Upside down Teapartys and such

The Worker’s Party Candidate for President in Brasil, Dilma, just reversed her stand on GLBT rights (marriage) and abortion to please the Evangelicals / Catholics… the 3^rd  runner up (with 25% of the vote) was a wacky Sarah Palinesque evangelical the PT threw out for her homophobia) its causing all hell to break out on blogs and lists in Brasil. The PT has been at the forefront of GLBT rights in Brasil, and now the more moderate candidate is the progressive one?

The other Candidate Serra (Democratic Socialist) has promised to sign a gay marriage bill…

It’s like an upside down teaparty in Brasil.  They really are modern now, it seems they have learned to play the GLBT and evangelical cards. I keep telling folks… the world does not need another USA.

After Prop 8 here, I have a deep distrust (if not prejudice, the Buddhist are helping me sand off the hatred) towards Baha’is, Mormons, Evangelicals and the Catholic Church (individual members not so much, but institutions yes). The Buddhist meditation is working, but I have a lot of work to go to develop a sense of compassion for these bigots…

The world is indeed very, very odd these days.

Via HimalayaCrafts:

On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.

(सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

Via HimalayaCrafts:

All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.
(सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

Via Bil Browning / Belirico: Just when you thought the gay agenda was complicated

Do you ever get frustrated with the seeming lack of planning around LGBT issues? Tired of the gay agenda looking more like a kindergarten drawing than a roadmap for success? Weary of trying to decipher what the hell is really going on and how it all relates?
Author J.K. Rowling charts out the plots for all of her Harry Potter books and a page of the graph for her fifth book, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, has been leaked to the public. After taking a peek at this (and trying to decipher her handwriting), you'll realize that the gay agenda has a lot of work to do to be as organized as a children's book about magic.
Maybe what our movement needs is a good Scourgify spell casting.
The chart is after the jump. You can clickety to embiggen.

Continue reading "Just when you thought the gay agenda was complicated" » Read  

It Gets Better

Via JMG: Feds Denounce Pet Insurance Story

In reference to the post several below this one, the Office Of Personnel Management has issued this statement:

"Stories claiming that the federal government offers pet insurance to federal employees, and juxtaposing that benefit with the fact that the federal government cannot under current law provide health insurance benefits to federal employees' domestic partners are grossly inaccurate. While Aetna is a participating carrier in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the pet insurance product offered by Aetna is not a federal benefit, nor has it been listed as a benefit in any OPM prepared or reviewed materials. Aetna, on its own initiative, offers a variety of discount products to its members, including gym memberships, weight loss programs, eyewear, vitamins, etc. Pet insurance is one of these products.

"Aetna has apologized for using the reference to FEHBP in its communication on this discount program. OPM regrets that Aetna's error is being cited by some as evidence that same-sex domestic partner health insurance benefits for federal employees are not a priority by OPM and the Administration. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"The Obama Administration believes in granting equal rights and benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees as demonstrated by the President's strong support of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which will provide full benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. The Director of OPM has testified in both the Senate and the House in favor of its passage."

(Via - Steve Rothaus @ Miami Herald)

 

Labels: DOMA, feds, insurance, Obama administration, pets

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Chris Salvatore - It Gets Better

Via NPR: Councilman's Message To Gay Youths Draws Huge Response(131)

The Two-Way

Councilman's Message To Gay Youths Draws Huge Response(131)

October 15, 2010 Joel Burns told NPR he has received more than 12,000 phone and e-mail messages, which friends and family members are helping him listen to.
Summary

ListenPlaylist

• Student's Suicide Highlights Bullying Over Sexuality

Dylan Ratigan Blasts Bill O'Reilly, 'War On Islam' On 'Morning Joe' (VIDEO)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/15/dylan-ratigan-oreilly-islam_n_764598.html

