Thursday, November 14, 2013
Via JMG: Missouri Governor Endorses Gay Marriage
Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday that he supports legalizing gay marriage in Missouri during a news conference announcing that homosexual couples married under the laws of other states would be allowed to file combined state tax returns. In an executive order, Nixon directed the Department of Revenue to accept the combined returns as a reaction to the June ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That law barred same sex couples who were legally married from receiving any marriage-based federal benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security payments. Under state law, couples who file a joint federal return are required to file a combined state tax return. The executive order clarifies that the law applies to all couples, Nixon said.Nixon: "Many Missourians, including myself, are thinking about these issues of equality in new ways and reflecting on what constitutes discrimination. For me, that process has led to the belief that we shouldn’t treat folks differently because of who they are."
RELATED: Missouri passed a constitutional ban in same-sex marriage in 2004. A total of 21 states passed such bans from 2004-2006 when Ken Mehlman headed the RNC.
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 14, 2013
Our Participatory Universe
Mass,
energy, space, and time as they are conceived by the human mind have no
existence apart from our conceptual awareness of them—no more than our
dreams at night. All appearances exist only relative to the mind that
experiences them, and all mental states arise relative to experienced
phenomena. We are living in a participatory universe, with no absolute
subjects or objects.
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- Alan Wallace, “Awakening to the Dream”
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 15, 2013
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Via jMG: No More Mr. Nice Gay: Ender's Game
Clip recap: "In this edition of No More Mr. Nice Gay, Guy explains why he isn't going to see the film adaption of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. Mr. Card, Guy knows you're homophobic, but he's not boycotting to kill profits; he's doing it for good, old self-respect."
Reposted from Joe
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Via JMG: Hawaii Gov To Sign Marriage Bill Today
Via the Associated Press:
Reposted from Joe
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is expected to sign a bill Wednesday legalizing gay marriage, expanding the state's aloha spirit and positioning the islands for more newlywed tourists. Abercrombie was expected to sign the bill Wednesday morning at an invitation-only ceremony at the Hawaii Convention Center, near the tourist heart of Waikiki. The measure will allow thousands of gay couples living in Hawaii and even more tourists to marry in the state starting Dec. 2. Another 14 states and the District of Columbia already allow same-sex marriage, while a bill is awaiting the governor's signature in Illinois. "I look forward to signing this significant piece of legislation, which provides marriage equity and fully recognizes and protects religious freedoms," Abercrombie said.I'll post a video link to the ceremony this afternoon.
Labels: Hawaii, LGBT History, marriage equality, Neil Abercrombie
Via JMG: Legalized, But Not Same-Sex Marriage
The south-eastern Asian country has officially allowed same-sex couples to organize weddings and have the right to live together. While the unions won’t be legally recognized, gay rights campaigners believe it is a large step on the path to equal marriage. The Government has taken this step after two fines were handed out to gay and lesbian couples who chose to have a marriage ceremony in the southern provinces of Kien Giang and Ca Mau.Last week Vietnam's National Assembly began hearings on removing the ban on same-sex marriage, the first step towards legalization.
Labels: Asia, marriage equality, Vietnam
Via JMG: POLL: Americans Approve Of Confederate Flag Over Rainbow Flag By 4-1 Margin
Public Policy Polling asked the above questions in a just-released survey
that primarily focused on prospective presidential candidates for the
2016 elections. As you can see by the final result, respondents approved
of students wearing the confederate flag over the rainbow flag by more
than a 4-1 margin. The Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart (who is gay and black) goes off:
Reposted from Joe Folks, the Confederate flag is no better than a Swastika. It is a symbol of white supremacy, hate and oppression that has no place in American political discourse. That Kanye West wants to co-opt the rebel banner is as noble as it is futile. Meanwhile, the rainbow that is the gay pride flag symbolizes inclusion and acceptance. Oftentimes, usually in other countries, the words “pace” or “peace” can be found emblazoned on it. The rainbow flag is the very antithesis of the Confederate flag. That the latter is deemed more acceptable than the former is deplorable.Defenders of the confederate flag are pouring into the WaPo comments. (Tipped by JMG reader Eric)
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 13, 2013
Abandoning Distraction
Even
on a small scale in daily life situations, such as when we feel bored
or ill at ease, instead of trying to avoid these feelings by staying
busy or buying another fancy gadget, we learn to look more clearly at
our impulses, attitudes, and defenses. In this way dukkha guides and
deepens our motivation to the point where we’ll say, 'Enough running,
enough walls, I’ll grow through handling my blocks and lost places.'
