Via JMG: Kirk Cameron: I'm Being Oppressed!

 

"I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America. I should be able to express moral views on social issues – especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years – without being slandered, accused of hate speech and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square. In any society that is governed by the rule of law, some form of morality is always imposed. It’s inescapable." - Kirk Cameron, quoted by World Net Daily. Cameron adds that he's gotten support from "my gay friends" since the CNN interview aired.

NOTE: To my knowledge, not one person or organization has asked the government to silence Kirk Cameron. His freedom of speech and his freedom to be a batshit crazy fuckweasel has never been threatened.

Labels: asshats, batshittery, crazy people, has beens, homophobes, Kirk Cameron, television

reposted from Joe

Facebook Quote of the Day:

Education and knowledge by themselves do not bring inner peace to individuals, families or the society in which they live. But education combined with warmheartedness, a sense of concern for the well-being of others, has much more positive results. If you have a great deal of knowledge, but you're governed by negative emotions, then you tend to use your knowledge in negative ways. Therefore, while you are learning, don't forget the importance of warmheartedness. - The Dalai Lama

Via ॐ Blue Buddha Quote Collective:

ॐ Blue Buddha Quote Collective

May your spirit soar throughout the vast cathedral of your being.
May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity.
May your heart sing sweet lullabies of timelessness.

--Jonathan Lockwood Huie--

Via Gay Politics Report:

• 22 Senate Democrats back marriage equality in party platform
   
• A campaign to add support for marriage equality to the Democratic Party platform has gained the support of 22 members of the U.S. Senate, according to the Washington Blade. “Two people who want to enter into a loving committed relationship should be afforded the same legally recognized rights and benefits I enjoy with my wife,” Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a statement. While the campaign has gained other high-profile supporters, it’s unclear whether the issue will make it into the party platform, which has traditionally opposed anti-LGBT initiatives while stopping short of offering outright support for LGBT causes such as marriage equality. Washington Blade (3/2), The Charlotte Observer (N.C.)  

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 6, 2012

We Are Not Alone

Sometimes when I’m asked to describe the Buddhist teachings, I say this: Everything is connected; nothing lasts; you are not alone. This is really just a restatement of the traditional Three Marks of Existence: non-self, impermanence, and suffering. The fact that we all suffer means we are all in the same boat, and that’s what allows us to feel compassion.

- Lewis Richmond, "The Authentic Life"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Tell Congress Dump DOMA

A rapidly growing number of Americans now live in states that grant the basic rights and responsibilities of marriage to same-sex couples. But DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing any of these relationships!

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 5, 2012

Everyday Practice

If we are intelligent enough to understand the instructions and if we have the perseverance, then we can remind ourselves about how to really practice at any given moment during the day. The skilled practitioner is someone who goes to work and then while working also develops spiritual qualities.

- Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, "Keeping a Good Heart"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via AmericaBlogGay: Robin McGehee on "8, The Play": It was fun (but we shouldn't have to be doing this)

Note from Joe: Robin McGehee is a great friend of AMERICAblog's. We're big fans. She's the amazing activist who helped organized the National Equality March on Washington back in 2009, then founded GetEQUAL. Last night, she was in the audience for AFER's production of "8, The Play." Robin's activism started with Prop. 8, so she sent us her take on last night's event (along with some photos.) 

If you missed the live broadcast, watch it here. It's worth it -- and remember, the haters don't want people to know what happened at the trial. The play begins at 29:51.

____________________________________

From Robin:

If you would have asked me a week ago if I was going to the American Federal for Equal Right's showing of "8" in Los Angeles - I would have replied, "I wish!" I am a full-time mom and professor at the College of the Sequoias in a small town called, Visalia, California. Although I am deeply devoted and in love with what AFER has done for the marriage equality fight in California, and globally for that matter, there is no way I could afford to get in.

Make the jump here ot read the full article

Vote Republican 2012

Via Facebook:

Via JMG: Rick Santorum: If Elected I Will Nullify All Existing Same-Sex Marriages Nationwide

Rick Santorum says that if elected he was ensure that all existing same-sex marriages will be nullified. That's not too surprising actually, but that's a step further than we've heard from the other GOP tools.

There are 18,000 married gay and lesbian couples in California and at least 131,000 nationwide according to the 2010 census, conducted before New York state legalized same-sex marriage in July. Rick Santorum says he'll try to unmarry all of them if he's elected president. Once the U.S. Constitution is amended to prohibit same-gender marriages, "their marriage would be invalid," the former Pennsylvania senator said Dec. 30 in an NBC News interview. "We can't have 50 different marriage laws in this country," he said. "You have to have one marriage law."

