Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	The problem isn't materialism as such. Rather it is the underlying assumption that full satisfaction can arise from gratifying the senses alone. Unlike animals whose quest for happiness is restricted to survival and to the immediate gratification of sensory desires, we human beings have the capacity to experience happiness at a deeper level which, when achieved, can overwhelm unhappy experiences. - His Holiness the Dalai Lama More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 23, 2013

What Connects Us All

To be able to suffer with is good news because it means you can share power with, share joy with, exchange love with. Let your pain tell you that you are not alone. What we thought might have been sealing us off can become connective tissue.

- Joanna Macy, “Schooling Our Intention”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 24th, 2013
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Via Luminous and Healthy / FB: The Precious Jewel Within...

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Please give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

Via JMG: Prop 8 Backers File First SCOTUS Brief

 

Today the legal team representing Protect Marriage, the backers of Proposition 8, filed their first brief at the Supreme Court. Chris Geidner has the story at Buzzfeed:

Arguing that the case brought by same-sex couples seeking to marry was unlike past gay rights cases where the court struck down anti-gay restrictions and also unlike Loving v. Virginia, in which the court struck down bans on interracial marriage, the proponents of Proposition 8 argue that there is no historic reason "for invalidating marriage as it has existed in California for virtually all of its history, as it was universally understood throughout this Nation (and the world) until just the last decade, and as it continues to be defined in the overwhelming majority of States and Nations."

Geidner clips this passage from the brief:

Our Constitution does not mandate the traditional gendered definition of marriage, but neither does our Constitution condemn it. This Court, accordingly, should allow the public debate regarding marriage to continue through the democratic process, both in California and throughout the Nation.

Arguments in the case are scheduled to begin on March 26th.
Among the numerous articles listed in the "authorities" portion of the Protect Marriage brief are two essays by homocon writer and marriage equality supporter Jonathan Rauch.  From a December 2012 article penned by Rauch for The New Republic:

I tell my gay friends: imagine if the Supreme Court had ordered gay marriage this past June, at the end of its 2011-2012 term. November’s game-changing electoral victories would never have happened. Gay marriage advocates would be forever stereotyped as political losers who won by running to mommy. Our opponents would mock and denigrate our marriages as court-created, legalistic fictions. The country would never have shown how much it has changed.  If we have come that far in five years, imagine where we might be in five more. Imagine, then, the opportunities to extend and consolidate support that we will lose if the Supreme Court steps in now. Strange but true: a favorable Supreme Court intervention next year would make us weaker, not stronger.

Labels: Alliance Defense Fund, California, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Proposition 8, Protect Marriage, religion, SCOTUS

posted by Joe

JMG HomoQuotable - Frank Bruni

"Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall. The alliteration of that litany made it seem obvious and inevitable, a bit of poetry just there for the taking. Just waiting to happen. But it has waited a long time. And President Obama’s use of it in his speech on Monday — his grouping of those three places and moments in one grand and musical sentence — was bold and beautiful and something to hear. It spoke volumes about the progress that gay Americans have made over the four years between his first inauguration and this one, his second. It also spoke volumes about the progress that continues to elude us. [snip]

 "Despite our strides, gay and lesbian couples even now can marry only in nine states and the District of Columbia. The federal government doesn’t recognize those weddings, meaning that in terms of taxes, military benefits and matters of immigration, it treats gays and lesbians differently than it treats other Americans. It relegates us to an inferior class. The Supreme Court could soon change, or validate, that. There are relevant cases before it. For his part Obama could show less deference to states’ rights, be more insistent about what’s just and necessary coast-to-coast, and push for federal protections against employment discrimination when it comes to L.G.B.T. Americans. His actions over the next four years could fall wholly in line with Monday’s trailblazing words. My hope is real, and grateful, and patient." - Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.

