Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 13, 2011

Sit Down and Settle the Body and Mind

We need to talk about a balance. Frankly, I think Asian monastics probably spend too much time sitting in meditation looking inward, and not enough time outdoors. They have to go out, as Shakyamuni did, and find out how people are living in society. But in the West, it’s the opposite problem. People spend all their time in the outer world. They’ve been successful in business, in their professional lives, but they have no relief from the stress of their lives. They need to sit down and settle the body and mind, instead of always running around feeling agitated inside.

- Samu Sunim, “Buddha in the Market: An Interview with Korean Zen Master Samu Sunim”
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: Canadians On Marriage Equality

The more yellow an area is, the greater the opposition to same-sex marriage. The reverse is true for gray areas. Keep in mind that some of the huge areas that appear to be largely anti-gay are virtually unpopulated. The real story is told in the areas closest to Canada's southern border, where the three largest metropolitan regions are solidly on the side of the good guys. (Tipped by JMG reader Chris.)

Labels: Canada, maps, marriage equality

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: NOM's 2010 Financials Published

The Washington Independent has published an analysis of NOM's 2010 financial reporting. While no names have been disclosed, NOM's funding comes from just a few persons. That fact has long been predicted here on this blog and elsewhere.

In 2010, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a tax-exempt nonprofit trying to thwart the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the U.S., reported the highest individual donations it has received since its inception in 2007, according to NOM’s most recent income disclosures to the Internal Revenue Service, recently obtained by The American Independent. Per NOM’s numbers, just two individuals contributed more than $6 million to the organization’s political arm – accounting for about two-thirds of NOM’s 2010 revenue, while single donations below $5,000 covered only 8 percent of reported revenue.

Two-thirds from two persons! And according to the linked report, 92% of NOM's 2010 money came from just 22 donations of $5000 or more. NOM, however, claims to be funded by 50,000 pious Christian households. SNORK!
Who wants to bet that a huge percentage of NOM's donations flow thru the bejeweled hands of "celibate" men in dresses?

Labels: bigotry, hate groups, LGBT rights, NOM

reposted from Joe

Newt Gingrich: Selling Access

Via JMG: Romney Vs. Gay Vietnam Veteran

At a campaign stop in a New Hampshire diner, Mitt Romney slid into a booth to chat with a man wearing a Vietnam Veteran cap. What Romney didn't know is that the man was sitting there with his husband. Things went quickly downhill after the introductions.

Garon challenged Romney, saying, “If two men get married, apparently a veteran’s spouse would not be entitled to any burial benefits or medical benefits or anything that the serviceman has devoted his time and effort to his country, and you just don’t support equality in terms of same-sex marriage?” Romney reiterated his support for the Defense of Marriage Act, and added, “And we apparently disagree.” “It’s good to know how you feel,” Garon said. “That you do not believe that everyone is entitled to their constitutional rights.”

“No, actually, I think at the time the Constitution was written it was pretty clear that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Romney replied. “And I don’t believe the Supreme Court has changed that.” With that, a Romney aide interrupted, saying, “Governor, we’ve got to get on with Fox News right now.” “Oh,” said Garon. “I guess the question was too hot.” “No, I gave you the answer,” Romney said.

Labels: 2012 elections, GOP, marriage equality, Mitt Romney, New Hampshire

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Equality Matters: Why Do Networks Continue To Host Hate Group Leaders?

Equality Matters asks the question we've been asking here for the last year.

In November 2010, the Family Research Council (FRC) was added to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) list of anti-gay hate groups due to its “propagation of known falsehoods” about gays and lesbians. According to an Equality Matters analysis, FRC spokespersons – including Tony Perkins, Peter Sprigg, and Ken Blackwell – have been invited to appear on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News a total of 54 times in the twelve months since Perkins first appeared on MSNBC to discuss being labeled as a hate group. 24 of those appearances were on Fox News, 19 were on MSNBC, and 11 were on CNN:

FRC head Tony Perkins alone constituted 32 of the above appearances. Check out the below Equality Matters recap of just a few of the many, many vicious anti-gay lies spewed by Tony Perkins.
RELATED: I'd also like to know why every single network ignores the scandal that sank Perkins' political career, namely his exposure as having paid KKK Grand Wizard David Duke a whopping $82,500 for access to his mailing list of racists. There's also this: "On May 17th, 2001, Perkins gave a speech to the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), a white supremacist group that has described black people as a 'retrograde species of humanity.'"