Romney also wants a federal constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, but has said he would allow existing marriages to remain legal. The Family Research Council yesterday voiced their support for Santorum's plan to rip apart gay families.

Labels: Christian Love, douchenozzles, evil, fascists, GOP, LGBT rights, Rick Santorum

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Prop 8: The Play

From last night:

Featuring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon and others, "8" is a play written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and directed by acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner. It is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER ) in the U.S. District Court in 2010 to overturn Proposition 8 [LINK], a constitutional amendment that eliminated the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. Framed around the trial's historic closing arguments in June 2010, 8 provides an intimate look what unfolded when the issue of same-sex marriage was on trial.

Labels: AFER, Brad Pitt, Dustin Lance Black, Hollywood, Jane Lynch, Proposition 8, Rob Reiner

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Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: GLAAD Is Pissed At Kirk Cameron

GLAAD unleashes via press release:

Kirk Cameron joins former TV stars Victoria Jackson and Chuck Norris in desperately trying to remain in the public eye by using anti-LGBT rhetoric. Last year, Jackson described a kiss between ‘Glee’ characters Kurt and Blaine as ‘sickening’ and Norris wrote on anti-LGBT site WorldNet Daily that the public education system has devolved into "progressive indoctrination camps” that train students to “forcefully defend issues like abortion and homosexuality, as well as become cultural advocates for political correctness, relativism, globalization, green agendas and tolerance for all.” Let’s remember that while these once relevant celebrities try to regain notoriety through advancing ignorance, Hollywood’s elite including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, and Martin Sheen are using their voices and popularity to move America closer to equality for everyone.

Petition here.

Labels: bigotry, GLAAD, religion, television

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 4, 2012

Letting Go of Fixation

Letting go of fixation is effectively a process of learning to be free, because every time we let go of something, we become free of it. Whatever we fixate upon limits us because fixation makes us dependent upon something other than ourselves. Each time we let go of something, we experience another level of freedom.

- Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, "Letting Go of Spiritual Experience"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via AmericaBlog gay:

A child scarred for life after "the talk" about Uncle Bob’s friend Pete

RedCognito:

I’ve been forced to explain homosexuality to my kids (aged 3 and 4) because their uncle is gay. This incredibly difficult and traumatic experience went as follows:

Child: Why does Uncle Bob go everywhere with Pete?
Me: Because they’re in love, just like Mummy and Daddy are.
Child: Oh. Can I have a biscuit?

We’re all scarred for life. Scarred, I tell you.

Gay Marriage & The Bible Explained

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOnqOrfNoU&feature=share

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 3, 2012

A Magician's Illusion

When people praise us and we glow with delight, it is because we think that being praised is beneficial. But that is like thinking that there is some substance to a rainbow or a dream. However much benefit appears to accrue from praise and acclaim, actually there's none at all. However convincing it seems, it is as unreal as a magician's illusion.

- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Bad Reputation"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: MAINE: Catholic Diocese Says It Won't Campaign Against Gay Marriage Bill

In a stunning turnaround, Maine's Catholic diocese says it will not campaign publicly against this November's vote on the same-sex marriage.

Bishop Richard Malone on Friday unveiled a "pastoral letter" he wrote explaining the church's position on marriage. The document will be discussed at Catholic churches and schools, through the diocese's magazine and on radio stations devoted to Catholic issues. Malone said the letter will be the heart of the church's response to gay-marriage supporters. The church in 2009 took up special collections and asked for contributions from other dioceses to fund a campaign against an effort to legalize gay marriage. The Legislature that year legalized same-sex marriage, but voters later overturned the law.

For the first time for any state, Maine's gay marriage item was placed on the ballot by gay activists themselves. (Tipped by JMG reader Matt)

Labels: Catholic Church, Maine, Richard Malone

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Billboard Of The Day

American Atheists say:

The “HR 535 – Year of the Bible Resolution” declared by the PA House of Representatives asked us to “study and apply the teachings of the holy scriptures”. After considering the bill, we felt it necessary to highlight one of those teachings and share it with the public in the form of this billboard. It will be posted starting around March 5th for 28 days, and stay up throughout the month of March.

Labels: atheism, FTW, pennsylvania, religion

reposted from Joe