7/31/12
A Little "Aha!" that leads to big love
Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to the point where we realize that in our own being, we are enough. - Ram Dass
via Daily Dharma
An Olympic cuddle
Olympic swimmers Cameron van der Burgh (left) of South Africa and Australia's Christian Sprenger, after van der Burgh won the gold in the Men's 100m Breastsroke final at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Why the LGBT must never give away their essential sense of self-worth and divinity to anyone...including the Dalai Lama
Gay people need know that we are beautiful, exactly as the Universe made us. Not one of us was born with tag that said "defective" or "wrong." As the Buddha said, self-verify all teachings to see if they meet your experience. In short, gay is good.
From a 2006 interview with the Dalai Lama:
Although he is known for his tolerant, humane views, he is a surprisingly harsh critic of homosexuality. If you are a Buddhist, he says, it is wrong. "Full stop.
No way round it.
"A gay couple came to see me, seeking my support and blessing. I had to explain our teachings. Another lady introduced another woman as her wife - astonishing. It is the same with a husband and wife using certain sexual practices. Using the other two holes is wrong."
At this point, he looks across at his interpreter - who seems mainly redundant - to check that he has been using the right English words to discuss this delicate matter. The interpreter gives a barely perceptible nod.
"A Western friend asked me what harm could there be between consenting adults having oral sex, if they enjoyed it," the Dalai Lama continues, warming to his theme. "But the purpose of sex is reproduction, according to Buddhism. The other holes don't create life. I don't mind - but I can't condone this way of life."Full article
7/30/12
7/29/12
When gay people remembered their basic goodness & divinity...they stood up to injustice & discrimination
Frank Kameny led the way, articulating this essential truth: gay is good. We all are the beautiful children of the Universe.
7/28/12
Dancing in the dark...to be your best
David Remnick, of The New Yorker, on Bruce Springsteen:
As Springsteen sees it, the creative talent has always been nurtured by the darker currents of his psyche, and wealth is no guarantee of bliss. "I’m thirty years in analysis!" he said. "Look, you cannot underestimate the fine power of self-loathing in all of this. You think, I don’t like anything I’m seeing, I don’t like anything I’m doing, but I need to change myself, I need to transform myself. I do not know a single artist who does not run on that fuel. If you are extremely pleased with yourself, nobody would be fucking doing it! Brando would not have acted. Dylan wouldn’t have written ‘Like a Rolling Stone.’ James Brown wouldn’t have gone ‘Unh!’ He wouldn’t have searched that one-beat down that was so hard. That’s a motivation, that element of ‘I need to remake myself, my town, my audience’—the desire for renewal."via the Daily Dish
In Philadelphia, a high ranking official in the Catholic Church is held accountable for the priest sex scandal
“You knew full well what was right, Monsignor Lynn, but you chose wrong,” Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said as issued a sentence of 3-6 years in prison.
An aptly named book
"England is just a small island. Its roads and houses are small. With few exceptions, it doesn't make things that people in the rest of the world want to buy. And if it hadn't been separated from the continent by water, it almost certainly would have been lost to Hitler's ambitions. Yet only two lifetimes ago, Britain ruled the largest and wealthiest empire in the history of humankind. Britain controlled a quarter of the earth's land and a quarter of the earth's population.
- Mitt Romney in his book No Apology, which was published last year.
7/27/12
The Celtic brotherhood: homosexuality prevalent among these ancient warriors
Celteroticism: Male-to-Male Relationships Believed A Norm Amongst The Celts
Historical accounts state the ancient Celts are believed to have fought their battles naked, a notion that holds a certain erotic allure for many. What may not be widely known, mostly because of editing and revisionist history, is that it many historians have concluded that it was not uncommon in Celtic culture for the men to have sex with each other, even preferentially so. Some speculation suggests that life for Celtic warriors could have been a veritable hot-bed of male to male sex for pleasure - and to think people of the modern times have been worried about gays in the military! The Celts were known as some of the fiercest fighters in history strongly suggesting that there was nothing compromised about them.
Some critics say that the modern Irish as descendents of the Celts, had Christianity and its traditionally homophobic ethos forced upon them. Behind all the seemingly cultural anti-gay context that gets talked about around St. Patrick’s Day because some organizers haven’t allowed GLBT groups to march in the day’s celebratory parades (in the USA), is a history of a people who seem to have had a very active natural pleasure ethic and libido. They seem to have seen no problem with same-sex pleasure, affection or love.
