Via JMG: OREGON: Federal Marriage Suit Filed

Freedom To Marry can add a 20th state to its map of marriage lawsuits. Yesterday a federal suit was filed in Oregon.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene by Portland attorneys Lake Perriguey and Lea Ann Easton on behalf of two gay couples, seeks to have 2004's Measure 36 ruled unconstitutional. It names Gov. John Kitzhaber and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, as well as a few other officials, as defendants. It argues that one couple—Deanna Geiger and Janine Nelson—should be able to legally marry. The other plaintiffs, Robert Deuhmig and William Griesar, were legally married in Vancouver, B.C., and wish to have their rights recognized in Oregon. The suit is separate from the anticipated $12 million campaign to overturn Measure 36 being orchestrated by Oregon United for Marriage. Volunteers are collecting signatures to put an initiative on the ballot next year.

Are you losing track of all the states in play? I sure am! It's a good thing. (Tipped by JMG reader Marc)

Labels: lawsuits, marriage equality, Oregon

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 16, 2013

The Intimate Path

It is essential at the beginning of practice to acknowledge that the path is personal and intimate. It is no good to examine it from a distance as if it were someone else’s. You must walk it for yourself. In this spirit, you invest yourself in your practice, confident of your heritage, and train earnestly side by side with your sisters and brothers. It is this engagement that brings peace and realization.

- Robert Aitken Roshi, "The Teacher in Everything"

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Via JMG: RAMBO, BUT GAY

Stephen Fry meets an ex-gay therapist

Via JMG: HONDURAS: Activists March On Attorney General Over Epidemic Of Gay Murders

Globovision reports that 22 LGBT people have been murdered so far this year in Honduras. Five were murdered this month alone. Via Google Translate:

Members of the gay community of Honduras on Monday marched to the Attorney General to clarify and justice for the murder of about 22 companions so far in 2013, five of them in the last month. "We demand justice for cases of our colleagues who have been killed," said journalist José Zambrano, one of the leaders of the Association for a Better Life in Honduras (APUVIMEH), who participated in the march, which ended in front of the headquarters of the Special Prosecutor for crimes against life, an office which was created in August.

(Tipped by JMG reader Str8 Grandmother)

Labels: Central America, hate crimes, Honduras, murder

Reposted from Joe

First NC Couple Applies For License, Registrar Says, "Y'all Sign Right Here"

First NC Couple Applies For License, Registrar Says, "Y'all Sign Right Here"

Even though the registrar declined to sign the license, this may be the sweetest video you'll see all week. Via Asheville's Citizen-Times:

Brenda Clark and Carol McCrory, of Fairview, were first in line. "We are hopeful that Attorney General Cooper will do the right thing and recognize out right to marry after 25 years in a committed relationship," Clark said. Reisinger said he will accept and hold same-sex marriage applications and push the question of equal marriage rights to Cooper, the state’s chief legal adviser, Reisinger said in a statement Monday night. “I will let each couple know that it is my hope to grant them a license, but I need to seek the North Carolina Attorney General’s approval,” Reisinger said. “I have concerns about whether we are violating people’s civil rights based on this summer’s Supreme Court decision.”

Make the jump here to see the video

JMG Headline Of The Day

"The Portland Trail Blazers are in support of the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection ballot initiative. We do so as believers in individual choice as a fundamental right of all people.” Source. (Tipped by JMG reader Glenn)

Labels: basketball, NBA, Portland, sports

Reposted from Joe

Via Faith in America: Fox News promotion of anti-gay groups is making a mockery of the Christian faith

Fox News promotion of anti-gay groups is making a mockery of the Christian faith

Faith In America, an advocacy organization for gay youth and families, today criticized the Fox News network's portrayal of the American Family Association as a "well-respected Christian ministry" and for not reporting the network's ties to anti-gay religious organizations in its reporting of a news story about the American Family Association allegedly being called a hate-group by a military instructor.

"Because of its ties and support for anti-gay religious organizations, Fox News is a non-credible source for any news related to the American Family Association or Family Research Council," said Brent Childers, executive director of Faith In America.

"The implication that the Christian faith perspective sanctions the harm these organizations cause to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, especially LBGT youth and their families, renders Christ as a non-credible source for the Christian faith perspective. Through its portrayal of these anti-gay organizations as respected Christian ministries, Fox News is making a mockery of the Christian faith."

