Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Via JMG: Buddhists Win Google Stereotypes
Buddhists Win Google Stereotypes
When you begin a Google search with the question "Why are [Christians, Jews, Muslims] so" - you get the above suggestions. The same query regarding Buddhists yields only "happy."UPDATE: It's not listed in the above-linked story, but I've done the same query on atheists.
Via JMG: Andrew Sullivan On Homocons And GOProud: They Are Nauseating
In a video essay posted today on Big Think, Andrew Sullivan muses "How Can Anyone Be Gay And Republican?" Here's an excerpt. You know, I used to say, we have to stay in these parties because certainly gay people do not want to become a Democratic Party constituency that is totally taken for granted, which is, of course, what has happened. When you have no leverage over the party, they don’t do anything for you—except take your money and invite you to cocktail parties, which is all that’s happened really in two years under Obama with two houses of Congress.Watch the video on Big Think. Obviously, we agree.
But at the same time, you know, this Homocon thing... it was in someone’s apartment. I mean the idea that this has been any genuine meaning out there for most people, there are plenty of gay people; many, many, many more I think than other minority groups actually, who would love a party of limited small government, prudent, strong foreign policy, balanced budgets, live and let live, like the British Tories. And if the Republican Party ever becomes that again, I think there will be plenty of places for gay people in it.
But to do so and join a party on condition that we oppose our own civil rights and our own basic civil equality seems a non-starter for me. I mean, it’s... there’s something quite nauseating about it actually. And you see even, like, Chris Barron who is the head of Homocon, or whatever they are calling themselves, GOProud, having to say that when Jim DeMint goes on and says that no gay person should be a school teacher, which is to the—which Ronald Reagan rejected in 1978—where are you left?
Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Ted Olson
"It happens every once in awhile at the federal level when the solicitor general, on behalf of the U.S., will confess error or decline to defend a law. I don't know what is going through the [Obama] administration's thought process on 'don't ask, don't tell.' It would be appropriate for them to say 'the law has been deemed unconstitutional, we are not going to seek further review of that.'" - Former Bush administration Solicitor General Ted Olson.Via JMG: Tweet Of The Day - AFER
Labels: AFER, California, David Boies, marriage equality, Perry v Schwarzenengger, Proposition 8, Ted Olson
Via JMG: DOD Revises DADT Discharge Procedure
In response to the murky legal waters currently swirling around DADT, the Pentagon has announced it is raising the rank of persons able to make the call to eject a gay or lesbian servicemember. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:
Discharges under the military's ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy will now take the approval of the service branch secretary, and only in consultation with the defense department general counsel and the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, according to a pair of memoranda issued by senior military leadership today.The message I'm seeing is that the Pentagon intends to make it extremely hard to kick someone out.
Until further notice, pursuant to a memorandum from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a follow-up memorandum from Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley, no service member can be discharged under DADT without the ''personal approval of the secretary of the military department concerned, and only in coordination with me and the General Counsel of the Department of Defense.''
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
JMG:
Morning View - GLAAD's Spirit Day
I haven't shaved in ten days, hence the cropping, but at least I remembered to wear purple for GLAAD's Spirit Day. Hopefully the folks at Chirpin' Chicken will find this meaningful when I leave the apartment for lunch.L
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Via JMG: GLAAD Promotes Oct. 20th As "Spirit Day"
GLAAD wants to turn the world purple on October 20th. The idea behind Spirit Day, first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, is a simple one, not dissimilar to the idea of "Spirit Week" held in many high schools, and can be summed up in three words: Everyone Rally Together. Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them. Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple."I do have a lovely purple dress shirt.....
Via JMG: Enormous Consequences
The Palm Center has launched Enormous Consequences, a website created in reaction to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' recent statement about the overturn of DADT.Above is a clock with the running total of hours during which gays have been allowed to serve openly, as well as a chart with the number of reported consequences of the new policy. The Palm Center has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for documentation on all negative consequences that result from the new policy.
Via JMG; Military Recruiters Told To Accept Gays
The Pentagon today told armed services recruiters to begin accepting openly gay men and women into the military.Spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Tuesday that top-level guidance has been issued to recruiting commands informing them that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule has been suspended for now. Recruiters also have been told to inform potential recruits that the moratorium could be reversed at any point.Groups like Servicemembers United have cautioned those already serving not to come out until the DOJ's appeal is (hopefully) resolved in their favor.
