Via JMG: INDIA: Hundreds Attend First Pride Event Since Homosexuality Was Recriminalized

 

Via Reuters:

Hundreds of people danced, sang and cheered in a gay pride parade in India's capital on Sunday, the first since the country's top court reinstated a ban on gay sex in the world's largest democracy. Multi-coloured balloons, masquerade masks and wigs, a huge rainbow flag and a St Bernard dog ushered in the seventh Delhi Queer Pride parade, with many shaking their hips to drum beats. Participants chanting "Azaadi" (freedom) and shouting slogans such as "I'm gay, that's OK" carried banners and placards demanding their right to love. In December, India's Supreme Court threw out a 2009 ruling by a lower court that had decriminalised gay sex, saying only parliament could repeal Section 377 of India's penal code which bans sex against the order of nature. The British colonial-era law is widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex, and can be punished with up to 10 years in jail. Many choose to hide their sexuality for fear of discrimination.

Labels: gay Pride, India, LGBT rights, New Delhi

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Mother Jones: The Reagan White House Thought AIDS Was Pretty Hilarious In 1982

Via Jon Cohen's Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, here is the transcript from the White House press briefing on October 15, 1982, the first time Reagan press secretary Larry Speakes fielded a question about AIDS.

October 15, 1982:

Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement—the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?
MR. SPEAKES: What’s AIDS?
Q: Over a third of them have died. It’s known as “gay plague.” (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it’s a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?
MR. SPEAKES: I don’t have it. Do you? (Laughter.)
Q: No, I don’t.
MR. SPEAKES: You didn’t answer my question.
Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President—
MR. SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)
Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?
MR. SPEAKES: No, I don’t know anything about it, Lester.
Q: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s been any—
Q: Nobody knows?
MR. SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.
Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping—
MR. SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he’s had no—(laughter)—no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.
Q: The President doesn’t have gay plague, is that what you’re saying or what?
MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn’t say that.
Q: Didn’t say that?
MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn’t you stay there? (Laughter.)
Q: Because I love you, Larry, that’s why. (Laughter.)
MR. SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don’t put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)
Q: Oh, I retract that.
MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.
Q: It’s too late.

They still thought it was pretty funny a year later: June 13, 1983:

Q: Larry, does the President think that it might help if he suggested that the gays cut down on their "cruising"? (Laughter.) What? I didn't hear your answer, Larry.
MR. SPEAKES: I just was acknowledging your interest—
Q: You were acknowledging but—
MR. SPEAKES: —interest in this subject.
Q: —you don't think that it would help if the gays cut down on their cruising—it would help AIDS?
MR. SPEAKES: We are researching it. If we come up with any research that sheds some light on whether gays should cruise or not cruise, we'll make it available to you. (Laughter.)
Q: Back to fairy tales.

The laughs just kept on coming: December 11, 1984:

MR. SPEAKES: Lester's beginning to circle now. He's moving in front. (Laughter.) Go ahead.
Q: Since the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta—(laughter)—reports—
MR. SPEAKES: This is going to be an AIDS question.
Q: —that an estimated—
MR. SPEAKES: You were close.
Q: Well, look, could I ask the question, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: You were close.
Q: An estimated 300,000 people have been exposed to AIDS, which can be transmitted through saliva. Will the President, as Commander-in-Chief, take steps to protect Armed Forces food and medical services from AIDS patients or those who run the risk of spreading AIDS in the same manner that they forbid typhoid fever people from being involved in the health or food services?
MR. SPEAKES: I don't know.
Q: Could you—Is the President concerned about this subject, Larry—
MR. SPEAKES: I haven't heard him express—
Q: —that seems to have evoked so much jocular—
MR. SPEAKES:—concern.
Q: —reaction here? I—you know—
Q: It isn't only the jocks, Lester.
Q: Has he sworn off water faucets—
Q: No, but, I mean, is he going to do anything, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: Lester, I have not heard him express anything on it. Sorry.
Q: You mean he has no—expressed no opinion about this epidemic?
MR. SPEAKES: No, but I must confess I haven't asked him about it. (Laughter.)
Q: Would you ask him Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: Have you been checked? (Laughter.)

Now go read Gabrielle's story about what it was they all found so funny.

 http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/12/flashback-reagan-white-house-thought-aids-was-pretty-hilarious-1982

John Grant - Glacier

Via The Humor Page / FB:

Via Purple Clover / FB:

Via Buddhist Network / FB:

Flower of the Day: 12/01/14

"The first step towards integration is identifying the denied parts within us. What in you separates yourself from others? What are you ashamed of? If it’s difficult for you to identify the parts you’re ashamed of, just take a look at your life. These parts within you create a negative inner state that is constantly being projected onto your relationships. The conflicts and difficulties that repeat themselves are indicators of the parts in you that are denied. When these parts come to your awareness, you have the opportunity to understand them, and through this understanding you can integrate them."

Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

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Bedside Bodhisattva | December 1, 2014

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May I be scripture for those inspired by words:
A koan, a rhapsody, a proverb, a psalm.
For those who question, an unbiased ear;
For those who believe, a holder of the faith.

- Pamela Gayle White, "Bedside Bodhisattva"

Via George Takei / FB: Conan: 1 Pat: 0

Flower of the Day: 11/30/14

“Whenever you are being squeezed by life and you feel like you are suffering, stop for a moment and get in touch with that suffering. Try asking what this suffering is trying to tell you: ‘Why am I suffering so much?’ If you are truly willing to see the truth, you will immediately receive an answer.”

