Via JMG:

60 House Democrats Fail To Sign On To Court Challenge To Overturn DOMA

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

One third of House Democrats broke with their leaders today and kept their names off a brief urging a federal appeals court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, which limits federal recognition of marriages to those between one man and one woman. The majority of Democrats joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's argument, which her office described in a news release as "the Democratic Members' brief," but the break among Democrats offers a glimpse at remaining divisions inside the party. Pelosi, joined by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and 130 other House Democrats, told the federal appeals court in California that they believe Karen Golinski should succeed in her lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA's federal definition of "marriage" and "spouse."

Does your rep appear above?

Labels: Democrats, DOMA, LGBT rights, U.S. House

Reposted from Joe

Via Gay Politics Report

• Barney Frank weds
   
• Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., married Jim Ready on Saturday in a ceremony attended by about 300 friends and family members, becoming the first married, openly gay member of Congress in U.S. history. Frank, who will leave Congress after this year, said he wanted to marry while he was still in office in order to set an example. “The kids that are going to see us, and feel strong enough to be able to come out and be who they are. That gives me more encouragement that I’m doing the right thing,” Frank said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) 

Via AmericaBlogGay:

How would Sup Ct justice John Roberts rule on gay marriage?

Richard Socarides in the New Yorker: Some theorize that Roberts tried to depoliticize the Court with his health-care ruling in order to gain some credibility before even more conservative decisions to come, like overturning affirmative action. Anything is possible, but that is not likely to be the outcome in these gay-rights cases, where Justice Kennedy will probably not be with conservatives....

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 10, 2012

Living a Life of Practice

We need to revive appreciation for the traditional model of a practitioner who lives a life of simplicity and humility, sincerity and endeavor, kindness and compassion. We must choose teachers with these qualities, cultivate these qualities in ourselves, and guide our students in developing them.

- Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, "Shopping the Dharma"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 12th, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 9, 2012

In It Together

Hang out with people who are capable of making a commitment to you and your life, and who require that you make a commitment to theirs. Hang out with people who care about you, with people who need you to develop and who say so. Make such a commitment and don’t break that bond until you and all beings are perfect.

- Reb Anderson, "In It Together"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 11, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 8, 2012

The Principles of Zazen

Cast aside all involvements and cease all affairs. Do not think good or bad. Do not administer pros and cons. Cease all the movements of the conscious mind, the gauging of all thoughts and views. Have no designs on becoming a buddha. Zazen has nothing whatever to do with sitting or lying down.

- Zen Master Dogen, "The Principles of Zazen"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 10, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 5, 2012

Cutting the Heads Off Our Ideas

Whether we’re looking inside our outside ourselves, we need to cut off the head of whatever we meet, and abandon the views and ideas we have about things, including our ideas about Buddhism and Buddhist teachings.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, "Simply Stop"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 7, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 4, 2012

Happy Interdependence Day

As we open and empty ourselves, we come to experience an interconnectedness, the realization that all things are joined and conditioned in an interdependent arising. Each experience and event contains all others.

- Jack Kornfield, "No Self or True Self?"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 6, 2012
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Via JMG: State Department Launches Donation Campaign For International LGBT Rights

The U.S. State Department has launched an unprecedented donation campaign in support of international LGBT rights. Via press release:

The U.S. Department of State has launched a text donation campaign that allows Americans to donate to the mGive International Response Equality Fund. Donations will help to further programs and initiatives aimed at advancing human rights, fostering equality, advocacy, protection and dialogue to ensure human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) persons around the world. To help, anyone can donate $10 by texting the word PRIDE to 80000.

The Global Equality Fund supports programs that advance the human rights of LBGT persons around the world. The Fund was launched by U.S Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Human Rights Day in December 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland, where she reaffirmed, “Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights.” The Fund is supported by the U.S. government. While providing tangible assistance to LGBT civil society groups around the world, the Fund also serves to underscore the U.S. State Department’s commitment to ensuring LGBT people worldwide are able to exercise their human rights with dignity.

The new campaign is being heralded today on the official website of the State Department under the heading "Global Equality Fund." Learn more about the mGive campaign here.

Labels: cell phones, good work, Hillary Clinton, LGBT rights, State Department

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Anderson Cooper Officially Comes Out

Andrew Sullivan gets the much-coveted (if unsurprising) quote via an email from Cooper.

The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud. I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist. [snip] I love, and I am loved.

In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life. I appreciate your asking me to weigh in on this, and I would be happy for you to share my thoughts with your readers. I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy.

Cooper's full statement to Sullivan is several hundred words long. I encourage you to read the entire thing.Top image via Buzzfeed.

Labels: Anderson Cooper, Andrew Sullivan, CNN, coming out, journalism

Reposted from Joe

SINGAPORE SHINES AT PINK DOT 2012!

Via JMG: BRUSSELS: Anti-LGBT Lobby Linked To American Conservative Groups

The EU Observer reports that the anti-gay lobby in Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union, has financial links to anti-gay conservative groups in the United States.

