Bye June - Shades of Purple [Official Music Video]

Via JMG: Ron Paul New Hampshire Flyer

In this flyer being distributed in New Hampshire, Ron Paul brags that he introduced a bill that would bar the federal courts from considering DOMA cases. Which is rather remarkable, as DOMA is a federal law.

Labels: DOMA, mental illness, New Hampshire, Ron Paul

Reposted from Joe

Above & Beyond feat. Miguel Bosé - Sea Lo Que Sea Será (Official Video)

Thich Nhat Hanh on Aimlessness

ॐ Thich Nhat Hanh Quote Collective ॐ

Does the rose have to do something? No, the purpose of a rose is to be a rose. Your purpose is to be yourself. You don't have to run anywhere to become someone else. You are wonderful just the way you are. This teaching of the Buddha allows us to enjoy ourselves, the blue sky, and everything that is refreshing and healing in the present moment. We already have everything we are looking for, everything we want to become. We are already a Buddha so why not just take the hand of another Buddha and practice walking meditation? Just be. Just being in the moment in this place is the deepest practice of meditation. The Heart Sutra says that there is "nothing to attain." We meditate not to attain enlightenment, because enlightenment is already in us. We don't need to search anywhere. We don't need to practice to obtain some high position. We can enjoy every moment. People talk about entering nirvana, but we are already there. Aimlessness and nirvana are one. We have everything we need to make the present moment the happiest in our life, even if we have a cold or a headache. We don't have to wait until we get over our cold to be happy. Having a cold is part of life. I am happy in the present moment. I do not ask for anything else. I do not expect any additional happiness. Aimlessness is stopping and realizing the happiness that is already available.

--Thich Nhat Hanh--

Via JMG: Molestation Victims Are Crybabies!

Victims of pedophile priests are just big wailing crybabies, according to a graphic and story posted by the Catholic League. Stop complaining, Timmy! You know you wanted it.

Labels: Bill Donahue, Catholic Church, Catholic League, douchenozzles, evil, molestation, pedophilia

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Romney Spox Denies Gay Pride Flyer

 

"I don’t know where those pink flyers came from. I was the communications director on the 2002 campaign. I don’t know who distributed them. I never saw them and I was the communications director. I never saw them and I never approved them. I’m not quite sure where they came from." - Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom on the above flyer, which includes the tagline: "Paid for by the Romney For Governor Committee. Romney was questioned about the flyer during yesterday's GOP debate.

Labels: GOP, LGBT rights, Mitt Romney

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Mitt Romney: I Oppose Same-Sex Marriage But Do Not Discriminate Against Gays

At this morning's GOP debate, the moderator tried to trip up Mitt Romney by quoting his 1994 pro-gay comment to Boston's Bay Windows, a statement which is still denounced today by the anti-gay industry. Romney opened by restating his opposition to same-sex marriage, then launched into a vow of non-discrimination in other areas.

Think Progress blogger Zack Ford reacted.
RELATED: Immediately following the debate, GOProud rushed out this press release.

We thank Governor Romney for having the political courage to speak up for gay Americans. He made it crystal clear this morning that he will be the type of President that gay people, and those who care about gays and lesbians in this country, can trust and be proud of. On issue after issue – whether it’s the economy, jobs, taxes, energy, healthcare or retirement security – Mitt Romney is offering common-sense conservative plans that will improve the lives of all Americans – gay or straight.

ALSO RELATED: Don't forget that Romney signed NOM's hate pledge in which he vowed to thwart the progress of LGBT civil equality. The pledge also includes a promise to appoint a federal commission to investigate any so-called "repression of religious liberties" by gay rights activists.

Labels: debate watch, GOP, GOProud, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Mitt Romney

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 9, 2012

Equanimity in Relationships

The Buddha prescribed equanimity in the face of suffering. In relationships, this means accepting the inevitability of painful disconnections and using them as an opportunity to work through difficult emotions. We instinctively avoid unpleasantness, often without our awareness. When we touch something unlovely in ourselves—fear, anger, jealousy, shame, disgust—we tend to withdraw emotionally and direct our attention elsewhere. But denying how we feel, or projecting our fears and faults onto others, only drives a wedge between us and the people we yearn to be close to.

- Christopher Germer, "Getting Along"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Campanha de enfrentamento à Homofobia

Campanha de esclarecimento da população sobre homofobia e incentivo à denúncia através do Disque Direitos Humanos - Disque 100.

A mobilização é uma iniciativa da Secretaria de Direitos Humanos da Presidência da República, do PNUD, da Unesco e da TV Globo.

A peça é protagonizada pelos atores Marcos Damigo e Rodrigo Andrade, que interpretaram um casal gay na novela Insensato Coração.