The relationship between gender-variance, homeroticism, magic and mystery traditions has been, until fairly recently, a taboo subject for occultists, religionists and academics all. Over the last decade or so, interest in Celtic traditions has grown and has been romanticised to the point that it has spurred some to investigate the aspects of the culture which have been omitted by revisionists.
One offering of information is from Diodorus Siculus in 1 BCE who wrote “Although they have good-looking women, they pay very little attention to them, but are really crazy about having sex with men. They are accustomed to sleeping on the ground on animal skins and roll around naked with male bed-mates on both sides. Heedless of their own dignity, they abandon without qualm the bloom of their bodies to others. And the most incredible thing is that they do not find this shameful. When they proposition someone, they consider it dishonourable if he doesn’t accept the offer!”
From this piece and other information about gender variance amongst the Celts that is available, it seems same-sex relations between warriors were not unknown or for that matter, at all uncommon. There is evidence of homosexuality in Celtic warrior bands which were known as ‘Bleiden’ or ‘Wolf’. What is significant is that, despite similarities (such as shape-shifting & wilderness initiation rituals) there was a marked difference between Greek and Celtic homoeroticism in that unlike the Greeks, the Celts did not consider it shameful that males elected to take the so-called ‘passive’ role.
Three areas where evidence is found for gender-variance and homoeroticism include; hints on same-sex relationships in the life of Cuchullain, the story of the Men of Ulster and the myth of Gwydion and Gilvaethy.
While there are no sweeping statements promoting what today is termed homosexuality in ancient Celtic lore, there are multiple accounts from external observers who commented on the widespread practice of same gender sexuality among the Gaulish Celts. The Greek philosopher Posidonius, who traveled into Gaul to investigate the truth of the stories told about the Celtic tribes, put it rather bluntly: “The Gaulish men prefer to have sex with each other.” This is supported by some Aristotelian commentaries as well.
As far as we know, the ancient Celts had no laws or known prohibitions against homosexual behavior. To the contrary, there are tales and histories in which homosexuality is mentioned in a rather matter-of-fact way, as well as many other accounts which, while containing no explicit mention of any character’s sexual orientation, celebrate deep affectionate and even physical bonds between persons of the same gender. As Diodorus Siculus noted, often Roman and Greek accounts mention Celtic warriors who were deeply insulted if their offers of male-to-male sex were refused.
Celtic mythology is riddled with deities who do not fit neatly into rigid, stereotypical gender roles. There are Goddesses of war and battle and Gods of love and poetry. There is also a tradition of male praise-poets who wrote about the kings they served as a lover writes of their beloved. Many historical commentaries on warriors and monastics speak of devoted companions who shared a bed and often the love between these companions is celebrated in poetry and songs.
While some scholars believe that “gay identity” is a modern construct and may only exist in reaction to oppression or contemporary social aspects, there is indeed evidence that homosexuality and bisexuality have always existed and appeared most certainly a part of Celtic culture…
7/26/12
Celebrating love -- despite Chick-fil-A, the Boy Scout, and Mitt
I am happy to see young gay people proudly and openly celebrating their love. That's one reason I keep standing up to the forces of homophobia and calling them on their fear and division.
I envision an America and a world where everyone's God-given sexuality is celebrated. This may not happen in my lifetime, but I want to be part of the movement towards that end.
UK Prime Minister deliberately held a reception for marriage equality advocates on the eve before Romney's visit
David Cameron seems to be schooling his conservative American counterpart on how a democracy treats its LGBT citizens. Here is his money quote from the reception:
I think marriage is a great institution – I think it helps people to commit, it helps people to say that they’re going to care and love for another person. It helps people to put aside their selfish interests and think of the union that they’re forming. It’s something I feel passionately about and I think if it’s good enough for straight people like me, it’s good enough for everybody and that’s why we should have gay marriage and we will legislate for it. - David Cameron
So much for his better understanding of "Anglo-Saxons": Mitt quickly insults the Brits
Mitt really pissed them off. Watch the mayor of London. Ouch!
7/25/12
Romney's race baiting/birtherism campaign against Obama: talking about his "foreignness"
Also, on the way to the UK, Mitt and aides talked how he better understands the Anglo-Saxon mindset than Obama because he is a white guy:
In remarks that may prompt accusations of racial insensitivity, one suggested that Mr Romney was better placed to understand the depth of ties between the two countries than Mr Obama, whose father was from Africa.
“We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser said of Mr Romney, adding: “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared history we have”.