Visit to the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace at the Kim Quang Temple - Sacramento

http://www.jadebuddha.org.au/en/

Dear Daniel,  As LGBT people and straight allies observed National Coming Out Day, the so-called National Organization "for" Marriage proved that it's never too early to start celebrating Halloween. And what better way to do so than a masquerade?  The fringe group, which is known for funneling millions of dollars into anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and anti-equality candidates, also maintains a non-profit arm, the "Ruth Institute," to conduct what passes for education work in their eyes (for the truth about LGBT people and our families, visit our website).  Under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code, non-profit groups have the privilege of not paying taxes and allowing their donors to deduct their contributions on their individual tax returns. However, in exchange for this privileged tax-exempt status, they cannot endorse or oppose candidates for elected office and must stick to a charitable mission (or, in the Ruth Institute's case, misinformation campaigns).  As it turns out, the non-profit arm of our favorite falsehood machine is a political entity masquerading as a charitable group. The Ruth Institute is dedicating staff and resources to political campaigns, including: Campaigning to defeat Iowa Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality; Campaigning for Carly Fiorina, the anti-LGBT candidate running for Barbara Boxer's U.S. senate seat, including the Institute's president appearing at pro-Fiorina rallies; Participating in California judicial elections. All of these actions violate federal law.  Working with the Courage Campaign, we are breaking up their costume party. This week, HRC and the Courage Campaign filed a complaint with the IRS, urging them to investigate the Ruth Institute's illegal political campaign activity, revoke its tax-exempt status and issue an injunction to prevent the Ruth Institute or the NOM Education Fund from committing violations in the future. You can read our release and the full complaint here.   It seems that once again, the National Organization "for" (against our) Marriage prefers politics to education. This year they ought to take a lesson from all of the brave LGBT Americans who live open and honest lives in spite of the lies that groups like NOM throw at us. Thanks so much. Joe Solmonese President, Human Rights Campaign

nonprofit software

Via JMG: Feds: You Can Buy Health Insurance For Your Poodle, But Not For Your Partner

All my listservs are blowing up this afternoon with the news that while LGBT federal employees may not purchase health insurance for their partners (thanks to DOMA), they can buy health insurance for their pets. Members of the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan received the below ad today.HRC's Joe Solmonese goes off via press release:

"Current law puts federal workers' parrots ahead of their partners," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "It is time for Congress to act to put people first and extend health care benefits equally to all of their employees." [snip] In fact, 57% of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits to their employees. HRC is not aware of any statistics regarding pet insurance offerings by the Fortune 500. The President has instructed federal agencies to "conduct a thorough review of the benefits they provide and to identify any that could be extended to LGBT employees and their partners and families" and some limited benefits have been extended. But because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Congress must pass the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act to extend critical health care benefits. The President has called on Congress to pass DPBO (S.1102 and H.R.2517) which has been passed in House and Senate committees but awaits floor action.

Labels: DOMA, feds, insurance, Obama administration

reposted from Joe

Why Homosexuality Should Be Banned

IT GETS BETTER: Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire

Via JMG:

Tweet Of The Day - Barack Obama

Labels: Barack Obama, DADT, Tweet Of The Day

posted by Joe

Via HimalayaCrafts:

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
(सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

DADT Plaintiff Alexander Nicholson Speaks To Keith Olbermann

Joel Burns tells gay teens ' it gets better'

Via JMG: Washington Post Publishes Editorial From Mother Of Dead Bullied Gay Child

In response to widespread criticism for publishing an anti-gay editorial from Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, the Washington Post has posted a response from the mother of 11 year-old Carl Walker-Hoover, who took his life last year after relentless homophobic bullying. An excerpt:

I am a single mother and a devout Christian who had never been involved in advocacy work or politics. After my son died, and GLSEN reached out to me, some of my friends and family members expressed concern about the organization's work to address anti-gay bullying in school. They voiced religious opposition to GLSEN. Thanks to Tony Perkins' On Faith piece published yesterday, I don't have to repeat the arguments. Perkins' lays them all out practically word for word. And they're all wrong. [snip]

If schools perceive addressing anti-gay bullying as a controversial issue, then they'll continue the status quo of putting their heads in the sand and hoping the issue takes care of itself. It won't. And we need to be clear on one thing - addressing anti-gay bullying is not a controversial issue. If you move through the smoke screen organizations like Family Research Council try to create, you realize addressing anti-gay bullying is simply the right thing to do if we care about all of our young people.

Read the entire essay.

Labels: bullying, Carl Walker-Hoover, education, LGBT youth, religion, suicide, Tony Perkins, WaPo

reposted from Joe