Arguments against marriage equality in Australia as inane as those used in America

Right now, even as I write this, the continent of Australia is embroiled in a huge fight over marriage equality. While monitoring this debate, I am noticing an uneasy similarity between the arguments made by those who didn't want marriage equality here in America and the opposition to it in Australia.

You have the same disgusting claims about how marriage equality coming to Australia will harm children:

Which we had to deal with:

And the same nonsensical arguments we had to deal with (how many of these do you remember):

.@AlexHawkeMP: I'm conservative on marriage, I don't want to see people sued for expression of religious freedom. https://t.co/C5IzPJPB6x pic.twitter.com/7FPRAtwI2P

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 8, 2017

.@kevinandrewsmp: I have a relationship with my cycling mates, but the law has no place in that relationship https://t.co/3nKBUCzjYS pic.twitter.com/KusSCp7232

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 14, 2017

.@kevinandrewsmp: Once you change the definition from a man and a woman, any set of arrangements can be put in place https://t.co/3nKBUCzjYS pic.twitter.com/IAWGkJHFEP

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 13, 2017

And of course let's not omit the downright insane:

Lots of respectful correspondence today #ThanksMalcolm pic.twitter.com/c5CWnfKEvS

— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) August 10, 2017

We won marriage equality in America because we were able to take our case to court. It was in this arena of logic that we were able to make our case, while the opposition showed that they only possessed smoke and mirrors.

It's not so easy in Australia. As  I understand it, they have a different system and will have a voluntary postal survey on the issue.

What that means is we need to pray for Australia because the continent will be in for all sorts of crazy mess geared to scare people about marriage equality.

Don't be surprised if a conspiracy theory about aliens takes center stage.

Hat tip to Buzzfeed.

'Nauseatingly homophobic posters go up in Australia' & other Tue midday news briefs

Bigots in Australia have no time for subtlety.

Disgusting Anti-LGBT Posters Have Gone Up Throughout Melbourne, Australia - A reminder that our struggle for equality is worldwide.  I haven't seen homophobia this visually hardcore in a while. It's pretty much the same message that groups like the Family Research Council presents about LGBTQs, but without any subtlety.

“Fuck you, faggots”: The anti-LGBTQ bigotry of white supremacists and neo-Nazis - Geez. I guess that's two reasons why they hate my guts. 

After Charlottesville attack, anti-LGBTQ hate groups attack media outlets for accurately calling them hate groups- The poor things. Bless the stewing pits where their hearts would have been if they had hearts. 

Bryan Fischer: ‘Our Land May Be Getting Ready To Vomit Us Out’ Because Of Abortion And Homosexuality - For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would call the American Family Association a hate group. Bryan Fischer, you are connected with them. Can you tell us why? 

San Francisco 49ers assistant Katie Sowers is first out LGBT coach in NFL - Not everything is negative in today's news briefs. As Ms. Sowers shows us, don't allow ignorant fools to get you distracted. Keep your eye on them of course. But don't let them distract you from achieving your goals.

How the 'Christian' right dodged calling out Trump for 'both sides' statement

The religious right have traded Jesus for this guy.

Trump received much well-deserved criticism because of his abysmal "both sides" quasi-defense of white nationalists after the Charlottesville tragedy.

However, one thing  about the controversy which should've received front page press but didn't was how religious right groups and leaders failed to give Trump any type of moral guidance. Instead, in their responses, they have him excuses and back-up.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.breaks down  it all down:

Many Americans were repulsed by Trump’s comments, but not the Religious Right. Its leaders responded to his comments in a number of ways, none of which involved criticizing the president or noting his appalling moral failure – as they certainly would have done had a progressive president behaved this way.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council issued a statement echoing Trump’s offensive “both sides” rhetoric. Perkins couldn’t manage to muster the courage to denounce Nazis, but he did find a way to point out – twice – that a Bernie Sanders supporter shot U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise.