Labels: CNN, Family Reseach Council, Fox News, hate groups, journalism, MSNBC, racism, Tony Perkins

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: IOWA: Gingrich Signs Anti-Gay Pledge

Newt Gingrich has signed the anti-gay pledge of Iowa hate group Family Leader. But unlike the other GOP candidates who have signed the vow to thwart civil rights for gay Americans, pundits are focusing on the pledge clause that commands "personal fidelity to my spouse."

Gingrich has issued a statement. (My bolding.)

As President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic, or legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as between one man and one woman. I will support all efforts to reform promptly any uneconomic or anti-marriage aspects of welfare and tax policy. I also pledge to uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and respect for the marital bonds of others.

Labels: adultery, hate groups, hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich

reposted from Joe

Via nomexposed.org:

We’re Run By 2 Wealthy Donors, Says NOM’s 2010 Tax Returns | NOM Exposed

The indefatigable Sophia Resnick of the American Independent does some digging and finds what we found from their '09 returns: NOM is not a grassroots organization. It is funded by a few well-heeled donors.

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma: Intererview with the Karmapa

Last July, several Tricycle editors interviewed Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. During the interview he spoke on his daily life in India, his work as a poet and an artist, how the role of Karmapa has evolved since the Chinese occupation of Tibet, spiritual bypassing, the role of social and environmental activism in Buddhism, and more. 

Watch the interview here.

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 12, 2011

Awakening to Ourselves

Buddhism is really about awakening from the illusion about ourselves and the world, and realizing reality—who we are and what is real and how things are interconnected through karma and causation and so on. In a Dzogchen text it says, “From the beginning we are all Buddhas by nature, we only have to realize that fact.” So in Dzogchen the whole practice of what we call the view, meditation, and action is about awakening to—not just our momentary personality—“self” with a small s—but our true Buddha nature, our original nature.

- Lama Surya Das, "Old Wine, New Bottles"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via Hatewatch/SPLC: Anti-Abortion Extremist Now Attacking Gay-Friendly Churches

Posted in Anti-Abortion, Anti-LGBT, Extremist Propaganda by Leah Nelson on December 9, 2011

 

The Rev. Donald Spitz has a message for gay-friendly churches, and the murder-endorsing anti-abortion crusader is not mincing words.

In E-mails sent in recent days to an unknown number of churches listed on GayChurch.org, he wrote: “To accept sexual deviancy as normal is a sin. You put your soul in danger of eternal damnation for welcoming unrepentant homosexuals into God’s house. You blaspheme the Name of God.

Homosexuality should be criminalized. Homosexuals commit crimes against God, against nature, against the Holy Bible and against the human race. ( continue to full post… )

Via Gay Marriage Watch: Boy George Speaks Out Against Austraila PM on Marriage Equali

Boy George Speaks Out Against Austraila PM on Marriage Equality
Written by scott on December 11th, 2011

Boy George and Australia Marriage Equality“I’m baffled by it,” George said. “If they just let it happen they’d realise it’s not the end of civilisation as we know it. “On one hand they mention family values and the importance of relationships but if people want to get married isn’t that a good thing?

“It’s so unimportant. I don’t think it’s the job of a PM or a politician to deal with that. Gay people have been around since the dinosaurs.

“I just don’t get homophobia. And not allowing gay marriage is homophobia. What difference does it make to you? It’s not a choice. ‘Oh I think I’ll be gay’.”