Via JMG: "Hang Them": Uganda Paper Publishes Names And Photos Of "Top 100 Homos"
CBS News today picked up on the story of a Uganda newspaper publishing the names and photos of the country's so-called "top 100 homos." The yellow banner under the headline reads "Hang Them!" In the days since it was published, at least four gay Ugandans on the list have been attacked and many others are in hiding, according to rights activist Julian Onziema. One person named in the story had stones thrown at his house by neighbors. A lawmaker in this conservative African country introduced a bill a year ago that would have imposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts and life in prison for others. An international uproar ensued, and the bill was quietly shelved. But gays in Uganda say they have faced a year of harassment and attacks since the bill's introduction. The legislation was drawn up following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy they say allows gays to become heterosexual. "Before the introduction of the bill in parliament most people did not mind about our activities. But since then, we are harassed by many people who hate homosexuality," said Patrick Ndede, 27. "The publicity the bill got made many people come to know about us and they started mistreating us."Box Turtle Bulletin, the leading U.S.-based blog for LGBT issues in Uganda, has been all over this story since it first broke on October 4th. BTB's Jim Burroway reports that many of the published photos were harvested from Gaydar and Facebook profiles. Last week BTB noted that Rolling Stone (unrelated to the U.S. music title) had been shut down by the government for reasons that may or may not be related to the "top 100 homos" issue.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Jonathan Capehart
"Now, truth be told, with a stroke of a pen, Obama could end don't ask don't tell through a back-door maneuver such as a 'stop loss' order. Meaning all troops who come out or are revealed to be gay or lesbian would not be discharged. The rationale could be that because the nation is at war it needs every ready, willing and able servicemember. And it would be the single-most irresponsible action the president could take."Leave aside the antagonism it would create between the commander in chief and the armed forces. Think of the jeopardy Obama would put gay troops in if he did sign an executive order. Once such an order is signed, gay troops would be right to want to come out of the closet to finally live their lives honestly. Here's the problem: if Obama is defeated in 2012 or is succeeded by a Republican in 2016, the new president could rescind the order.
"If the ban, which is an act of Congress, has not been repealed by Congress by then, all those gay and lesbian troops who have come out would then be in violation of the law banning them from serving openly in the military. To please a base constituency in the short term Obama will have endangered the careers of gay troops in the long term." - Jonathan Capehart, writing for the Washington Post.
On Dag Øistein Endsjø and Buddhist nuns...
My Dutch/Kiwi colleague, Sonja was kind to share the work of Dag Øistein Endsjø . In looking at his work I came across the following quote:
Few things cause more involvement, passion and zeal within a religious context than sex. While the Catholic Church in Spain generally remained perfectly calm during almost forty years of Franco’s systematic oppression of most of the most basic human rights, it immediately initiated demonstrations with hundreds of thousands of believers the very moment a democratically elected government suggested legalization of same-sex marriages. -Dag Øistein Endsjø
During the sitting last nite my mind wondered to the anger place (briefly... sigh) and before I brought myself back, I thought I should rewrite the above, so this morning, I rewrote it to say:
Few things cause more involvement, passion and zeal within a religious context than sex. While the Bahá’ís throughout the world remained silent during almost a half century of systematic oppression of most basic human rights in Latin America and other developing countries, it is now expelling it’s GLBT members, supports reparative therapy, and anti-gay legislation in Africa and South America; all this at the very moment that numerous democratically elected governments are suggesting legalization of same-sex marriages.
Last nite at SBMG… Arinna Weisman an absolutely amazing Buddhist nun led the sitting and gave the dharma talk. She began by talking about privilege… she grew up in apartheid S. Africa. She talked about how automatically if you are white, Christian heterosexual, educated… it comes with free assumptions... vs people of color, non-Christian, GLBT… it was astonishing… as she talked to us about being a queer Buddhist nun… and the inequities found within the Buddhist community.
I cannot imagine any Bahá’í public figure talking so candidly about the inequities and about their life in such a way. It was respectful, it was refreshing and it was very honest.
