Friday, April 25, 2014

Via Huffington

A coalition of 58 LGBT people and allies -- most of them conservatives or libertarians -- came out with a statement yesterday on the resignation of former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich. Mr. Eich, you'll recall, voluntarily stepped down earlier this month amidst public outcry over donations he made to the viciously homophobic Proposition 8 campaign and various anti-gay politicians.

The statement, titled "Freedom to Marry, Freedom to Dissent," desperately tries to revive the lie that Eich was targeted and toppled by LGBT activists -- a victim of "left-liberal" "intolerance," as Andrew Sullivan so ridiculously claimed

The truth, of course, is much different: not a single LGBT organization commented publicly on the controversy at all, much less called for Eich's ouster. The campaign against Eich was concentrated almost exclusively within the tech community and was driven largely by Mozilla staffers and developers. But, to quote Dahlia Lithwick, truthiness knows no debunking.

The signatories profess concern that the Eich kerfuffle "signal[s] an eagerness by some supporters of same-sex marriage to punish rather than to criticize or to persuade those who disagree... We strongly believe that opposition to same-sex marriage is wrong," they write, "but the consequence of holding a wrong opinion should not be the loss of a job."

Claiming that those same nameless LGBT rights supporters are taking "a worrisome turn toward intolerance and puritanism," the statement then implies that those who think the Eich controversy resolved itself appropriately are nothing less than enemies of speech and freedom:
The freedom -- not just legal but social -- to express even very unpopular views is the engine that propelled the gay-rights movement from its birth against almost hopeless odds two generations ago. A culture of free speech created the social space for us to criticize and demolish the arguments against gay marriage and LGBT equality. For us and our advocates to turn against that culture now would be a betrayal of the movement's deepest and most humane values.
How utterly absurd. This alleged attack on the "culture of free speech" is a straw man, pure and simple; nobody disputes the right of Brendan Eich -- or anyone else, for that matter -- to hold any prejudicial views they wish or to express those views in public. But Eich's right to his anti-gay beliefs does not protect him from the free-market consequences of those beliefs, including the loss of his community's confidence.

What makes this new "Freedom to Dissent" pledge so repugnant is that it essentially justifies homophobia by implicitly conceding that it deserves, as conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat puts it, "some modest purchase in civil society." Mindful of their impending defeat on marriage, opponents of equality are now trying to redefine "tolerance" to mean "affirming homophobic bigotry as a legitimate worldview deserving of deference and respect" -- and these 58 signatories have bought it hook, line and sinker.

But our culture doesn't treat other forms of bigotry with "respect" and "tolerance." To the contrary, prejudices like sexism, racism and anti-Semitism are overwhelmingly regarded with revulsion and scorn -- because society has rightfully decided that these toxic social evils deserve to be shamed and stigmatized, and that sexists, racists and anti-Semites no longer deserve a seat at the table of civil discourse. The lesson of the Brendan Eich controversy is that the public is increasingly ready to add homophobes to that list.

So I'd like to ask every single signer of this "Freedom to Dissent" pledge: if Brendan Eich had donated to a white supremacist or neo-Nazi group, would you make similar pleas for "serious consideration" of and "vigorous public debate" about the merits of those "dissenting" views? Would you work so hard to uphold the fiction that two morally equivalent sides exist on issues like racism and sexism and anti-Semitism?
Or is it just homophobic bigotry that deserves this special form of "tolerance?"

This post originally appeared at The Bilerico Project.

Follow John Becker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/freedom2marry

Make the jump here to read the full article 

Via Matthew Shepard Foundation / FB

15 years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life. We remember Matt by proudly supporting the Matthew Shepard Foundation in its mission to replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance. LIKE and SHARE to stand with us. #NOH8





15 years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life. We remember Matt by proudly supporting the Matthew Shepard Foundation in its mission to replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance. LIKE and SHARE to stand with us. ‪#‎NOH8‬

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Via JMG: Obama Appoints Jason Collins To Federal Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition Council


Via White House press release:
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts: Jason Collins, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Jason Collins is a professional basketball player with the Brooklyn Nets, where he has played since 2014. Previously, he played for the Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the New Jersey Nets. He joined the National Basketball Association in 2001 after playing for Stanford University, where he was a National Association of Basketball Coaches third team All-American and a member of the All-PAC-10 first team. Mr. Collins is a partner with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Mr. Collins received a B.A. from Stanford University.
Other appointees include Rachel Ray, Alonzo Mourning, and ballet star Misty Copeland.


Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Bilerico: Almost 90% of Americans Think This Can't Happen. They're Wrong




The tiny town of Latta, South Carolina has been making headlines this week after the mayor fired the town's popular police chief, Crystal Moore, in spite of her exemplary 20-year record of service. Moore and many others in the town strongly believe that Mayor Earl Bullard, who took office in December, fired her because she's a lesbian: he's an outspoken opponent of LGBT rights, he was caught on tape delivering a vile anti-gay rant, and one city council member claims Bullard openly discussed his intention to fire Moore before he even took office. But while Moore's firing is undoubtedly disgusting, it's also perfectly legal, because South Carolina law does not protect LGBT people from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. And neither does federal law -- even though nearly three out of every four Americans support employment protections for LGBT people, and almost 90% erroneously believe such protections already exist. In the absence of federal nondiscrimination legislation, it remains totally legal to fire someone like Crystal Moore -- just for being lesbian, gay, or bisexual -- in a staggering 29 states (see the graphic below). If you're trans, that number rises to 33. 

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2014/04/almost_90_of_americans_think_this_cant_happen_they.php



*Vida Diária*

"Pergunta: Eu não sei o que fazer com a minha vida. Sou puxado para muitas direções diferentes, mas eu nunca consigo ficar com coisa nenhuma. Estou sempre triste e confuso. O que pode me ajudar?"

Thich Nhat Hanh: Às vezes a gente planta rosas utilizando estacas. Sabendo-se que o ramo não tem raízes, colocamos o corte em solo úmido. Se deixarmos o ramo por tempo suficiente no solo rico, úmido, ele se torna estável e cria raízes. Você tem o potencial para se tornar uma linda roseira, mas precisa de um pouco de terra, e precisa também permanecer no solo por tempo suficiente para que as suas raízes cresçam fortes.

Estamos acostumados a ver o sofrimento como algo negativo. Vamos aprender a olhar para o sofrimento como algo positivo. No ensinamento do Buda, o sofrimento é chamado de nobre verdade, e podemos aprender muito com ele. Um ser humano deve ter a capacidade de lidar com o sofrimento e com a felicidade. Os dois sempre andam de mãos dadas, se não há sofrimento, não há felicidade. Todos nós temos uma tendência natural a evitar o sofrimento, e isso não é bom para nós. Sem o sofrimento não podemos crescer como seres humanos, não podemos aprender a ser mais compreensivos e compassivos. É por isso que nós temos que aprender a reconhecer o sofrimento e abraçá-lo. Enquanto você continuar a tentar fugir dele, vai continuar a sofrer.

Muitas pessoas encontram-se na situação de estar sem raízes. Você precisa de um ambiente adequado, o tipo de solo no qual enraizar-se. Uma Sangha, a comunidade de amor de irmãos e irmãs, vai lhe dar o tipo certo de apoio e você poderá estar sozinho muito em breve. Não demorará muito para que o corte se torne uma roseira.

"P. Eu me sinto culpado quando não estou ocupado. Está tudo bem em não fazer nada?"

Thay: Em nossa sociedade, estamos inclinados a ver o não fazer nada como algo negativo, mesmo maligno. Mas quando nos perdemos em atividades, diminuímos a nossa qualidade de ser. Fazemos a nós mesmos um desserviço. É importante nos preservar, para manter o nosso frescor e bom humor, nossa alegria e compaixão. No budismo cultivamos a "ausência de objetivos" e, na verdade, na tradição budista a pessoa ideal, um arhat ou um Bodhisattva, é uma pessoa sem atividades, alguém sem ter para onde ir e nada para fazer.

As pessoas devem aprender a só estarem presentes, sem fazer nada. Tente passar um dia sem fazer nada, nós chamamos isso de "dia de preguiça". Para muitos de nós que estamos acostumados a correr disto para aquilo, um dia de preguiça pode ser realmente um trabalho muito duro! Não é tão fácil apenas ser. Se você pode ser feliz, relaxado e sorrir quando não está fazendo algo, você é bastante forte. Não fazer nada traz a qualidade do ser, o que é muito importante. Então, não fazer nada é realmente algo. Por favor, escreva isso e exiba-o em sua casa: Não fazer nada é alguma coisa.