Labels: Frank Bruni, HomoQuotable, Inauguration Day

Reposted from Joe

Via LifeBetweenTheEyes / FB:

Via JMG: SF Gay Bar Gains Landmark Status

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors last week voted unanimously to grant landmark status to the Twin Peaks bar in the Castro. Here's a reminder of why Twin Peaks is so historic:

In 1972, when Mary Ellen Cunha and Peggy Forster threw open the doors and uncovered the windows at Twin Peaks Tavern on the corner of Castro and Market streets, they didn't know they were making history. But four decades later, the bar that has sat both literally and figuratively at the center of San Francisco's gay rights movement and community is now a historic landmark. Twin Peaks Tavern, which first opened in 1935 but was purchased by Cunha and Forster in 1971, is believed to be the first gay bar in the nation to feature full-length, open plate glass windows that let its patrons look out, and more importantly, the public look in. The lesbian friends, known to most regulars as "the girls," opened the bar to the world at a time when many gays still feared losing their jobs or being socially ostracized if their sexual orientation was revealed. It has now survived for 40 years as one of the Castro district's most memorable and welcoming establishments.

Labels: nightlife, San Francisco, The Castro

Reposted from Joe

Via ॐ Blue Buddha Quote Collective / FB:

‎"Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone."

~ The Dhammapada


Image Source: Bing

ॐ Blue Buddha Quote Collective

Via Gay Politics Report:

• Historic call for equality at Obama inauguration
  President Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to use the word “gay” in an inaugural address yesterday, saying the nation’s journey toward a more perfect union will not be complete "until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law." In a reference to marriage rights for same-sex couples, Obama said, "if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." That line may signal that the administration is about to weigh in on a pending case at the Supreme Court that could determine whether the Constitution guarantees the right of same-sex couples to marry. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/21), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (1/21), CNN/Political Ticker blog (1/21), Metro Weekly (Washington, D.C.)/Poliglot (1/21)     

• Gay poet followed by pro-gay priest at inauguration: Openly gay poet Richard Blanco mentioned Americans “arrayed like rainbows” in his official inaugural poem. He was followed by Washington, D.C., marriage equality champion the Rev. Dr. Luis Leon, whose benediction prayer included a reference to gays. Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.) (1/21)     

• Lesbian and Gay Band Association marches in Inaugural Parade: About 240 musicians from 32 LGBT bands across the country marched past President Obama's reviewing stand at yesterday's inaugural parade. Towleroad (1/22)     

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 22, 2013

Transcending our own Views

If we take something to be the truth, we may cling to it so much that even if the truth comes and knocks at our door, we won't want to let it in. We have to be able to transcend our previous knowledge the way we climb up a ladder. If we are on the fifth rung and think that we are very high, there is no hope for us to step up to the sixth. We must learn to transcend our own views.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, “The Heart Sutra”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 23rd, 2013
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Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	It is hard to be born as a human being and hard to live the life of one. It is even harder to hear of the path and harder still to awake, to rise, and to follow. Yet the teaching is simple: "Cease to do evil, learn to do good. And purify your mind." - Dhammapada More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via We survived Bush. You will survive Obama./ FB:

Images

Via Day Of Tikkun / FB:

Via Loja Sobre Budismo:

JMG T:eets Of The Day

Labels: American history, Barack Obama, Inauguration Day, Stonewall

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: President Obama's Inauguration Speech

Joe wrote: Never before has a president mentioned us in an inauguration speech.

Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.

Labels: American history, Barack Obama, Inauguration Day, LGBT History, LGBT rights, Stonewall

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: LGBT Groups Praise President Obama's Inaugural Call For Full Equality

Freedom To Marry

In his second Inaugural today, President Obama traced the moral arc from Seneca Falls to Selma to Stonewall, and rightly exalted the struggle for the freedom to marry as part of America's moral commitment to equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom to Marry applauds our president and the moral leadership he has shown, the moral leadership we will continue to need until all Americans, all loving couples, all families, can share fully in the American promise we celebrate on Inauguration Day.

National Gay & LesbianTask Force

We couldn’t agree more. It’s now time for the president — and for all of us — to finish the job of ensuring that every American gets a fair shake. President Obama has repeatedly shown he is willing to fight for us. We have another four years to keep the momentum going, and will be vigilant in pursuing policies to ensure our community is not left behind. This includes pushing for federal LGBT employment protections, ending the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, combating HIV/ADS, preserving a social safety net, and much more. America deserves nothing less than a president who will treat all families fairly. We congratulate President Obama and his administration and look forward to working with them in this second term to build a stronger future for LGBT people and opportunity for all.