Prominent evangelist Franklin Graham chose to blame the victims of neo-Nazi violence, asserting that this all started because some people advocated removing a statue of Robert E. Lee from a public park. (For good measure, he blamed Satan as well.) The clear implication is that they should have known better.

Anti-LGBTQ right gets caught lying about gay millionaire

Editor's note - Due to today's eclipse, there will be no news briefs

Tim Gill is not targeting Christians.

In late July, Rolling Stone magazine published a profile of gay millionaire activist Tim Gill. The religious and conservative right went ballistic, claiming that Gill said he would be targeting Christians.

Like so many other claims about the LGBTQ community and individuals they've made in the past, this claim was a shameful lie. But it gained so much traction in right-wing circles that the author of the original Rolling Stone piece, Andy Kroll, wrote a follow-up in which he called out those who distorted his first article:

The reaction to my recent profile of Tim Gill, the 63-year-old tech entrepreneur who has spent nearly $500 million of his fortune to win equal rights for LGBTQ people in America, is a small but useful case study of how the warped echo chamber of conservative media works. 

The story went largely unnoticed by conservatives when it first appeared a month ago. Yet in the past 48 hours, the boldface names of today's right-wing media—Breitbart News, the Washington Times, Washington Examiner, Glenn Beck's The Blaze, The Federalist—have seized on the story. Every one of these outlets has chosen to fixate on – and badly mangle – a single quote of Gill's. Here's the passage in which it appears:
"More broadly, for Gill and his allies, nondiscrimination is the new front of the movement: a campaign that pits LGBTQ advocates against a religious right that responded to marriage equality by redoubling its efforts. The election of Donald Trump, who claims to support gay rights but stocked his administration with anti-LGBTQ extremists, has only emboldened those looking to erase the gains of the past decade. Gill refuses to go on the defense. 'We're going into the hardest states in the country,' he says. 'We're going to punish the wicked.'" 

Pointing to this solitary quote, conservative outlets say that Gill is "targeting" Christians. The Federalist writes that Gill is "aiming to punish Christians who don't want to participate in same-sex weddings." The Blaze claims that Gill "called for the punishment of Christians who refuse to take part in same-sex weddings." The Washington Times ran this headline: "Gay megadonor on going after Christians: 'We're going to punish the wicked.'" 

This is complete nonsense. 

Not once in my profile does Gill talk about "targeting" Christians. Not once does Gill so much as hint at singling out Christians or adherents of any other religion. Not once does the word "Christian" appear. The authors of these cookie-cutter stories sprouting up across the conservative blogosphere either didn't bother to read the actual piece or were blinded by their own biases. (None of the outlets in question attempted to contact Gill or his foundation for comment or clarification, according to a Gill spokesman.) . 

 . . . . Gill has used the phrase "punish the wicked" as a rallying cry for years. "The wicked" is anyone who stands in the way of progress on equal rights for LGBTQ people: politicians, activists, lawyers, some people of faith, and plenty more with no religious affiliation whatsoever. This isn't a Democrat-Republican thing: Some of the most brutal and effective campaigns mounted by Gill's operation have targeted Democrats who opposed marriage equality. (See, for instance, the 2010 Fight Back New York campaign.) For the quote in question, "the wicked" refers to anti-equality lawmakers on the ballot in 2016, such as then-North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed his state's infamous HB2 bathroom bill. (With Gill's help, Democrat Roy Cooper ousted McCrory and then partially repealed HB2.)  "The wicked" refers to the lawmakers who, in response to the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell decision legalizing same-sex marriage, have introduced dozens of so-called religious freedom restoration bills that would give legal cover for individuals and businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

'Power hungry white evangelicals will still support Trump' & other Fri midday news briefs

Robert Jeffress is symbolic of white evangelicals willing to trade integrity for power in Trump Administration.