 

 

Gay Marriage Watch » Blog Archive » Boy George Speaks Out Against Austraila PM on Marriage Equality

 

“I’m baffled by it,” George said. “If they just let it happen they’d realise it’s not the end of civilisation as we know it. “On one hand they mention family values and the importance of relationships but if people want to get married isn’t that a good thing?

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - #89

Via JMG: Masturbation Is Totally Gay, Part Two

"An average male child has masturbated at one stage of his life or the other. If this behaviour were not controlled, it would lead to lack of interest in the opposite sex. This often happens in the subconscious mind, so that by the time one grows into it, one would not know why one hates the opposite sex. This is because when one masturbates, one may have practiced it with other male children. So, by the time they are qualified to have sexual relations, they just discover that they have something that satisfies them more than natural sex." - Professor of biblical history and "ex-gay" therapist Dr. Felix Jovi Ehwarieme, quoted in a Nigeria Guardian story about the campaign to pass Nigeria's proposed escalation in penalties for homosexuality. (Tipped by JMG reader Alan)

RELATED: Last month Seattle's Pastor Mark Driscoll said that male masturbation is inherently gay because it is sex with a man.

CORRECTION: In the first draft of this post I attributed the above quote to the wrong crazy person in the linked article. I was laughing too hard to notice!

Labels: Africa, batshittery, Nigeria, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via a Facebook posting:

Rick Perry Ashamed

Via JMG: TODAY: SantaCon 2012

At this writing hundreds of hammered Santas are staggering through Manhattan in their annual pub crawl dubbed SantaCon. Bars, pubs, and nightclubs along the designated routes are making donations to Toys For Tots.

Organizers warn: "Don ye now your gay apparel! Anyone caught attending Santacon without a FULL costume will be pelted with reindeer droppings and receive coal in their stocking. Simply wearing a Santa hat is not acceptable." Also noted in the amusing set of rules: "Food will be collected at the start point by elves in leather thongs and delivered to the Food Bank for NYC."

Follow SantaCon on Twitter for photos and merriment.

Labels: drinking, NYC, silliness, Xmas

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: VIDEO: Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals Hears Final Arguments In Proposition 8

Below is the full hearing from Thursday. The first clip covers the argument against releasing the trial tapes. The second clip covers the argument that Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself for being gay. Both clips are highly instructive as to the vitriolic lengths our enemies are willing to go in their campaign of oppression.

Labels: AFER, David Boies, marriage equality, Ninth Circuit Court., Perry v Schwarzenengger, Proposition 8, Ted Olson

Reposted from Joe

Today in Weird and Creepy Bahaí Video: A Grievous Error

Via JMG: MAP: Gay Oppression In Africa

(Source)

Labels: Africa, Hillary Clinton, LGBT rights

reposted from Joe

Scott Fujita for Americans for Marriage Equality

Via JMG: FRC Applauds Perry's Anti-Gay Hate

Labels: hate groups, Rick Perry, Tony Perkins

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Pentagon: Calm Down Wingnuts, It'll Still Be Against The Rules To Fuck Horses

After a week of nonstop wingnut dumbassery, today the Pentagon was forced to issue a clarification on the potential repeal of the military's ban on sodomy.

Conservative groups are upset over a proposed change in the defense bill that would eliminate Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The code states that any person who engages in "unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy." Those found guilty of sodomy would be subject to court martial. The Pentagon said in a statement Friday that all animal abuse, including bestiality, would be considered "prejudicial to good order and discipline" and covered by another section of the military code. Court martial would still be in order.

We'll stand by for retractions from Family Research Council, PETA, Liberty Counsel, etc. Checks watch....

Labels: bestiality, DADT, military, Pentagon

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 10, 2011

The Precepts

To be sure, as humans with a short life span, we cannot know the long-term results of our actions. But recognizing that what we say and do can have repercussions for months, years, or eons, and that we cannot know the “final” outcome of something we think, do or say, Buddhism, like all other major religions, has developed a set of precepts. The precepts have been compared to dikes in a rice field. They hold back and channel the rushing water of our passions so that our life is not flooded, so that smaller and more helpless creatures are not harmed and the harvest of our life’s efforts is not ruined. These precepts prohibit those actions that have a bad outcome and cause harm to ourselves or others almost all of the time.