During last night's programming, The Kelly File Host Megyn Kelly went to Fox News reporter Trace Gallagher for what Kelly described as developing news. Gallagher then proceeded to report that several dozen U.S. Army active duty and reserve troops at Mississippi's Camp Shelby were told last week by an instructor that the American Family Association was a hate group because its longstanding animus toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Gallagher stated one of the servicemen, who he said didn't want his name used, had contacted Fox News Radio Show Host Todd Starnes and reported the incident. Gallagher did not mention that Starnes himself had authored an article about it earlier in the day and neither did Megyn Kelly.

What Gallagher and Kelly also did not acknowledge for their viewers is that Todd Starnes actively seeks to promote the Family Research Council and American Family Association. He was featured this weekend as a guest speaker at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., which is hosted by the Family Research Council.

"There is blatant bias when The Kelly File and other Fox News programming fail to acknowledge that Todd Starnes promotes the Family Research Council's religion-based bigotry toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as something for which Christians should be thankful."

In December 2011, Starnes in an interview about his Fox News radio show stated "And I think when people see the stories in one spot, they really understand what’s at stake and how thankful we are that there are organizations like the Family Research Council and American Family Radio that cover these issues."

"I can assure Fox News that these organizations, which for years have stigmatized and demonized an entire segment of the population to garner votes,  aren't considered such a blessing by millions of Christians, especially LGBT Christians," Childers said. "I also can assure Fox News that an organization that promotes religion-based bigotry's harm to innocent LGBT youth and their families cannot claim the mantle of a Christian ministry – unless your Christian faith perspective is OK with spreading a message that can cause an innocent 12-year-old child to end his or her own life."

Brent Childers serves as executive director of Faith In America, a nonprofit organization that educates the public about the harm to LGBT youth and families when religious teaching is misused to justify and promote stigma and hostility. Childers was himself once a supporter of the Family Research Council and American Family Association.
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Via JMG: NC County Official To Issue But Not Sign Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Tomorrow

The Buncombe County, North Carolina registrar says that he will issue but not sign same-sex marriage licenses beginning tomorrow. And then he'll turn to the state Attorney General, who this week endorsed marriage equality, for his advice.
From the News & Record:

A 2012 amendment to North Carolina's Constitution forbids same-sex couples from marrying. But Drew Reisinger said Tuesday he will issue the licenses and ask state Attorney General Roy Cooper for legal advice. The Campaign for Southern Equality has been going from county to county, trying to find someone to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples as part of its "We Do" campaign. Group spokesman Aaron Sarver says same-sex couples will show up Tuesday at the Register of Deeds office in Asheville to apply for licenses.

More from the Mountain Xpress:

“I will let each couple know that it is my hope to grant them a license, but I need to seek the North Carolina Attorney General’s approval," Reisinger said. "I have concerns about whether we are violating people's civil rights based on this summer's Supreme Court decision. The Campaign for Southern Equality notified Reisinger that at least six same-sex couples would request marriage licenses Tuesday. Reisinger will allow the couples to complete and sign their applications. He will accept the applications but withhold his own signature.

And from Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:

According to a statement Monday evening from the Campaign for Southern Equality, the group informed Reisinger on Monday that at least six same-sex couples would request marriage licenses Tuesday. Unlike other times the Campaign has gone to seek marriage licenses across the South, however, Reisinger has announced that he will allow the couples to complete and sign their applications. He will accept the applications, his office has stated, but withhold his own signature.
“I will then let the Attorney General know that I would like to issue these couples licenses, but that I need his clarification on the laws of the state that seem to contradict the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution,” Reisinger said. Brenda Clark who, with her partner Carol McCrory, will apply for a license in Buncombe County tomorrow as part of the WE DO Campaign, said in a statement, “We are hopeful that Attorney General Cooper will do the right thing and recognize our right to marry after 25 years in a committed relationship and having raised 2 kids together.”

The Attorney General is warning Reisinger not to act. From the Citizen-Times:

Cooper’s office issued a brief statement Monday night in response to Reisinger’s announcement, pointing out that the state constitution prohibits anyone from issuing licenses to same sex couples. “The State Constitution says that these marriage licenses cannot be issued, and this is the law unless the Constitution is changed or the court says otherwise,” said Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman for Cooper’s office. “This very issue is the subject of pending litigation against the State of North Carolina.”

(Tipped by JMG readers Matthew and Alexander)

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, North Carolina

reposted from Joe

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 15, 2013

What Are You Meditating For?

You may read that meditation enables you to tame your mind and bring it to a state of stability and peace. Despite meditating as a Buddhist for more than 40 years, I have not achieved even a glimpse of this, nor have I ever seen anyone else achieve it. Admittedly, I am not much of a practitioner, but there may also be a more general reason why this is so.

- Douglas Penick, "What Are You Meditating For?"