Why Trump’s Charlottesville response won’t hurt him with a key chunk of his base - Guess what this base is? White evangelicals. The religious right. The anti-LGBTQ religious right. Sarah Posner gives a detailed reason. I prefer to be simple. These people are hypocrites and liars. They are only concerned with their ego and manifesting power. These people get angrier with the notion of a school having a club which reaches out to LGBTQ students than white supremacists invading a town and causing chaos. They exploit Christianity for their own desires.

Yes, There’s Actually A ‘Straight Lives Matter’ Rally In The Works - This is happening in Australia but I'm sure some fools in America will be getting ideas. 

Banning transgender troops would cost 100 times more than letting them serve - Yep! Not surprised.  

Twitter Blasts Ex-Google Employee Who Says Being Conservative Is Like Being Gay In The ‘50s - YES WE DID! I even threw out a few licks myself. 

Opinion: We Must Combat Smoking Disparities in LGBTQ Community - An important issue.

Do anti-LGBTQ hate groups know our meaning of the word 'receipts?'

The American Family Association is angry at CNN for daring to refer to them as an SPLC-designated hate group.

From AFA:

This week, CNN listed the American Family Association as a "hate group" in a sham news article that could easily incite violence and place AFA employees and supporters in harm's way. CNN has since issued a correction and removed AFA by name off their website. Instead, CNN links to the Southern Poverty Law Center website which falsely lists AFA as a "hate group." AFA is urging CNN to stop using the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a source when reporting real news. The SPLC is a radical organization whose hateful rhetoric was implicated in a 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Today, we need your support to sustain our efforts in this important and lengthy battle. By citing the SPLC, CNN underscores why many Americans don't trust it for honest reporting. The SPLC has been widely discredited over the years because of its false labeling of Christian organizations as "hate groups.

AFA even has the nerve to ask that folks tweet the following mess:

Earlier today in my news brief, I talked about the Family Research Council throwing a tantrum because Apple will be donating a large amount of money to anti-hate groups, including SPLC.

And it's not just those two. According to People for the American Way:

It appears as if there is a coordinated campaign from anti-LGBTQ Religious Right organizations to fight back against outlets that identify them as SPLC designated hate groups.

My guess is because of Charlottesville, there is an interest in learning more about hate groups in America. And in spite of what some folks have said about SPLC being discredited, the organization is the best resource on hate groups. Anti-lgbtq hate groups are rightfully figuring out that a lot of eyes will be looking at the info SPLC has compiled on them. Therefore they are attacking SPLC's credibility.

These groups  are merely digging a hole for themselves. And for a very simple reason.

'Anti-LGBTQ hate group angry that SPLC getting donations to combat other hate groups' & other Thur midday news briefs

Apple to donate $2 million to anti-hate groups, Tim Cook tells staff - One of the groups receiving donations will be the Southern Poverty Law Center. Naturally the Family Research Group (who SPLC has called a hate group) isn't happy about this:

That's the Family Research Council - a group which heavily supports Donald Trump, hasn't say a word about him this week defending white supremacist groups, and will most likely still have him at it's so-called Values Voters Summit

Conservative faith leaders stand by Trump despite his defense of white supremacist rally - I bet if Trump said something positive about LGBTQs, they would have dropped him in droves. Kinda sad but nice at the same time to see the greed of conservative faith leaders. 

Yes, A Big Victory In Texas On The Trans Bathroom Bill, But The Battle Is Far From Over - Yep. Never over. Bring it on. 

Log Cabin Republicans Didn’t Endorse Trump but Booked Gala Event at Trump’s DC Hotel - Finally . . Lawd hammercy!

Racist reduced to weepy wreck over possibility of warrant for his arrest

Editor's  note - That awful tragedy in Charlottesville and Donald Trump's hideous reaction to it is screwing with my normal LGBTQ blogging . I will continue to blog about LGBTQ issues and expose the lies of the religious right. However I will be pushing other posts about Charlottesville

Below is Chris Cantwell. He is a NASTY white supremacist who advocates all sorts of violence, including killing law enforcement officers and government figures.