- Jan Chozen Bays, "What the Buddha Said About Sexual Harassment"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Rick Perry "Strong" Campaign Video Spoof - A Response

Elenor Lives!

Via Gay Poltics Report:

• Do you think the Democratic Party will include support for full marriage equality for LGBT Americans in its 2012 party platform?
• 
  

  No.	64.80%
  Yes.	20.74%
  I'm not sure.	14.46%

Data show Obama should embrace marriage equality now

Washington Post writer Ruth Marcus argues that the politics surrounding marriage rights for gays and lesbians have changed so much that President Barack Obama would be wise to complete his own evolution on the subject and declare his support for marriage equality before the upcoming election. "Mr. President, what better moment will there be? You might lose. A lame-duck proclamation would be lame. If not now, when?" Marcus asks. The Washington Post (12/8)     

JMG Quote Of The Day - Kate Kendell

"If you missed the hearing, count yourself lucky, for hardly ever in one courtroom have we been treated to the level of insult, bigotry, and stigmatizing trash that was presented by those defending Prop 8. [snip] It’s no wonder that the Prop 8 proponents are doing everything they can to distract attention from the real issues in the case and to hide the trial from public view. The proponents were given every opportunity to come forward at trial with any good reason to uphold Prop 8’s treatment of same-sex couples as second-class citizens. They came up empty, so they decided to change the subject.

"On Thursday, the Ninth Circuit appeared to see through at least part of their smokescreen. Regardless of how they rule on releasing the trial video, the judges seem ready to move ahead and decide whether Judge Walker’s decision should be upheld on its merits, not on the basis of unfounded personal attacks on the integrity of the judicial process. The arguments yesterday were hard to hear. The good news is they represent the swan song of our venal and feckless opposition. We are on the verge of sweeping change and after yesterday’s moronic display, that day cannot come soon enough." - Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, writing for the Advocate.

Labels: Kate Kendell, marriage equality, NCLR, Ninth Circuit Court., Proposition 8, Quote Of The Day

Reposted from Joe

Via Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented // The Christian Left:

The Bow

More than a gesture, a bow is an act of veneration -- for ourselves and the universe.- Lama Surya Das

In November 2010, when we returned from Brasil to Sacramento, and I was walking with Milton thru the terminal toward baggage claim, there was a sense of accomplishment, and not a little dread. My head and heard were conflicted… selling all our things, telling folks goodbye, moving what we wanted to keep… the list was growing with each step.

Accomplishment, because we had both successfully completed the concurso to become professors at UFOP, and dread… a feeling that “ok, you got what you asked for”. I was exhausted, very emotional, very excited and happy… and suddenly, in the old crowded terminal, there was a Buddhist monk sitting, just as I walked by him he looked up, and instinctively I quickly placed my hands together and bowed to him… he looked back at me and bowed back.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Buddhism/2000/06/Bowing-To-The-Buddha-Within.aspx#ixzz1g3exsngX

Pema Chodron: The Propensity To Be Bothered

Via The Raw Story:

Beware of fornicating Santas. (You'll see.) 

 

Colbert: 'Unlike being gay, loving Christmas is not a choice' | The Raw Story

www.rawstory.com

 

In his recent, roundly mocked ad, Texas Governor Rick Perry says that you “don’t have to be in the pew every Sunday to know that something is wrong” with our country in that “gays can serve openly in the military and our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas.”

Via Huffington: Prop 8 OVERTURNED: Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down In California

In a major victory for gay rights activists, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that a voter initiative banning same-sex marriage in California violated the Constitution's equal protection and due process rights clauses.

After a five-month wait, 9th Circuit District Court Judge Vaughn Walker offered a 136-page decision in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, firmly rejecting Proposition 8, which was passed by voters in November 2008.

