Via JMG: Canada Celebrates 10 Years Of Marriage

Same-sex marriage became legal across Canada in July 2005. But that road to national equality began in ten years ago today in Toronto, when Joe Varnell and Kevin Bourassa were married in the Metropolitan Community Church, a ceremony that was later ruled legal when it was performed. Starting in 2003, with Ontario leading the way, province after province legalized same-sex marriage, ultimately resulting in the landmark Civil Marriage Act in 2005. Congratulations, Canada!

(Tipped by JMG reader Neil)

Labels: Canada, LGBT History, marriage equality, Ontario, Toronto

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: GLAAD Angry About Westboro Radio Deal

The Westboro Baptist Church has agreed not to picket the funeral of the federal judge murdered in Saturday's massacre in Arizona. In return, a nationally syndicated radio show will give Westboro airtime to broadcast their repulsive message. GLAAD wants the deal called off.

This week Westboro has reacted to the tragedy in Tucson with messages like "God Sent the Shooter." Giving airtime to this malicious group is like negotiating with terrorists. Except in this case, Westboro is being incentivized by being provided with an outlet to broadcast their hate to thousands of others. While countless radio stations and media outlets around the country are properly paying tribute to the fallen and taking a serious look at the tragedy in Tucson, KXXT-AM and CFNY-FM have decided to renege on their responsibility as broadcasters by rewarding one of the most anti-American groups in the country. Make your voice heard. Tell KXXT-AM and CFNY-FM that rewarding hateful behavior doesn’t work and demand that they immediately rescind their offer of airtime to the Westboro Baptist Church.

Here's GLAAD's petition.

Labels: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, GLAAD, radio, religion, Tucson, Westboro

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Captain America Fights Teen Suicide

Marvel Comics has responded to the national discussion about teen suicide by issuing a free episode of Captain America in which a boy decides not to kill himself after watching the superhero fight villains.

John Draper, director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of crisis centers across the country, told The Associated Press that Marvel approached the organization about using its logo in the book "which we happily granted them." The 11-page story "Captain America: A Little Help" is written by psychologist Tim Ursiny and illustrated by Nick Dragotta. In it, a despondent youth is poised to jump off a building when he spies Captain America facing a bevy of villains on a nearby roof. The fracas keeps him from going over the edge, literally and figuratively. There is no dialogue, save for the end, which ends with the boy saving both the hero and, in the process, himself. "Super heroes fight a lot of battles, but there are few more important than combating suicide," said Tom Brevoort, Marvel Entertainment's senior vice president of publishing.

The issue is available today on the Marvel Comics website.

(Tipped by JMG reader Michael)

Labels: comic books, Marvel Comics, suicide

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Via JMG: OREGON: Four Year Prison Sentence For Brutal Attack Over "Gay Hairstyle"

Brandon Sanchez, 21, has been sentenced to four years in an Oregon prison after attacking another man for having a supposedly "gay hairstyle."

Sanchez apparently targeted Mark Bryant, 20, because he showed up at an Aug. 11 party with his hair gelled into a faux hawk, or fake mohawk. Bryant was in a coma for 22 days, had part of his skull temporarily removed to relieve pressure on his brain from swelling and now -- five months after the attack -- wears a patch over his right eye because he can't see clearly out of it. In recent weeks, he's started to walk again. "I'd never wish this upon anyone," Sanchez said. "I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused in your family. ...I've been praying for you." Bryant then asked something he's always wondered about the attack: "Your honor, I have a question he never answered before: Why?" "I was stupid," Sanchez responded. "I wish I could tell you an answer."

(Tipped by JMG reader John)

Labels: assholery, gay bashing, Oregon, prison

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Via JMG: Straight Wrestler Hudson Taylor Launches Site Against Homophobia In Sports

Champion collegiate wrestler Hudson Taylor, who is straight, has launched Athlete Ally, a website where players, coaches, fans, and parents can take a pledge to end homophobia in sports. Taylor generated controversy at the University of Maryland when he competed with a Human Rights Campaign sticker on his wrestling headgear. Today he is a coach at Columbia University.

Labels: Hudson Taylor, sports, straight allies

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The Best Thing About Me Is You

About Buddhism

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Atisha (11th century Tibetan Buddhist master)

Via JMG: Arizona Legislators Give Standing Ovation To Gay Shooting Hero Daniel Hernandez

Moments ago, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer led her state's legislators in a standing ovation for openly gay hero Daniel Hernandez, who is credited with saving the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Labels: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, heroes, Tucson

reposted from Joe

Via Courage Campaign:

