Favor vota Não! / Please vote no! Uma violenta campanha homofóbica!Favor entrar no site abaixo e votar sobre a definição de familia.

Assunto: Uma violenta campanha homofóbica!

Amigos e amigas

Está correndo na internet esta mensagem:

A Câmara dos Deputados está promovendo uma enquete querendo saber se:

"Você concorda com a definição de família como núcleo formado a partir da união entre homem e mulher, prevista no projeto que cria o Estatuto da Família?" Vote sim. E divulgue o máximo que puder

http://www2.camara.leg.br/agencia-app/votarEnquete/enquete/101CE64E-8EC3-436C-BB4A-457EBC94DF4E

Vote urgente no sim - em menos de 1 minuto.REPASSE para seus CONTATOS.Podemos votar pelo celular!!Não deixe de votar para preservar o conceito de família.

Às pessoas que me mandaram esta mensagem devolvi o seguinte:

Devagar com o andor que o santo é de barro, amigos e amigas. A definição de família é uma questão muito complexa. A proposta de que se vote "sim" é simplista e não leva a sério as inúmeras facetas da realidade humana e das questões de gênero. Está sendo propugnada por grupos homofóbicos que não têm a menor consideração para com os sentimentos e valores das pessoas homossexuais, como se estas fossem incapazes de demonstrar amor e de educar as crianças que vierem a adotar como seus filhos. Na realidade - a família existente hoje, composta de um homem e uma mulher - tem se revelado um verdadeiro fracasso no amar e no educar seus filhos. Quem é capaz de negar isso? Então uma coisa nada tem a ver com a outra.

Não se deixem condicionar pela campanha homofóbica que se esboça no Brasil hoje. Não deixem que alguém lhes diga como deve votar. Votem com consciência e especialmente com amor para com todas as pessoas - LGBT inclusive - e com consideração para com seus sentimentos. Imagine se você fosse uma destas pessoas e se visse impedida de formar uma família? Não julguemos as pessoas de acordo com as pressuposições e preconceitos de nossa hipócrita sociedade.

Repasso a vocês pedindo-lhes que, ao contrário dos que recomendam os homofóbicos - que estão votando no sim de forma maciça - entrem no link acima e votem no espírito de amor e inclusão que caracteriza a fé cristã mais genuína. Eu já votei NÃO!

Sérgio Marcus Pinto Lopes

(assinatura automática)

Prof. Dr. Sérgio Marcus Pinto Lopes
Tradutor e Intérprete
http://terrafirmetraducoeserevisoes.blogspot.com.br/

The Baha'i Faith Continues to be Homophobic

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicholas-snow/brokenhearted-bahais-lgbt_b_7111164.html

Today's Daily Dharma:More than Bare Attention

More than Bare Attention

When mindfulness is equated with bare attention, it can easily lead to the misconception that the cultivation of mindfulness has nothing to do with ethics or with the cultivation of wholesome states of mind and the attenuation of unwholesome states. Nothing could be further from the truth.   -  B. Alan Wallace, "A Mindful Balance"

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Via JMG: EEOC Rules That Anti-Gay Workplace Discrimination Is Barred By Existing Law

 

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that existing civil rights law bars sexual orientation-based employment discrimination — a groundbreaking decision to advance legal protections for gay, lesbian, and bisexual workers. “[A]llegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex,” the commission concluded in a decision dated July 15.
The independent commission addressed the question of whether the ban on sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars anti-LGB discrimination in a complaint brought by a Florida-based air traffic control specialist against Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx.
The ruling — approved by a 3-2 vote of the five-person commission — applies to federal employees’ claims directly, but it also applies to the entire EEOC, which includes its offices across the nation that take and investigate claims of discrimination in private employment. While only the Supreme Court could issue a definitive ruling on the interpretation, EEOC decisions are given significant deference by federal courts.

The Human Rights Campaign reacts:

"Discrimination has no place in America, plain and simple," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "This historic ruling by the EEOC makes clear they agree workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, much like gender identity, is illegal. While an important step, it also highlights the need for a comprehensive federal law permanently and clearly banning LGBT discrimination beyond employment to all areas of American life. Such a law would send a clear and permanent signal that discrimination against LGBT people will not be tolerated under any circumstances in this country, and we remain fully committed to making that happen."
In a 2012 decision in Macy v. Holder, the EEOC determined that discrimination based on an individual's gender identity is sex discrimination and thus constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act. EEOC rulings are not binding on federal courts, however they are persuasive. This new decision continues an important trend in the development of case law. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on this issue. HRC continues to advocate for permanent and explicit, legislated non-discrimination protections at all levels of government for LGBT people.