I cannot imagine any Bahá’í public figure talking so candidly about the inequities and about their life in such a way. It was respectful, it was refreshing and it was very honest.
One of my hurdles I am crossing related to organized religion is the thought of priests and ministers and teachers... last nite gave me chills, she was astonishing... reminding me of some sort of an oracle... questions, a pause... a profound answer... these people are smart, respectful and honor differences and science and law and ecology... and are able to link it all to spiritual practice... she went on to talk about ridding ourselves of our anger towards those who repress us ( I still need time on this one).
I left feeling grateful for the dysfunctional homophobic Bahá’í Faith, for if it had not thrown me out, I would never had entered on this new deeply meaningful and liberating path. I am beginning to feel that 30 years of trying to work with the Bahá’ís has left me spiritually damaged, and very, very alone. Tho I have no intention of being a queer Buddhist nun ;-) She left us thinking about how Buddhism is transforming itself once again because of its contact with the Americas… I cannot wait to see what it is like in Brasil.
I left feeling grateful for the dysfunctional homophobic Bahá’í Faith, for if it had not thrown me out, I would never had entered on this new deeply meaningful and liberating path. I am beginning to feel that 30 years of trying to work with the Bahá’ís has left me spiritually damaged, and very, very alone. Tho I have no intention of being a queer Buddhist nun ;-) She left us thinking about how Buddhism is transforming itself once again because of its contact with the Americas… I cannot wait to see what it is like in Brasil.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Quote of the Day
Few things cause more involvement, passion and zeal within a religious context than sex. While the Catholic Church in Spain generally remained perfectly calm during almost forty years of Franco’s systematic oppression of most of the most basic human rights, it immediately initiated demonstrations with hundreds of thousands of believers the very moment a democratically elected government suggested legalization of same-sex marriages.
-Dag Øistein Endsjø
-Dag Øistein Endsjø
Sex and Religion - From Purity Balls to Sacred Homosexuality
Religion prohibits and orders sex, condemns and blesses, punishes and rewards. The gender of your sex partner, your marital status, the colour of your skin, your religion or caste are all factors that can lead you to redemption or perdition. Welcome to the sexual universe of religion.
While Christian teenage girls go to balls where they promise God that they will relinquish sex until they are married, Buddhist monks call attention to gay sex as a holy mystery. There is no simple key to the relation between sex and religion. While the sexual religious debate in Norway is centred on gay people’s place in church, others ask whether there should be death penalty for hetero sex, whether promiscuity leads to hurricanes and nuclear war, whether God condemns marriage between black and white and why some religious sex rules are emphasized while others are forgotten.
In SEX AND RELIGION, the author takes a closer look at the different religions’ attitude towards straight sex and gay sex, sex racism and daemon sex, duty sex and abstinence, oral sex, anal sex, divorce and bigamy. The book also covers what the religions say about the consequences of different types of sex, how sex is used ritually and notions of sex beyond the human existence.
Click here to download a translated excerpt
First published: 2009, Universitetsforlaget
Dag Øistein Endsjø: Biography and Bibliography
While Christian teenage girls go to balls where they promise God that they will relinquish sex until they are married, Buddhist monks call attention to gay sex as a holy mystery. There is no simple key to the relation between sex and religion. While the sexual religious debate in Norway is centred on gay people’s place in church, others ask whether there should be death penalty for hetero sex, whether promiscuity leads to hurricanes and nuclear war, whether God condemns marriage between black and white and why some religious sex rules are emphasized while others are forgotten.
In SEX AND RELIGION, the author takes a closer look at the different religions’ attitude towards straight sex and gay sex, sex racism and daemon sex, duty sex and abstinence, oral sex, anal sex, divorce and bigamy. The book also covers what the religions say about the consequences of different types of sex, how sex is used ritually and notions of sex beyond the human existence.
Click here to download a translated excerpt
First published: 2009, Universitetsforlaget
Dag Øistein Endsjø: Biography and Bibliography
Upside down Teapartys and such
The Worker’s Party Candidate for President in Brasil, Dilma, just reversed her stand on GLBT rights (marriage) and abortion to please the Evangelicals / Catholics… the 3rd runner up (with 25% of the vote) was a wacky Sarah Palinesque evangelical the PT threw out for her homophobia) its causing all hell to break out on blogs and lists in Brasil. The PT has been at the forefront of GLBT rights in Brasil, and now the more moderate candidate is the progressive one?
