margin.

The bill only needed to pass by a simple majority after it earlier obtained the necessary votes to break a Republican filibuster.

All Democrats (and Independents) present voted for the bill, along with 10 Republicans: Kirk, McCain, Flake, Toomey, Portman, Hatch, Ayotte, Murkowski, Heller and Collins.

The legislation now moves over to the House, where Republican Speaker John Boehner has promised to kill it.

ENDA-passes-senate

Boehner claimed the other day that ENDA is unnecessary, as it duplicated existing protections under the law.  That’s actually not true. First, here’s Boehner’s aide:
“We have always believed this is covered by existing law,” the aide said, adding that it is “not a new issue or a new position — it’s a longstanding position, and, frankly, not ‘news’ at all. This has been his position, on the record, for years, stated publicly many times.”
It’s legal under federal law to fire (or not hire, or not promote) someone for being gay or trans.  It also legal in 29 states to fire someone for being gay, and in 33 states to fire someone for being trans.  Though, gays and trans people in those states would be protected if the city in which they live has outlawed such discrimination.

Another odd aspect of Boehner’s position: He claims that ENDA will lead to frivolous lawsuits and the loss of American jobs.  But if gay job protections are already part of the law, and this legislation is duplicative, then we’re already have those frivolous lawsuits and lost jobs.  So where are they?
As Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid noted the other day, Boehner claims to be worried about frivolous lawsuits yet he spent $2 million of the taxpayers money on his own frivolous lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act, which was struck down (in part) by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Because of Boehner’s opposition, the prospects for ENDA in the House aren’t terribly good. Which raises the question of how big a victory this really is.

I’m not a terribly big fan of passing legislation in one House that you know won’t pass in the other. It’s not always a good idea to make your team take hard votes when the vote won’t matter, because the legislation is going down. But in this case, things are more interesting as the “hard vote” has tended to be the vote against ENDA, not the vote for it.

As Senator Reid noted the other day, both GOP Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, likely presidential contenders in 2016, chickened out when it came to speaking against ENDA on the Senate floor.  Both men are known for being happy (and yappy) to go on the Senate floor and talk at length if it means a bit more media exposure.  Yet on ENDA, they were silent (though they ended up voting against it).  Arch-conservatives that they are, Rubio and Cruz fear that opposing gay rights might hurt their presidential aspirations, and Rubio is a religious right clone.  That’s quite a tacit admission.
For that reason, the ENDA vote was likely a good idea, even if there is little chance of it passing the Republican House.

Clearly ENDA, and gay civil rights issues more generally, are making the Republicans squirm.  What was once feared to be a third-rail for Democrats, has become a real third-rail for Republicans.  And who doesn’t get a chuckle out of that.

Make the jump here to read the full article

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Via BBC: Top EU court ruling backs gay African asylum bids

Top EU court ruling backs gay African asylum bids

African gay rights campaigner in US, 8 Jun 13  
 
Even when living abroad some gay Africans fear being named and targeted back home

Related Stories

The EU's top court has ruled that homosexuals from Sierra Leone, Uganda and Senegal who fear imprisonment in their home country have grounds for asylum in EU member states.
The Netherlands had asked the court for advice about three gay citizens of those countries seeking asylum.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) says asylum can be granted in cases where people are actually jailed for homosexuality in their home country.
ECJ rulings apply to all EU members.

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Michelangelo Signorile


"The fact that ENDA is unlikely to get a vote in the House gives us a chance to make sure the religious exemption comes out of this bill. That may make it harder to get it passed, and it may take a lot longer, but so be it. There are no shortcuts or bargains on civil rights. And quite honestly, when you ask for crumbs from the outset, both your friends and your enemies don't take you very seriously. We still need full protections in employment, housing and public accommodations, and none should include any religious exemptions. We need to stop viewing the ENDA vote this week as a sign of how far we've come -- as much of the hyped-up media has been doing -- and instead view it as a sign of how much further we need to go." - Michelangelo Signorile, writing for the Huffington Post.


Reposted from Joe

Via Upworthy / FB:


Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 7, 2013

On Translation

The translation of atman as "self" (and anatman as "no-self") is not in itself inherently bad. In fact, self tends to be as serviceable as any other word. What we are faced with, however, is the problem of translation on a larger scale, the translation not of words but of ideas. To translate an idea one must understand it. According to Buddhist doctrine, to understand anatman, or no-self, is tantamount to enlightenment.
- Stuart Smithers, "When the Buddha Bowed Out"
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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Kids React to Gay Marriage


Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 6, 2013

Approaching Unfavorable Conditions

Like the death of a child in a dream,
Through holding the erroneous appearance
Of the varieties of suffering to be true
One makes oneself so tired.
Therefore, it is a practice of bodhisattvas when meeting with
unfavorable conditions to view them as erroneous.
- Ngulchu Thogme, "The Art of Reality"
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Via Underground Health / FB:


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Via Gay Politics Report: Maine congressman and gubernatorial candidate comes out as gay

Maine congressman and gubernatorial candidate comes out as gay

Maine Rep. Michael Michaud came out as gay Monday morning, becoming the eighth openly LGBT member of Congress and the first to come out in office since 1996. Michaud, who is running as a Democrat for governor in next year's election, made the announcement via an op-ed in three local newspapers. "I don't plan to make my personal life or my opponents' personal lives an issue in this campaign," Michaud wrote. "We've had enough negativity in our politics and too many personal attacks over the last few years. We owe it to the people of Maine to focus on how we get our state back on track."




Portland Press Herald (Maine) (11/4), GayPolitics.com (11/4), BuzzFeed (11/4)

Via JMG: NEW JERSEY: Parents Sue For Right To Torture Son With "Ex-Gay Therapy"


A New Jersey couple has filed a lawsuit which demands that they be allowed to torture their 15 year-old son with "ex-gay" therapy.
According to the lawsuit, the teen suffers from "unwanted gender identity disorder and unwanted same-sex attractions" and has contemplated suicide. It goes on to describe how he "began to think he would like himself much better if he was a girl" and attempted to display female mannerisms and expressions. He also began to develop feelings of same-sex attractions at age 12 or 13, and that his depression worsened to the point that he began to have thoughts of killing himself "nearly all day long, every single day."
"John Doe has a sincerely held religious belief and conviction that homosexuality is wrong and immoral, and he wanted to address that value conflict because his unwanted same-sex attractions and gender confusion are contrary to the fundamental religious values that he holds," the lawsuit contends. The suit seeks a preliminary injunction to stop the law from being enforced plus "nominal damages" and attorneys' fees. A federal judge is scheduled to decide by Dec. 2 whether to grant the injunction.
Gov. Chris Christie signed the bill which outlaws "ex-gay" therapy for minors back in August. The bill is being appealed by the anti-gay Liberty Counsel.
 
Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: HAWAII: Police Union Head Says He'll Never Enforce Same-Sex Marriage Bill


Via the Honolulu Civil Beat:
The head of Hawaii’s police union, Tenari Maafala, testified against the gay marriage bill Monday afternoon, saying he would never enforce such a law. “You would have to kill me,” he told a panel of House lawmakers hearing Senate Bill 1. Maafala is president of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and an officer with the Honolulu Police Department. He said SB 1 is contrary to his religious views and opposes the measure. Republican Reps. Bob McDermott and Richard Fale questioned Maafala about his views. Maafala said the state has more important issues to address, such as homelessness and drugs, and that denying gay couples the right to marry is not discrimination if it’s against your beliefs.
How do cops "enforce" marriages anyway?


Reposted from Joe