DOMA Is Unconstitutional

Imagine for 1 Minute

This U.S. Election

Amazing what some states are approving, especially related to marriage equality. 

Click on this to read it better. From Upworthy, which I first saw on Facebook.

Cartoon with U. S. Nuns

My friend Judy shared this with me yesterday. This cartoon speaks on different levels. Think about it!

Quotes on Equality

Diane Vogel Ferri compiled these quotes on her blog Co Exist.

Gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths. They are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes. And whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, out friends, and our neighbors. Being gay is not a western invention. It is a human reality.

Hilary Clinton

The truth is that male religious figures have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have for their own selfish ends overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuous choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world.

Jimmy Carter

Gay Marriage

By Chan Lowe

Acceptance and Gratitude

With thanks to Naked Pastor, David Hayward.

Gay Marriage

With thanks to Katherine on Pininterest. Katherine is the person who first motivated me to start blogging back in 2006.

What would Jesus NOT do?

With thanks to Ellie who posted this on Facebook from The Christian Left.

May Sarton

May Sarton
1912-1995

Recently I read two books by May Sarton: The Magnificent Spinster and The Education of Harriet Hatfield. Although I knew the author's name, I had never read any of her books before. I first read The Magnificent Spinster, which is about a woman's life from childhood to her death as written by a former student. This was a woman who remained single all her life, but who had a zest for living that inspired and nurtured many around her. It is what I assume a "novel of manners" is like. It is a good story, without excitement and intrigue.

I coincidentally found The Education of Harriet Hatfield at Half-Price Books. It struck me because it was about a 60 year old woman (which is my age) who opens a bookstore for women after her partner of 30 years died. It is the story of her "growing up." There is more drama in this story than the first one.

Both books give positive attention to lesbian partnerships, which got me interested in finding out more about May Sarton, especially since she was born in 1912. She lived with a partner for 13 years and evidently wrote about their relationship in Honey in the Hive, which I have not yet read.

The Unitarian Universalist Association has an interesting article about her:

"Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing, 1965, is often referred to as Sarton's "coming out" novel and one she admits she could not have written while her parents were alive. With its reissue in 1974, to which Carolyn Heilbrun contributed an important introduction, Sarton's work gained academic recognition, especially by feminist critics. Subsequently her work began to be studied in literature classes and college women's studies programs. Although she appreciated the recognition, Sarton believed that the label "lesbian writer" might limit and distort perception of her work. She wanted to be read as a writer who dealt with themes of universal interest. She had, in fact, already written novels about family and married life. "

What an interesting woman. I am sure libraries have many of her books, as she started writing in the 1930's.

Gay Teen Suicide Awareness Day

My daughters AE and KA in Seattle have contributed their personal testimonies that "It Gets Better" to the U-Tube Project begun by Dan Savage. Their stories and those of many other LGBT people are profound, hopeful and compassionate. I hope gay teenagers will look at one or more of them to realize that things will not always be so bleak and dismal.

Here is some info about Dan Savage and this project:

"What started out as a single video uploaded by the Seattle-based sex columnist and gay activist Dan Savage has quickly turned into an Internet phenomenon, with "Project Runway" star Tim Gunn, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, and other celebrities releasing powerful videos telling gay teens they aren't alone and that their lives will improve.

"The hundreds of videos uploaded to the It Gets Better project have been viewed more than a million times, Savage says."

To read the rest of the article, go here.

Dan Savage

IT GETS BETTER: Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire

Can you spot the gay soldier?

And is there only one??? (Doubtful)

Gay Marriage in Iceland

Johanna Sigurdardottir, Iceland Prime Minister

In early June Iceland unanimously passed a gay marriage bill (49-0) introduced in March.

"Iceland's prime minister made history last week when she wed her longtime girlfriend, becoming the world's first head of government to enter a gay marriage.

"But fellow Nordic nations hardly noticed when 67-year-old Johanna Sigurdardottir tied the knot with her longtime partner — a milestone that would still, despite advances in gay rights, be all but inconceivable elsewhere.

"Scandinavia has had a long tradition of tolerance — and cross-dressing lawmakers and gay bishops have become part of the landscape.

"'There is some kind of passion for social justice here,' respected cross-dressing Swedish lawmaker Fredrick Federley said. 'That everybody should be treated the same.'

"Gay rights activists said Europe in general has a better record on accepting gays at the highest levels of government than the United States."

Read the rest of the article here.

I applaud Iceland and wish their wisdom would drift down to the southwest.

