Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 11, 2013

See the World in a Moment

It is very important to see your life not only from the narrow view of your egoistic telescope but also from the broad view of the universal telescope called egolessness. This is why we have to practice. Right in the middle of the stream of time, we have to open our eyes there and see the total picture of time. Through spiritual practice we can go beyond our egoistic point of view. We can touch the core of time, see the whole world in a moment, and understand time in deep relationship with all beings.

- Dainin Katagiri, “Time Revisited”

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Via Marriage Equality USA / FB:

Marriage Equality USA

 

 

 

The legislature has until 6/20/13 to approve a bill, or the courts have threatened to instate marriage equality on their own.

Colombia: Senate Marriage Equality Debate to Begin Next Wednesday

purpleunions.com

 

After a bumpy start, the Colombia Senate will open its debate on a proposed gay marriage bill on Wednesday, April 17. Colombia Senate President Roy Barreras said in an announcement that LGBT community leaders may choose a spokesman to participate in the debate, the Spanish news agency AFP reported..

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 10, 2013

Beyond the Reach of Stress

We should be intent on cleansing and polishing our hearts so that they can gain release from their worries and preoccupations, the source of pain and discontent. Peace, coolness, and a bright happiness will arise within us, in the same way as when we unshackle ourselves from our encumbering burdens and debts. We'll be free—beyond the reach of all suffering and stress.

- Ajaan Lee, “Sowing the Seeds of Freedom”

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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	A monk asked, All of the buddhas and all of the buddadharmas come forth from this sutra. What is this sutra? Qinshan said, Forever turning. - Zens Chinese Heritage More Buddhism Quotes >>

LEVANTA-TE! - Não Aceites o Bullying Homofóbico

Via JMG: CNN Poll: Obama's Approval Ratings Are Highest Regarding LGBT Rights

 

The president's overall approval rating is 51%.  That's up four points since last month but is four points below his all-time high.  When those polled were asked about specific issues, only his "policies towards gays and lesbians" scored over 50%.

Labels: Barack Obama, CNN, LGBT rights, polls

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: We Need An Executive Order On LGBT Employees And Federal Contractors

In 2008 then-Sen. Obama promised to deliver an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  Since then the White House has repeatedly said that a legislative solution that would affect all employers is the goal. But that goal, ENDA, very clearly is out of reach while the GOP controls the House.  So how about that executive order? Chris Geidner reports some new stats at Buzzfeed:

Nearly $250 billion in federal contracts given out in the last fiscal year went to contractors operating in states where the companies could fire a worker solely because the person is gay, lesbian or bisexual, a new report has found. A group of organizations that have been urging President Obama to sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers will be releasing the new report Tuesday as a step in increasing pressure on the president to act during tax time.

The report, a copy of which was provided to BuzzFeed Monday night, also has found that nearly $300 billion in federal contracts were given out in states that have no specific state-level protections against anti-transgender discrimination.

Although federal government employees are protected from anti-LGBT discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, there is currently no protection for employees of federal contractors against sexual orientation discrimination and protections against gender identity discrimination are unclear. And while most of the top federal contractors have policies against LGBT discrimination, the report aims to draw attention to the limits employees would have in states without legal protections.

While an executive order would only affect companies that do business with the federal government, it's a start. A start with $250B in federal money attached to it.

Labels: employment, ENDA, feds, LGBT rights

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 9, 2013

The Ground of Compassion

To be truly and wholly present even for the briefest moment is to be vulnerable, for we have arrived at the point where the obstacle that fear constructs between ourselves and others dissolves. It is here that the heart is drawn out of hiding and the inherent sympathetic response called compassion arises.

- Lin Jensen, “An Ear to the Ground”

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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	As a Buddhist monk my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction. - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Oslo, December 1989 More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via JMG: REPORT: Gay Couples Will Not Be Included In Immigration Reform Bill

The director of Immigration Equality said today that she does not expect that gay couples will in included in the immigration reform bill about to be introduced in the US Senate. Michael Lavers reports at Washington Blade:

“We are not expecting LGBT families to be included in the Gang of 8 bill,” she told the Washington Blade during a conference call ahead of a rally in support of comprehensive immigration reform on Wednesday that is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the U.S. Capitol. “That in our minds means that of course the bill is incomplete.” Tiven’s comments come roughly three months after President Obama publicly unveiled an immigration reform proposal that includes bi-national gay couples.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler confirmed to the Blade  that "LGBT-specific language will likely not appear in the bill. Nadler: "This is disappointing but not particularly surprising."

Labels: immigration, Immigration Equality, Senate

Reposted from Joe