Simone Biles gets last laugh in 'feud' with anti-trans activist Riley Gaines during 2025 Espy Awards

While Simone Biles (top pic) shines and achieves, Riley Gaines (bottom pic) will continue to ride her fifth-place tie with trans athlete Lia Thomas for clout

In case some of you aren't aware, multiple Olympic gold medalist and the most awarded gymnast Simone Biles was in a recent feud with anti- trans activist Riley Gaines. 

Gaines is a former collegiate swimmer who has made a career in right-wing circles speaking out against trans athletes ever since she tied for fifth in a meet with a trans athlete, Lia Thomas. Four other woman who are not trans defeated Gaines, but that hasn't stopped her grift, I mean "crusade."

The feud between Biles and Gaines began when last month when Gaines took it upon herself to publicly call out a high school trans student on Twitter. Biles stood up for the teenager but found herself cast in the middle of an ugly brouhaha with publicity-hungry Gaines, who made the most of this opportunity by attacking Biles on Twitter and Fox News.  On Twitter, her followers also made attacks against Biles. Gaines herself even dug up Biles's sexual abuse by former USA doctor and convicted child predator Larry Nassar. 

 While Biles tried to divest herself from the situation (even by offering an apology), Gaines and her supporters - particularly female pundits on Fox News - declared Gaines as the "winner."

 However, at the Wednesday night's Espy Awards, folks - and I hope especially Gaines and her supporters - were reminded what a true winner looks like: 

 Simone Biles won two trophies at the ESPYS on Wednesday night, including the women’s best athlete award. The 11-time Olympic medalist claimed the night’s first award, best championship performance for her efforts at the Paris Games.

 She won three golds and a silver while helping the U.S. women’s gymnasts win their first team title since 2016. “That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles said after kissing husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens. 

The comment Biles made is what folks are talking about because it is considered a dig at Gaines. But we shouldn't let her comment overshadow the fact that Biles continues to win and achieve, while Gaines will probably be looking for another opportunity to ride her coattails for more attention and appearances on Fox.  

One has to admire Gaines's skill of turning a fifth-place tie to a full fledge-media career, but we are still talking about a fifth-place tie.. There aren't any further chapters of the story in which Gaines trained herself to be better and managed to become the gold-medalist she mostly like dreamed of being as a child. Her sports story ends with a brazen grab for easy cash by blaming others for her own inability to successfully compete.  

Meanwhile Biles will continue to shine and add to her long list of achievements, thus proving that those who can generally do. Gaines, on the other hand proves that those who can't achieve will spend considerable time blaming others for their own mediocrity.

 It's easy to see who actually won this feud. It wasn't even close.

Chip and Joanna Gaines trigger conservative Christian rage by showing that religious freedom about gays go both ways

By casting a same-sex couple in their docuseries Back to the Frontier, HGTV personalities Chip and Joanna Gaines enrage conservative evangelicals and puts a much-needed spotlight on how the concept of religious freedom is distorted

 From Men's Journal:

Chip and Joanna Gaines, the popular HGTV personalities who created their own TV network and have a massive following from Evangelical Christians, are facing criticism over a casting decision for their new HBO Max docuseries, Back to the Frontier. 

 The new series, from the couple's Magnolia Network, features three couples living as 1800s homesteaders. Among the couples includes Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs, a same-sex couple who have two sons. 

The decision to cast the Hanna-Riggs family cast drew immediate criticism from Chip and Joanna's own fan base. Preacher Franklin Graham notably went on X and voiced his dismay. 

"I hope this isn’t true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If It is true, it is very disappointing. While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word," he tweeted. "His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin."

 Ed Vitagliano, vice president of the American Family Association, called the casting disappointing. “We aren’t sure why the Gaines have reversed course, but we are sure of this: Back to the Frontier promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family," the organization tweeted. 

 After hearing the criticism, Chip swung back. "Talk, ask [questions], listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never," he tweeted. "It’s a sad Sunday when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian."

This controversy is an opportunity to look at the concept of religious freedom as it is used by conservative evangelicals.

Graham and other conservative evangelicals (that includes those on the Supreme Court) have weaponized the term as an excuse to not treat LGBTQ people fairly and in accordance with laws. To do so would jeopardize their "personally held religious beliefs,"   they tell us.