Outserve-SLDN

Today, President Obama made history with a clear and passionate declaration of the fundamental rights of LGBT Americans, and all Americans. We honor the work of his first term - especially his leadership in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - and expect great progress over the next four years on the very real inequalities that exist for our LGBT service members, veterans, and their families as we work together to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice.

More reactions will be posted as they arrive. 

Labels: American history, Freedom To Marry, Inauguration Day, LGBT History, LGBT rights, NGLTF

Reposted from Joe

Via Political Loudmouth / FB:

Via Gay Marriage Oregon & George Takei / FB:

Via PQMonthly: President Barack Obama’s Second Inauguration Speech the First to Mention Gays

Add to the list of thing I'm grateful for, a President who recognizes the equal rights of LGBTQ people -- as well as Stonewall's place in history. - ER

President Barack Obama’s Second Inauguration Speech the First to Mention Gays

www.pqmonthly.com

 

 

LGBTQ Americans got their first ever recognition in a presidential inauguration speech today with President Barack Obama’s second. In remarks that touched heavily upon the themes of freedom and equality, President Obama called out the Stonewall Riots in the same breath as other major moments in civil rights history

Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:

	Daily Buddhist Wisdom
	They go to many a refuge, To mountains, forests, Parks, trees, & shrines: People threatened with danger. That's not the secure refuge, Not the supreme refuge, That's not the refuge, Having gone to which You gain release From all suffering & stress. - Dhammapada, 14, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. More Buddhism Quotes >>

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 21, 2013

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

If the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are about anything, they are about a profound understanding of identity and the broadest possible meaning of liberty—teachings that sooner or later had to appeal to a people for whom suffering and loss were their daily bread.

- Charles Johnson, "A Sangha by Another Name"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 22nd, 2013
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Via Global Awakening / FB: Fear

Via The Chronicle Review: The Evolutionary Mystery of Homosexuality

November 19, 2012

The Evolutionary Mystery of Homosexuality

By David P. Barash

Matt Manley for The Chronicle Review

Critics claim that evolutionary biology is, at best, guesswork. The reality is otherwise. Evolutionists have nailed down how an enormous number of previously unexplained phenomena—in anatomy, physiology, embryology, behavior—have evolved. There are still mysteries, however, and one of the most prominent is the origins of homosexuality.

The mystery is simple enough. Its solution, however, has thus far eluded our best scientific minds.

Make the jump here to read the full article 

Via JMG: BRITAIN: What If A Future King Is Gay?

British Labor MP Paul Flynn is preparing an interesting bill. Via Pink News:

Parliament is due to pass legislation shortly to allow for the first child of Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge to rule as monarch regardless of whether they are a boy or a girl. Now Labour MP Paul Flynn is gathering support for an amendment that will extend the protection to include the eventuality that the child is gay or lesbian.  If accepted, the change to the law could lead to the reign of an openly gay or lesbian king or queen and for their same-sex partner to be recognised as consort. Any children born to the couple through artificial insemination or surrogacy would succeed to the throne so long as the couple are in a same-sex marriage or civil partnership. Current inheritance laws mean that if the couple had a child through adoption, they would not join the line of succession for the throne and it is not clear MPs would seek to change this.

Labels: Britain, marriage equality, royals, UK

Reposted from Joe

Via Path To Peace & Happiness / FB:

Meditation is participatory observation.
What you are looking at responds to the process of looking.
What you are looking at is you, and what you see depends on how you look.  

~Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

 

 

Via Buddhism - Path To Peace

 

Forward: An Anthem for Obama's Second Term (Official Video)

Via WinTrade / FB:

Hoje foi bomba de todo lado!!! O pregão passou o dia oscilando em leves altas e baixas, mas terminou no vermelho. Sem tendências para seguir, o Ibovespa encerrou em queda de 0,38%. A China apresentou o pior PIB em 13 anos, os EUA voltaram a ser pressionados pelo abismo fiscal e os indicadores da Europa foram desanimadores. Saiba mais em #papodepregao http://bit.ly/XJSQNW

Via FB:

Via Buddhist Boot Camp / FB:

If you’ve ever taken a puppy for a walk, you know that it runs after everything that sparks its curiosity. After we train it to obey some simple commands, however, it grows to be our obedient and intuitive best friend.