Lambda Legal reacts:

“This landmark opinion from the EEOC confirms what we have long argued in our cases: discriminating against gay, lesbian and bisexual employees violates federal law. This ruling is likely to have enormous positive effects because EEOC interpretations of Title VII are highly persuasive to the courts—they tend to be predictive. Given the clarity and logic of this opinion, most courts are likely to stop simply referring to old, illogical rulings about Title VII coverage. A few may disagree, but most probably will be guided by the Commission’s straightforward approach,” said Greg Nevins, Counsel and Employment Fairness Strategist for Lambda Legal. Lambda Legal has been working for years on cases showing why Title VII, when properly understood, protects LGBT employees. This EEOC decision cites some of Lambda Legal’s recent work on this issue and it will be immensely significant in this continuing work.

While this will likely end up before the Supreme Court, it seems like today's ruling could ultimately mean a win in the decades-long battle for Congress to pass ENDA.

Labels: EEOC, employment, ENDA, LGBT rights

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Today's Daily Dharma: Light Gives Forth Light

Light Gives Forth Light

When we share our light with others, we do not diminish our own light. Rather, we increase the amount of light available to all. Therefore, when others light our candle, we issue forth light. When out of gratitude we use our candle to light other people’s candles, the whole room gets brighter.   -  Master Sheng Yen, "Rich Generosity"

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Via Wickedgay Blog:

Via JMG: Marriage Arrives In Puerto Rico

Labels: marriage equality, Obergefell, Puerto Rico

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: Siri: Call Her Caitlyn Jenner

 

Apple has given Siri new instructions:

Siri is as witty as she is intelligent. The voice that lives inside your iPhone will now subtly correct your improper use of "Bruce" when you ask about Caitlyn Jenner. Apple's virtual assistant has been updated to make sure it won't misuse Jenner's correct name and gender when asked for more information on the athlete and reality star. Jenner, who unveiled her transition officially in Vanity Fair's July issue, no longer goes by the name "Bruce," and Siri is going to make sure you're well aware of that.

The update came via a company called Wolfram Alpha.

Labels: Apple, Caitlyn Jenner, internet, smartphones

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: Justice Anthony Kennedy Compares Marriage Uproar To Flag Burning Ruling

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy yesterday compared to the right wing uproar to his Obergefell opinion to the public outcry which followed the court's ruling that flag burning is a form of free speech. 

Kennedy, who was the deciding vote in both cases, described how the reaction decades ago was critical at first but changed over time. His remarks at the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference were his first public comments since he wrote the decision last month that put an end to same-sex marriage bans in 14 states. Kennedy drew the comparison in response to a moderator's question about how justices weather reaction to closely watched rulings. "Eighty senators went to the floor of the Senate to denounce the court," he said of the 1989 ruling. "President Bush took the week off and visited flag factories, but I noticed that after two or three months people began thinking about the issues."

Kennedy believes that controversial rulings such as Obergefell "draw down on a capital of trust" which the court replenishes with less controversial rulings.

Labels: Anthony Kennedy, Obergefell, SCOTUS

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Homofóbicos podem receber multa de até R$ 60 mil no RJ

Diversos casais foram agredidos no Rio de Janeiro nos últimos meses

Na prática, homofóbicos podem receber multa de até R$ 60 mil caso pratiquem discriminação. O texto define como discriminação impedir o acesso ou permanência de homossexuais em determinados locais, impor tratamento diferenciado ou cobrar tarifa extra, recusar ou dificultar o ingresso de aluno em estabelecimento de ensino público ou privado, negar oportunidades de trabalho, impedir acesso ao transporte público e induzir ou incitar pelos meios de comunicação social a discriminação, preconceito ou prática de atos de violência ou coação contra qualquer pessoa em virtude de preconceito de sexo e de orientação sexual.

A lei visa proteger gays, lésbicas e bissexuais, mas não cita transexuais. A medida também não se aplica a instituições religiosas. Leia a reportagem completa no G1.