Via AmericaBlogGay:

Romney now disavowing 2002 pro-gay campaign flyer

Flippy floppy flippy floppy.  Never forget that when he was running for Senate against Ted Kennedy, Mitt Romney said he'd be better on gay rights than Kennedy. 

The man claimed to be more pro-gay than Ted freaking Kennedy.

So what are we to believe?  That a man with a history of being super duper pro-gay and a flip-flopper is flip-flopping about being super duper pro-gay, or that somehow someone made a fake flyer with paid for by the Romney campaign on it?

Keep lying, Mitt.

If he wins, the evangelicals are gonna die when they find out who the real Mitt Romney is.  This will be the biggest hoax anyone pulled on them since being assured that Ken Mehlman wasn't gay.

The Videodrome Discothèque Vault Presents: Jennifer Saunders & Joanna Lumley Look Back At AbFab

Via Norman Lorenz / Facebook:

Mr. Santorum:

As a gay father of two children, a son, 14 in a public middle school, and a daughter, a senior at a local all girls Catholic school, I am sure my children would step up front to share their real story of love and acceptance with you. As a partner with my husband who married in CA in 2008, we celebrate 30 years together in 2012. We have run a business, paid our taxes, participated in neighborhood and community events, contributed to the economy, and are liked by many and loved by our family.

As a potential president, before you slight one race, ethnicity and/or orientation, I would suggest that you ask your supporters to inform you that we are all God's children. I am offended that you would take such risk with our nations children suggesting that they be raised by incarcarated individuals versus a loving and nurturing family. We happened to have saved our children from drug infested households and acoholic biological parents. And as a nation, we wonder why our social, judicual, and health services, not to mention our education system are strained to meet these needs? As a college professor of early education, much of our social service is strapped because young children are being brought up in environments that are substandard and neglected. You wonder why children are failing to get to school let along failing throughout their growth planes to adulthood, thus the cycle repeats itself. They are unprepared.

If this is truly your value for how young children should be raised, I can only hope that my fellow patrons of your political party do NOT elect you President. How disrespectful. As a gay man, proud to be a parent, proud that our family courts in CA could see the capacity of our family to raise these children, I have to say, that as our 14 year old heads off to private catholic high school, and our daughter enters the CSU system in the fall 2012, I am encouraged that fortunately the current administration holds our best interests at the center of this nation, one for all and all for one. I invite you to expand your horizons. You are certainly welcome to come and visit our household in CA to see and experience the difference. Good luck in your campaign.

Sincerely, a supporter of President Obama

Norman Lorenz, M.Ed.,
Professor of Education
Sacramento City College,
Sacramento, CA

Rick Santorum focuses on gay marriage
www.latimes.com

Los Angeles Times - California, national and world news - latimes.com

www.latimes.com

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 8, 2012

Trust in Awakening

Too often we get hung up on the exhortation “Do not squander your life” and interpret it as a scolding, as if we were naughty children caught wasting time. I see the teaching “Be responsible” more as an expression of absolute trust in the possibility of awakening. The message is “Hey, you! You can do it. You can respond. You’re capable of the perfect living and dying of this moment.”

- Bonnie Myotai Treace, "Rising to the Challenge: Filling the Well with Snow"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: CHICAGO: Cardinal George Apologizes

"During a recent TV interview, speaking about this year's Gay Pride Parade, I used an analogy that is inflammatory. I am personally distressed that what I said has been taken to mean that I believe all gays and lesbians are like members of the Klan. I do not believe that; it is obviously not true. Many people have friends and family members who are gay or lesbian, as have I. We love them; they are part of our lives, part of who we are.


"I am deeply sorry for the hurt that my remarks have brought to the hearts of gays and lesbians and their families. I can only say that my remarks were motivated by fear for the Church's liberty. This is a larger topic that cannot be explored in this expression of personal sorrow and sympathy for those who were wounded by what I said." - Cardinal Francis George, in an apology posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Chicago.


George's initial statement caused a firestorm of bad press, with both newspaper editorial boards and national LGBT groups joining to denounce his words. Truth Wins Out last week ran a full-page Chicago Tribune ad demanding George's resignation. Reactions to the apology are below.


Equality Illinois

It appears that the Cardinal has had a chance to reflect on the deeply hurtful and destructive statement he had made on Christmas day in comparing the movement for LGBT equality to the Ku Klax Klan. His apology is important and will go some way toward healing the pain he has caused. However, his actions will speak louder than words, and we will be paying attention to see if his words translate into acts of dignity and respect towards LGBT people," said Bernard Cherkasov, Chief Executive Officer of Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest organization advocating for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Truth Wins Out

"We called for Cardinal George's resignation but we think remorse is a positive step in the right direction," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "It is gratifying to see the Cardinal take personal responsibility for the hurt he has caused and we hope this incident leads to improving relations with the LGBT community."