But religious freedom goes both ways.  Just as people have the religious freedom to condemn and castigate LGBTQ people, others have the religious freedom to affirm LGBTQ people or - in the case of the Gaines - welcome LGBTQ people in.

Graham knows this. And other conservative evangelicals (including those on the Supreme Court) know this. But to them, religious freedom is not about freedom to worship. It's not about respecting people's right to worship as they wish.

 It's a ploy for them to dictate policy in accordance with their fantasy that America is a Christian nation controlled and corralled by their definition of Scriptures. It's the method in which they try to take power - power which they delude themselves comes anointed by God when in reality, it comes from their own craven and greedy desires.

Their lapse of knowledge about religious freedom is not accidental. It's a cynical convenience and a hallmark of their barely hidden hypocrisy.  Just as easily as Franklin Graham can condemn LGBTQ people as sinners while simultaneously supporting the even more sinful and incredibly corrupt Trump Administration (which he does almost constantly), other conservative evangelicals can whine that their freedom to worship is being taken away while attempting silence others who they feel aren't obeying God according to their standards.

This controversy, if u want to call it that, merely lays it all bare.

News brief special - MAGA anger at Trump over Epstein Files isn't dying down. It's heating up.

How the Trump Administration handled the Jeffrey Epstein situation (seen here with Trump in 1992) has created a huge rift between Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters.

Editor's note - This controversy involving the Trump Administration and the Epstein Files may not be LGBTQ specific, but it is deliciously ironic considering how accusations against LGBTQ people as predators and child groomers have been fueled by Trump supporters. Whatever the case may be, the reversal of the Trump Administration when it comes to conspiracy theories about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's death and alleged "list of contacts" after years of baiting MAGA about it is like watching slow moving train wreck.  And considering the stubbornness of MAGA and Trump, it's a train wreck which won't stop any time soon.

Trump Gets 'Ratioed' on Truth Social for First Time Amid Epstein Backlash

‘Huge PR Disaster!’ Fox News Panel Slams Trump’s Handling of Epstein Probe 

'This leads back to Trump': Fox News pundit casts blame for Epstein 'cover-up' 

MAGA Influencers Rage After Trump Rebuffs Them on Epstein: ‘The EPSTEIN AFFAIR is Not Going Away’ 

Conservative Crowd Goes Wild Cheering as Megyn Kelly Calls Out Epstein Files ‘Scandal’ and Rips Pam Bondi

'They want accountability': Trump warned MAGA is coming after him over Epstein

Furor Over Epstein Files Sparks Clash Between Bondi And Bongino At The Justice Department

'He fueled it': ABC panel pummels Trump after MAGA revolts over Epstein 

‘Ticking Time Bomb’: Fox & Friends Warns Trump He Can’t Just Sweep Epstein Story Under the Rug 

 And for those who have little to no idea what's going on, here is a timeline courtesy of Forbes: 

Trump Backs Pam Bondi As ‘Epstein Files’ Fallout Causes MAGA Rift: Here’s A Timeline Of Events

Related post - Transphobia takes a back seat as MAGA rages at AG Bondi over Epstein files debacle

Transphobia takes a back seat as MAGA rages at AG Bondi over Epstein files debacle

California officials are failing to protect girls on the playing field and in the locker room. The Department of Justice has filed suit. pic.twitter.com/op2UVREx0c

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 9, 2025

From Mediaite:

 Attorney General Pam Bondi can’t seem to escape those pesky calls to resign over this week’s joint FBI/DOJ report on Jeffrey Epstein, even as she tries to deliver on a major MAGA talking point. In a video posted to X Wednesday, Bondi was flanked by Education Secretary Linda McMahon as the two Trump administration officials announced a lawsuit against California for failing to enforce the White House ban on (trans women) competing in women’s sports. 

 . . . The lawsuit seeks to “enforce Title IX and protect California female student athletes from unfair competition and reckless endangerment by male participation on female high-school sports teams,” according to a statement from the Department of Justice. The video quickly racked up thousands of replies, but instead of cheering for the litigious action, most saw the opportunity to once again demand Bondi find another job.

