Via JMG: Barney Frank: The Democratic Platform Draft Includes Support For Marriage

Chris Johnson has big news at the Washington Blade:

The Democratic Party platform drafting committee approved on Sunday language endorsing same-sex marriage in addition to other pro-LGBT positions as part of the Democratic Party platform, according to two sources familiar with the drafting process. Retiring gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who sits on the committee, told the Washington Blade on Monday that the 15-member panel unanimously backed the inclusion of a marriage equality plank after a national hearing over the weekend in Minneapolis, in which several witnesses testified in favor of such language. “I was part of a unanimous decision to include it,” Frank said. “There was a unanimous decision in the drafting committee to include it in the platform, which I supported, but everybody was for it.”

Johnson goes to to quote an anonymous DNC source who reports that the draft version of the platform also denounces DOMA and expresses support for ENDA. The final official platform will be voted upon during the convention.

Labels: Barney Frank, Democrats, marriage equality

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Vietnam Moves Closer To Marriage

As I reported three weeks ago, Vietnam is seeing the early rumblings of a government-backed move towards same sex marriage. That first report noted that change "would not likely be coming soon." Or maybe it will after all.

Vietnam's Communist government is now considering whether to allow same-sex couples to marry or legally register and receive rights — positioning the country to be the first in Asia to do so. "Our love for each other is real and nothing changes regardless of whether the law is passed or not," said Loan, 31. "But when it is passed, we will definitely go get registered. I can't wait!" Even longtime gay-rights activists are stunned by the Justice Ministry's proposal to include same-sex couples in its overhaul of the country's marriage law. No one knows what form it will take or whether it will survive long enough to be debated before the National Assembly next year, but supporters say the fact that it's even being considered is a victory in a region where simply being gay can result in jail sentences or whippings with a rattan cane. "I think everyone is surprised," said Vien Tanjung, an Indonesian gay-rights activist. "Even if it's not successful, it's already making history. For me personally, I think it's going to go through."

The Christian Post is worried about Vietnam and today posted this concerning statistic:

92 percent of Vietnam's population is Buddhist, and another 6.7 percent is Catholic and less than 0.5 percent is Protestant. The Roman Catholic Church, which teaches that homosexuals are called to celibacy, staunchly supports the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, but due to the minority it holds in Vietnam, is unlikely to be able to play a big part in the same-sex marriage debate in the country.

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, religion

Reposted from Joe

Oscar Wilde via FB:

Via JMG: Rex Wockner On Sally Ride

"Not every gay or lesbian person wants to be an activist, and when a public figure comes out, he or she can be thrust into that role by the media, which start asking the individual’s opinion on every gay topic of the day. Not every gay or lesbian person even considers his or her sexual orientation one of the most important pieces of his or her identity. For some, it’s just another thing, like being left-handed, or Episcopalian.

"If anyone deserves a bit of scolding, it’s the news media, which went about its business for around 24 hours before realizing that this obituary was not a run-of-the-mill obituary and that there was a surprise, and breaking news, lurking in the list of survivors. By the second day, there were stories everywhere about Ride’s coming out. And I suspect this piece is one of several on Sunday op-ed pages around the country today. American hero Sally Ride did one more great thing the day she died. She showed America, again, that LGBT people really are everywhere, including even in outer space and already in our history books." - Veteran gay journalist Rex Wockner, writing for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

 

Labels: coming out, LGBT History, NASA, Rex Wockner

posted by Joe

Via JMG: Jesus & Freddie Mercury

Cartoonist Mr. Fish tells the Jesus In Love blog about the above panel, which was first published in mid-May in reaction to North Carolina's marriage ban.

"I chose Freddie Mercury as Jesus’ partner because, a.) he is immediately recognizable as a gay icon and b.) there is something both holy and tragic about Mercury’s life and premature death. In many ways it is a narrative that is not dissimilar to the Jesus narrative, both figures inspiring of love and beauty and self-assuredness removed from corporeal existence way too soon. In that way, they seemed like a perfect match."

Labels: LGBT rights, North Carolina, Queen, religion

posted by Joe

Via Joe Moreno FB:

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 29, 2012

The Power of Presence

Presence has no measurable product except positive feelings, feelings of support, intimacy, and happiness. When we stop being busy and productive and switch to just being still and aware, we ourselves will also feel support, intimacy, and happiness, even if no one else is around.

- Jan Chozen Bays, "The Gift of Waiting"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 31st, 2012
For full access at any time, become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 29, 2012

The Power of Presence

Presence has no measurable product except positive feelings, feelings of support, intimacy, and happiness. When we stop being busy and productive and switch to just being still and aware, we ourselves will also feel support, intimacy, and happiness, even if no one else is around.

- Jan Chozen Bays, "The Gift of Waiting"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 31st, 2012
For full access at any time, become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member

Via JMG: Protests At Kirk Cameron's NJ Speech

More photos here.

Labels: hate groups, Kirk Cameron, New Jersey, NOM

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 28, 2012

The Freedom of Generosity

To act generously is to awaken a certain kind of freedom: freedom from the stranglehold of self-concern, and, consequently, freedom to choose a level of responsibility beyond the minimal charge most of us have for ourselves. To give unselfishly is at least momentarily to be free of ourselves, free of greed and attachments, resentments and hatreds, habitual and isolating acts of self-protection.

- Dale S. Wright, "The Bodhisattva's Gift"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 30th, 2012
For full access at any time, become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member