Gay Liberation Network

This is completely disingenuous. No one was challenging the church's "liberty." Even though George himself has done everything he can to prevent legal equality for LGBTs, we have never in turn insisted that the church be forced to perform same-sex marriages, for example, any more than others have insisted that it be forced to perform marriages for divorcees. Furthermore, apologies, in order to be real, need to be issued directly to those wronged. A web posting is about as passive a delivery of an apology as you can get. Cardinal George could have picked up the phone and called an LGBT journalist and had a genuine dialog about the issues. Moreover, his original slam against "the Gay Liberation Movement" sounded like it was directed at the Gay Liberation Network, which has led demonstrations against his support of discrimination on several occasions, and he could have delivered an apology to GLN.

NOTE: Gay Liberation Network says that despite Cardinal George's apology, they will go through with tomorrow's planned noon protest outside Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral.

Labels: activism, Catholic Church, Chicago, gay Pride, religion, Truth Wins Out

Reposted from Joe

Via AmericaBlogGay:

RuPaul heading to NH to clarify that he is not Ron Paul

Hysterical. I was thinking of this the other day, the similarity of the names RuPaul and Ron Paul, and whether there was any fun to be made of it (but then thought that I'd be accused of mocking trans people, and decided not to). Well, Ru went there, from Politico.

RuPaul explained to POLITICO: "I'm going to N.H. on a mission to spread love and set the record straight: contrary to recent reports, I am NOT Ron Paul. And I am not running for President of the United States. I hope to meet Ron Paul in person so we can be seen together to put the rumors to rest once and for all. And to remind Mr. Paul and all the Republican Presidential candidates ‘if you can't love yourself how in the hell are you going to love somebody else. Can I get an ‘Amen?’"

Via JMG: Buddy Comes Out

Kristy McNichol, the Emmy-winning teen star of the 70s drama Family, has come out at the age of 49. McNichol's butch character Buddy was the subject of much speculation and not a few fantasies among young lesbians of the day.

McNichol, 49, who has lived with her partner Martie Allen, also 49, for the past two decades, decided to make a statement about her sexuality and share this photo because she is "approaching 50" and wants to "be open about who I am." She "is very sad about kids being bullied," her publicist Jeff Ballard tells PEOPLE. "She hopes that coming out can help kids who need support. She would like to help others who feel different."

McNichol retired from acting twenty years ago after her very public battle with bipolar disorder had been splayed across the world's tabloids. (Via - Boy Culture)

Labels: coming out, lesbians, television

reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 7, 2012

Face to Face, Hand to Hand

In a sense, all of Buddhist practice takes place here, in this most intimate realm: here, in the family, shoulder to shoulder with fellow workers, beside each other on the cushion. Even alone in a cave, there is no way out of the sense object we call the body. We meet each other face to face, and so have all our teachers and ancestors met each other. In this way have all the Buddhas taught. Hand to sweating hand.

- Sallie Tisdale, "Washing Out Emptiness"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Being Gay is a Gift from God

Via Gay Poltics Report:

• Bye bye, Bachmann; hello, Santorum
  LGBT advocates watching the Republican nominating process cheered Rep. Michele Bachmann’s sixth-place finish in the Iowa Caucus and exit from the presidential race, but Sen. Rick Santorum’s meteoric rise to nearly win in Iowa has many recalling his long record of anti-gay rhetoric and opposition to LGBT rights. "Michelle Bachmann has one of the worst records on LGBT issues of a presidential candidate in a long time. ... Unfortunately though, her exit from the race still leaves a field full of candidates who want constitutional amendments to ban marriage equality, a return to 'don’t ask, don’t tell' and continued workplace discrimination against LGBT people," said Michael Cole-Schwartz of the Human Rights Campaign. Washington Blade (1/4), On Top Magazine (1/5), USA TODAY (1/4)     

 

• Are social conservatives plotting to stop Romney?: Social conservative leaders are set to meet next week to discuss the presidential field; some invitees say they will strategize about ways to block Mitt Romney from becoming the Republican nominee. Other GOP insiders doubt that’s possible, suggesting it may be too late to unify behind a single alternative to Romney. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (1/4)     

• Santorum questioned about extreme views: Fox News host Bill O'Reilly asked Sen. Rick Santorum how he plans to defend his non-mainstream views on homosexuality, such as his desire to dissolve the existing marriages of same-sex couples. "I’m saying that this is gonna be put on you, that you’re an extremist man, out of the mainstream," O’Reilly said. Towleroad (1/5)