For those not familiar with the Epstein situation (and in that regard should consider themselves both fortunate and far in between), allow me to add some background.

Ever since he committed suicide in his jail cell in 2019, accused sex trafficker and convicted sex offender Jeffey Epstein has been the center of MAGA conspiracy theories about his death (they think he was murdered) and an alleged list of high-profile names who he supposedly trafficked underaged females to. Bondi and several others in the present Trump Administratio egged on and amplified these conspiracy theories for months. 

Then came the released report earlier this week concluding that Epstein was not murdered and there was no list of clients. Needless to say, MAGA is furious about this conclusion. This has led to a strange outcome of watching MAGA devotees (anti-MAGA devotees who are just being downright mischievous) ignore Bondi's news of an anti-trans lawsuit and instead figuratively drag her all over Twitter. The following are merely a few:

I'd be lying if I said I'm not enjoying this. It's like watching the part of a horror movie in which the mad scientist's experiments turn on him and drag him into "The House of Pain."

You literally covered up the largest pedophile ring in American history less than 48 hours ago.

Respectfully (or not so respectfully I really don’t care), shut the fuck up.

— Trump Tracker (@trackingdonald) July 9, 2025

@AGPamBondi let Epstein walk. Linda McMahon is named in a child abuse lawsuit. And now these two frauds are out here pretending to be the defenders of children?

Miss me with this fascist cosplay.

This isn’t about protecting girls. It’s about erasing trans kids, distracting from…

— Frank C (@FrankC164) July 9, 2025

You need to resign Pam. Your trustworthiness has been destroyed. pic.twitter.com/KQzZn0JBOe

— 🇺🇸 Bull Moose American 🇺🇸 (@BullMooseMemes) July 9, 2025

pic.twitter.com/CkbnHsUKgS

— Brian Pearson 🇺🇸🌊💙 (@btrekman1) July 9, 2025

“Protect girls”? You are a disgrace! What about protecting girls and women from the ped*philes you exonerated that sexually abused and r@ped young women and girls on Epstein’s island who are now emboldened and free to commit more heinous crimes? What about justice for the…

— Skip Solis 🇺🇸 (@s_solis44) July 9, 2025

If it was Epstein in the locker room’s you’d have no issue with it.

— Michael Oxford - AKA The Santa Cruz Mountain Goat (@SCMountainGoat) July 9, 2025

Stop trying to change the subject. The Epstein flip flop has shattered your support as well as Trump support, and you cannot fix it unless you release the Epstein Client List. Stop lying and Release the Entire Epstein Evidence (EEE>BBB) to the American people!! pic.twitter.com/FQUtTa58fn

— David Wolfe (@DavidWolfe) July 9, 2025

pic.twitter.com/6OsoN7OH5M

— Brian Pearson 🇺🇸🌊💙 (@btrekman1) July 9, 2025

Resign. You are a disgusting individual.

— Florida Rebel (@FloridaRebel76) July 9, 2025

Protect girls … arrest epstein’s clients pic.twitter.com/gfcvYAoLzo

— My Christian Page (@MCPonX) July 9, 2025

Where is the Epstein list dumb BITCH

— BLM Tel Aviv (@blmtelaviv3) July 9, 2025

@AGPamBondi won’t protect the #Epstein victims from sexual predators like @POTUS so she tries to distract America with this. So incompetent!! pic.twitter.com/TtFyb7hNHW

— Taylor (@TaylorIndiana) July 9, 2025

Hat tip to Mediaite (in spite of the fact that it amplifies Megyn Kelly too much. Just saying)

'Georgia librarian fired after child picks a book with transgender character for a library display' & other Tue/Wed news briefs

'When Aidan Became A Brother' - the book which led to the firing of Georgia librarian Lavonnia Moore.

I swear, the way some Americans are acting makes me want to give those 'To Serve Man' aliens from The Twilight Zone some precise directions on where some of y'all live. And throw in a huge bag of seasoning.

Beloved Georgia librarian fired after child chooses book with transgender character for library display - Unbelievable! And the lies the bigots told on her is equally shameful. Under the facade of "protecting children," these folks are targeting people merely doing their job. Not to mention attempting to erase families the public view.