• 5 comerciais que deram um tapa na cara da homofobia

Caitlyn Jenner Takes ESPYs By Storm: 'Trans People Deserve Something Vital. They Deserve Your Respect'

In her first public appearance since announcing her decision to transition, Caitlyn Jenner mesmerized the crowd at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday as she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/caitlyn-jenner-espys-arthur-ashe-award_55a568a0e4b0896514cf9116

Homosexuality: It's Time We Reconcile Our Beliefs with Scientific Evidence and 21st Century Values

The Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage here in the United States has caused a stir not just among conservatives and religious fanatics here but in many parts of the Muslim world as well. 
 
It is a good thing we are discussing a topic rarely brought up in Muslim communities. 

Many with same-sex preferences in our communities are forced into heterosexual relationships or treated as outcasts and sometimes even driven to suicide, because we have trouble accepting homosexuality.

Make the jump here to read the full article

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 16/07/2015

“A vida humana neste planeta é como um jogo, um jogo divino. Cada um, enquanto indivíduo, está em uma casa do jogo, mas também enquanto humanidade nos encontramos em determinada posição. O ponto de partida é o estado de total ignorância a respeito da nossa verdadeira identidade e das consequências disso em nossas vidas. Vamos passando por diversas casas que oferecem diferentes oportunidades de aprendizado, até que chegamos ao fim do jogo, quando finalmente temos a lembrança de quem somos e do que viemos fazer aqui.”

“Human life on this planet is like a divine game. As individuals, each of us occupies one spot on the board game, while humanity as a whole also occupies a certain position on the board. The game’s starting point is the state of total ignorance of our true identity and the consequences it has for our lives. We move from one spot to the next in the game, with each square providing us different opportunities for learning. Ultimately, we reach the end of the game, which is when we finally remember who we are and what we have come here to do.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Effective Practice

Effective Practice

 

We have two faces: our intrinsic nature and our reactive patterns—the bad habits of the psyche. Effective practice mirrors both, gradually revealing our nature, while at the same time, clarifying what obstructs it.

 

-  Anne Klein, "Across the Expanse"

 

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/across-expanse

Via JMG: God Vs Scott Walker

Labels: 2016 elections, GOP, religion, Scott Walker

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 15/07/2015

“A mentira é o aspecto mais sutil do eu inferior. No núcleo central da mentira está a ideia da vítima, pois ela faz a entidade acreditar estar sozinha e isolada. Essa camada do véu de ilusão produz a ideia de eu e meu. E a partir daí nasce a carência, com todos os seus incontáveis desdobramentos.”

“La mentira es el aspecto más sutil del yo inferior. En el núcleo central de la mentira está la idea de víctima, porque ésta hace a la entidad creer estar sola y aislada. Esta capa del velo de ilusión produce la idea de yo y mío. Y a partir de ahí nace la carencia, con todos sus incontables desdoblamientos.”

“Deceit is the most subtle aspect of the lower self. At the center of deceit is the idea of the victim, which makes human beings believe that they are alone and isolated. This layer of the veil produces the idea of ‘me’ and ‘mine’. From here, neediness is born, along with all its other countless unfoldings.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Accepting Groundlessness

Accepting Groundlessness

I see that a lot of us are just running around in circles pretending that there's ground where there actually isn't any ground. And that somehow, if we could learn to not be afraid of groundlessness, not be afraid of insecurity and uncertainty, it would be calling on an inner strength that would allow us to be open and free and loving and compassionate in any situation.   -  Pema Chödrön, "The Ground under Our Feet"

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Via WGB: Italian Sports Magazine Faces Backlash Over Gay Rugby Cover

"An Italian sports magazine has sparked outrage among readers after putting a gay rugby couple on its cover.

The cover of the 11 July edition of SportWeek features Giacomo and Stefano – teammates in life and in gay-friendly amateur Rome squad Libera Rugby – with the headline: ‘Who’s afraid of a kiss?’

Going by the backlash on social media, it would appear a lot of the magazine’s readers.

‘That’s disgusting,’ tweeted one fan.

‘You’re painfully conformist and ideological,’ wrote another.

The hate was balanced out with supportive comments, many seeing the cover as a positive challenge to the homophobia rampant in Italian sport.

‘I’m not afraid,’ wrote a Twitter user, ‘but many Italians are, and its fear and ignorance that create homophobia.’" Full story here via Gay Star News!

