Wednesday, October 16, 2013
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
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"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 17, 2013
For full access at any time, become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Via JMG: HONDURAS: Activists March On Attorney General Over Epidemic Of Gay Murders
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
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
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.
==============================
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.
==============================
Via JMG: NC County Official To Issue But Not Sign Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Tomorrow
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.The Attorney General is warning Reisinger not to act. From the Citizen-Times:
“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.”
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
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?"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 16, 2013
For full access at any time, become a Tricycle Community Supporting or Sustaining Member
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Monday, October 14, 2013
JMG Quote Of The Day
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