"Although Proposition 8 fails to possess even a rational basis, the evidence presented at trial shows that gays and lesbians are the type of minority strict scrutiny was designed to protect," Walker ruled.

"Plaintiffs do not seek recognition of a new right. To characterize plaintiffs' objective as "the right to same-sex marriage" would suggest that plaintiffs seek something different from what opposite-sex couples across the state enjoy -- namely, marriage. Rather, plaintiffs ask California to recognize their relationships for what they are: marriages."

read the rest of the article here (woo hoo!)

Via JMG: Prop 8 Hearing Reactions

Lambda Legal

"The Court raked the lawyer for Prop 8's proponents over the coals for their argument that gay judges alone have special obligations to prove their impartiality that no other judge must bear. From the start, this motion was an offensive ploy by the proponents of Prop 8 to distract attention from the unconstitutionality of Prop 8 and the ongoing harm that that measure inflicts upon same-sex couples and their families. But the motion came at the expense of the integrity of the judicial system and the judges who have devoted their lives to public service and ensuring justice. We hope for a swift victory that will put this dangerous and desperate argument out of its misery."

National Center For Lesbian Rights

"It's no wonder that the Prop 8 proponents are doing everything they can to distract attention from the real issues in the Perry case and to hide the trial from public view. The proponents were given every opportunity to come forward at trial with any good reason to uphold Prop 8's treatment of same-sex couples as second-class citizens. They came up empty, so they decided to change the subject. Today, the Ninth Circuit appeared to see through at least part of their smokescreen. Regardless of how they rule on releasing the trial video, the judges seem ready to move ahead and decide whether Judge Walker's decision should be upheld on its merits. They did not seem at all inclined to throw out Judge Walker's detailed and carefully reasoned opinion on the basis of unfounded personal attacks on the integrity of the judicial process."

It's late so more reactions will likely come in the morning. I'll add them then.

Labels: AFER, Lambda Legal, Proposition 8

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: LOS ANGELES: Elderly Marriage Activist Dies Waiting For Prop 8 To Be Overturned

Ed Watson, above left, has died at the age of 78. Watson made national news this year when he expressed his hope that he would be allowed to marry before Alzheimer's Disease robbed him of the ability to recognize Derence, his partner of 40 years.

Gay rights activists lamented Watson's death as a reminder of the harm inflicted on same-sex couples throughout the state because they are denied the right to marry. "It's ironic that he died on the eve of appeals about peripheral issues around a case that should have been settled more than a year ago," said Richard Jacobs, chairman and founder of the gay rights advocacy group Courage Campaign, as he was en route to San Francisco for a hearing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "None of this will matter to Ed or Derence."

Here's the clip the couple made in March.

Labels: activism, gay seniors, obituary, Proposition 8

Reposted from Joe

Jesus Responds To Rick Perry

Via JMG: NBA Protects Gays In New Contract

The NBA has followed the recent example of Major League Baseball and added sexual orientation protections to their players agreement.

“I am pleased to announce that we have concluded the collective bargaining process and have reached an agreement that addresses many significant issues that were challenges to our league,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “This collective bargaining agreement will help us move toward a better business model, a more competitive league and better alignment between compensation and performance.”

And now we get another round of outraged press releases from Tony Perkins.

Labels: gay athletes, NBA, sports

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: NOM To Endorse Gingrich?

Newt Gingrich would like to remind everybody that that marriage is between one man and one woman whom you abandon riddled with cancer on her hospital bed while you fuck the shit out of your mistress whom you later marry and cheat on with a third woman while screaming with Godly moral outrage about the infidelities of the president.

And NOM's Brian Brown, one of the nation's leading "defenders of marriage," an allegedly devout Catholic for whom divorce is forbidden, is raising money to make Gingrich president. Brian Brown: "Everybody is allowed to fuck anybody they want, married or not, as long as they tell Jeebus: 'My bad!' after every adulterous encounter. But not homos. Definitely not homos. They belong to Satan."

