Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Dan Savage

"Before I say anything else—before I say what I dragged myself out of bed to say—let me say this: we did this. LGBT people came out, fought back, and changed the world. There's a fuck of a lot left to do—repealing DOMA, passing ENDA, completing the repeal of DADT (trans people are still barred from serving in the military), fighting for the rights of queers around the world—but LGBT people have come so far since Stonewall due to our own efforts and sacrifice. It has gotten better for us because we fought to make it better. We demanded better.

"Now here's what I want to say: I know so many straight people in Seattle who worked unbelievably hard to approve R-74. They gave money, they volunteered their time, they reached out to friends and relatives and coworkers, all in an effort to make it possible for same-sex couples to marry. Gays and lesbians are a tiny percentage of the population. We couldn't do this on our own. A majority of the legislators who voted for same-sex marriage? Straight. The governor who signed the law making same-sex marriage legal in Washington state? Straight. The majority of the folks manning the phone banks for R-74? Straight. The overwhelming majority of people who voted to approve R-74? Straight. The president who took a huge political risk and came out for marriage equality before his reelection campaign? Straight. It has gotten better for us—better, not perfect—but it hasn't gotten better for us in a vacuum. It's gotten better for us because straight people have gotten better about us." - Dan Savage, writing for Slog.

Labels: American history, Dan Savage, HomoQuotable, LGBT History, LGBT rights, marriage equality, straight allies, Washington state

Reposted from Joe

OM BHAGAVAN SHRI

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 8, 2012

Radiant Equanimity

Equanimity, one of the most sublime emotions of Buddhist practice, is the ground for wisdom and freedom and the protector of compassion and love. While some may think of equanimity as dry neutrality or cool aloofness, mature equanimity produces a radiance and warmth of being.

- Gil Fronsdal, "A Perfect Balance"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through November 11th, 2012
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Obama's Complete Victory Speech: Obama Wins the 2012 Election

Via JMG: The Castro Celebrates

 

Photo by Steve Heist.

Labels: 2012 elections, celebration, The Castro

Reposted from Joe

JMG Quote Of The Day - Chris Kluwe

 

"I would like to thank every single person that helped defeat the same-sex marriage ban in Minnesota, as well as every person who contributed to passing marriage-equality legislation in Maryland and Maine and (likely) Washington. Together, we made a statement that America is tired of division. America is tired of discrimination, of exclusion, and of unthinking oppression—the belief that people have to live their lives according to someone else's views rather than their own free will.

"Together, we made sure that the world our children will grow up in is one step closer to tolerance, love, and equality; a world where our children can make their own choices instead of being shackled to dusty hate from the past. Together, we showed this nation that a polity functions best when it includes all of its citizens, when it celebrates their differences as part of one glorious whole, when it synthesizes a wide assortment of cultures and beliefs under the guiding principles of freedom and happiness for everyone.

"Together, we can approach the work still at hand. We can face the continuous fight for equality that every society must wage each generation. We may not know the specifics until they’re upon us, but the underlying foundation is always the same—living your own life vs. someone else making your choices for you.

"Together, we can promote free will over oppression. We can treat others the way we want to be treated, with dignity and respect. We can work together to find common ground, despite our differences, and build a stable, nurturing society. There is work yet to be done, but we passed an important milestone today. Ten, 15, 20 years from now, when our children ask us, 'What did you do when it came time to fight for someone else?,' we can tell them about Minnesota and Maryland and Maine, states where people finally said: Enough.

"Enough with the hate. Enough with the bigotry. Enough with the discrimination. We are all Americans, and we are all in this together. Without each other, we have nothing." - Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, writing for Slate.

Labels: American history, football, heroes, LGBT History, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Minnesota, sports, straight allies

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet / FB:

Today in buddhism

	15 Quotes that Motivate and Inspire Get motivated and inspired by these quotes! Click to view >>

Via O Bosque de Berkana / FB:

 

O Bosque de Berkana

Não acredite em algo simplesmente porque ouviu. Não acredite em algo simplesmente porque todos falam a respeito. Não acredite em algo simplesmente porque esta escrito em seus livros religiosos. Não acredite em algo só porque seus professores e mestres dizem que é verdade. Não acredite em tradições só porque foram passadas de geração em geração. Mas depois de muita análise e observação, se você vê que algo concorda com a razão, e que conduz ao bem e beneficio de todos, aceite-o e viva-o."

Siddhartha Gautam Buddha

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 7, 2012

Simply Listening

'Simply listening' seems to be better for whomever I’m talking with. They feel fully heard without being judged. Better connections tend to flow naturally. The irony is, when we don’t need things to be better than they are, they tend to end up that way.

- Marshall Glickman, "Talk Like a Buddha"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through November 9th, 2012
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Via The Rachel Maddow Show:

The Rachel Maddow Show

Yes, he did. Yes, he did. Yes, he did. Yesterday's election served as a referendum on the liberal experiment. Now Obama's agenda has a new opportunity to make a meaningful, positive difference in the lives of America's middle class. And establishes a precedent for history -- presidents can pursue big, bold, consequential priorities, and be rewarded for it.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/11/07/14992802-yes-he-did?lite

Via JMG: Barack Obama REELECTED

 

All the networks including Fox News have called it. Congratulations to everybody here, this arguably means more to us that to anybody else.

Labels: 2012 elections, American history, Barack Obama

Reposted from Joe

Via LGBT News / FB:

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma November 6, 2012

Election Day

Voting is a manifestation of the law of interdependence: Each of our actions, no matter how small, affects the whole cosmos. Our votes count.

- Susan Moon, "Ten Practices to Change the World"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through November 9th, 2012
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Via ABC / FB:

Earth amazing sights (HD) - Music: Loreena McKennitt

OM (aum)

Om Mani Padme Hum

Mantra of Avalokiteshvara, Om Mani Padme Hum, Prajna-paramita Hrdaya

Eternal Om (full)