The mind can be just as active and difficult to control as a puppy, yet we’ve never trained it to listen to us. Why haven’t we done this? Our mind chases random thoughts, jumps to conclusions, and has a hard time staying focused. We have so little control of it, in fact, that sometimes we can’t even turn it off at the end of the day. If it were a puppy, we would be very upset!

We know that Buddhism is about training the mind, and that there are many methods of doing so. The second principle of Buddhist Boot Camp is that our thoughts become words, and our words become actions. To train the mind, however, Buddhist Boot Camp suggests working backward. Start by changing your actions, then be mindful of your speech, and your thoughts will eventually follow.

First, recognize and eliminate your bad habits (whatever they may be). If you habitually act out of anger, for example, then there’s no fertile soil in your mind for the seed of gratitude to grow. To think positively, your actions must be in line with your intentions.

Be part of the solution by not being part of the pollution, for it isn’t enough to simply study Buddhism; we must practice what we learn!

Training the mind requires a lot of self-control, determination, and freedom from anger (whether you follow this particular method, transcendental meditation, yoga, or any other approach).

Buddhist Boot Camp is not here to necessarily teach you anything new, but to encourage you to put into practice what you already know; to point you in the direction of gratitude and unconditional love. We can’t just THINK ABOUT compassion and kindness; we must BE compassionate and kind. Now let’s get to work!

thanks and many _/|\_'s to Buddhist Boot Camp for this

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 20, 2013

Abandoning Futile Endeavors

To look for total satisfaction in oneself is a futile endeavor. Since everything changes from moment to moment, where can self and where can satisfaction be found? Yet these are two things that the whole world is looking for and it sounds quite reasonable, doesn’t it? But since these are impossible to find, everybody is unhappy. Not necessarily because of tragedies, poverty, sickness, or death: simply because of unfilled desire. Everybody is looking for something that isn’t available.

- Ayya Khema, “No Satisfaction”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 21st, 2013
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Via Unreal Americans / FBP:

Via Gay Marriage Oregon / FB:

Via JMG: NEW MEXICO: Democratic State Rep Proposes Ballot Measure On Marriage

New Mexico state Rep. Brian Egolf yesterday introduced a bill that would place a constitutional amendment to legalize same-sex marriage on an upcoming public ballot.

“It’s time to recognize all the families in New Mexico who are headed by same-sex couples,” Egolf said Thursday. The proposal probably won’t have an easy time in the Legislature. Lawmakers in recent years haven’t even been able to pass legislation calling for state-recognized domestic partnership agreements. Egolf’s House Joint Resolution 3 says, “The issuance of a marriage license shall not be denied on the basis that the sex of both applicants is the same. No church or religious institution shall be required to perform a marriage ceremony or recognize a marriage for religious purposes that conflicts with the church’s or religious institution’s beliefs.” The measure, whose co-sponsors include Rep. Stephen Easley, D-Santa Fe, will first be heard in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, New Mexico

Reposted from Joe

Me: "VIVA NEW MEXICO!"

Via Truebook.org / FB

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 19, 2013

The Reward of Practice

As you bring alignment, relaxation, and resilience into your daily life, your breath automatically becomes fuller and starts moving through your entire body, just as the Buddha suggested in his description of meditation. Without forcing a thing, let your breath breathe you: breathe into your entire body, and breathe out just as effortlessly. This condition, nothing more, nothing less, is really the reward and benefit of the practice.

- Will Johnson, “Full Body, Empty Mind”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 20th, 2013
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Via Gay Politics Report:

• European court rules faith doesn't trump LGBT laws
   
• The European Court of Human Rights, ruling in several cases testing the rights of people of faith, said religious objections are not sufficient to absolve certain individuals from complying with LGBT non-discrimination laws. "The court showed conclusively that the principle of equality and equal treatment cannot be circumvented with a simple reference to religion," said Sophie in ‘t Veld, vice-president of the European Parliament’s LGBT Intergroup. GlobalPost.com (1/15), Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.) (1/16)