Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma September 13, 2012

No Quick Answers

Religion should not be giving you explanations or quick answers, which is what we kind of expect—we type something into Google and up comes the answer. Instead, religion should help you to live with questions for which there are no answers, like cruelty and pain and suffering and death, capitalism and injustice. It should teach us to live with these questions so that whatever horror or sorrow or dukkha is going on out there, you can live with it creatively, not turn your back to it.

- Karen Armstrong, "Compassion Restored"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through September 15th, 2012
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Via Vida Rz & Pema Chodron's photo / FB:

REJOICING GENERATES GOOD WILL
 

"The next time you go out in the world, you might try this practice: directing your attention to people—in their cars, on the sidewalk, talking on their cell phones—just wish for them all to be happy and well. Without knowing anything about them, they can become very real, by regarding each of them personally and rejoicing in the comforts and pleasures that come their way. Each of us has this soft spot: a capacity for love and tenderness. But if we don’t encourage it, we can get pretty stubborn about remaining sour."
(From No Time To Lose by Pema Chödrön)

Via JMG: Lambda Legal Recaps Prop 8

Lambda Legal president Jon Davidson has issued an explanation of what might happen when the Supreme Court decides whether or not to rule on Proposition 8.

The Perry case is set for consideration at the justices’ conference on September 24, and the Court could announce as early as September 25 whether it is hearing the case. However, it is possible that the Court may wait to decide whether or not to hear Perry until it decides whether or not to hear any of the challenges to Section 3 of DOMA. So, we may not hear about Perry until October 9. It could even be later than that, if the Supreme Court decides it wants more time to decide what to do. If the Court announces that it will not hear the Perry case, it will be very exciting news for same-sex couples in California!
But the timing for what happens next is a little bit complicated: The Ninth Circuit's merits opinion in Perry of February 7, 2012, stated that "the stay pending appeal issued by this Court on August 16, 2010, remains in effect pending issuance of the mandate." (A "mandate" is the appellate court's order sending the case back to the District Court.) The Ninth Circuit's June 5, 2012, order denying rehearing en banc then said, that "the mandate is stayed for ninety days pending the filing of a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court. If such a petition is filed, the stay shall continue until final disposition by the Supreme Court." In other words, it is the mandate that is stayed until final disposition of the Supreme Court. Once the Supreme Court either denies certiorari (that is, declines to hear the case) or accepts the case and ultimately decides it, then the mandate can issue. It is once the mandate issues that the stay of the injunction is lifted.

Read Davidson's full analysis.

Labels: California, Lambda Legal, Proposition 8, SCOTUS

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Barney Frank Vs Homocons, Part 2

Metro Weekly's Justin Snow has the latest round of quotes.

Rep. Barney Frank:

"I am not surprised that members of the Log Cabin Republicans are offended by my comparing them to Uncle Tom. They are no more offended than I am by their campaigning in the name of LGBT rights to elect the candidate and party who diametrically oppose our rights against a President who has forcefully and effectively supported our rights. That is the first reason for my admittedly very harsh criticism. This election is clearly one in which there is an extremely stark contrast between the two parties on LGBT rights. The Democratic President and platform fully embrace all of the legal issues we are seeking to resolve in favor of equality. The Republican candidate for President and the platform on which he runs vehemently oppose us in all cases. On the face of this, for a group of largely LGBT people to work for our strong opponent against our greatest ally is a betrayal of any supposed commitment to our legal equality."

Log Cabin head R. Clarke Cooper:

"Congressman Frank, of all people, should understand the importance of perseverance when working within a party to achieve change - after all, it was not so long ago his party was indifferent at best when it came to respecting gay families. Leaders committed to LGBT equality know that every victory our community has achieved has required bipartisan advocacy and bipartisan votes, and winning support from Republicans will only be more important in the days ahead. Come January, Republicans will maintain a majority in the House and likely secure a majority in the Senate. Without Log Cabin Republicans working with fellow conservatives, LGBT Americans would be left without a credible voice within the GOP. Barney Frank's denial of Log Cabin Republicans success, particularly on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal and the freedom to marry in New York, is sad but unsurprising. It is time for him to pass on the baton to leaders better suited to a world where equality is not a partisan issue."

GOProud head Jimmy LaSalvia:

"I don't give two shits what that asshole thinks about GOProud. We don't represent him. We represent gay conservatives and our allies. I'll just be glad to see him out of office because his policies have hurt our country," LaSalvia told Metro Weekly, describing Frank as an "embarrassment to the gay community."

Hit the Metro Weekly link for the much longer statement by Rep. Barney Frank.

Labels: Barney Frank, GOProud, homocons, Jimmy LaSalvia, Log Cabin Republicans, Quislings, R. Clark Cooper

reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	The everyday life of people is like clouds and water, but clouds and water are free while people are not. If they would get to be as free as clouds and water, where would people's compulsive mundane routines arise? - Dogen, "Rational Zen" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma September 12, 2012

Practicing With Loss

We are all going to suffer our losses. How we deal with these losses is what makes all the difference. For it is not what happens to us that determines our character, our experience, our karma, and our destiny, but how we relate to what happens.