The other Candidate Serra (Democratic Socialist) has promised to sign a gay marriage bill…
It’s like an upside down teaparty in Brasil. They really are modern now, it seems they have learned to play the GLBT and evangelical cards. I keep telling folks… the world does not need another USA.
After Prop 8 here, I have a deep distrust (if not prejudice, the Buddhist are helping me sand off the hatred) towards Baha’is, Mormons, Evangelicals and the Catholic Church (individual members not so much, but institutions yes). The Buddhist meditation is working, but I have a lot of work to go to develop a sense of compassion for these bigots…
The world is indeed very, very odd these days.
Via HimalayaCrafts:
On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him. 
(सिद्धार्थ गौतम)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Via HimalayaCrafts:
Via Bil Browning / Belirico: Just when you thought the gay agenda was complicated
Do you ever get frustrated with the seeming lack of planning around LGBT issues? Tired of the gay agenda looking more like a kindergarten drawing than a roadmap for success? 
Weary of trying to decipher what the hell is really going on and how it all relates?
Author J.K. Rowling charts out the plots for all of her Harry Potter books and a page of the graph for her fifth book, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, has been leaked to the public. After taking a peek at this (and trying to decipher her handwriting), you'll realize that the gay agenda has a lot of work to do to be as organized as a children's book about magic.
Maybe what our movement needs is a good Scourgify spell casting.
The chart is after the jump. You can clickety to embiggen.
Weary of trying to decipher what the hell is really going on and how it all relates?Author J.K. Rowling charts out the plots for all of her Harry Potter books and a page of the graph for her fifth book, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, has been leaked to the public. After taking a peek at this (and trying to decipher her handwriting), you'll realize that the gay agenda has a lot of work to do to be as organized as a children's book about magic.
Maybe what our movement needs is a good Scourgify spell casting.
The chart is after the jump. You can clickety to embiggen.
Via JMG: Feds Denounce Pet Insurance Story
In reference to the post several below this one, the Office Of Personnel Management has issued this statement:"Stories claiming that the federal government offers pet insurance to federal employees, and juxtaposing that benefit with the fact that the federal government cannot under current law provide health insurance benefits to federal employees' domestic partners are grossly inaccurate. While Aetna is a participating carrier in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the pet insurance product offered by Aetna is not a federal benefit, nor has it been listed as a benefit in any OPM prepared or reviewed materials. Aetna, on its own initiative, offers a variety of discount products to its members, including gym memberships, weight loss programs, eyewear, vitamins, etc. Pet insurance is one of these products.(Via - Steve Rothaus @ Miami Herald)
"Aetna has apologized for using the reference to FEHBP in its communication on this discount program. OPM regrets that Aetna's error is being cited by some as evidence that same-sex domestic partner health insurance benefits for federal employees are not a priority by OPM and the Administration. Nothing could be further from the truth.
"The Obama Administration believes in granting equal rights and benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees as demonstrated by the President's strong support of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which will provide full benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. The Director of OPM has testified in both the Senate and the House in favor of its passage."
Via NPR: Councilman's Message To Gay Youths Draws Huge Response(131)
The Two-Way
Councilman's Message To Gay Youths Draws Huge Response(131)
October 15, 2010 Joel Burns told NPR he has received more than 12,000 phone and e-mail messages, which friends and family members are helping him listen to.
