Quote of the Day via HimalayaCrafts:

Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive. - Thich Nhat Hanh

❉• Namaste ❉ 

 

Palm Ad - Business As Usual

Jim Carrey on Letterman 2010/11/18 Part 2

Via JMG: An Extremely Inspiring 14-Year-Old Graeme Taylor (2010-11-22)

Via JMG: NEW JERSEY: Anti-Bullying Bill Passes Overwhelmingly In Both Chambers

Today the New Jersey legislature overwhelmingly approved a new anti-bullying bill. Passage of the law gained momentum in the wake of the suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who threw himself from the George Washington Bridge after his dorm mate live-streamed a gay sexual encounter over the internet. The bill passed 30-0 in the state Senate and 71-1 in the Assembly.

The bill (A3466) would require training for most public school employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form “school safety teams” to review complaints. Superintendents would have to report incidents of bullying to the state Board of Education, which would grade schools and districts on their efforts to combat it. Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school.

The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Chris Christie.

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

 

Labels: bullying, education, LGBT youth, New Jersey

posted by Joe

Via JMG: Tea Party To GOProud: Fuck Off

Following up on last week's press release by GOProud in which they pleaded with the anti-gay candidates they endorsed to not be so anti-gay, a massive coalition of Tea Party groups has responded with an attacking letter sent to the GOP leaders of the Senate and House. Turns out, they are interested in "social issues," not that we ever doubted it.

Here's the preamble to the letter, written by Free Republic founder Jim Robinson.

Today, Tea Party Nation, along with over 180 other Tea Party Groups, Leaders and Activists released a letter to the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill. Last week, GOProud, a non-Tea Party group, sent a letter to Senator McConnell and Speaker to be Boehner, claiming to speak for the Tea Party movement. It was signed by 16 people. We decided to send a letter that speaks for the mainstream of the Tea Party movement. This letter is going Senator McConnell and Congressman Boehner today.

The letter goes on to oppose the repeal of DADT, oppose the DREAM Act, oppose immigration amnesty, etc etc. Nothing really new there, other than the Tea Party's explicit condemnation of GOProud as "not one of us."

 

Labels: GOProud, infighting is funny, Tea Party, teabaggers

posted by Joe

"It Gets Better" — Love, Pixar

Via JMG: No DADT Discharges In Last Month

Yesterday the Pentagon revealed that under the new rules, not one soldier has been discharged under DADT for a full month.

Under new rules adopted Oct. 21, Defense Secretary Robert Gates put authority for signing off on dismissals in the hands of the three service secretaries. Before then, any commanding officer at a rank equivalent to a one-star general could discharge gay enlisted personnel under the 1993 law that prohibits gays from serving openly in uniform. Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told The Associated Press that no discharges have been approved since Oct. 21. Smith did not know if the absence of recent discharges was related to the new separation procedures. The Pentagon has not compiled monthly discharge figures for any other months this year, she said.

A spokesman for the Palm Center said it would normally be "statistically unlikely" to go a full month without a DADT-related discharge. Last year 428 soldiers were fired over their sexuality.

Labels: DADT, military, Pentagon

posted by Joe

Via JMG: Lover Official Music Video - Tom Goss

Via JMG: Southern Poverty Law Center Adds Family Research Council & American Family Association To Anti-Gay Hate Groups List

The Southern Poverty Law Center, the nation's leading watchdog of hate organizations, has added the Family Research Council and American Family Association to its list of anti-gay hate groups. Also making the list for the first time is the Illinois Family Association, the former home of Porno Pete LaBarbera, whose own group was already listed. Here's the SPLC's updated list, via Truth Wins Out.

1. Abiding Truth Ministries [Scott Lively]
2. American Family Association
3. Americans for Truth About Homosexuality [Peter LaBarbera]
4. American Vision
5. Chalcedon Foundation
6. Dove World Outreach Center [Terry Jones]
7. Faithful Word Baptist Church [Steven Anderson]
8. Family Research Council
9. Family Research Institute [Paul Cameron]
10. Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment
11. Illinois Family Institute
12. MassResistance
13. Traditional Values Coalition

In addition to the "hate group" designations of those listed above, the SLPC lists the following organizations as "anti-gay": National Organization for Marriage, Concerned Women for America, Liberty Counsel, Coral Ridge Ministries, and the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission.

I cannot fucking WAIT for the OUTRAGED press releases from Tony Perkins and Bryan Fischer! Squeee!

Labels: AFA, Bryan Fischer, Family Reseach Council, hate groups, Tony Perkins

posted by Joe

Quote of the Day via HimalayaCrafts:

The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and bring that person joy. - Thich Nhat Hanh 

☸ Tashi Delek ☸

Thank You Mr. Vice-President: Vice President Biden: It Gets Better

Via HimalayaCrafts:

The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself. - Thich Nhat Hanh

☸ Tashi Delek ☸

Via the Dalai Lama

According to my own experience, the highest level of inner calm comes from the development of love and compassion. The more concerned we are with the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being. Friendliness and warmth towards others allow us to relax and help us to dispel any sense of fear or insecurity so we can overcome whatever obstacles we face. - Dalai Lama

Via HimalayaCrafts:

If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them. - Dalai Lama

☸ om mani padme hum ☸ 

Via HimalayaCrafts:

If we have the energy of compassion and loving kindness in us, the people around us will be influenced by our way of being and living. - Thich Nhat Hanh 

☸ om mani padme hum ☸

Via JMG: DADT Repeal May Be Stripped From Defense Authorization Bill

The Wall Street Journal reports that the attempt to repeal DADT legislatively is "all but lost for now" as top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are working to strip it from the defense authorization bill to which it's attached.

Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and John McCain of Arizona, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, are in talks on stripping the proposed repeal and other controversial provisions from a broader defense bill, leaving the repeal with no legislative vehicle to carry it. With a repeal attached, and amid Republican complaints over the terms of the debate, the defense bill had failed to win the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle in the Senate in September. A spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, who opposes the repeal, confirmed he is in talks with Mr. Levin on how to proceed on the defense bill but didn't provide details.

Moving the defense bill is also complex, especially if it includes controversial measures, because it could take two weeks or longer on the Senate floor, and the coming session is expected to last only three or four weeks. Tommy Sears, executive director of the Center for Military Readiness, which opposes a repeal, rated the chance of action "extremely low." Richard Socarides, an activist and former adviser on gay rights to President Bill Clinton, said it was "extremely unrealistic'' that Congress would take it up this year.

The Pentagon's repeal study is due on December 1st, but it looks as if they may not even wait for it to be issued.

Labels: DADT, John McCain, LGBT rights, Senate

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Sirius XM: Gays Explain "Why I Voted Republican" to Signorile

Via JMG: LKL - Janet Jackson On The Trevor Project