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- Ajahn Sucitto, "Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 14, 2013
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Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 12, 2013
Engagement through Meditation
You
know in Vietnam, when you sat during the war, when you sat in the
meditation hall and heard the bombs falling, you had to be aware that
the bombs are falling and people are dying. That is part of the
practice. Meditation means to be aware of what is happening in the
present moment—to your body, to your feelings, to your environment. But
if you see and if you don’t do anything, where is your awareness? Then
where would your enlightenment be? Your compassion? In order not to get
lost, you have to be able to continue the practice there, in the midst
of all that.
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- Thich Nhat Hanh, “Interbeing with Thich Nhat Hanh”
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 13, 2013
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Monday, November 11, 2013
Via JMG: BRITAIN: Pat Robertson Named Bigot Of The Year By LGBT Rights Group
We'd have chosen Scott Lively, but the AIDS ring thing was too much for Britain's Stonewall group.
Reposted from Joe
Pat Robertson, the US televangelist, was named Bigot of the Year at the Stonewall Awards last night. Robertson, the host of the 700 Club and the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), was given the title after his bizarre theory concerning the transmission of HIV between gay men. In August, he said gay people purposely spread HIV by cutting people with “special rings”. As a response, gay CNN anchor Anderson Cooper criticised Robertson during the ‘Ridiculist’ feature on his show. Robertson beat four nominees for Bigot of the Year including historian Professor Neil Ferguson; Reverend George Gabauer; leading ex-gay activist Scott Lively; and, UKIP Parliamentary candidate Winston McKenzie.Last year's Bigot Of The Year was disgraced Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who campaigned against same-sex marriage then resigned when several priests revealed that he'd been sucking their cocks.
Labels: bigotry, Britain, crackpots, LGBT rights, Pat Robertson, religion, Stonewall UK
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 11, 2013
A Pure Mind
Experiences
are preceded by mind, led by mind, and produced by mind. If one speaks
or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow that never
departs.
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- Gautama Buddha, "Rethinking Karma"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 12, 2013
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Sunday, November 10, 2013
Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 10, 2013
Breaking the Sadness Habit
At
times our tendency is to indulge in sadness—we don’t want to get rid of
it, we want more. But there are many other situations in which we can
see clearly how much energy is invested in trying to get rid of sadness.
Lots of energy is literally thrown into the desire to get rid of it. Of
course, I am not referring to those small acts of wisdom in which one
gets together to talk things over with a friend, for example, or goes
into nature. I am referring to something compulsive, something
obsessive—thinking, judging, reacting about how to get rid of this
unpleasant feeling. We might as well talk about total nonacceptance of
sadness; we might as well talk about aversion to sadness. A lot of
energy goes into this desire.
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- Corrado Pensa, “Breaking the Sadness Habit”
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 11, 2013
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Friday, November 8, 2013
ia JMG: GM Recognizes Gay Marriages
“GM will recognize a legal marriage for U.S. employees no matter the state of residence,” the automaker said in a statement. “For example, if a GM employee residing in Michigan, where same-sex marriage is not recognized, got married in New York, GM would recognize that marriage.” GM also changed its policies to allow same-sex partners of GM employees to inherit their spouse’s pension when they die. “Because marriage is considered a ‘life event,’ U.S. hourly and salaried employees can add their spouse to their health care coverage at any time within one year from their date of marriage or during the next annual enrollment period with proof of a valid, legal marriage license,” GM said in a statement.Let's see if this prompts a Dump General Motors boycott by NOM.