You know. One of those fine individuals Trump defended on Tuesday.  The following, courtesy of SPLC, are just a few of Cantwell's comments:

“If you listen to the first time I was on the show, all right, like, I did not get the Jew thing. Like I thought of Jews as white people with bad ideas, right? Like, I had no idea Karl Marx was a Jew. I had never associated Jews with communism, right? And it was like the second that I made that connection, I was like, they all have to die … I’m not even a Hitlerite but I’m like ok, let’s fucking gas the kikes and have a race war because once I realized they were responsible for the communism, then I was like, oh, wait a second, yeah, that’s a fucking really good reason to fucking genocide a group of people.” — Interviewed on the Alt-Right show Exodus Americanus, June 26, 2017. 

“I never wanted to jump over a counter and attack a fucking hotel clerk because he fucking didn’t speak proper English. But what it is now is that I see it as a fucking threat. You know? I feel like my country is being fucking invaded. That like I’m being outbred. That guy has probably fucking 12 kids at home.”” — podcast, “I Almost Committed a Hate Crime,” January 29, 2017 

“I think chemical and biological weapons can do a great deal of good for mankind. Releasing nerve gas or some kind of lethal virus into a left wing protest could prepare the bodies for physical removal without making a big scene for the cameras or destroying anything of value.” — Facebook post, January 28, 2017. 

“I would go ahead and I would say that I don’t know that Dylann Roof made the fuckin’ best use of his life by fucking throwing it away on these fucking animals in the goddamn church. But I understand what he’s going through, right?” — Radical Agenda, January 5, 2017

He's a real badass, that is until he found out that possibly a warrant for his arrest exists. It's the video that has gone mega viral and you will see why:

 

'Texas Victory! Anti-transgender bills defeated' & other Wed midday news briefs

TX Gov. Greg Abbott's attempt to pass anti-trans bills went down in defeat

Anti-Trans ‘Bathroom Bill’ Dies In Texas - Activists, big business, the clergy, legislators (including the GOP Speaker of the House) and civil rights groups teamed up to protect Texas' transgender community. No victory is ever impossible to achieve when you are willing to work together. 

This Report Says More LGBT People Were Killed So Far In 2017 Than In All Of 2016 - An article from last week but still needs to be posted. 

Bryan Fischer: Violence In Charlottesville Was A Clash ‘Between The Left And The Left’- Lovely. When Fischer isn't verbally bashing the LGBTQ community, he spews verbal acid on other subjects.

Indonesia’s LGBT youth bears brunt of hostility towards gay and lesbian community - Our fight for equality is EVERYWHERE.

Louisiana governor seeks reinstatement of LGBT-rights order - Fingers crossed.

Trump's ugly speech sounds like it came straight out of 'Mississippi Burning'

Trump is an idiot. We all knew that. Yet some Americans still voted for him. Don't blame Clinton or Sanders or anyone else. When it all comes down to it, Americans made a decision. We knew all of the costs and dangers and we made a decision.

And elected a fool who can attack the Muslim community over almost anything but WILL NOT (I didn't say cannot) rebuke white racists.

He reminds me of that scene in the motion picture 'Mississippi Burning' in which a redneck judge chastised a group of Klansmen for their violence by mostly attacking the so-called "outside agitators" for 'making them do it.'

In this country a man's home is his castle. That is one of the principles by which this community survives. You men have done violence to that principle. But I want you to know that the court understands that the crimes you have committed have been, to some extent at least brought about by outside influences. Outsiders have come into Jessup County and they've been people of low morality and unhygienic. And their presence here has provoked a lot of people. So the court understands without condoning them, mind you that the crimes to which you men have pled guilty were, to some extent at least, provoked by these outside influences. So, with all this, I'm gonna make your punishment light. I'm gonna sentence you each to five years' imprisonment. But I'm gonna suspend these sentences.