WGB: I think we need to send Ben Cohen to Italy STAT to talk with these homophobes!

Via WGB: The Senate voted DOWN a measure to end harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

Senate Republicans Just Said 'FUCK YOU' to LGBT Kids Who are Bullied!

 
David Badash just provided an insightful update on today's vote: 

"Literally, 45 Republicans – and only Republicans – all voted to let LGBTQ kids continue to be bullied and discriminated against in our nation's school. Six Republican Senators did cross the aisle to vote for Sen. Franken's legislation, an amendment attached to a bill updating No Child Left Behind – an appropriate gesture, in fact, but eight more Republicans were needed to bring to vote to 60 "yeas."
The Washington Post credits Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander with leading the charge against Sen. Franken's SENDA legislation, the Student Nondiscrimination Act, claiming it would lead to “costly lawsuits.”
Apparently, fear of possible lawsuits outweighs Senator Alexander's concern about the actual emotional and physical harm being visited upon LGBTQ youth.
Here's the list of all U.S. Senators who this afternoon voted to allow our nation's LGBTQ youth to continue to be bullied – these are the NAY's. You'll notice that each NAY is from a Republican Senator, headed by Sen. Alexander:

Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Blunt (R-MO) Boozman (R-AR) Burr (R-NC) Capito (R-WV) Cassidy (R-LA) Coats (R-IN) Cochran (R-MS) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Cotton (R-AR) Crapo (R-ID) Cruz (R-TX) Daines (R-MT)

Enzi (R-WY) Ernst (R-IA) Fischer (R-NE) Flake (R-AZ) Gardner (R-CO) Grassley (R-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Hoeven (R-ND) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Lankford (R-OK) Lee (R-UT) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Moran (R-KS)

Paul (R-KY) Perdue (R-GA) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Rounds (R-SD) Sasse (R-NE) Scott (R-SC) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Sullivan (R-AK) Thune (R-SD) Tillis (R-NC) Toomey (R-PA) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS)

Here's the list of all the US Senators who voted to help protect LGBTQ youth from bullying – these are the YEAs:

Ayotte (R-NH) Baldwin (D-WI) Bennet (D-CO) Blumenthal (D-CT) Booker (D-NJ) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Collins (R-ME) Coons (D-DE) Donnelly (D-IN) Durbin (D-IL) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY)

Heinrich (D-NM) Heitkamp (D-ND) Heller (R-NV) Hirono (D-HI) Johnson (R-WI) Kaine (D-VA) King (I-ME) Kirk (R-IL) Klobuchar (D-MN) Leahy (D-VT) Manchin (D-WV) Markey (D-MA) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK) Murphy (D-CT)

Murray (D-WA) Peters (D-MI) Portman (R-OH) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Sanders (I-VT) Schatz (D-HI) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Warren (D-MA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

Not voting were U.S. Republican Senators and 2016 presidential candidates Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio. FULL DETAILS AND BACKGROUND ON THE BILL!

WGB: The Senate voted DOWN a measure to end harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. Forty-five senators voted no, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. I AM SICK TO MY STOMACH OVER THIS!

Photo above: The image is made of silhouettes of real boys and girls who committed suicide because they were bullied for being gay, or because they were thought to be.

This animated map shows how religion spread across the world.

Promoted Music 18 Times Björk Was Right About Everything: 9

http://www.buzzfeed.com/perpetua/bjork-was-right#.iukkLNXvWhttp://www.buzzfeed.com/perpetua/bjork-was-right#.iukkLNXvW

Via JMG: GLAD Sues Walmart Over Spousal Benefits

Via press release:

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) have filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart, charging the retail giant with discriminating against employees who were married to same-sex spouses by denying their spouses health insurance benefits. The Complaint was filed this morning in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and can be read here.

The lawsuit, Jacqueline Cote, et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the first class action filed on behalf of gay workers since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, and alleges that Walmart violated Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act by discriminating against Jaqueline Cote based on her sex. The action seeks to demonstrate how existing federal law can be used to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) workers.

The class representative, Jacqueline (Jackie) Cote, works in Walmart's Swansea, MA store, and was denied spousal health insurance for her wife, Diana (Dee) Smithson. Dee has battled ovarian cancer since 2012. Due to Walmart's sex discrimination, Dee lacked health insurance to pay for her treatment and has racked up a minimum of $150,000 in uninsured medical expenses.

