Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 2, 2012

The Refuge of Sitting

It is important to sit with the clear intention to be present. At the same time, we need to let go of expectations. In a very real sense, what happens when we sit is none of our business. The practice is to accept whatever arises instead of trying to control our experience. What we can control is our wise effort to be present with what is.

- Narayan Liebenson Grady, "The Refuge of Sitting"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via AmericaBlogGay:

Marriage bill passes Washington state Senate 

The marriage equality bill just passed in Washington state. It now goes to the state House where it is expected to pass, and then to governor who has said she'll sign it. The religious right has already said they'll launch a referendum to repeal it since the only way they can win is by appealing to the bigotry of the masses.

JMG UPDATE: Washington State Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill 28-21!!!

UPDATE: Under the leadership of openly gay Sen. Ed Murray and with the critical support of several Republican Senators, the bill has passed after failed attempts to attach nasty amendments. One of the failed GOP amendments would have made it legal for any business to discriminate against gay couples. Another would have immediately placed the issue on the November ballot. That will likely happen anyway via a public petition drive, but the Democrats swatted it down. Onward to the Washington House, where passage is guaranteed.

Congratulations Washington!

Labels: happy dance, marriage equality, Washington state

Via JMG: Amazon Supports Gay Marriage!

Online behemoth Amazon has publicly stated their support for the marriage equality bill about to be voted on by the legislature of their home state. Wahoo!

"Amazon is joining other Pacific Northwest companies, including Microsoft, Starbucks and Nike, in support of Washington state's marriage equality bills," Amazon said in a statement released by spokeswoman Mary Osako. "The spirit of these bills is consistent with our longstanding employment practices." Gay marriage supporters believe they have enough votes to pass the measure out of both houses, and Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she'll sign it into law.

Do I hear another boycott call? Squeee!

Labels: Amazon, marriage equality, Washington state

reposted from Joe

Proposal

Diary of a Madly in Love Gay Couple

via JMG: It Gets Better Lands MTV Special

MTV will air a star-studded hour-long special about It Gets Better. Among those slated to appear are Zachary Quinto and Adam Levine.

It just keeps getting better over at MTV and Logo — and for gay teens on TV. EW has exclusively learned that the sister cable networks are jointly prepping a special titled It Gets Better, which will chronicle the stories of three young people struggling with LGBT issues. The 60-minute special will premiere on both MTV and Logo on Feb. 21 at 11 p.m. Syndicated columnist Dan Savage — who in fall 2010 launched the buzzy It Gets Better Project, which led to an avalanche of more than 30,000 videos of encouragement for LGBT youth — will anchor the hour. The show will include appearances by actor Zachary Quinto, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, comedian Margaret Cho, Dancing with the Stars contestant Chaz Bono, and Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino. Singers Sia and Jake Shears will also contribute video messages of hope and support.

Labels: bullying, Dan Savage, LGBT youth, MTV

reposted from Joe

Think Before You Speak - Wordplay

Via JMG: That Just Won Her $10,000

Labels: activism, game shows, television

reposted from Joe

via JMG: ARIZONA: Openly Gay State Rep Declares Candidacy For Giffords' U.S. House Seat

"Moving forward I believe the best thing that we can do is to honor her strength, and conviction, and her leadership, by getting somebody, quickly, because we don’t have much time, into that seat who is going to carry forward in the tradition of moderate, bipartisan, common sense governance that she did so well for Southern Arizona." - Openly gay Arizona state Rep. Matt Heinz, declaring his intent to run in the special election to replace Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

If elected, Heinz would become the fifth openly gay member of the U.S. House. That number will change this fall with the retirement of Barney Frank and with Tammy Baldwin's run for the Senate. Heinz says if Giffords' district director wants to assume the remaining months of the current term, he'll suspend his own campaign until November.

Labels: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, gay politicians, U.S. House

reposted from Joe