Sri Prem Baba

Strain Out Whatever's Inessential | November 30, 2014 Zazen [meditation] and poetry are both studies of the mind. I find the internal pressure exerted by emotion and by a koan to be similar in surprising and unpredictable ways. Zen is a wonderful sieve through which to pour a poem. It strains out whatever’s inessential. - Chase Twichell, "The Ghost of Eden"

Flower of the Day: 11/29/14

“All events that occur in life happen due to the law of karma; they act under the law of cause and effect. Still, not everything that happens to you is related to an image from your past. You can tell whether or not a particular event is actually related to a past frozen image by looking at the nature of the repetition and noticing whether it causes any internal division. If your conscious will is heading towards a particular direction, but life's experiences bring you to the exact opposite direction, then there is still an image from the past that needs to be dissolved. In order to dissolve an image that attracts negative situations, one needs to illuminate the value of acceptance.”

Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

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Being No One | November 29, 2014

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Allow yourself to be no one; allow your mind to be empty of thought, unfurnished, until the identities gradually filter back in. Notice the space between your identities and the awareness of them. Notice if a similar gap appears at other times during the day, an empty space that you may have ignored before but can now lean into and prolong. Continue to open to the openness.

- Stephan Bodian, "Being No One"

Flower of the Day: 11/28/14

“The experience of jumping into the abyss of denied feelings can only happen once you have understood the importance of this experience. If you have not yet understood this, you won't be able to jump because you will be terrified. At this moment, you become aware of your false faith. Without true faith, you could remain paralyzed on the edge of the abyss unable to jump for a long time, perhaps for many life times. Such skepticism is actually an elevated state of consciousness since it acts as a bridge that leads from false faith to true faith. In order to go beyond skepticism, it’s necessary to understand the importance of re-experiencing one’s denied feelings.”

Sri Prem Baba

Via Dialy Dharma

Grief Bringing Us Home | November 28, 2014 It is our grief / heavy, relentless, / trudging / us, however resistant, / to the decaying and / rotten / bottom of things: / our grief bringing / us home. - Alice Walker, "Turning Madness into Flowers"

Via Zeit online: Wie eine Perversion menschlicher Natur

Wie eine Perversion menschlicher Natur

Ich bin schwul und Anhänger der Bahai-Religion. Ein Dilemma, denn die Bahai erlauben keine Homosexualität. Ein Leserartikel von Lukas Jung

A very free google translation into English follows:

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 A few years ago I resigned from the church and converted to the Baha'i faith. Baha'is believe that the Divine for humans is not clear but is revealed through spiritual personalities in different cultures and eras. These figures include not only Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha'i faith, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, and the founders of other religions.

The aim of the Baha'i Revelation is the unity of mankind in diversity. Bahai not proselytize why. They recognize the other religions unconditionally and enter into a dialogue with them. You want to build a peaceful and united society of people in all their diversity.
These views and the lived spirituality in the form of simple devotions, prayers, meditations and the service of the people told me too much. In a pretty young church I learned to better understand the scriptures, to broaden my horizons to develop myself spiritual, human and intellectual further. Soon I also took over functions in the community. I became a member of spiritual councils, even once chairman of such Council. It was a wonderful time.

But I could never resolve a conflict: I'm gay - gay Bahais but may not live their sexuality. I should seek therapeutic help me and take steps towards heterosexuality, I was advised. They gave me writings of religious figures from the 1950s to read, where homosexuality is described as a disease as a disorder, as a perversion of human nature.

However, the Baha'is believe that religion and science are to enter into a harmonious relationship. If the religious teachings contain something that is contrary to science, it must be revised. This is a fundamental principle of the Baha'i faith. And while it is being applied in other areas, it is ignored when it comes to homosexuality.

Due to some failed relationships with men I took the writings on homosexuality unfortunately very much to heart. I began to think that the problems in the gay community had its basis in homosexuality. I began to see myself as a perversion of human nature. For two years I denied myself and tried to develop feelings that I had not. Every time I saw an attractive man, I told myself that it was wrong to feel that way. I hated myself.

Fortunately, I finally met capable therapists who advised me, myself, so assume I am. So I began again more open with my homosexuality. I also told them some Bahai and only learned tolerant to very positive reactions. However, some of the religious leaders advised me not to serve within the community. Above all, I should not conduct children's classes and youth groups. The highest national body, the National Council, called on me in a letter not to participate in activities for children.

I was shocked and hurt. Was that the much-vaunted unity in diversity? The abolition of prejudice? The harmony of science and religion?

     Why Readers item?
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     Text and image contributions from our readers enrich our content with additional perspectives, experiences and opinions. You are from people who know what they are talking because they have experienced it themselves or are directly affected. Or because they are familiar very well in a particular subject. Tell our readers the stories we can not tell. And show them the pictures and videos that should see them. Back to the category input

I sought contact with other lesbian and gay Bahai. I found them online. Tucked away. Injured. Excluded. The website gaybahai.net lists some of their stories. There are stories of pain, suffering and self-hatred - fueled by a religion that is committed to the aim of reducing prejudice and to create unity in diversity.

At the moment I consider myself as an agnostic rather than a believer. Much of the Bahai I see now critical. Even my connection to spirituality, religion and belief, I have lost, weakened to God. I guess I should leave the Bahai, on the other hand I love and appreciate my community.

I still believe that the Baha'i religion has great potential to contribute good in the world. But first she must be self-critical and its principles match with their dogmas. You must finally the issue of homosexuality the same openness have placed such other topics as well.

The author writes under a pseudonym. His real name is known to the editors.

This post is part of our series who believes it.  

The original is here

Via George Takei / FB:

A Native American thanksgiving day song

Flower of the Day: 11/27/14

“Free will is a great mystery. It’s true that it does exist, for it is a law of this realm – the question is, ‘Who in you uses this power of choice?’ The human being does have a free will, but until one learns how to use this power of choice, there are many ups and downs, many mistakes and successes. All of this is absolutely necessary because only by making these mistakes does one learn.”

Sri Prem Baba