Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Via JMG: Edie's Refund: $638,000+

CNN Money reports:

The Supreme Court decision this week striking down the Defense of Marriage Act means a lot of things to a lot of people. But to Edith Windsor, the plaintiff who brought the case, the landmark ruling also means she will finally get back the $638,000 in estate tax payments she had to make to the IRS and to New York State after her spouse -- Thea Spyer -- died in 2009. Windsor will also be paid interest on her refunds. Paul, Weiss, the law firm that represents her, estimates she will receive about $45,000 in interest on her federal refund and $25,000 on her New York State refund. The other good news for the 83-year-old Windsor? Her lawyers won't be getting a cut because Paul, Weiss took the case pro bono.

Labels: DOMA, Edith Windsor, feds, LGBT History

Reposted from Joe

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 3, 2013

Warrior Mind

Fear diminishes me, makes me no bigger than that part of me which fears. Fearful, I am too small to contain thought, too small to hold real compassion. Protecting myself, I will hurt others.

- Sallie Tisdale, "Warrior Mind"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 4, 2013
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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

JMG Church Sign Of The Day

Labels: Oklahoma, religion, SCOTUS

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: WASHINGTON: Marriage Equality Flag Flies Atop Seattle's Space Needle

On a day that also saw the Seattle Mariners become the first major pro sports team to fly the rainbow flag, a marriage equality flag was hoisted to the top of the city's Space Needle.

(Tipped by JMG reader Daniel)

Labels: marriage equality, Seattle, Washington state

Reposted from Joe

JMG Headline Of The Day

Via McClatchy:

"From an LGBT perspective, at this point, immigration is going to be an even playing field," said Cara Jobson, a partner in Wiley and Jobson, a San Francisco immigration law firm. The U.S. government is working to ensure that couples who qualify will be able to get the process started right away, Janet Napolitano, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said after the ruling. Same-sex couples have been flooding Jobson's office since Wednesday with requests for help applying for a green card for a foreign spouse, she said. Kirkbride and Kurzatkowska filed their papers Friday. The process includes filling out forms, getting a medical exam for the spouse applying for the green card, and showing that the foreign spouse won't be a financial burden to the U.S., Jobson said. The foreign spouse also has to prove that he or she entered the country legally.

The entire process takes about three months before the green card arrives in the mail.

Labels: DOMA, immigration, Immigration Equality

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 2, 2013

What are you mindful of?

If ‘mindfulness’ is to create genuine change in our society, it must involve being mindful of more than just our own need for comfort, good health, or serenity. It must entail being mindful of the social and economic forces that allow some to prosper while others struggle, forces that promote and perpetuate certain behaviors and thought patterns while discouraging or suppressing others.

- Richard Eskow, “Buying Wisdom"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 3, 2013
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Monday, July 1, 2013

JMG HomoQuotable - Peter Staley

"Given the strength of the marriage movement, though, surely the major gay rights organizations could reappropriate just 10 percent of their budgets to fighting HIV and AIDS.

"Contrary to the prevailing skepticism, that battle is not a lost cause. Treating people with antivirals both keeps them alive and prevents them from infecting others. Massachusetts saw its HIV infection rates drop 45 percent between 2000 and 2009, largely because it expanded Medicaid to include people with HIV, not just AIDS; because its universal health-care system got more people onto treatment regimens; and because it launched targeted testing, prevention and treatment programs. With Obamacare, we have the potential to replicate those gains nationally, but only if there’s a concerted push.

"On Wednesday morning, when the Supreme Court released its gay-marriage opinions, I was attending an HIV working group session at a hotel off Dupont Circle. We took a break to follow the coverage on SCOTUSblog: cheering for the majority opinions, cringing at Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent. And then it was back to work.

"As we continue to see gay love enshrined in law, we shouldn’t forget the broader form of love — of our entire community — that has sustained us and brought us this far." - Famed HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley, writing for the Washington Post.

Read the full essay.

Labels: activism, HIV/AIDS, Peter Staley

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Global Homosexuality Acceptance Map

Via Policy Mic. (Tipped by JMG reader Eric)

Labels: homosexuality, maps, Pew Research

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Today At New York City Pride 2013

New York City Pride Grand Marshal Edith Windsor rode in triumph today as about million people screamed her name. When Windsor's car turned onto Christopher Street, the thunderous chants of "EDIE! EDIE! EDIE" echoed down the very blocks where our movement started 44 years ago this week. I was completely verklempt as were many, many joyous people behind the barricades.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and all of the major Democratic mayoral candidates marched today. Also marching was openly gay Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, openly gay City Council candidate Corey Johnson, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Many more photos are here. You'll love a LOT of today's celebratory signs!

Labels: Anthony Weiner, Bill de Blasio, Christine Quinn, Corey Johnson, Daniel O'Donnell, Edith Windsor, LGBT History, NYC, NYC Pride

Reposted from Joe

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma June 30, 2013

On Having Fun

The frustrating thing about our life is that there is no control over our emotions. That’s why there’s no fun. The whole purpose of Buddhism is to have fun, isn’t it? And in order to have fun you have to have control. If someone else has control over you, that’s it: there’s no fun.

- Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, "Do Nothing"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 1, 2013
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Via JMG: LGBT HISTORY: INS Issues First Green Card To Binational Gay Couple

Posted this afternoon to the DOMA Project's Facebook page.

Labels: DOMA, feds, immigration, LGBT History

Reposted from Joe

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma June 29, 2013

Vision and Routine

The key to development along the Buddhist path is repetitive routine guided by inspirational vision. It is the insight into final freedom—the peace and purity of a liberated mind—that uplifts us and impels us to overcome our limits. But it is by repetition—the methodical cultivation of wholesome practices—that we cover the distance separating us from the goal and draw ever closer to awakening.

- Bhikkhu Bodhi, "Vision and Routine"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through June 30, 2013
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom

When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are inconstant'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are stressful'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. When you see with discernment, 'All phenomena are not-self'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity.

- Dhammapada, 20, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

More Buddhism Quotes >>

Friday, June 28, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma June 28, 2013

Undoing Desire

Buddhism teaches us that desire, for all the agony and ecstasy, is no match for the truth.

- Joan Duncan Oliver, "Drink And A Man"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through June 29, 2013
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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma June 27, 2013

Facing Injustice

The doctrine of karma is founded on the premise that the world is a just place, but I am afraid unjust suffering stares us in the face. I think we should struggle against injustice, but we have to accept that it persists and that we shall never eliminate it.

- Richard Gombrich, "What the Buddha Thought"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through June 28, 2013
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Via Joe Anthony / FB

US Airforce over California...... ♥
Just amazing that the united states government would prepare for a historic day and tell their pilots, tomorrow we will load your planes with color smoke and form a rainbow in the sky showing support to lgbt community.