Via JMG: SCOTLAND: Activists Call For Public Opinions On Same-Sex Marriage

Activists from Scotland's Equality Federation are soliciting public opinions on marriage equality. Submissions will be reviewed by the government.

Respondents do not have to be Scottish to express their opinion on the issue; the group can forward views from other countries in the UK and the world, which will then be looked at separately by the government. They say the decision taken by the government will have a important effect on how Scotland is perceived abroad, and overseas views should be taken into account. So far, the group has received around 15,000 messages through their website, but they are keen to boost the volume and diversity of responses in support of equal marriage rights.

You can submit your message here.

Labels: activism, marriage equality, Scotland, UK

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Networks Ignore Obama Announcement

Igor Volsky notes that the major news networks made no mention of yesterday's landmark announcement by the Obama administration.

Labels: journalism, LGBT History, Obama administration

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: CALIFORNIA: Hate Groups Now Pushing FIVE Anti-Gay Ballot Measures

Equality California last night sent out the above alert. It's apparent that hate groups have decided to simply overwhelm the good guys with a high number of attacks. It would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to defend against all five measures. We'll have to see if the other side has the financial backing to push them through.

Labels: 2012 elections, California, education, Equality California, hate groups, LGBT History

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: IOWA: Majority Of GOP Voters Support Same-Sex Marriage Or Civil Unions

JMG reader Matthew points out that buried way down in the latest New York Times poll we learn that 58% of Iowa's "likely GOP caucus goers" support either full marriage equality or civil unions. We'll wait here while the hate groups report that little nugget. Checks watch....

Labels: 2012 elections, GOP, Iowa, LGBT rights

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Changes For SF's Castro Theater?

Roger Ebert just tweeted that San Francisco's magnificent and legendary Castro Theater is changing its focus away from movies. Others on Twitter report that some of the employees have already been let go. (The theater's online calendar still shows a full schedule through the end of December.) The blog that Ebert links to says that the venue will still host the occasional film festival, but that the building will be remodeled into a live music hall. I'll update this post when more is known.

Labels: LGBT History, movies, San Francisco, The Castro

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Rick Perry: I'm Not Ashamed To Admit That I'm A Christian Who Hates Gays

Three days in a row on the same theme. Rick Perry appears to be completely hanging his hat on anti-gay hate. Move over Frothy. Make room Crazy Eyes.

Labels: assholery, bigotry, Christianists, dominionists, GOP, religion, Rick Perry, theocracy

posted by Joe

Via Utne:

The Soul Singer

Krishna Das combines Eastern moods and Western grooves to lift listeners.

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 6, 2011

Our Life as a Koan

What is our life? And knowing what it is, how are we living it? How can we experience the life that we are living now as an infinite, literally limitless life, as the subtle mind of nirvana? For the irony is that we are all living such a life, we are all living this treasure, and we are also not quite living it either. In other words, our life is no other than the treasury of the true dharma eye and subtle mind of nirvana, and yet we see it as something other than this. We do not see that our life right here, right now, is nirvana. Maybe we think that nirvana is a place where there are no problems, no more delusions. Maybe we think nirvana is something very beautiful, something unattainable. We always think nirvana is something very different from our own life. But we must really understand that it is right here, right now.

- Taizan Maezumi Roshi, "Appreciate Your Life"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

December 5, 2011

Practice Conscientious Compassion

Each of us has some task, some way to practice conscientious compassion. The question is: How do we find that task? To find it, a specific method can be prescribed. At the outset, practice the usual meditation on compassion, perhaps for 20 or 30 minutes. Then focus your attention on several of the formidable problems that loom before humanity today: futile and self-destructive wars, rampant military spending, global warming, violations of human rights, poverty and global hunger, the exploitation of women, our treatment of animals, the abuse of the environment, or any other concern that comes to mind. Reflect briefly on these problems, one by one, aware of how you respond to them. At some point, you will start to recognize that one of these problems, more than the others, tugs at the strings of your heart. These inner pangs suggest that this is the particular issue to which you should dedicate your time and energy.

- Bhikkhu Bodhi, "The Need of the Hour"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Mestre Tokuda (Alternativa Saúde)