Via One Million Strong Against Mitt Romney in 2012 / FB:

Via Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group - Dharma Breeze:

“If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.” 

― Pema Chödrön

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	As rain penetrates an improperly shingled roof, so passion overwhelms a confused mind. - Buddha More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 25, 2012

Only the Truth

The Buddha didn't talk about Buddhism. He was concerned, simply, with the truth—the truth of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering—and that, I'd submit, is a good thing for anybody to learn.

- Peter Doobinin, "Tough Lovingkindness"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 27th, 2012
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Via Gay Marriage USA / FB:

I'm sure many people will be able to relate to this.

 

 

Via JMG: You People Are "Unhinged" For Believing The Words Of Bay Buchanan

 

GOProud is super upset that people are taking seriously the words of their own keynote speaker Bay Buchanan, who last week said, "Governor Romney also believes, consistent with the 10th Amendment, that it should be left to states to decide whether to grant same-sex couples certain benefits, such as hospital visitation rights and the ability to adopt children."  I'd post that quote over at Twitchy, but they've banned me for my detestable habit of repeating verbatim the words of our enemies. But hey, Twitchy uses Disqus, so feel free to drop some truth over there.

Labels: GOProud, homocons, Mitt Romney, Quislings

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	First of all, do not predefine understanding, and do not make a principle of non-understanding. - Ying-an More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via The Platzner Post / FB:

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS - SAME LOVE feat. MARY LAMBERT (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Via FB:

Barney Frank on Log Cabin Republicans: Endorsing Discrimination

Via JMG: The Gates Give $500K To WA Marriage

The Gates Give $500K To WA Marriage

Bill and Melinda Gates have donated $500,000 to Washington state's campaign to uphold same-sex marriage.

The donation was announced Tuesday by Washington United for Marriage, which is working to approve Referendum 74. The donation was made on Oct. 15, but didn't publicly post online with the Public Disclosure Commission until Tuesday. Referendum 74 asks voters to either approve or reject the law allowing same-sex marriage that was passed by the Legislature earlier this year. Bill Gates had made a $100,000 contribution to the campaign earlier this year. About $11 million has been spent on the campaign so far, with a bulk of it spent by gay marriage supporters. Washington United for Marriage has far outraised its opponents, bringing in nearly $11 million compared to the more than $2 million raised so far by Preserve Marriage Washington, which opposes the law.

The most recent polling shows R-74 leading by almost 20 points.

Labels: Bill Gates, marriage equality, Microsoft, Washington state

Reposted from Joe

Via Advocate and Gay Politics Report:

• Romney camp doubles down on ending marriage equality
   
• A campaign adviser for Mitt Romney reiterated this weekend that the former governor of Massachusetts favors banning marriage equality through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Bay Buchanan had previously suggested that Romney believed marriage was an issue best left up to individual states, causing some to wonder if the campaign was softening its position on the Federal Marriage Amendment. In response, Log Cabin Republican Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper issued a statement saying the conservative position should be to respect decisions by states to recognize married same-sex couples. Romney has signed a pledge written by the National Organization for Marriage that promises he will advocate for the FMA if he wins the White House. 

Via Gay Politics Report:

• Romney camp doubles down on ending marriage equality
   
• A campaign adviser for Mitt Romney reiterated this weekend that the former governor of Massachusetts favors banning marriage equality through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Bay Buchanan had previously suggested that Romney believed marriage was an issue best left up to individual states, causing some to wonder if the campaign was softening its position on the Federal Marriage Amendment. In response, Log Cabin Republican Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper issued a statement saying the conservative position should be to respect decisions by states to recognize married same-sex couples. Romney has signed a pledge written by the National Organization for Marriage that promises he will advocate for the FMA if he wins the White House. Advocate.com (10/21), BuzzFeed (10/20), LGBT POV (10/20)     

Via JMG: Stonewall Democrats Denounce Log Cabin

"The Log Cabin Republicans have proven once and for all that they are not an organization aligned with the LGBT movement. They are a Republican front group bumbling their way into fooling LGBT voters that it's OK to support a party that would legislate us back into the closet. Their endorsement of Mitt Romney isn't just shameful - it's insulting.

"Mitt Romney stands for nothing positive for LGBT people. He supports a federal marriage amendment (which was a reason for Log Cabin to refuse to endorse George W. Bush in 2004). He supports McCarthy-like investigations into our community for evidence of 'harassment of Christians'. He opposes the repeal of DOMA. He opposes ENDA. He's even said things as basic as the right to visit your sick or dying loved one in the hospital is a 'privilege' and not a right. [snip]

"So there you have it - the Log Cabin Republicans, who screamed loudly and forcefully for months that liberal groups and LGBT movement posturing weren't going to affect their endorsements have instead allowed the interests of money sucking GOP insiders and the fear of a conservative performance troupe to decide their endorsement for them. It's reprehensible. Have they no decency?" - Jerame Davis, executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats, via press release.

