Via JMG: COLOMBIA: Bogota Mayor Unfurls Pro-Gay Banner As Senate Considers Marriage

Colombia's Senate is expected to vote down its marriage equality bill today after a debate which is scheduled to begin within the hour of this writing.  Despite that prediction, today Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro ordered the above banner to be unfurled over city hall as LGBT activists demonstrated outside. Watch the debate and vote live here.  More photos from the pro and anti-gay sides can be found on the Twitter feed of US-based activist and Colombia native Andres Duque.

Labels: Colombia, LGBT rights, marriage equality

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 23, 2013

Becoming Intimate with your Neurosis

The teacher serves as a mirror but also encourages your ability to trust in yourself. You begin to trust in your basic goodness instead of identifying with your neurosis. There’s a shift of allegiance. Then the obstacles begin to seem temporary, and what’s permanent is the wisdom. To the degree that you become intimate with your neurosis—not acting-out and not repressing—to that degree you discover your wisdom.

- Pema Chödrön, “Unconditionally Steadfast”

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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Do not underestimate your ability. - Geshe Chekawa, in Advice From a Spiritual Friend More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Arouse your will, supreme and great, Practice love, give joy and protection; Let your giving be like space, Without discrimination or limitation. Do good things, not for your own sake But for all the beings in the universe; Save and make free everyone you encounter, Help them attain the wisdom of the way. - Prajnaparamita More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 22, 2013

Gateway to Happiness

We are constantly encouraged to reject what is unpleasant, disappointing or difficult. 'What's all this suffering? Let's be happy! Have fun!' But our suffering is not our enemy. It is only through a relationship with my pain, my sadness, that I can truly know and touch the opposite—my pleasure, my joy, and my happiness.

- Claude AnShin Thomas, “Conceptions of Happiness”

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President Bill Clinton speaks out against DOMA at the #glaadawards

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 21, 2013

Riding the Highs and Lows of Life

Skillful attitudes of mind are the key to facing potentially explosive situations and the ongoing highs and lows of life and practice. In fact, recognizing these attitudes and cultivating their antidotes is the foundation for all spiritual growth. By cultivating skillful attitudes of mind, we will respond to more and more of life with awareness and wisdom.

- Steve Armstrong, "Got Attitude?"

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 20, 2013

The Mind's Buddha

Trying to find a Buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space. Space has a name but no form. It's not something you can pick up or put down. And you certainly can't grab it. Beyond this mind you'll never see a Buddha. The Buddha is a product of your mind. Why look for a Buddha beyond this mind?

- Bodhidharma, "The Snaggletoothed Barbarian"

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Rassurez-vous - Fear Not

Full Performance of "You Have More Friends Than You Know"

Via JMG: Rio De Janeiro State Legalizes Marriage

The Brazilian state of Rio De Janeiro has become the tenth in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Marriages conducted in any of these ten states are recognized nationwide. Same-sex marriage is also legal in the national capital of Brasilia. (Tipped by JMG reader Afonso)

Labels: Brazil, marriage equality, Rio de Janeiro

Reposted from Joe

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States wants you to know that you as a gay person are not welcome in their community:

January 3, 2011

To the American Bahá’í community

Dearest Bahá'í Friends,

The National Spiritual Assembly understands that homosexuality is a subject of
particular interest and concern to many in this country and is, therefore, moved to share
with you a letter dated October 27, 2010, written on behalf of the Universal House of
Justice on this topic. A copy of the letter—addressed to an American Bahá’í—was
received by our Assembly, and the Supreme Body has kindly granted us permission to
share it with you:

...With respect to your question concerning the position Bahá’ís are to
take regarding homosexuality and civil rights, we have been asked to convey
the following.

The purpose of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh is the realization of the organic
unity of the entire human race, and Bahá’ís are enjoined to eliminate from
their lives all forms of prejudice and to manifest respect towards all.
Therefore, to regard those with a homosexual orientation with prejudice or
disdain would be against the spirit of the Faith. Furthermore, a Bahá’í is
exhorted to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression”, and it
would be entirely appropriate for a believer to come to the defense of those
whose fundamental rights are being denied or violated.

At the same time, you are no doubt aware of the relevant teachings of the
Faith that govern the personal conduct of Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í Writings state
that marriage is a union between a man and a woman and that sexual
relations are restricted to a couple who are married to each other. Other
passages from the Writings state that the practice of homosexuality is not
permitted. The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh on personal morality are binding on
Bahá’ís, who strive, as best they can, to live up to the high standards He has
established.

In attempting to reconcile what may appear to be conflicting obligations,
it is important to understand that the Bahá’í community does not seek to
impose its values on others, nor does it pass judgment on others on the basis
of its own moral standards. It does not see itself as one among competing
social groups and organizations, each vying to establish its particular social
agenda. In working for social justice, Bahá’ís must inevitably distinguish

between those dimensions of public issues that are in keeping with the Bahá’í
Teachings, which they can actively support, and those that are not, which
they would neither promote nor necessarily oppose. In connection with
issues of concern to homosexuals, the former would be freedom from
discrimination and the latter the opportunity for civil marriage. Such
distinctions are unavoidable when addressing any social issue. For example,
Bahá’ís actively work for the establishment of world peace but, in the
process, do not engage in partisan political activities directed against
particular governments.