11th Circuit upholds Miami-Dade’s firing of former media aide over anti-LGBTQ column - Whoop! There it is! 

California defies federal order to ban trans women and girls from female sports - We will have to see how this turns out. California governor Gavin Newsom got some folks angry a while back via his negative comments about trans athletes. 

Wisconsin Supreme Court clears way for conversion therapy ban - Great news, but again we will see how this turns out with SCOTUS hearing a case on whether or not states can ban reparative therapy. 

Trans athletes can no longer play sports in Indiana starting this month - A perfect example of how these laws are ridiculous time wasters. According to the article, there aren't any trans athletes playing sports in Indiana.

 Supreme Court ruling wasn’t the final word, as debate on LGBTQ books opt-out goes on - You had better believe that it ain't over.

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters going on hiatus until July 8

A photo of me and my GLAAD award (Outstanding Blog - 2017)

Unless something interesting happens (like Elon Musk and Stephen Miller getting caught getting busy while wearing bondage gear ...  you're welcome for the image), I am going on a break to recharge my batteries. 

 I shall return on Tuesday of next week hopefully full of fire and petty attitude (cause God knows we need it) to do what I have been doing for the community for the past 18 and a half years. 

 Until then, keep smiling, keep fighting, and never let anyone decide for you what you need to be doing for yourself. We will get through Trump's second term, just like we did his first.

So happy Fourth of July (maybe sooner if something big happens - cue image of Trump in master/slave leather gear with Lindsey Graham)

CBS News - the Trump Administration is playing 'divide and conquer' strategy against LGBTQ community

During his first term, Donald Trump pretended to like the LGBTQ community. During this, his second term, he's not bothering to play the game. Instead, according to CBS News, his Administration is pushing a divide and conquer strategy - specifically targeting the trans community, while the overall goal is a reduction of rights for the entire LGBTQ community.

According to CBS News:

From health care bans, to sports bans, bathroom bans, a military ban and attempts to erase non-binary gender pronouns from the federal system, Mr. Trump's most conspicuous threats to LGBTQ rights specifically target trans people, a pattern that has drawn accusations of scapegoating from his critics, given that trans people make up an estimated 1% or less of the U.S. population. LGBTQ advocates also see it as a tactic to sow division in the community. 

 "Donald Trump ran for president on an age-old platform of divide and conquer," said Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. "Inside the LGBTQ+ community, Donald Trump ran his campaign saying, I'm not targeting all LGBTQ+ people, just the trans people, and if you sacrifice that community, perhaps you will be spared." 

While polling data showed most LGBTQ voters didn't choose to elect him, Mr. Trump has gained increasingly loud support from a faction of gay conservatives who disavow the "radical LGBT left" and insist his policies aren't at odds with their personal freedoms. 

 When the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the upcoming termination of part of its 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth, the gay conservative group Log Cabin Republicans called related media coverage "fake news." 

 

While some of the Trump Administration's actions exploit whatever divide exists between the trans and LGBQ communities, other actions have targeted the community in general.  The goal seems to be making the overall LGBTQ community weak and unable to fight back.

 . . .Mr. Trump and those in his orbit have repeatedly cast LGBTQ people and activities in a negative light. While announcing leadership shifts at the Kennedy Center in February, the president penned a social media post that pledged, in capital letters, to ensure the arts forum would no longer host drag shows "or other anti-American propaganda." His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later said the country needs "less LGBTQ graduate majors" in an interview on Fox News criticizing Harvard University. 

 According to advocates and academics, the administration frequently relies on political strategies to marginalize trans people that have been used against other groups in the past. The term "groomers," for example, is a historically anti-gay trope, and "gender ideology" originally demonized feminism. 

 There were also notable moments of silence from the Trump administration, which did not acknowledge Pride Month, even as a global Pride festival took place for several weeks between May and June in Washington, D.C. LGBTQ people say that wasn't necessarily a surprise after watching their visibility decline in national forums this year, starting with mentions of "lesbian," "bisexual," "gay," "transgender," "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" being scrubbed from the White House website the day after Mr. Trump's inauguration, in a flashback to his first term.

You can read the entire CBS News article by clicking on this link.