Labels: Log Cabin Republicans, Mitt Romney, Stonewall Democrats

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 23, 2012

The Path to Restoration

My advice for people is to love the world they are in, in whatever way makes sense to them. It may be a devotional practice, it may be song or poetry, it may be by gardening, it may be as an activist, scientist, or community leader. The path to restoration extends from our heart to the heart of sentient beings, and that path will be different for every person.

- Paul Hawken, "The Movement With No Name"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 25th, 2012
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Via Anti-Republican Crusaders / FB:

JMG Billboard Of The Day

The Friendly Atheist reports that the above billboard truck has been spotted near the venue for tonight's final debate in Boca Raton.

Labels: advertising, debate watch, Mormons, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via FB:

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 22, 2012

Everything is Enlightened

We are enlightenment and we are delusion. We read it, we say it, but we don't believe it. The experience of realization is seeing and realizing exactly that—that everything is enlightened as it is.

- Bernie Glassman, "Yasutani Roshi: The Hardest Koan"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 24th, 2012
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JMG Headline Of The Day:

 

Source. (Tipped by JMG reader Aaron)

Labels: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Nobel

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Billy Graham Places Full-Page Anti-Gay Marriage Ad In The Wall Street Journal

 

"The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren, and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God." - Billy Graham, 93, in a full-page ad published today in the Wall Street Journal.

Labels: advertising, bigotry, Billy Graham, religion

posted by Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 20, 2012

Rising to the Occasion

We cannot eliminate all of the challenges or obstacles in life—our own or anyone else’s. We can only learn to rise to the occasion and face them.

- Dzigar Kongtrul, "Old Relationships, New Possibilities"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 22nd, 2012
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Trivial thoughts, insignificant thoughts, When followed they distract the mind. Not understanding those thoughts The roaming mind runs back and forth. But by understanding those thoughts One ardent and mindful restrains the mind. An awakened one has overcome them completely So they do not arise to distract the mind. - Udana More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via JMG: HRC: 219 House Reps Rated Zero

The Human Rights campaign has issued its evaluation of the 112th Congress. Their report gives 219 members of the House a "zero" rating.

HRC today released its Congressional Scorecard for the 112th Congress, rating members of Congress on their support for LGBT-equality. Analysis shows that though the LGBT equality is making gains on Capitol Hill, anti-LGBT legislators continue to halt progress. While the American people move forward on issues of equality, the majority of Congress – particularly the House – continues to be out of touch. The average score of House members was 40 percent and 35 for Senators, down significantly from the 111th Congress. For the first time in this scorecard, HRC noted whether of not members of Congress have taken an affirmative position in favor of marriage equality. In the House, 115 members scored 100 percent, including 33 from states with marriage equality and eight from states facing marriage related ballot measure this November.

Hit this link for the rating of your Congress members.

Labels: HRC, LGBT rights, Senate, U.S. House

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 19, 2012

Developing A Kind Nature

A person disposed to anger will more and more easily erupt in anger anew at any provocation. But in a moment of kindness a kindly disposition is deposited, and one becomes incrementally more disposed to kindness. The attitude with which we respond to an object of experience, with anger or with kindness, will therefore not only influence the causal field outside ourselves but also progressively reshape our very nature.

- Andrew Olendzki, "Karma in Action"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 21st, 2012
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Via FB:

Via REPORT: The Catholic Church Is 2012's Top Funder Of Anti-Gay Campaigns

REPORT: The Catholic Church Is 2012's Top Funder Of Anti-Gay Campaigns

From a report issued today by the Human Rights Campaign:

Taking up where the Mormons left off in 2008, the Catholic Church – and its affiliate, the Knights of Columbus – have made considerable investments in the marriage fights in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine this election cycle – spending at least $1.1 million to date. In addition, a close ally of the Church and past co-conspirator, the National Organization for Marriage, has spent nearly $1.4 million this cycle. Marriage equality opponents across the four states have, to date, raised roughly $4.1 million. The Catholic Church’s contributions make up 27 percent of that total figure. When you add in the contributions of Church ally NOM, the reality of the coordinated effort becomes clear: the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and NOM are responsible for funding nearly 60 percent of all anti-equality efforts in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine.

The Catholic LGBT coalition Equally Blessed today also issued a report on the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Church.