We felt it important that the friends have access to this guidance from the House of
Justice, and trust that you will find it helpful.

 With loving Bahá'í greetings,


 Kenneth E. Bowers
 Secretary

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	The path to material gain goes one way, the way to Unbinding, another. Realizing this, the monk, a disciple to the Awakened One, should not relish offerings, should cultivate seclusion instead. - Dhammapada, 5, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 19, 2013

Daydreams of a Poet

It is possible to take our existence as a ‘sacred world,’ to take this place as open space rather than claustrophobic dark void. It is possible to take a friendly relationship to our ego natures, it is possible to appreciate the aesthetic play of forms in emptiness, and to exist in this place like majestic kings of our own consciousness. But to do that, we would have to give up grasping to make everything come out the way we daydream it should.

- Allen Ginsberg, “Negative Capability: Kerouac’s Buddhist Ethic”

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Via JMG: Ex-Gay Poster Boy John Paulk Apologizes: I No Longer Support Ex-Gay Movement

 

 

John Paulk, the man many "credit" with launching the "ex-gay" movement in the United States, has apologized for his past and denounced the "ex-gay" industry.  From an interview with Portland's PQ Monthly:

"Until recently, I have struggled all my life in feeling unloved and unaccepted,” Paulk said. “I have been on a journey during the last few years in trying to understand God, myself, and how I can best relate to others. During this journey I have made many mistakes and I have hurt many people including people who are close to me. I have also found a large number of people who accept me for who I am regardless of my past, any labels, or what I do.”
Paulk continued, “I no longer support the ex-gay movement or efforts to attempt to change individuals — especially teens who already feel insecure and alienated. I feel great sorrow over the pain that has been caused when my words were misconstrued. I have worked at giving generously to the gay community in Portland where I work and live. I am working hard to be authentic and genuine in all of my relationships.”

Truth Wins Out provides some background on Paulk:

John Paulk was at one time the most well known and influential person in the “ex-gay” industry, appearing on the cover of Newsweek with his wife Anne in 1998 under the headline, “Gay For Life?” He was instrumental in forming the Love Won Out “ex-gay” roadshow, which subjected countless LGBT youth and their families to misinformation, indoctrination and lies, and which destroyed many families in the process. In 2000, Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, photographed John Paulk coming out of a Washington, DC, gay bar, and the lies began to unravel. Though John resigned from the board of Exodus International following this incident, the Religious Right continued to use the Paulks’ story as evidence that the “ex-gay” life was a fairy tale rather than a nightmare, and many LGBT people and their families have been damaged or destroyed over the years as a result.

Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen says "not good enough."

"It is not enough to simply send an e-mail that says, ‘I’m sorry.’ John Paulk must work to atone for the damage he has done to LGBT families by taking a public role in renouncing and working against the harmful ‘ex-gay’ industry by embarking on a speaking tour to show that he truly has changed. Further, he should advocate for a bill in Oregon that would ban so-called ‘reparative therapy’ for minors. Only then can he start to repair the damage he has done to countless LGBT people and their families.”

 

RELATED: Last April I posted a report that Paulk's Facebook page was "littered with Glamor Shots-style images of Paulk and attractive men" and that his profile stated that he is "interested in women and men."

Labels: ex-gay, Exodus International, John Paulk, Oregon, Portland, religion, still totally gay, Truth Wins Out, Wayne Besen

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Walking the spiritual path is a very subtle process; it is not something to jump into naively. There are numerous sidetracks which lead to a distorted, ego-centered version of spirituality; we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are developing spiritually when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques. - Chogyam Trungpa, "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 17, 2013

A Change of Heart

A change of heart requires a great deal of courage and a great deal of compassion. The courage is to not avert our gaze, but instead to turn to the various sufferings in our own life or in the world around us and see them with the concern and compassionate eyes of the Buddha.

- Jack Kornfield, "A Change of Heart"

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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Sakka asked: "What is the cause of self-interest?" The Buddha answered: "It is perception of the world as one's object." "How does one overcome this perception of the world as apart from oneself?" "By acting for the increase of goodness and happiness. It is in this way that the world ceases to be one's object." - Digha Nikaya More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma April 16, 2013

Meditation in Action

Buddhism often appears to promote personal transformation at the expense of social concern. Some Buddhist teachings claim that the mind does not just affect the world, it actually creates and sustains it. According to this view, cosmic harmony is most effectively preserved through an individual's spiritual practice. Yet other Buddhists amend the notion that mind is the primary or exclusive source of peace, contending that inner serenity is fostered or impeded by external conditions. Buddhists who place importance upon social factors and social action believe that internal transformation cannot, by itself, quell the world's turbulence.

- Kenneth Kraft, “Meditation in Action”

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