The couple has been together for 33 years.

Labels: GLAD, marriage equality, Obergefell, Walmart

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: UNAIDS Report: Eight Million Lives Saved Globally Since Year 2000

NBC News reports:

The world has made "extraordinary progress" against AIDS, slashing the rate of new infections by more than a third and saving nearly 8 million lives since 2000, a new report finds. Fifteen years of work to make sure more people get drugs that can keep them healthy and keep them from infecting others has had spectacular effects on the pandemic that has killed nearly 40 million people, the United Nations AIDS agency UNAIDS says in its report. Distribution of condoms has averted around 50 million new HIV infections since the HIV pandemic started in the 1980s, and other programs to educate people about how HIV spreads and to encourage safe sex have helped, also. "The world has delivered on halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic," said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

But temper your celebrations because more than a million are still dying every year. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

 

Labels: HIV/AIDS, science, UNAIDS, WHO

Reposted from Joe Jervis

The Buddha - Documentary

The Crazy Simple Wisdom Of Ho’oponopono

“Why forgive one who wrongs you? Because if you angrily strike back you misrepresent your own divine soul nature—you are no better than your offender. But if you manifest spiritual strength you are blessed, and the power of your righteous behavior will also help the other person to overcome his misunderstanding.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

A Kahuna is a “keeper of secrets” in the ancient Hawaiian tradition, and they practice a special healing art called Ho’oponopono. Within their glossary of loving attention and creative action, problems are solved and stress is reduced by accessing information in ways that are not ‘traditional.’

A descendant of Queen Liluokalani and a native Hawaiian, Morrnah Simeona has been invited to teach her wisdom as a Kahuna all over the world. She explains:

We are the sum total of our experiences, which is to say that we are burdened by our pasts. When we experience stress or fear in our lives, if we would look carefully, we would find that the cause is actually a memory. It is the emotions which are tied to these memories which affect us now. The subconscious associates an action or person in the present with something that happened in the past. When this occurs, emotions are activated and stress is produced.

Four Little Phrases

Though the Kahuna use many devices to impart their wisdom, Ho’oponopono is on the top of their list of effective tools. It involves primarily utilizing just four little phrases and a conscious look at an issue to evoke new insights and forgiveness. These are:

Please forgive me.
I’m sorry.
I love you.
Thank you.

It is profoundly straightforward wisdom, but really difficult for many of us to practice.

In this ridiculously simple system, there is no need to analyze, solve, manage, or cope with problems. You simply offer them to Divine Mind in the context of please, thank you, I love you, and I’m sorry.

In my many years living in Hawaii I saw this simple practice work effectively over and over again. It was uncanny how the ‘aloha spirit’ that tourists and locals alike in Hawaii gloat about was perpetuated through ideas like Ho’oponopono. Total strangers became friends in no time, and saying ‘I love you’ was an everyday occurrence. Saying ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘thank you’ was continuous music to my ears, and this inspired in me – a formerly mainland dwelling, break-neck speed, egoic-go-getter, to cool my jets and enjoy the trade winds. I slowed down long enough to see that I was creating so much of my own stress. It inspired me to forgive – even when that forgiveness needed to be directed toward myself.

Clearing Karmic Patterns

Now, as a yoga teacher, I use Morrnah’s advice aimed at those in the healing profession:

It is important to clear Karmic patterns with your clients before you start working with them, so that you don’t activate old stuff between you. Perhaps you shouldn’t be working with that person at all. Only the Divinity knows. If you work with a person and it isn’t your business, you can take on the person’s entire problem and everything associated with it. This can cause burnout. The Ho’oponopono gives the tools to prevent that from happening.

Peace, Pono, Practice

Matthew P. James, PhD had the great luck to study Huna, the ancient healing art which also uses Ho’oponopono, with the late Uncle George Na’ope who was named by the State of Hawaii as a Golden Living Treasure. His family was chosen to carry on a distinct lineage within the Huna tradition. In an article written for Psychology Today he says:

We’ve been led to believe for so many years that we are disempowered, that we live at the whim of circumstances around us. No doubt external factors – the loss of a job, our health or an important relationship – can affect our outlook. Yet there are some basic ideas from Hawaiian culture that we can reclaim to tap into a sense of empowerment, peace, Pono.

