Dan Savage on his new book American Savage

Via JMG: BRAZIL: 100,000 Evangelicals Rally Against Same-Sex Marriage In Rio

An estimated 100,000 evangelicals staged an anti-gay march in Rio de Janeiro yesterday in protest of the recent ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Via On Top Magazine:

According to the AFP, the demonstrators ended their march at the Cinelandia square, where pastors spoke out against such unions and the faithful prayed. Gospel singers such as Marcelo Aguiar and Bruna Karla and the rap group Ao Cubo were among those who performed at the annual March for Jesus (Marcha para Jesus). Several elected officials appeared at the event, including Mayor Eduardo Paes. “We say no to sin, no to corruption, no to homosexuality,” a participant was quoted as saying. “We say yes to Jesus.” The ruling, handed down earlier this month by the National Council of Justice, says notary publics cannot deny a gay couple's request for a marriage license.

Labels: bigotry, Brazil, LGBT rights, marriage equality, protests, religion, Rio de Janeiro

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Robbie Rogers Takes Soccer Field As First Out Male Professional Sports Player

 

Via the Advocate:

Robbie Rogers made history on Sunday as the first openly gay man to play in a game in U.S. professional sports. If there was any concern about whether fans would be supportive, it was eased as the crowd stood and cheered wildly when Rogers took the field during the second half of the L.A. Galaxy's 4-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.  This might forever become a tricky piece of sports trivia. The NFL's Jason Collins is the first male pro athlete to come out while still an active player, but Collins' season was already over.

The New York Times has more:

The crowd was typical — close to capacity, but still with room to seat several thousand more. The news media turnout was nearly normal — no local columnists and scant national presence. Only the presence of the celebrity and gossip Web site OMG appeared out of place at a soccer match. There were no discernible signs of support (or dissent) for Rogers until he stepped on the field. To some, an M.L.S. public service announcement that flashed along the stadium signage boards may have carried more resonance on this night: “Unity. Equality. Acceptance. Respect for Fair Play. Don’t Cross the Line.” “We were talking about it earlier: this is a historic night, kind of like Jackie Robinson,” Vince Grant, a Galaxy fan, said as he enjoyed a pregame beer and meal with his uncle Mike Callahan and a friend, Aaron Rice. But for a number of Galaxy fans, there seems to be less concern with the historical implications than how the acquisition of Rogers cost Los Angeles its leading scorer, Mike Magee.

VIDEO: Rogers takes the field about one minute in.  The clip ends with a post-game interview.

 

 

Labels: coming out, gay athletes, Jason Collins, LGBT History, Los Angeles, Robbie Rogers, soccer, sports

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	That which has form emerges from that which has no form; that which has no form emerges from that which has form. Therefore the path of supreme spirituality cannot be sought in being and cannot be fathomed in nonbeing; it cannot be lost through movement and cannot be gained through stillness. - Ming-Chiao, "Five Houses of Zen" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 27, 2013

In the World

Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.

- Gary Snyder, "Just One Breath"

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Via Thich Nhat Hanh Gems / FB:

Imagine a boat crossing the ocean, a boat of refugees, and the boat is caught in a storm and everyone panics. You know that if everyone panics they will do the wrong things and the boat will turn over. If there is one person who is calm, who can inspire calm, and with his tranquility say, “Dear friends, stay where you are quietly,” that person doesn’t do anything. He just sits very calmly and his calmness inspires confidence and everyone follows, and he can save the whole boatload. That is not action; that is non-action. That is being. That is the ground of all good actions.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 26, 2013

Gradual Practice

Through such gradual practices, lamas of the past gave birth to realization in their mental continuum and discovered primordial wisdom. All the qualities that the great masters found, we can attain as well. It all depends on our own efforts, our diligence, our deeper knowing, and our correct motivation.

- Ogyen Trinley Dorje, "Calm Abiding"

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GIVE 'EM HOPE CAMPAIGN - MY NAME IS STEVE AND I'M AN EX MORMON

VIa JMG: Schlafly: Gay Rights Violate Free Speech

"The polls are very defective. If you look at the polls, most of them ask the question: Are you in favor of banning same-sex marriage? Now, we have no law that bans same-sex marriage. Any gay couple can get married— all they have to do is find a preacher or justice of the peace who will perform the ceremony. There's no law against that. What they are demanding is that we respect them as being OK, and that's an interference with our free speech rights. There's no obligation that we have to respect something we think is morally wrong." - Phyllis Schlafly, who goes on to praise her "honorable" gay son for working with her at the Eagle Forum.

Labels: batshittery, crackpots, Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 25, 2013

True Understanding

The mind and the world are opposites, and vision arises where they meet. When your mind doesn't stir inside, the world doesn't arise outside. When the world and the mind are both transparent, this is true vision. And such understanding is true understanding.

- Bodhidharma, "Teachings from the Wake Up Sermon"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through May 26, 2013
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Via JMG: Mormon Church Issues Statement Backing New Inclusive Boy Scouts Policy

The Mormon Church has issued a qualified statement in support of the Boy Scouts' decision to allow openly gay members. According to the statement, the LDS has always welcomed abstinent gay boys into Mormon-sponsored troops.

For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world.

Sexual orientation has not previously been – and is not now – a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest. These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.

Labels: Boy Scouts, LDS, Mormons, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Few cross over the river. Most are stranded on this side. On the riverbank they run up and down. But the wise person, following the way, Crosses over, beyond the reach of death. Free from desire, Free from possessions, Free from attachment and appetite, Following the seven lights of awakening, And rejoicing greatly in his freedom, In this world the wise person Becomes themselves a light, Pure, shining, free. - from the Dhammapada More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 24, 2013

Harnessing Difficult Situations

Your practice should be strengthened by the difficult situations you encounter, just as a bonfire in a strong wind is not blown out, but blazes even brighter.

- Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, "Teachings on the Nature of Mind and Practice"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through May 25, 2013
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	When other beings, especially those who hold a grudge against you, abuse and harm you out of envy, you should not abandon them, but hold them as objects of your greatest compassion and take care of them. - His Holiness the Dalai Lama More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 23, 2013

Get the Beauty

You can spend a lot of energy being upset, or you can get with the program—it’s that right effort thing—get the beauty of the way it is.

- Jeff Bridges, "The Natural"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through May 24, 2013
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Friends, I know nothing which brings suffering as does an untamed, uncontrolled, unattended and unrestrained heart. Such a heart brings suffering. - Anguttara Nikaya More Buddhism Quotes >>

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 22, 2013

The Greatest Foolishness

There’s no greater foolishness than to spend one’s lifetime acknowledging that one is deluded and yet doing nothing whatsoever about it.

- Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, "Renunciation"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through May 23, 2013
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Body impermanent like spring mist; mind insubstantial like empty sky; thoughts unestablished like breezes in space. Think about these three points over and over. - Adept Godrakpa, "Hermit of Go Cliffs" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma May 21, 2013

Holding Anger

It is not easy to refrain from repressing or indulging our anger. Our challenge is to embrace it with mindfulness and genuine caring.

- Shuzen Harris, "Holding Anger"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through May 22, 2013
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