Labels: automakers, Detroit, General Motors, marriage equality
Via JMG: Love for Everyone
Freedom To Marry Lights Up Times Square
Via press release:
Celebrating a year of big wins and marking the need to finish the job, Freedom to Marry today announced a new video billboard titled “Love for Everyone” featuring three diverse same-sex families and a message of love and commitment. The billboard will display in Times Square throughout the holiday season up until January 4, 2014. More than 1.5 million people pass through Times Square daily. “With the rapidly expanding importance of digital technology and new media, Freedom to Marry is using every opportunity to communicate our message of fairness for all committed couples and their families,” said Michael Crawford, Freedom to Marry’s digital director.
Reposted from Joe
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma November 8, 2013
To Become Free
I
used to think that to become free you had to practice like a samurai
warrior, but now I understand that you have to practice like a devoted
mother of a newborn child. It takes the same energy but has a completely
different quality. It's compassion and presence rather than having to
defeat the enemy in battle.
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- Jack Kornfield, "The Question"
Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through November 9, 2013
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Via AmericaBlog: ENDA passes US Senate: 64-32; Boehner opposes passage in House
The bill only needed to pass by a simple majority after it earlier obtained the necessary votes to break a Republican filibuster.
All Democrats (and Independents) present voted for the bill, along with 10 Republicans: Kirk, McCain, Flake, Toomey, Portman, Hatch, Ayotte, Murkowski, Heller and Collins.
The legislation now moves over to the House, where Republican Speaker John Boehner has promised to kill it.
Boehner claimed the other day that ENDA is unnecessary, as it duplicated existing protections under the law. That’s actually not true. First, here’s Boehner’s aide:
“We have always believed this is covered by existing law,” the aide said, adding that it is “not a new issue or a new position — it’s a longstanding position, and, frankly, not ‘news’ at all. This has been his position, on the record, for years, stated publicly many times.”It’s legal under federal law to fire (or not hire, or not promote) someone for being gay or trans. It also legal in 29 states to fire someone for being gay, and in 33 states to fire someone for being trans. Though, gays and trans people in those states would be protected if the city in which they live has outlawed such discrimination.
Another odd aspect of Boehner’s position: He claims that ENDA will lead to frivolous lawsuits and the loss of American jobs. But if gay job protections are already part of the law, and this legislation is duplicative, then we’re already have those frivolous lawsuits and lost jobs. So where are they?
As Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid noted the other day, Boehner claims to be worried about frivolous lawsuits yet he spent $2 million of the taxpayers money on his own frivolous lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act, which was struck down (in part) by the Supreme Court earlier this year.
Because of Boehner’s opposition, the prospects for ENDA in the House aren’t terribly good. Which raises the question of how big a victory this really is.
I’m not a terribly big fan of passing legislation in one House that you know won’t pass in the other. It’s not always a good idea to make your team take hard votes when the vote won’t matter, because the legislation is going down. But in this case, things are more interesting as the “hard vote” has tended to be the vote against ENDA, not the vote for it.
As Senator Reid noted the other day, both GOP Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, likely presidential contenders in 2016, chickened out when it came to speaking against ENDA on the Senate floor. Both men are known for being happy (and yappy) to go on the Senate floor and talk at length if it means a bit more media exposure. Yet on ENDA, they were silent (though they ended up voting against it). Arch-conservatives that they are, Rubio and Cruz fear that opposing gay rights might hurt their presidential aspirations, and Rubio is a religious right clone. That’s quite a tacit admission.
For that reason, the ENDA vote was likely a good idea, even if there is little chance of it passing the Republican House.
Clearly ENDA, and gay civil rights issues more generally, are making the Republicans squirm. What was once feared to be a third-rail for Democrats, has become a real third-rail for Republicans. And who doesn’t get a chuckle out of that.
Make the jump here to read the full article
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