According to the report, which is based primarily on the Knights’ filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the organization donated $6.25 million to anti-marriage equality efforts between 2005-2012, with most of the money directed toward ballot measures aimed at banning marriage equality in 12 states. The sum includes:

- $1.9 million in donations to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), $1.4 million of which was devoted to a successful and highly controversial campaign to overturn marriage equality legislation in Maine.
- A $1.1 million dollar donation to ProjectMarriage.com which supported the passage of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that banned marriage equality in California.
- More than $630,000 in donations to groups working against marriage equality through ballot initiatives that will be voted on next month in Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.

According to NOM’s internal memos, unsealed during legal proceedings in Maine, the organization adopted a strategy of turning the Black and Hispanic communities against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people during the campaign to overturn marriage equality legislation in that state. The same memos advocated finding children who had been raised by same-sex couples and persuading them to speak out against their parents.

Labels: bigotry, brainwashing, Catholic Church, child abuse, cults, evil, hate groups, Knights of Columbus, molestation, NOM, organized crime, pedophilia, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	A mantra is not like a prayer to a divine being. Rather, the mantra is the deity, is enlightenment, immediately manifest. - Lorne Ladner, "Wheel of Great Compassion" More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via JMG: FRC: Church Membership Is Shrinking Because They Don't Hate Gays Enough

The Family Research Council says that the reason 20% of Americans now say they have no religious affiliation is because churches aren't being hateful enough to keep people interested. Via press release:

As more churches move away from biblical authority, their attendance suffers. Just ask the Episcopal Church, whose pews are virtually empty after the decision to endorse homosexuality. It's time to push back on the spin that's feeding our weak brethren who say that compromising truth in pursuit of love is the way to reach the lost. Intuitively, people want to anchor their lives to something meaningful--something that demands the sacrifice and discipline of "taking up your cross." When a denomination abandons the truth and waters everything down to love, it reduces the church to another hour of Dr. Phil--which is something Americans can get without ever leaving home.

There's "too much love" in the church. Yeah.

Labels: FRC, hate groups, Pew Project, religion

Reposted from Joe

JMG Church Sign Of The Day

Source.

Labels: advertising, brainwashing, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet :

Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	Worldly afflictions are as extensive as an ocean, noisy and clamorous; but they all arise from the thoughts in your own mind. When not a single thought is conceived, you are liberated from them all. - Ta-t More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 16, 2012

Where We Are Transformed

Buddhist practice only works when it's on the edge. And that's what the renunciant lifestyle is about, what living in the wilderness is about, what meditation is all about—getting to the edge. Because that's where we are transformed.

- Ajaan Amaro, "Just Another Thing in the Forest"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 18th, 2012
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The Indigo Girls Speak Out for LGBT Immigrant Families

Reason 12 Why I left Christianity...

Via JMG: NEBRASKA: Christian Groups Work To Repeal LGBT Protections In Omaha

God's Gentle People are working to make it legal again to discriminate against LGBT people in Omaha, which only narrowly approved its workplace protection ordinance in March of this year.

Some churches involved in the effort put the call to sign the petition more directly than others; approaches range from reminders to sign petitions after Sunday services to one pastor's 39-minute sermon urging congregants to demonstrate their faith by signing their names. But the step into city politics reflects a similar perspective from some churches: that the ordinance limits their right to express their Christian views. “I think from time to time the people of God are called to resist their government at key crossroads, and I'm convinced that we stand at one of those crossroads right now in our city,” the Rev. Mark Ashton, lead pastor of Christ Community Church, said in a sermon last Sunday. “Every signature makes a difference in the future of our city,” he said later. “I'd encourage every registered voter who lives within the City of Omaha and follows Jesus to sign your name.”

Leading the repeal charge is the Nebraska Heritage Coalition, which has this message on their website:

Homosexual activity (not temptation or preference) is explicitly prohibited as sin in multiple passages in the Old and New Testament. We do not have the right to change God's moral law to fit our sexual preferences. We believe that when we admit our sin, the Lord is faithful to forgive. Whether it is gossip, greed, violence, hatred, homosexual activity or heterosexual adultery, every last one of us is guilty. Fortunately, our welcome before God is not based on our 'religion resume,’ or our ability to live up to a moral code. It is based on what Jesus did on the cross to pay for our wrongdoing. He forgives us and begins to change us from the inside out to become more like him. This is the Good News for men and women, young and old, rich and poor, clergy and laity, gay people and straight people alike. Therefore, everyone is welcome to attend our churches. Together, we can discover God’s forgiveness and the strength to live a life in obedience to his moral law.