Questioning, looking, wondering

I always enjoy Sherry's thoughts at A Feather Adrift, especially when she puts interesting links to go along with her remarks. Today I have been following her referrals, as well as others, so I am going to put some of them here for you to look at, too.

Frank Rich of the New York Times has a good piece entitled "Two Weddings, a Divorce, and Glee." That's where I learned that Elton John sang at Rush Limbaugh's fourth wedding (for $1 million), which is probably not news to you but surprised me. The article discusses and gives examples of marriage and the inequity for same-sex couples, and highlighting:

"That’s why the most significant marital event of June 2010 is the one taking place in San Francisco this Wednesday, when a Federal District Court judge is scheduled to hear the closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the landmark case challenging Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban. A verdict will soon follow, setting off an appeals process that is likely to land in the Supreme Court, possibly by the 2011-12 term." (Frank Rich from above article)

Mompriest at Seeking Authentic Voice gives us a beautiful quote by Francis de Sales about how to live. She got it from Tripp, which got me to look at his blog and find this video about atheists' feelings, beliefs, and difficulties, which probably describe my two oldest daughters' feelings:



I think the comments made by those people in the video are valid. I've wondered some of those same things. However, for myself, I continued to seek and question, reaching a faith in the Mystery of God, which translates into Love and energy. Contemplative prayer has brought me to a stronger belief in the Presence, which is not magical but is eternal and is Life. And all I can say is that I am happier believing than not, and that my life and our married life (which my husband agrees) is much better than in years past. I am grateful.

The perceptions shared in the video made me think of the book I am currently reading A Case for God by Karen Armstrong. The author is going through history showing how humanity experiences a powerful inner experience through practices and living which might be described as "mystical," but which eventually degenerate into stilted and unreflective ways of acting, which evoke little. This cycle seems to continue over and over through time, which corresponds to what some are currently calling the "emerging church"--a paradigm shift as described by Phyllis Tickle and others.

Sherry's links today range from a wacky experiment with three psychotic patients who believed they were each Jesus Christ to 10 things the Right Wing of the USA are worried about.

What about those gay troops?

By Mike Lukovich
From Center for American Progress

NoH8 campaign

I'm about a week late with this picture of Cindy McCain, but a friend only reminded me to look for it today.
The NoH8 Campaign has this to say about the above picture:

"In the year since we've started the NOH8 Campaign, we've often been surprised at some of the different individuals who have approached us showing their support. Few, though, have surprised us more than Cindy McCain - the wife of Senator John McCain and mother to vocal marriage equality advocate Meghan McCain. The McCains are one of the most well-known Republican families in recent history, and for Mrs. McCain to have reached out to us to offer her support truly means a lot. Although we had worked with Meghan McCain before and were aware of her own position, we'd never really thought the cause might be something her mother would get behind. We have a huge amount of respect for both of these women for being brave enough to make it known they support equal marriage rights for all Americans.

"Aligning yourself with the platform of gay marriage as a Republican still tends to be very stigmatic, but Cindy McCain wanted to participate in the campaign to show people that party doesn't matter - marriage equality isn't a Republican issue any more than it is a Democratic issue. It's about human rights, and everybody being treated equally in the eyes of the law that runs and protects this country.

"Meghan McCain was asked to be the keynote speaker at next month's National Equality Week at George Washington University for her advocacy. In an odd bit of timing, a student Republican organization has become upset that she'll be giving that speech -- and have publicly voiced their disapproval over the ordeal

(you can read more about it here:

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/meghan_mccain_is_redefining_republican)."

We're ALL going to Hell!

Try to read the small print on the sign--we're all going to hell! (I am reassured by Father Kelly Nemeck saying no one is in hell.) I'm definitely a feminist and a liberal, among other labels listed.

Thanks to my daughter who emailed the link to me, which is at The Yale Daily News. Here's a brief recap of the picture:

Evangelist causes a stir 12.04.09

Jesse Morrell — a 25-year-old evangelist preacher from Cheshire, Conn., who said he did three stints at the juvenile detention center on Whalley Avenue for selling drugs — says he knows where most Yale students are headed: hell.

Queer Bible Commentary

A friend who is a minister at the Metropolitan Community Church loaned me her copy of The Queer Bible Commentary. I dislike the adjective "Queer" in the title and might never have looked at it if CL had not talked about it and/or lent it to me. I am impressed by the scholarship in this book. It is interesting and informative.

The book cover is by modern icon writer Robert Lentz.

Consequences of Gay Marriage