"P. Meu desejo de conquista levou a muito sofrimento. Não importa o que eu faça, nunca me sinto como se fosse o suficiente. Como posso fazer as pazes comigo mesmo?"

Thay: A qualidade de sua ação depende da qualidade do seu ser. Suponha que você está ansioso para oferecer a felicidade, fazer alguém feliz. Isso é uma boa coisa a fazer. Mas se você não está feliz, então não pode fazer isso. A fim de fazer a outra pessoa feliz, você tem que ser feliz sozinho. Portanto, há uma ligação entre o fazer e o ser. Se você não conseguir ser, não pode ter êxito em fazer. Se você não sentir que está no caminho certo, a felicidade não será possível.

Isto é verdade para todos. Se você não sabe para onde está indo, você sofre. É muito importante perceber o seu caminho e ver a sua verdadeira direção. Felicidade significa sentir que você está no caminho certo a cada momento. Você não precisa chegar ao final do caminho, a fim de ser feliz. O caminho certo refere-se às formas muito concretas de você viver sua vida em todos os momentos.

No budismo, falamos do Nobre Caminho Óctuplo: visão correta, pensamento correto, fala correta, ação correta, modo de vida correto, esforço correto, atenção plena correta e concentração correta. É possível viver o Nobre Caminho Óctuplo a cada momento de nossas vidas diárias. Isso não só nos faz felizes, mas também faz as pessoas ao nosso redor felizes. Se você praticar o caminho, se torna muito agradável, com muito frescor e muito compassivo.

Olhe para a árvore no jardim da frente. A árvore não parece estar fazendo nada. Ela fica lá, vigorosa, fresca e bonita e todos lucram. Esse é o milagre de ser. Se uma árvore for menos do que uma árvore, todos nós estaríamos em apuros. Mas, se uma árvore é apenas uma árvore real, então não há esperança e alegria.

Por isso, se você pode ser você mesmo, isso já é ação. A ação é baseada na não-ação, ação é ser. Há pessoas que fazem muito, mas que também causam um monte de problemas. Quanto mais elas tentam ajudar, mais problemas criam, mesmo que tenham as melhores intenções. Elas não são pacíficas, não são felizes. É melhor não tentar tão arduamente, mas apenas "ser".

Então a paz e a compaixão serão possíveis a cada momento. Sobre essa base, tudo o que você diz ou faz só pode ser útil. Se você pode fazer alguém sofrer menos, se pode fazê-lo sorrir, você vai se sentir recompensado e vai receber muita felicidade. Sentir que você é útil, que você é útil para a sociedade: isto é a felicidade.

Quando você tem um caminho e desfruta de cada passo em seu caminho, você já é alguém, não precisa se tornar outra pessoa. No budismo, temos a prática de 'apranihita', ausência de objetivos. Se você colocar um objetivo na sua frente, estará correndo por toda a vida e a felicidade nunca será possível. A felicidade só é possível quando você parar de correr, valorizar o momento presente e quem você é. Você não precisa ser alguém diferente, você já é uma maravilha da vida.


"(Do livro de Thich Nhat Hanh - "Answers from the heart” - Tradução Leonardo Dobbin)"
"Comente esse texto em http://sangavirtual.blogspot.com/
"

Via JMG: OREGON: Marriage Gets Its Hearing


Here's how things went in Oregon yesterday:
Lawyers for four gay and lesbian couples and the state of Oregon urged a federal judge Wednesday to strike down Oregon's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. No comments were made in favor of the ban, so lawyers on both sides of the case were in the rare position of asking for the same ruling from the judge. Oregon's attorney general, Democrat Ellen Rosenblum, has said the ban is legally indefensible and has refused to offer arguments in favor of keeping it.
Judge Michael McShane did not say which way he was leaning. His questioning focused heavily on how he should apply precedents from higher courts and whether he should delay implementation of his ruling until appeals courts sort out gay marriage cases pending around the country. The judge is deciding two parallel cases. The couples who filed suit are asking him to declare the ban unconstitutional and allow same-sex couples to wed. They also want an order that same-sex marriages performed in other states must be recognized in Oregon.
NOM isn't happy about not being there.
McShane has said he won't rule on the constitutionality of the same-sex marriage ban until he decides on a request filed this week by the National Organization for Marriage to defend it. McShane said he'll consider the group's request next month and, if he grants it, he'll hold new oral arguments so the group can defend the ban. The group's chairman, John Eastman, said the judge would benefit from hearing several arguments that weren't raised in court Wednesday because nobody was defending the ban. "The notion that there are no plausible arguments to make in defense of marriage is ludicrous," said Eastman, who also is a law professor at Chapman University in California.

