Thursday, September 10, 2026
Via White Crane Institute // the current voice of Mickey Mouse
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| This Day in Gay History | |||
September 10 | |||
 1982 - BRET WILLIAM IWAN, who was born on this date, is an American voice actor. He is the current voice of Mickey Mouse, following the death of Wayne Allwine in 2009. Iwan was born and raised in Pasadena, California. He is the son of Bill and Fiona Iwan. He attended LeRoy High School in Le Roy, Illinois, from 1996 to 2000. He graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida and eventually got a job as an illustrator at Hallmark. Iwan was hired to voice Mickey Mouse and replace Wayne Allwine after his death from diabetes in May 2009. Iwan had previously understudied for the role when Allwine was facing health difficulties and Iwan credits Allwine's archival work as providing excellent mentorship. Iwan first recorded Mickey Mouse dialogue for the Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park as well as the 2009 shows Disney On Ice: Celebrations and Disney Live: Rockin' Road Show. He voiced Mickey Mouse in Have a Laugh!. He gave his first full performance as Mickey Mouse for the English version of the PlayStation Portable game Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. He also gave his voice performance as Mickey Mouse in the Epic Mickey games. His first voice-over work in a Disney Park was in the Animal Kingdom closing show "Adventurers' Celebration Gathering" and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover attraction at the Magic Kingdom in which, upon passing through Mickey's Star Traders, Mickey responds with his signature laugh and says: "That's right, it's outta this world!". Iwan is out gay, making him the first openly LGBTQ+ actor to voice Mickey Mouse. He married his longtime partner, art director Douglas Hoffman, in July 2021. | ||
|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8 Gay Wisdom for Daily Living from White Crane Institute "With the increasing commodification of gay news, views, and culture by powerful corporate interests, having a strong independent voice in our community is all the more important. White Crane is one of the last brave standouts in this bland new world... a triumph over the looming mediocrity of the mainstream Gay world." - Mark Thompson Exploring Gay Wisdom & Culture since 1989! |8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8 |
Via Daily Dharma: Take a Break
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Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\\ Words of Wisdom - September 9, 2026 🌅
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“Truth is a funny thing, the truth gets you free. The truth gets you high and it gets you free. Its risky business, but it changes the whole name of the game.” |
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Source: Ram Dass – Here and Now – Ep. 158 – A Pledge to Social Responsibility |
Via Daily Dharma: Nothing Is Wasted
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Via GBF] \\ "Becoming Ordinary: The Five Ranks of Zen Service" with Roshi David Blackwell (Jōkai)
Another dharma talk is now available on the GBF website and podcast:
Becoming Ordinary: The Five Ranks of Zen Service – Roshi David (Jōkai)
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Despite the world around us constantly changing, we can remain grounded in the timeless stillness beneath it all.
Roshi David Blackwell walks us through what happens when we transition from years of formal spiritual training back into the texture of ordinary daily life. Reflecting on his own journey after stepping down from a Zen training center, David introduces us to an ancient Tang Dynasty framework known as the “Five Ranks of Merit” or “distinguished service”. Rather than focusing solely on mystical realization, David shows us how this time-honored system offers a practical, compassionate roadmap for leading an upright, supportive, and useful life in service of those around us.
As David breaks down these five stages, we get to see how our spiritual journey naturally matures from initial curiosity to ultimate simplicity:
- The Shift: The initial turning of our heart toward practice when we feel a deep need to explore what is most real and important.
- Submission: Radically accepting reality exactly as it is, letting go of our rigid, narrow ideas of self to align with life as it unfolds.
- Achievement: The stage where dedicated practice ripens into genuine insight, wisdom, and an understanding of non-duality.
- Collective Achievement: Expanding our perspective so realization is no longer a private trophy, asking instead how we can help sustain our sangha and serve others.
- Absolute Achievement: Shedding even the conceptual trappings of “enlightenment” to simply return to being our ordinary selves—truly at home in our own skin.
Enjoy 900+ free recorded dharma talks at https://gaybuddhist.org/
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Tuesday, September 8, 2026
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