And that's where America is right now. A man who is supposed to be president possibly using Fox News talking points to avoid rebuking  white supremacists.




The president of the United States shouldn't sound like a redneck judge excusing Klan violence. But this bozo does.

''Auntie Ruckus' Fox News pundit says LGBTQ pride flag & confederate flag are exact same thing' & other Tue midday news briefs

Fox guest: Confederate flag and LGBTQ pride flag "represent the exact same thing" - I hardly think that a flag put up to celebrate oppression is the same thing as rainbow flags - the symbol of unity for community UNDER oppression. But that's what Auntie Ruckus, I mean Star Parker is claiming. Why do I call Star Parker Auntie Ruckus? Well the video below from The Boondocks is the best way I can tell you who she is. When she isn't attacking the LGBTQ community, Star Parker resembles the black man, Uncle Ruckus, in the videos below. Though not as comically extreme, but you get the point:

In other news: 

Defense secretary reveals the trans military ban is in limbo - Dag! Trump even screws that up.

Reflecting On The AIDS Epidemic This Gay Men’s Health Crisis Founders’ Day - KNOW your history.

The Justice Department Is Evaluating Obama-Era Rules For Transgender Prisoners - For Pete's sake! Damn!

St. Petersburg's LGBTQ Pride Rally Had the Largest Turnout Since 2010 - These are some BOLD brothers and sisters. Keep the fight up!

Trump Administration expected to remove healthcare protections from women, transgender community

Trump Administration about to negatively affect healthcare for transgender community and women

In the past, the religious right has cloaked its attacks against the transgender community as an issue of safety in women's bathrooms and locker rooms. However, a possible move by the Trump Administration could put into perspective how women and transgender individuals in general are in danger of losing decent health care:

According to NewNextNow:

The anti-discrimination policies set up by Obamacare designed to protect transgender patients are now in danger of being rescinded, according to The Hill. The Department of Health and Human Services has reportedly crafted a proposed rule that would allow doctors to legally refuse treating trans patients or women who have had abortions, two groups who were protected under the Affordable Care Act. A Christian group previously sued to rescind those protections by claiming they were against its members’ religious beliefs. The group won the case and a Texas judge then blocked the provisions from going into effect. The Department of Justice never appealed the ruling after Jeff Sessions was appointed as the Attorney General of the Trump administration earlier this year, and now the provisions are at risk of being removed entirely.

The Hill provided background on this issue:

A sweeping 2016 final rule from the Obama administration prohibited healthcare providers and insurers who receive federal money from denying treatment or coverage to anyone based on sex, gender identity, or termination of pregnancy, among other conditions. It also required doctors and hospitals to provide “medically necessary” services to transgender individuals, as long as those services were the same ones provided to others. That rule was challenged in court by a group of Christian providers called the Franciscan Alliance. 

They argue the rule forces insurers to pay for abortions and compels doctors to perform gender transition services, even if the services are against their medical judgment. The Alliance won that case, and a Texas district court judge issued a nationwide injunction blocking the gender identity and pregnancy termination provisions from taking effect. Trump’s HHS decided not to appeal the ruling. On Aug. 4, the Department of Justice, which is representing HHS in the lawsuit, said it was reviewing a draft proposed rule that had already cleared HHS. It’s unclear when DOJ will complete the review. Once DOJ finishes, the final step before the rule’s release is a review by the Office of Management and Budget. Buchert said she was surprised at how quickly HHS drafted the new proposal. “I expected them to take more time in deliberating, in the same way the original rule was crafted, rather than crafting something internally and sending it over to DOJ,” she said.

According to both sources, the ACLU has been prepared for the new rule and will fight it. NewNextNow, however, added an interesting coda:

The guidance won’t go public until the DOJ reviews it and sends it to the Office of Management and Budget, so it remains unclear if the changes will affect gay, lesbian and bisexual patients, as well.

Hat tip to AKSARBENT