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: PolitiFact Rates Ralph Reed's Claims About Gay Parenting As Totally False


On Sunday, Ralph Reed appeared on ABC's This Week to declare that social science has found "irrefutable" proof that children are better off being raised by a mom and a dad. PolitiFact has rated his claims as totally false.
We did find one study funded by conservative organizations as showing gay parents are worse than straight ones, but it’s been denounced by the American Sociological Association, the researcher’s own university and many reputable sociologists. In conducting the study, Mark Regnerus loosely defined same-sex couples and, in doing so, only spoke with two children who were actually raised by gay parents. Research is still limited, but many reputable studies so far have concluded that children of gay parents, generally speaking, are just as well off as children of straight parents. What’s more important is the number of parents a child has, experts told us. "Kids are better off with two parents," said Andrew Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University. "But we don't have much evidence that those parents must be of the opposite gender."
Their final ruling: "All reputable research so far indicates that children brought up by gay parents are just well off as those brought up by straight parents. We rate Reed’s statement False."
 
Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Daily Dharma


For the Practice | April 24, 2014

You practice the piano not in order to perform but for the sake of practicing the piano. With music, you don’t practice and then one day become a concert pianist. You are that. Practice is as much an expression of that as of practice itself. 
 
—Philip Glass, “First Lesson, Best Lesson”
 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Via JMG: Which Case Will Get To SCOTUS First?


 
While various legal groups jockey to get to the Supreme Court, Freedom To Marry head Evan Wolfson speaks about the marriage equality cases currently before the various circuit courts of appeal:
Presumably, we will soon - meaning, in a matter of months - have rulings from one or more of the federal appellate courts. Then there's the possibility of further procedures as to whether the three-judge panels in those courts that will rule will then go to the broader, full panel of the entire circuit courts [a process called en banc review]. That could consume a few more months. When that gets resolved (either by bypassing that step or by having another set of arguments and further round of decisions), then whoever loses that ultimate appeals court ruling may ask the Supreme Court to hear the case. That's called "seeking cert." That stage then requires another few months of briefing and argument, with one side saying the Supreme Court should hear the case and the other side saying the Court should not hear the case. Then, it's up to the Supreme Court to decide whether it's going to take one of the cases or not. It takes only four of the nine justices to vote to hear a case.
There are presently 65 marriage equality lawsuits in progress in 31 states and US territories. Freedom To Marry has posted a handy chart.


Reposted from Joe Jervis

Betty White Defends The Gay Community | Betty White Interview | Larry King Now Ora TV

vIA Budistas Gays: Uma opinião sobre a homosexualidade

http://sobrebudismo.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/logo-facebook-blog.png

O Precioso Senhor da Dança, S.Ema. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, partilha sua opinião sobre a homosexualidade. Essa história foi retirada do facebook de um aluno que presenciou esse fato.
Uma senhora, após a palestra do lama sobre a diversidade da vida, perguntou:

- Mestre, o que é um homossexual?
Ele: – Um homossexual é uma pessoa que faz sexo com o mesmo sexo.
Ela: – Acho que o senhor não entendeu… Como o budismo vê o homossexualismo?
Ele: – Nós não vemos o homossexualismo. No budismo, não temos o costume de ver as pessoas fazendo sexo.
Ela [impaciente]: – Mestre, o que eu quero saber é a opinião do budismo sobre pessoas que fazem sexo com o mesmo sexo.
Ele: – Alguém pode dar opinião sobre quem não conhece? Você está falando em “pessoas”. Que pessoas?
Ela [quase louca]: – Qualquer uma! Qualquer uma!
Ele: – Todas as pessoas são milagres.
Ela [começando a espumar]: – O HOMOSSEXUALISMO É CERTO OU ERRADO?
Ele: – Atos homossexuais consensuais são atos de amor.
Tudo isso com a mesma expressão de quem vê um passarinho azul. Seguem-se aplausos e gargalhadas. Rinpoche sorri.