One such lobby group is European Dignity Watch, founded in 2010, advocating "life, the family and fundamental freedoms." According to the EU transparency register, it has an annual budget of €80,816 - all in the form of anonymous donations. It rallies against abortion, euthanasia, but most ardently against gay rights. It accuses the European Parliament of pressuring member states into legalising same-sex marriage, and the European Commission of bias for hosting a pro-gay photo exhibition.

Among those suspected of secretly funding European anti-gay groups is the Heritage Foundation, the DC-based conservative think tank founded in 1973 by Joseph Coors. The anti-gay groups cited in the EU Observer's article vehemently deny that they are paid by American organizations.

Labels: Belgium, European Union, hate groups, LGBT rights

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: NEW RECORD: Chick-Fil-A Donated Almost $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2010

Equality Matters reports:

In early 2011, Chick-fil-A came under fire for its donations and political ties to a number of anti-gay groups. Though Chick-fil-A continues to deny supporting an anti-gay agenda, the company has donated over $3 million to organizations like the Family Research Council and Exodus International between 2003 and 2009. And in 2010 alone, Chick-fil-A donated over $1.9 million to anti-gay causes, more than any other year for which public records are available.

The bulk of the 2010 donations came in a $1.2M grant to the Marriage & Family Foundation. Another $500K went to the Fellowship For Christian Athletes, who requires applicants to sign their Sexual Purity Pledge:

God desires His children to lead pure lives of holiness. The Bible is clear in teaching on sexual sin including sex outside of marriage and homosexual acts. Neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any homosexual act constitute an alternate lifestyle acceptable to God. While upholding God’s standard of holiness, FCA strongly affirms God’s love and redemptive power in the individual who chooses to follow Him. FCA’s desire is to encourage individuals to trust in Jesus and turn away from any impure lifestyle.

Labels: fast food, hate groups, LGBT rights, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: WASHINGTON STATE: Microsoft Heads Ballmer & Gates Donate To Marriage

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer have each donated $100,000 to Washington state's marriage equality movement.

The AP cites Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, who says the checks were cut on Friday and are being reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission Monday afternoon. The Washington state Legislature passed the law allowing same-sex marriage earlier this year, and it was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in Feb. But an effort to put that law up to a vote was successful, meaning Referendum 74 -- seeking to overturn the law allowing same-sex marriage in Washington state -- is on the ballot in November.

In November last year, Microsoft joined in the filing of an amicus brief supporting the overturn of DOMA. (Tipped by JMG reader Alex)

Labels: Bill Gates, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Microsoft, Washington state

Reposted from Joe

Via AmericaBlog Gay:

Anderson Cooper comes out

"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 3, 2012

The Limited Mask of Self

Of all the words we use to disguise the hollowness of the human condition, none is more influential than 'myself.' It consists of a collage of still images—name, gender, nationality, profession, enthusiasms, relationships—that are renovated from time to time, but otherwise are each a relic from one particular experience or another. The defining teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of non-self, is merely pointing out the limitations of this reflexive view we hold of ourselves. It’s not that the self does not exist, but that it is as cobbled-together and transient as everything else.

- Andrew Olendzki, "Self as Verb"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 5, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 2, 2012

Uprooting the Seeds of Anger

We all know anger from experience, but when we are asked to pause and consider, ‘What is this anger?’ it’s not always so easy to see what it is. Yet when we approach our feelings of anger with awareness, with mindfulness, it becomes a productive part of our practice. We find, after all, that anger has something to teach us.

- Jules Shuzen Harris, Sensei, "Uprooting the Seeds of Anger"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 4, 2012
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 1, 2012

Being Unafraid of Pain

You don’t have to be afraid of pain. If it’s going to be there, you can let it be there—but don’t let the mind be in pain with it.

- Upasika Kee Nanayon, "Tough Teachings to Ease the Mind"

Read the article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through July 3, 2012
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Via JMG: LAOS: US Embassy Supports Nation's First-Ever LGBT Pride Celebration

Laos has held its first-ever LGBT Pride event with the support of the U.S. Embassy.

More than 100 people attended the event, which took place on the sports field of the U.S. Embassy. The guests of honor were U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart and Dr. Bounpheng Philavong, Director of the Center for HIV/AIDS/STI (CHAS) at the Lao Ministry of Health. During their remarks, both Dr. Bounpheng and Ambassador Stewart congratulated the event organizers for taking an important first step to achieving full acceptance of LGBT people in Lao society.

"The message we want to send is that no matter what you look like or where you come from or what your sexual orientation is, every single one of you is a person with value and should be treated with dignity and respect," Ambassador Stewart told the crowd to loud applause. The event drew performers and participation from a number of organizatons that provide outreach and services to Laos' LGBT community, including the Purple Sky Network, Lao Positive Health Association (Lao PHA), Population Services International (PSI), the Burnet Institute, Family Health International (FHI), the Vientiane Youth Center for Health and Development, and UNFPA.

The theme was "Proud To Be Us."

Labels: gay Pride, LGBT culture, State Department

Reposted from Joe