According to a just-published CBS poll,
almost two-thirds of all Americans support some form of relationship
recognition for same-sex couples. The real number to watch is that
18-44 age range. Time is on our side, always.Monday, May 14, 2012
Via JMG: CBS Poll: 62% Of Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage Or Civil Unions
According to a just-published CBS poll,
almost two-thirds of all Americans support some form of relationship
recognition for same-sex couples. The real number to watch is that
18-44 age range. Time is on our side, always.
Via JMG: Gallup: Gay Is The New Normal
Gallup reports today: The slight majority of American adults, 54%, consider gay or lesbian relations morally acceptable. Public acceptance of gay/lesbian relations as morally acceptable grew slowly but steadily from 38% in 2002 to 56% in 2011 and is now holding at the majority level. This Gallup trend mirrors the growth in public support for legalizing gay marriage, which has risen from 42% support in 2004 to 50% or greater support in the last two years. Americans' support for gay rights on both questions leveled off in this year's Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 3-6.
Via JMG: Rhode Island To Recognize Gay Marriages
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee today ordered all state agencies to officially recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other jurisdictions. The executive order is expected to have many real-world implications. Same-sex spouses of state employees and anyone covered by an insurance company regulated in Rhode Island will be entitled to health and life insurance benefits, gay rights advocates say. Both partners in a same-sex couple will be able to list their names as parents on a child’s birth certificate, and same-sex couples will be entitled to sales tax exemptions on the transfer of property including vehicles. One couple who attended the signing ceremony — married in neighboring Massachusetts — described their disappointment of not being able to list both their names on their son’s birth certificate. “For our next child, we won’t have to go through the same kind of turmoil,” Martha Holt Castle said.Yay, guv!
RELATED: Civil unions have been legal in Rhode Island since last year.
Baha'i Rants: Pathology of Homosexuality
Image credit: Barat Ali Batoor
Pathology of Homosexuality
Unfortunately the exact practice that Baha’u'llah was referring to cryptically is still being practiced today in Afghanistan. You can watch the PBS domentary following the above link as well as find a brief update on the situation from this recent Washington Post article.
Make the jump here to read the full article
Via Practicing the Presence through Mind and Meditation / Facebook:
By Practicing the Presence through Mind and Meditation
Daily Mantra:
"Every day, think as you wake up, "Today I am fortunate to have woken
up. I am alive, I have a precious human life. I am not going to waste
it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my
heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all
beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going
to get angry, or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others
as much as I can."
- His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma May 14, 2012
Using All Available Emotions
There’s
no such thing as never getting angry. Enlightenment can and does use
all the available emotions. The idea that enlightenment means sitting
around with a beatific smile on our faces is just an illusion.
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Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma May 13, 2012
The Safety of our Buddhanature
Love
and compassion make us feel safe because they express the safety of
their source—the deep buddhanature within us, the unchanging inner space
of primal awareness that cannot be harmed.
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- John Makransky, "Aren't We Right to Be Angry?"
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Via JMG: LEAKED GOP MEMO: It's Time To Let Go Of Fighting Against Same-Sex Marriage
Politico has published a just-leaked memo from an insider on Dubya's 2004 reelection team. In the light of Obama's "evolution," this guy now says that GOP strategists should abandon the losing battle against same-sex marriage.
Background: in view of this week’s news on the same sex marriage issue, here is a summary of recent survey findings on same sex marriage:Read the full memo.
Recommendation: A statement reflecting recent developments on this issue along the following lines:
- Support for same sex marriage has been growing and in the last few years support has grown at an accelerated rate with no sign of slowing down. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009 support for gay marriage increased at a rate of 1% a year. Starting in 2010 the change in the level of support accelerated to 5% a year. The most recent public polling shows supporters of gay marriage outnumber opponents by a margin of roughly 10% (for instance: NBC / WSJ poll in February / March: support 49%, oppose 40%).
- The increase in support is taking place among all partisan groups. While more Democrats support gay marriage than Republicans, support levels among Republicans are increasing over time. The same is true of age: younger people support same sex marriage more often than older people, but the trends show that all age groups are rethinking their position.
- Polling conducted among Republicans show that majorities of Republicans and Republican leaning voters support extending basic legal protections to gays and lesbians. These include majority Republican support for:
- Protecting gays and lesbians against being fired for reasons of sexual orientation
- Protections against bullying and harassment
- Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
- Right to visit partners in hospitals
- Protecting partners against loss of home in case of severe medical emergencies or death
- Legal protection in some form for gay couples whether it be same sex marriage or domestic partnership (only 29% of Republicans oppose legal recognition in any form).
“People who believe in equality under the law as a fundamental principle, as I do, will agree that this principle extends to gay and lesbian couples; gay and lesbian couples should not face discrimination and their relationship should be protected under the law. People who disagree on the fundamental nature of marriage can agree, at the same time, that gays and lesbians should receive essential rights and protections such as hospital visitation, adoption rights, and health and death benefits.
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