Mr Romney on Wednesday embarks on an overseas tour of Britain, Israel and Poland designed to quash claims by Mr Obama’s team that he is a “novice” in foreign affairs. It comes four years after Mr Obama’s own landmark foreign tour, which attracted thousands of supporters.
7/24/12
The case for friendship
"One of my biggest fears as a gay kid was that I wouldn’t find that 'special someone,' that one person who was supposed to complete me, fulfill me. We’re all in one way or another trained to believe this is the apex of human relationships. After learning more about gay history and politics, after reading brilliant feminist and queer critiques of marriage and romance, however, I came to understand gay friendship networks as a viable and perhaps more fulfilling relationship alternative to marriage and family life.
"This is of course not to say that I’m against love, romance, or coupledom; this is not an either/or debate about friendship versus love, or friendship versus marriage. That’s silliness. Instead I ask readers to take seriously gay friendship networks as a unique cultural innovation, legitimate and gratifying in their own right. In recent years, as we all know, gay rights organizations have sunk enormous amounts of time, money, and energy into securing marriage and family rights for lesbians and gays. One of the main points of my book is to remind the gay community that friendship is the bedrock of all gay politics, of all gay rights struggles.
"If it weren’t for networks of friends: friends who marched in the streets together in the 70s, friends who cared for one another during the AIDS crisis, friendship networks that historically offered an alternative to obligatory heterosexuality and compulsory coupling, there wouldn’t be much of a gay community to fight for." - Dr. Tom Roach, author of the book, Friendship As A Way Of Life: Foucault, AIDS, and the Politics of Shared Estrangement.
Mitt is definitely not his dad
About George Romney from the Washington Post:
As governor, he fought to institute a state income tax and to broaden civil rights protection. At the launch of the 1968 campaign, Romney insisted on a tour of American inner cities that featured a meeting with community organizer Saul Alinsky.
7/22/12
Penn State does the right thing: it retires Joe Paterno's statue
From the University's president:
I now believe that, contrary to its original intention, Coach Paterno's statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our University and beyond. For that reason, I have decided that it is in the best interest of our university and public safety to remove the statue and store it in a secure location. I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse.I agree. The protection of children should come before sport and winning. Period.
7/21/12
7/20/12
Portrait of a gay rights pioneer & hero: Frank Kameny
As an astronomer, before he was hounded out of government by McCarthyism.
Here is to hoping that this man becomes the pope one day
You must be careful "not to discriminate against homosexuals unjustly" says the Catechism about people who have homosexual tendencies. If I take that seriously, I do not view in homosexual relationships "a violation of natural law" view, as expressed in the Catechism. I try to also perceive that as people they always assume responsibility for one another, loyalty to each other and have promised to provide, even though I cannot share such a life plan. - Rainer Maria Woelki, Cardinal Archbishop of Berlin
The counter-libertarian quote of the day
"How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he sometimes thinks he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people — first of all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies we are bound by the ties of sympathy. A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving," - Albert EinsteinVia the Daily Dish
7/19/12
Remembering our fallen: at Dulles Airport
From Jaunted:
Ever just started crying in an airport? Until this week, we'd have answered "no"—and even this week, it wasn't anything to do with our flight. No, it was the sheer power of the blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt currently on display at Washington Dulles, and in particular this block, "Sewn with love by the flight attendants of Continental Airlines." Over a hundred men (and, potentially, women, though we didn't spot any specifically female names) from Continental and its predecessor airlines—Texas International, Frontier, PEOPLExpress, and New York Air—are memorialised in this one block. More poignant still: the square appliqués with every name are all bordered with the material from the ties of each airline, with the five uniforms, pins, buttons and memorabilia also appliquéd between the clouds below. And a rainbow lei down the bottom. We simply can't imagine the time, love and remembrance that the flight attendants of Continental—now, of course, United—put into this Quilt block.
"Mitt gets worse": Gay Bay Staters talk about their experience with the former governor.
Very, very scary: listen to this lesbian mother who had a private meeting with Mitt.
A LGBT activist from Massachusetts who talks about Mitt blocking the rights of our community.
A LGBT activist from Massachusetts who talks about Mitt blocking the rights of our community.
7/18/12
Celebrating love
The first service member to get married on an U.S. base. Change happens...as Obama promised.
Boy Scouts of America decides to continue discriminating against LGBT people. Their message to gay youth: you aren't good enough. Simply shameful
Morally shameful. Read the full story here.http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/apnewsbreak-boy-scouts-reaffirm-ban-gays-16794122#.UAbhBDFSQSF
This is a Scout leader who was fired for being himself:
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