- Lama Surya Das, "Practicing With Loss"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through September 14th, 2012
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Via JMG: GLAAD Names Advertising Finalists

The now-familiar gay pride Oreo is one of the finalists in this year's GLAAD Amplifier Awards. Hit the link for the other nominees.

Labels: advertising, GLAAD, LGBT culture

Reposted from Joe

JMG HomoQuotable - David Halperin

"What makes gay people different from others is not just that we are discriminated against, mistreated, regarded as sick or perverted. That alone is not what shapes gay culture. (That indeed could end.) It's that we live in a world in which heterosexuality is the norm. Heterosexual culture remains our first culture, and in order to survive and to flourish in its midst, gay people must engage in an appropriation of it that is also a resistance to it.

"So long as queer kids continue to be born into heterosexual families and into a society that is normatively, notionally heterosexual, they will have to devise their own nonstandard relation to heterosexual culture. Gay subjectivity will always be shaped by the primeval need on the part of gay subjects to queer heteronormative culture. That is not going to change. Not for a very long time. And we'd better hope it doesn't." - Queer theorist David Halperin, from an essay adapted from his new book, How To Be Gay.

Labels: heteronormativity, HomoQuotable, LGBT culture

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	The darkness of ages cannot shroud the glowing sun; The long eons of Samsara neer can hide the Minds brilliant Light. - Tilopa, "The Song of Mahamudra" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma September 11, 2012

Compassion, Not Coddling

We should be compassionate to all. But compassion sometimes has to be harsh. How else can we pinpoint where the problem really lies? Hatred’s hold on us is so strong. Simple coddling will not do the job.

- Nawang Gehlek Rimpoche, "The Real Enemy"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through September 13th, 2012
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Anderson Talks About His Summer

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Via Enough Is Enough: the blog page / FB:

Via Steve Marmel / FB:

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	It is like the water of the ocean: even without wind there are waves everywhere. Suddenly knowing of the waves all around is the gross within the subtle; letting go of knowledge in the midst of knowing is like the subtle within the subtle. This is the sphere of the enlightened. - Pai-chang More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via JMG: Houston's Mayor On Log Cabin

"I do think it's important for GLBTs to stay engaged in both parties. But not at that at the price of your self-respect and dignity. And it is great to be a gay Republican and to say, 'My party has left me behind. I can't support it this time until they get on the right track. I support this, this and this issue as a Republican, but until they treat me personally, and my relationships, fairly, I can't support them.' Anything else is, frankly, self-hating." - Openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker, speaking to Michelangelo Signorile.

Labels: Annise Parker, gay politicians, homocons, Houston

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: New Edition Of Monopoly Honors Gay Computer Genius Alan Turing

Thanks in part to Google, Alan Turing, widely consider to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, has been honored with a special version of Monopoly. Turing, who committed suicide in 1954 after being sentenced to chemical castration for being gay, would have been 100 years this year.

The board's London landmarks, and its Community and Chance cards, have been swapped for places and events important in Turing's life. Players can move their pieces from his birthplace in Maida Vale to Hut 8 at Bletchley Park. Search giant Google has bought 1,000 of the sets and donated them to Bletchley Park to help raise funds. The board of the special edition is based on a hand-drawn variant of Monopoly created by William Newman in 1950. William was the son of scientist Max Newman who was a key figure in Turing's life. The hand-drawn version was thought to have been lost but was rediscovered in 2011 and donated to the Bletchley Park museum soon after.

Bletchley Park Museum writes in a press release:

“Bringing this board to life has been one of the most exciting and unique projects we’ve been involved with here, and we’re thrilled to see it finally available for others to enjoy,” said Iain Standen, CEO of the Bletchley Park Trust. “This edition really completes the fantastic story of the board, from it being played on by Turing (and his losing on it!), to it going missing and then being rediscovered and donated to the museum here. Of course, we’re also very proud that Bletchley Park adorns the ‘Mayfair’ square!” Peter Griffin, Development Director EMEA, Winning Moves, added, “We hope fans of Turing across the globe will enjoy playing on this very special edition of Monopoly. Through play, they will find out more about Turing’s remarkable life and his crucial role shaping the society we enjoy today. As an ex-student of Kings College, where Turing himself studied, this was an honour to help develop.”

Pre-order Alan Turing Monopoly. (Tipped by JMG reader Alan.)

Labels: Alan Turing, Britain, computers, LGBT History

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricylce: Tuesday: Remembering September 11

Eleven years ago the United States was shook to its core by a terrorist attack of unprecedented scale. At the time, in response to the tragic events, Tricycle released in its next issue a special section—"September 11, Practices and Perspectives"—that shared Buddhist teachings on how to face the nation's acute suffering with patience and compassion. Join us this Tuesday in revisiting the section in remembrance of a tragedy we will never forget. 

Read September 11, Practices and Perspectives.