Labels: adultery, Brian Brown, fascists, GOP, hate groups, hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich, NOM

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 9, 2011

Be Still in Your Heart

When we wake up to how human life on this planet actually is, and stop running away or building walls in our heart, then we develop a wiser motivation for our life. And we keep waking up as the natural dukkha [suffering] touches us. This means that we sharpen our attention to catch our instinctive reactions of blaming ourselves, blaming our parents, or blaming society; we meditate and access our suffering at its root; and consequently we learn to open and be still in our heart.

- Ajahn Sucitto, "Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via unicornbooty.com: Newt Gingrich’s Sister Tells Rachel Maddow Why She’s Voting for Obama

 Newt Gingrich’s mild mannered sister Candace Gingrich-Jones is the Associate Director of Youth and Campus Outreach for the Human Rights Campaign, and a happily married lesbian woman.

Oh, and a total Obama fan!

Watch in glee as Candace explains to Rachel Maddow why her own brother will not be receiving her vote in the coming election, even if he secures his party’s nomination. Oh, and also feel free to shake your head and make “tsk-tsk” noises at your screen when Candace describes how Newt declined an invitation to attend her wedding.

Candace was at all three of Newt’s (each with a new bride), so it seems like the very least he could do was show up for her one.

make the jump here to read/ listen to the full interview

Via Huffington: Obama: Defense Of Marriage Act Should Be Repealed

President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind a bill that would repeal the federal government's ban on same-sex marriage.

The president has "long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act which continues to have a real impact on families," White House spokesman Jay Carney announced Tuesday.
The president is “proud to support” the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Carney said.

The Obama administration announced in February that it believes the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and would no longer defend it in court.

make the jump here to read the full story

Via JMG: Malawi To Review Anti-Gay Laws

While Hillary Clinton's speech may have angered anti-factions in Nigeria, it appears that it may have the desired effect in Malawi.

Malawi will review a series of controversial laws, including a ban on homosexual acts, Justice Minister Ephraim Chiume has said. Mr Chiume said the review was in response to "public opinion". Western governments criticised Malawi last year for jailing a gay couple on sodomy charges. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US would use foreign aid to encourage countries to decriminalise homosexuality. UK Prime Minister David Cameron expressed a similar view in October, saying that gay rights were a human right.

Labels: Africa, Hillary Clinton, LGBT rights, Malawi

Reposted from Joe

JMG Meme Alert

There are more. (Tipped by Dr. Jeff)

Labels: GOP, Rick Perry, silliness

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Perry Defends "I Hate Gays" Ad

(Via - Igor Volsky)

Labels: assholery, GOP, Rick Perry, theocracy

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Ricky Martin

"I'm very sad about the turn the discussion on Criminal Law is taking in Puerto Rico that proposes the elimination of aggravating factors in cases where crimes are committed out of prejudice toward the victim. They ought to do their homework and review a little the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says that everyone - the citizens - are equal before the law and have, without distinction, the right to equal protection under the law." - Ricky Martin, on Puerto Rico's move to exclude LGBT people from hate crimes protections.

RELATED: Change.org has launched a petition to Puerto Rico's legislators.

Labels: hate crimes, HomoQuotable, Puerto Rico, Ricky Martin

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: TENNESSEE: High School Student Commits Suicide After Anti-Gay Bullying [UPDATED]

Yesterday Tennessee high school student Jacob Rogers killed himself after complaining about anti-gay bullying from his classmates that had forced him to drop out of school. Rogers left suicide notes that included the passwords for his phone and his email so that authorities could view what he had endured.

Friends say that kids bullied Jacob Rogers at Cheatham County Central High School for the past four years, but in the past few months it had become so bad he dropped out of school. And Wednesday, he ended his life. "He started coming home his senior year saying 'I don't want to go back. Everyone is so mean. They call me a faggot, they call me gay, a queer,'" friend Kaelynn Mooningham said. Kaelynn said her friend Jacob felt ignored. "Jacob told me no one was helping him. He constantly was going to guidance," she said. But Cheatham County Schools Director Dr. Tim Webb said the school was only aware of one incident of bullying. "She actually intervened and called the students in accused of bullying or picking. She called them in, talked to them and gave them warnings. Subsequently after that, she ran into the student and asked him if things were better and he indicated that things were better," Webb said.