"I think it's important for all leaders... not just leaders of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party... to say, look, we can't stand for this...we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is that the way that she has it depicted has the cross-hairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realize there's consequences to that action." -Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, March 25, 2010 Dear Daniel: I know something about senseless violence. I have never met Congresswoman Giffords, nor Judge Roll, nor any of the other victims of the shocking massacre that occurred Saturday in Tucson. But I recall as though it were yesterday the assassinations in 1978 of my friend and mentor Harvey Milk along with San Francisco Mayor Moscone. As if that were not enough, only seven years later, I was stabbed by a group of skinheads screaming "faggot." For me, political violence has never been hypothetical. Harvey received so many death threats that he stopped looking at them. He almost assumed he would be killed, because of the hate speech and incendiary language that foes of equality hurled with impunity. On Saturday, it happened again. While no one knows for sure what drove Jared Loughner to commit this heinous act, we do know that the toxic political discourse in this country today- candidates talking about "second amendment remedies", news networks featuring anti-government conspiracy theorists, and national political figures like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin describing themselves as "progressive hunters" and urging followers to "reload"- lays the groundwork for this kind of violence (1, 2, 3, 4). We shouldn't stand for it. It has to stop. That's why today the Courage Campaign calls on Rep. Darrell Issa, the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to investigate the ties between violence and increasing calls for it in our national political dialogue. Mr. Issa has promised to hold a hearing every day on various Obama administration programs and legislation. What about hearings on what led to this attack? How about an investigation into increasing calls for violence from national political figures, organizations, and the media? It's time for him to call hearings now on the environment that led to the deaths. We know that law enforcement and the judiciary will bring the perpetrators to justice. But that's only this time. What about next time? We will never end this violence until we have an honest national dialogue about who and what is feeding it, and determine the steps that can be taken to prevent more violence. Will you join me in calling on Chairman Issa to investigate how overheated political rhetoric can contribute to such violence? Let us do more than bring the shooter to justice. Let us put the spotlight on those who are teaching the next shooter that violence is the answer. Join me in calling on Chairman Issa to convene hearings, so that we may again become a nation of democracy and debate, rather than mob rule and violence. Together, Cleve Jones (1) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09giffords.html (2) http://twitter.com/sarahpalinusa/status/10935548053 (3) http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/1016/Did-Glenn-Beck-s-rhetoric-inspire-violence (4) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/16/sharron-angle-floated-2nd_n_614003.html

Melissa Etheridge - I'm The Only One (Live at the Kodak Theatre)

Via HimalayaCrafts:

Wall Photos

Looking at the faults of others only embitters the heart.

♥ Om Mani Padme Hum ♥

By: HimalayaCrafts

Via JMG: Here's How Giffords' Opponent Sold Himself In The 2010 Campaign

Andrew Sullivan: "If you are not disturbed by what it proclaims as the essence of true conservatism - a sunglasses wearing soldier with a machine gun in his open crotch - you should be."

NOTE: For those unaware, "RINO" means "Republican in name only." The acronym is commonly used on sites like Free Republic to mock members of the GOP who express anything other than hard-right philosophies. Similarly, some Democrats have taken up "DINO" to describe Blue Dog Dems and other Democrats who support right-of-center ideals.

Labels: 2010 elections, Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, teabaggers

reposted from Joe

CNN - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Intern Credited For Saving Her Life!

Via JMG: Tweet Of The Day - Lt. Dan Choi

Labels: Barack Obama, Dan Choi, Gabrielle Giffords, heroes

reposted from Joe

MSNBC - Tucson mayor looks for 'return of civility' - Giffords Arizona Palin Loughner

Via JMG: Openly Gay Intern Daniel Hernandez Jr. Credited With Saving Life Of Rep. Giffords

Daniel Hernandez Jr., the 20-year old student intern credited with saving the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, confirmed to the Dallas Voice this morning that he is openly gay.

Hernandez, who confirmed that he is gay in an interview with Instant Tea on Sunday morning, is a member of the City of Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. “She’s been a great ally to the LGBT community,” Hernandez said of Giffords during the brief interview across a bad connection. According to the Arizona Republic, Hernandez was standing about 30 feet from Giffords during the “Congress on Your Corner” event outside a Safeway store near Tucson. When the gunshots began, Hernandez ran toward them and began checking the pulses of people who’d been hit. When Hernandez got to Giffords, he used his hand to apply pressure to the entry wound on her forehead. He pulled her into his lap and held her upright so she wouldn’t choke on her blood. Hernandez used his hand to apply pressure to the wound until someone brought clean smocks from the meat department of the grocery store. He stayed with Giffords until paramedics arrived, then climbed into an ambulance with her. On the way to the hospital, he squeezed her hand and she squeezed back

Hernandez is a junior at the University of Arizona where he is a political science major. Drop by his Facebook page and let him know how proud of him he all are.

NOTE: The website for the Dallas Voice is presently showing an "Account Suspended" message. It's possible that this news has caused the site to temporarily exceed its hosting agreement. I'll update this post if more is learned.

Labels: Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, heroes, Tucson

reposted from Joe

Kate Clinton...

Via JMG: Cindy Jacobs: God Will Destroy CA With An Earthquake If Prop 8 Is Repealed

"A pastor of a large Nazarene Church had a dream of a very large earthquake on the central coast. He shared this at the Christmas gathering for all the Santa Maria Pastors and 5 cities area. Because of the destruction and intensity of the quake he thought he should tell the Pastors so they could pray into it. Another intercessor in the area had a dream and saw a map of California. She noticed on the map how Pt. Conception juts out into the water. As she looked she saw an 8 with a circle beside it in the waters off Pt Conception. Prop 8 is a foundational covenant issue, i.e. issue of marriage, in the state. If the state supreme court does not uphold it, a covenant issue is broken with God. Judgment is looming." - Whackadoodle preacher Cindy Jacobs, who says God will split California in half if Proposition 8 is repealed.

Labels: bigotry, California, crazy people, Proposition 8, religion

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Andrew Breitbart

"The point is to welcome people into the big tent. I'm working on getting a venue. The first annual Roy Cohn CPAC Breitbart Homocon Welcoming 80's Extravaganza. I'm thinking of DJ-ing." - Wingnut commentator Andrew Breitbart, invoking the name of the most detested self-loathing homosexual in history to describe the party he says he'll throw for GOProud at this year's CPAC.

Breitbart, who says he supports GOProud's inclusion at the event, is using the controversy to ramp up his long-running feud with World Net Daily. We thank him for making the GOProud-Roy Cohn connection.

Labels: Andrew Breitbart, CPAC, GOProud, homocons, kapos, Quislings, Quote Of The Day, Roy Cohn, World Net Daily

reposted from Joe