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JMG Quote Of The Day

"I am a white heterosexual male. This trifecta of privilege means that I'm not routinely subjected to prejudice. But for a few minutes I got to walk in the shoes of a gay person in a public place. For no good reason I had had a slur marked over my luggage. I was degraded. I was shamed. I was humiliated. For me, this was only a few minutes of one day of my life. If what I felt for those few minutes is extrapolated out every day over a lifetime, then I can fully understand why our gay friends feel persecuted and why they have such high rates of suicide. It is unacceptable. It is said that words can't hurt you. That it is true. But it isn't the words that hurt, it's the intention behind them. 'I am gay' was not emblazened across my luggage as a celebration. It was used as a pejorative. It was used to humiliate. It was used as a slur." - One Sleepy Dad blogger Aaron, whose suitcase emerged on the Perth airport carousel with the above message. The airline has apologized.

Labels: air travel, Australia, homophobia

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: NORTH CAROLINA: State Attorney General Roy Cooper Endorses Marriage Equality

But he's still going to fight defend the state against the lawsuit brought by the ACLU. Via the Associated Press:

Attorney General Roy Cooper says he supports gay marriage but argues his personal views aren't preventing him from vigorously defending North Carolina's constitutional amendment affirming its prohibition from a lawsuit. Cooper opposed passage of the amendment in 2012 but hadn't addressed his views on sanctioning gay marriage publicly until now. He said over the weekend "I support marriage equality" when asked by The Associated Press about the topic. His announcement worries the socially conservative North Carolina Family Policy Council after it questioned why Cooper was speaking next month at a fundraiser for gay-rights group Equality North Carolina.

Equality North Carolina has responded to Cooper's announcement: "The Attorney General has long been an advocate for equal rights for all people and we applaud him for publicly aligning with a fast-growing majority of North Carolinians who now support the legal relationship recognitions between committed LGBT couples." (Tipped by JMG reader Al)

Labels: ACLU, marriage equality, North Carolina, Roy Cooper

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 14, 2013

Taking Suffering Seriously

Taking suffering seriously is an important element of Buddhist practice. To ignore it is to miss a powerful opportunity. Intolerance to suffering motivated the Buddha to find liberation from it.

- Gil Fronsdal, "Living Two Traditions"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 15, 2013
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 13, 2013

Face to Face

In a sense, all of Buddhist practice takes place here, in this most intimate realm: here, in the family, shoulder to shoulder with fellow workers, beside each other on the cushion. Even alone in a cave, there is no way out of the sense object we call the body. We meet each other face to face, and so have all our teachers and ancestors met each other. In this way have all the Buddhas taught. Hand to sweating hand.

- Sallie Tisdale, “Washing Out Emptiness”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 14, 2013
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 12, 2013

Recognizing Love

As adults, we need to become newly aware of the love that has infused our lives all along, to turn our attention to it afresh with the eyes of a child. To do so is to become conscious of the tremendous capacity for love that even now permeates our being—to open to it, to be healed by its life-giving energy, and to participate in its power to renew our world. We can awaken to the deepest goodness in ourselves and others. We can learn to recognize and commune with the blessings that have always been pouring forth.

- John Makransky, “Love Is All Around”

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Via JMG: US Olympic Committee Adds Sexual Orientation To Non-Discrimination Policy

The United States Olympic Committee today amended its official non-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation.

At his annual address to the USOC Assembly on Friday, CEO Scott Blackmun said the federation is not in the business of trying to influence Russian policy. “The fact that we do not think it is our role to advocate for a change in the Russian law does not mean that we support the law, and we do not,” Blackmun said. The board passed the measure Thursday, a week after chairman Larry Probst, a new member of the International Olympic Committee, said he would support a similar change to the IOC Olympic charter. Currently, it does not mention sexual orientation as a form of discrimination. With the Sochi Olympics less than four months away, Blackmun said the USOC is seeking clarity from the IOC on what will and won’t be regarded as violations of the IOC rule against using the Olympic stage to make political protests or demonstrations.

Blackmun added that the USOC has given American athletes the freedom to express opposition to Russia's anti-gay laws "however they see fit." But that freedom ends when the Games begin. (Tipped by JMG reader Dwight)

Labels: LGBT rights, Russia, Sochi Olympics, USOC

Reposted from Joe

Via HimalayaCrafts / FB:

My religion is to live and die without regret. - HimalayaCrafts

Via JMG: It's National Coming Out Day

 

Is there anybody left for you to come out to?

Labels: Keith Haring, LGBT History, National Coming Out Day

Reposted from Joe

Betty Celebrates All Families 2013

Via JMG... make the jump here to read the comments...