The above-linked article does not disclose if Rogers was actually gay.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: As noted in the above-linked story, the family of Jacob Rogers does not have the money for a funeral. Today JMG, Towleroad, and Dan Savage at Seattle's Stranger are posting the below Paypal donation link. Savage is capping the donations at $5000. Anything over that amount will go to the Trevor Project, GLSEN, and the It Gets Better Project. I'm kicking in with $20 to get things rolling here. If your situation allows, please consider making a small donation too.

UPDATE II: In less than three hours, the fundraising goal has been met. I don't say it enough, but I love my people. Big bear hugs to all of you.

Labels: bullying, education, suicide, Tennessee

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Brokeback Perry

(Via - George Takei)

Labels: 2012 elections, assholery, GOP, Rick Perry

reposted from Joe

JMG Headline Of The Day Headline Of The Day:

It's the Daily Mail, so grain of salt and all that.

Labels: adultery, GOP, hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: This Is The Rick Perry Strategist GOProud's Jimmy LaSalvia Is Complaining About

His name is Tony Fabrizio. Politico reported on him in October.

Tony Fabrizio, a veteran strategist and pollster, is joining the Rick Perry campaign, sources tell me. Fabrizio was the chief strategist and pollster for Bob Dole's 1996 presidential run. His other recent clients have included Tim Pawlenty and Rick Scott. Fabrizio joins another Dole alum, Nelson Warfield, and media strategist Curt Anderson, whose hires by Team Perry went public last night. A national pollster had been a major missing piece for Perry, who is trying to adjust his message and fix his campaign's woes for the coming truncated primary fight.

The Miami Herald reports that in addition to working for FL Gov. Rick Scott, Fabrizio has worked for gay rights groups.

Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, who has worked for gay-rights advocates in the past, has become the target of criticism among gay activists who opposed the Texas governor's latest Iowa ad that takes a swipe at the end of the Don't Ask Don't Tell military policy. '"This is the dilemma for working in the Republican Party: the candidates need to appeal to the far right and that sometimes means bashing the gay community," said Stephen Gaskill, a former spokesman for the Florida Red and Blue committee that unsuccessfully tried to block a 2008 Florida constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Fabrizio was the Republican pollster hired by Florida Red and Blue, which paid his firm more than $264,000. Fabrizio also lives in one of the friendliest of gay towns, Miami Beach, where he has a South Beach condominium. Fabrizio, who said by email that he couldn't chat this morning, was just quoted in the Huffington Post as having opposed the Perry ad, which he described as "nuts" in an email to Perry ad man Nelson Warfield, a longtime friend of Fabrizio's. Both men were top advisors to Rick Scott in his gubernatorial campaign last year.

UPDATE: How's this for some cognitive dissonance?

"It is the height of hypocrisy for Tony Fabrizio to have been a part of that," said Jimmy LaSalvia, co-founder and executive director of GOProud. "He has lined his pockets for years with money from the gay community to conduct polls to ostensibly help gay people in this country, and for him to be a part of this is the height of Washington hypocrisy. It is absolutely what is wrong with Washington. It is all about the payday for these people."

For his part, Fabrizio tells the Huffington Post while he was "uncomfortable" with the ad, he won't comment otherwise. "If you start answering personal attacks, you are just rewarding the attacker."

Labels: GOP, GOProud, Jimmy LaSalvia, Rick Perry

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: London Gay Chorus: Coming Out At Xmas

JMG reader Ray tips us to this hilarious 2006 bit from the London Gay Men's Chorus, which I've somehow missed all these years.

Labels: coming out, I Love My People, London, Xmas

Reposted from Joe