As someone who was blessed to live and work with individuals that embodied the best of the Hawaiian culture, I can enthusiastically support this crazy simple wisdom. I hope we all practice it collectively more often, no matter our cultural background.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that in some cases, forgiveness implies judgement, that something “wrong” has been done. Instead of thinking in terms of “right” and “wrong,” it’s better to view these instances as experiences, stepping stones and opportunities.

Make the jump here to to read the full article

Love Always Wins - Mikey Wax (Feat. Prophecy) #LoveWins

Via WGB: SERIOUSLY??? County In Missouri To Lower Flags “Below Half Staff” To Mourn Same-Sex Marriage

Elected officials in Dent County, Missouri, are so upset over the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision to legalize same-sex marriage that they voted Monday to lower flags “just below half staff” once a month for the next year in a public show of mourning.

“I just want anybody who sees that to be reminded we find it revolting that the Supreme Court has ruled in this manner,” Dent County Commissioner Darrell Skiles, who sponsored the proposal, told BuzzFeed News.

The three-member commission unanimously approved the proposal to lower the U.S. and state flags at the county court house and judiciary building — the same location where couples obtain marriage licenses.

“May all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty,” said the proposal, which Skiles said he hand-wrote on a piece of paper, added to the meeting agenda, and brought up for a vote. “We feel sadness, shame, and outright revulsion of the U.S. high court’s stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination.”

Full story here via Buzzfeed news!

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 14/07/2015

“Injustiças sempre existiram e sempre existirão neste mundo. Mas, o karma cuida disso. É preciso confiar nessa lei espiritual; confiar que o grande mistério está cuidando disso. Você só cuida da parte que lhe cabe - tudo o que não consegue compreender, você entrega, deixando o rio te levar. O que você pode fazer é simplesmente não se opor ao fluxo e desistir de fazer justiça com as próprias mãos.”

“Injusticias siempre existieron y siempre existirán en este mundo. Pero el karma cuida de esto. Es necesario confiar en esta ley espiritual, confiar que el gran misterio está cuidando de esto. Tú solo cuidas de la parte que te cabe – todo lo que no consigues comprender, lo entregas, dejando al río llevarte. Lo que puedes hacer es simplemente no oponerte al flujo y desistir de hacer justicia con tus propias manos.”

“Injustice has always existed and will always exist in the world. But karma takes care of this. It is necessary to trust in this spiritual law. Trust that the Great Mystery is caring for this. We only have to take care of our own part, surrendering everything else that we cannot understand so that the river may carry us. All we can do is simply not oppose the flow and let go of the need to take justice into our own hands.”

Today's Daily Dharma: The Importance of Friendship

The Importance of Friendship

When you have a deep, deep friendship with someone, you don’t only care, “Is this good for me?” You care for them naturally. I believe it’s completely natural to have such love, compassion, and kindness. . . . This feeling transcends lay and monastic communities. It is vital to developing the deep heart of lovingkindness in the context of dedication to dharma.   -  Ayya Tathaaloka, "The Whole of the Spiritual Life"

Read More

Via Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: The real story behind lgbt equality struggle is being ignored

For over three decades, anti-gay groups created this false image of the gay community.

Last night, I made the discovery that my work was used in a letter to the editor in the Grand Forks Herald:

The Huffington Post's Alvin McEwan characterizes the ACP as "a sham group camouflaging religious right distortion as legitimate research" and cites University of Minnesota professor Greg Remafedi, who claims the group has "distorted his work." And in fact, the list of scientists whose research has been distorted to support the religious right's bigotry against the LGBT community is staggering.

It was pretty cool to be cited and obviously the young lady read my online booklet, How They See Us, because she cited info from page 10 regarding the list of researchers whose work have been distorted by the anti-gay right.

But then the euphoria faded and I got a bit angry. Not at her, mind you, but the situation in general.

On two pages, I listed at least 12 examples over a number of years in which anti-gay groups and personalities have been caught lying about or distorting research.  How in the world did the media, including ours, miss this?

Do journalists dig for information anymore? While we busy ourselves with esoteric terms, while those who claim to be our allies (i.e. Kirsten Powers) write sloppy books hoping to follow the trend of fake pity for anti-gay groups and organizations who finally themselves out of the mainstream, and while those same anti-gay groups and organizations (and their allies at places such as Fox News) spin false stories of anti-Christian persecution at places such as bakeries, the real story seems to be getting ignored.