There are 242 churches listed as backers of the repeal. (Tipped by JMG reader Sam)

RELATED: Last month Omaha Archbishop George Lucas issued a letter demanding that Nebraska's Catholics support the repeal petition.

Labels: assholery, bigotry, Christian Love, disgusting, employment, evil, LGBT rights, Nebraska, religion

Reposted from Joe

JMG HomoQuotable - Andrew Sullivan

"As an Obama supporter, I remain committed, if deeply demoralized. The reason for that new ambivalence is not that the reasons for re-electing him have changed - we desperately need to raise revenues to tackle the debt, we cannot launch a new Judeo-Christian war against Islam in the Middle East without igniting an even more ferocious global religious conflict; it's just wrong to cut off healthcare access for tens of millions, while ending homecare for countless seniors, while not even making a dent in the actual budget - because of give-aways to the extremely rich. And the way the Obama campaign had made those arguments clearly and consistently and built a brilliant campaign all the way to the first debate was quite something to behold.

"To be given a gift like the Romney 47 percent video is a rare event in national politics. To get it in the fall of an election should have made an Obama victory all but assured. But Obama threw it all back in his supporters' faces, reacting to their enthusiasm and record donations with a performance so execrable, so lazy, so feckless, and so vain it was almost a dare not to vote for him. What he has to do now is so nail these next two debates, so obliterate Romney in both, that he can claw his way back to victory. But if he manages just evenly-matched debates, let alone another Romney win, he's a goner." - Andrew Sullivan.

Labels: 2012 elections, Andrew Sullivan, HomoQuotable

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Dozens Of Business Leaders Publish Full-Page Ad Supporting WA Marriage

 

Embiggen the images to see all the high-rollers or go here for a PDF of the full ad.

Labels: advertising, marriage equality, Washington state

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: I Have Two Fathers

Published on Oct 13, 2012 by depfox

Gay Family Values and Sean Chapin Productions team up to perform a wonderful song from the Netherlands about a kid who has two fathers, in response to the four states voting on marriage equality this upcoming election (Washington, Minnesota, Maine, Maryland).

See the original song and video from the Netherlands in 2006 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qf0puHJ-KM

Help marriage equality in the four affected states in the upcoming 2012 election by going to a great website called TheFour2012:
http://www.thefour2012.com

Check out Sean Chapin Productions on his YouTube channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/SeanChapin1

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Uncle Poodle

"Things are changing. My husband and I live in Milledgeville because we want to be out in the country. I’m gay, but I’m as redneck as I can get, and we want to be somewhere we can fish and jump on a four-wheeler, go hog wallowing. There’s probably 40 or 50 of us gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people. Around here, they’re all open about it, everybody knows it. It’s not like there’s a gay bar here. We go to the same bars as everybody else, we’re all part of the same community. If there’s people who have a problem with it, they keep it to themselves, just like if I have a problem with them, I keep it to myself. But if you want people to accept you, you have to show you don’t have a problem with yourself and just be up front about who you are. If you do, you earn people’s respect. If everybody would just go on and do that, ignorant people couldn’t cause so many problems." - Here Comes Honey Boo Boo cast member Uncle Poodle, speaking to the Georgia Voice.

Labels: coming out, Georgia, reality shows, rednecks

Reposted from Joe

Via FB:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 14, 2012

Taking Care of Things

Realization needs to be actualized. And having realized the fact that there’s no separation, an imperative arises to reach out to take care of things. That’s compassion. We take care of things because everything is this very body and mind itself.

- John Daido Loori, "Straight Ahead"

Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection through October 16th, 2012
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Via JMG: The Census Wants Advice About Gays

Chris Geidner reports on an unprecedented move by the U.S. Census.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that it is seeking advice on how to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations in implementing the once-a-decade census. The census, which has never counted LGBT people directly, has indirectly referenced gay people through its count of same-sex married couples and "unmarried partner" households in the past. With the formation of the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations, however, the Census Bureau today stated that it will be seeking advice from the 31-member committee "on topics such as housing, children, youth, poverty, privacy, race and ethnicity, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other populations." Specifically, the Bureau noted, the committee will provide advice on "a wide range of variables that affect the cost, accuracy and implementation of the Census Bureau's programs and surveys, including the once-a-decade census."

Geidner speculates that the Census Bureau may be seeking a method to more accurately count (or at least estimate) the number of LGBT Americans.

Labels: census, Chris Geidner, U.S. Census Bureau

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Only A Fruitcake Doesn't Like Hate Chikin

(Via Towleroad)

Labels: advertising, assholery, fast food

reposted from Joe