Mais histórias do Senhor da Dança

Este blog é fantásticos e conta muitas histórias sobre S.Ema. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, um mestre tibetano autêntico e reconhecido da linhagem Niygma.

Acesse: O senhor da Dança.

Via Budistas Gays


Via Daily Dharma


Suffering Ends, Wisdom Begins | April 23, 2014

When it’s time to suffer, you should suffer; when it’s time to cry, you should cry. Cry completely. Cry until there are no more tears and then recognize in your exhaustion that you’re alive. The sun still rises and sets. The seasons come and go. Absolutely nothing remains the same and that includes suffering. When the suffering ends wisdom begins to raise the right questions. 
 
—Seido Ray Ronci, “The Examined Life”
 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Links - Via Dan Nicoletta / FB:

Dan said, "I am really excited about the upcoming Milk stamp but sickened that news agencies are saying he is the first openly gay person elected to office as ABC7 just did. It matters because women matter.  Kathy Kozachenko — first openly gay or lesbian candidate to win public office in the United States (won a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan, city council). Elaine Noble became the first openly gay or lesbian candidate ever elected to a state-level office in America when she was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Party_%28United_States%29
One of the 1972 HRP winners, Nancy Wechsler <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nancy_Wechsler&action=edit&redlink=1> , came out <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_out> as a lesbian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian> during her term on city council, thus becoming the first openly lesbian public-office holder in the United States <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States> . When Wechsler declined to run for reelection in 1974, her seat was won by HRP candidate Kathy Kozachenko <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Kozachenko> , who became the country's first openly gay <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay> or lesbian candidate to win public office.[6] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Party_%28United_States%29#cite_note-5>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Spear
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Kozachenko
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Noble

I am really excited about the upcoming Milk stamp but sickened that news agencies are saying he is the first openly gay person elected to office as ABC7 just did.  It matters because women matter.   
Kathy Kozachenko — first openly gay or lesbian candidate to win public office in the United States (won a seat on the Ann Arbor, Michigan, city council)
Elaine Noble became the first openly gay or lesbian candidate ever elected to a state-level office in America when she was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.











Via Daily Dharma


Complete Transformation | April 22, 2014

If spirituality is only about self-transcendence—about seeing through the story of ‘me’ that we habitually inhabit—then it runs the risk of cutting us loose from that story so that we no longer take care of the human wounds of self and other. No matter how imaginary the self proves to be, we return to its world. If spiritual or transcendent insight doesn’t lead to healing and transformation in our actual daily lives, it is clearly incomplete. 
 
—Henry Shukman, “Light and Dark”
 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Via JMG: xkcd On Brendan Eich


  (Via JMG reader Mike)


Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: USPS Begins Milk Stamp Pre-Orders


 
Via press release from the White House:
The U.S. Postal Service officially revealed the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp today. The stamp’s official first-day-of-issue ceremony will take place May 22 at the White House. The public is invited to attend the May 28 Harvey Milk Forever Stamp special dedication ceremony in San Francisco. Details on the time and location will be forthcoming. Customers may order the Harvey Milk stamp now for delivery following the May 22 stamp issuance. The stamp image is based on a circa 1977 black and white photograph of Milk in front of his Castro Street Camera store in San Francisco taken by Daniel Nicoletta of Grants Pass, OR. Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, was art director for the stamp.
Pre-order your stamps here.


Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Daily Dharma


Union of Compassion and Wisdom | April 21, 2014

The essence of Buddha’s teaching is the union of compassion and wisdom, the view of interdependence and emptiness. An altruistic attitude is altruistic. It is not confused in itself. But without wisdom, we can act with obscured compassion or stupid compassion. 
 
—Matthieu Ricard, “Karma Crossroads”
 

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Via Daily Dharma


Inner and Outer Nature | April 20, 2014

When there is no ego or selfishness, there is nothing that will destroy nature, nothing that will exploit and abuse nature. Then the external, physical aspect of nature will be able to conserve itself automatically.
—Buddhadasa, “Conserving the Inner Ecology”