That real story is the over 30 year history of lies, distortions, and bearing of false witness by anti-gay groups designed to stigmatize the lgbt community.  Until THAT story is told, no matter how many victories we win, the lgbt community will always find ourselves on the defensive, trying to justify not only our existence but our right to have a normal life.

Via Towerlroad: LGBT Activist in Paraguay Says Historic First Meeting with Pope Francis Was ‘Very Productive’

A Paraguayan LGBT activist is in high spirits after his historic public meeting with Pope Francis over the weekend.

The Washington Blade reports Simón Cazal, who heads Paraguay’s LGBT group SOMOSGAY, was among the 1,600 civil society leaders who met with Francis in the capital of Asunción on Saturday.

Cazal told the Washington Blade during a Skype interview after the meeting that Francis did not “directly” refer to LGBT-specific issues, but “he did mention others in which they are included.” Media reports indicate the pontiff was sharply critical of Paraguayan Catholic officials.

“There are no people of first, of second or third class,” said Francis, according to a tweet that Cazal posted to his Twitter account after the meeting. “Dignity is for everyone.”

Cazal added that the pope’s speech was “very productive” and focused on the church embracing diversity in the idea of “family.” 
In a separate interview with Buzzfeed, Cazal stated his belief that after the meeting the church “has put itself on our side – there is no way to discount that.”

This was the pope’s first ever meeting with an LGBT activist. Back in March, Francis dined with LGBT inmates at an Italian prison.

Watch a video of Cazal speak with CNN before his historic meeting here.

Make the jump here to read the original

Sexismo, preconceito e desumanização | Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on sexism and buddhist nuns

JMG Viral Video Of The Day

"Two guys pretend to be homosexuals in Russia." Nearly 900K views at this writing. Click on the closed captioning.

(Tipped by JMG reader Ray)

Labels: LGBT rights, Russia, viral video

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Today's Daily Dharma: The Intention beneath Belief

The Intention beneath Belief

Buddhadharma is all about intention. Intention doesn't always play out the way you think it's going to, but if your intention is right and your mindset is not one of anger or ill will or hatred, if the intention is to relieve dukkha, it makes all the difference.   -  Hae Doh Gary Schwocho, "Beneath Belief"

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Today's Daily Dharma: How We Use the Mind

How We Use the Mind

The mind is very powerful. There's a tremendous strength there, and it makes such a big difference how this mind, this will, this intention is being steered. And everything depends on whether it allows itself to relax and be serene, or whether it allows itself to get caught up in anxiety, grasping, and fear; it makes a difference if you do something with a relaxed, easygoing frame of mind, or if you do it in a harried and distracted way.   -  Mingyur Rinpoche, "The Easy Middle"

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Via JMG: CHILE: Civil Union Signups Begin

CHILE: Civil Union Signups Begin

 

Pink News reports:

Gay couples flocked to civil registry offices in Chile to schedule the first same-sex civil unions since they were approved in the country earlier this year. Thursday (July 9) was the first day that couples could apply for the licence, after a bill approving same-sex civil unions was signed by the country’s President Michelle Bachelet back in April. The first same-sex civil ceremonies will take place in October, and while the LGBT community in Chile still fights for the right to marry, many see this as the first step on the to gaining full equal rights for sam-sex couples. Many couples took to Twitter to share their joy and excitement, as well as to announce the date on which their ceremonies will take place.

RELATED: Elsewhere in South America same-sex marriage is legal in Argentina, Brazil, French Guiana, and Uruguay. Civil unions are legal in Colombia and Ecuador. A same-sex marriage lawsuit is pending before the Venezuelan Supreme Court. Homosexual acts remain illegal in Guyana, but nowhere else on the continent.

Labels: Chile, civil unions, South America

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Daily Dharma (August 12, 2010 ):

Today’s Daily Dharma:

THIS I BELIEVE: That phenomena do not have any kind of demonstrable, intrinsic existence. That anything that is the composite sum of other parts is, logically, impermanent. That suffering is a given in any form of existence where confusion and ignorance are present. That when confusion and ignorance have been definitively eliminated, and goodness, caring, and wisdom have entirely taken their place, that is true happiness.

-Pamela White, "A Slow, True Path" (Winter 2008)

Read the complete article here.