Summary
Summary
Friday, October 15, 2010
 |
| Dear Daniel, As LGBT people and straight allies observed National Coming Out Day, the so-called National Organization "for" Marriage proved that it's never too early to start celebrating Halloween. And what better way to do so than a masquerade? The fringe group, which is known for funneling millions of dollars into anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and anti-equality candidates, also maintains a non-profit arm, the "Ruth Institute," to conduct what passes for education work in their eyes (for the truth about LGBT people and our families, visit our website). Under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code, non-profit groups have the privilege of not paying taxes and allowing their donors to deduct their contributions on their individual tax returns. However, in exchange for this privileged tax-exempt status, they cannot endorse or oppose candidates for elected office and must stick to a charitable mission (or, in the Ruth Institute's case, misinformation campaigns). As it turns out, the non-profit arm of our favorite falsehood machine is a political entity masquerading as a charitable group. The Ruth Institute is dedicating staff and resources to political campaigns, including:
Working with the Courage Campaign, we are breaking up their costume party. This week, HRC and the Courage Campaign filed a complaint with the IRS, urging them to investigate the Ruth Institute's illegal political campaign activity, revoke its tax-exempt status and issue an injunction to prevent the Ruth Institute or the NOM Education Fund from committing violations in the future. You can read our release and the full complaint here. It seems that once again, the National Organization "for" (against our) Marriage prefers politics to education. This year they ought to take a lesson from all of the brave LGBT Americans who live open and honest lives in spite of the lies that groups like NOM throw at us. Thanks so much.  Joe Solmonese President, Human Rights Campaign |
Via JMG: Feds: You Can Buy Health Insurance For Your Poodle, But Not For Your Partner
All my listservs are blowing up this afternoon with the news that while LGBT federal employees may not purchase health insurance for their partners (thanks to DOMA), they can buy health insurance for their pets. Members of the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan received the below ad today.
HRC's Joe Solmonese goes off via press release: "Current law puts federal workers' parrots ahead of their partners," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "It is time for Congress to act to put people first and extend health care benefits equally to all of their employees." [snip] In fact, 57% of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits to their employees. HRC is not aware of any statistics regarding pet insurance offerings by the Fortune 500. The President has instructed federal agencies to "conduct a thorough review of the benefits they provide and to identify any that could be extended to LGBT employees and their partners and families" and some limited benefits have been extended. But because of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Congress must pass the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act to extend critical health care benefits. The President has called on Congress to pass DPBO (S.1102 and H.R.2517) which has been passed in House and Senate committees but awaits floor action.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Via HimalayaCrafts:
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
(सिद्धार्थ गौतम)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Via JMG: Washington Post Publishes Editorial From Mother Of Dead Bullied Gay Child
In response to widespread criticism for publishing an anti-gay editorial from Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, the Washington Post has posted a response from the mother of 11 year-old Carl Walker-Hoover, who took his life last year after relentless homophobic bullying. An excerpt:
I am a single mother and a devout Christian who had never been involved in advocacy work or politics. After my son died, and GLSEN reached out to me, some of my friends and family members expressed concern about the organization's work to address anti-gay bullying in school. They voiced religious opposition to GLSEN. Thanks to Tony Perkins' On Faith piece published yesterday, I don't have to repeat the arguments. Perkins' lays them all out practically word for word. And they're all wrong. [snip]Read the entire essay.
If schools perceive addressing anti-gay bullying as a controversial issue, then they'll continue the status quo of putting their heads in the sand and hoping the issue takes care of itself. It won't. And we need to be clear on one thing - addressing anti-gay bullying is not a controversial issue. If you move through the smoke screen organizations like Family Research Council try to create, you realize addressing anti-gay bullying is simply the right thing to do if we care about all of our young people.
Via JMG: Another Bizarre Lie From Sarah Palin
Speaking to an quivering teabagger audience in Montgomery, Alabama, Sarah Palin said this:"I tell Bristol, I am texting her and say 'Bristol'...and I wasn't kidding, I thought that this was a practical thing to do...'How about if Todd and I we load up all the kids in our motorhome and drive down, park on Rodeo Drive and we come to see you.' And I honestly didn't think that it was an unusual thing to suggest, that's what you do, a road trip. (...) But anyway, that's what we did, though, we parked a little bit further away from Rodeo Drive, and we got to watch Bristol."Palingates did some fact-checking, noting that the 3375-mile drive from Wasilla to Los Angeles would take forever. And unless the Palin motorhome has a jet engine, there's no way she could have been in Los Angeles a mere two days after being photographed at her home in Alaska. Aaaand there's the pesky little fact of being seen on an Alaska Airlines flight to from Portland to Los Angeles on the day before the show. Oops!
Palingates makes the obvious conclusion: "The 'road trip' only existed in Sarah Palin's crazy mind - she shamelessly used this made-up story to impress her audience in Montgomery."
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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