Gov. McCrory - Caitlyn Jenner must use men's bathrooms in NC

NC Gov. Pat McCrory is practically careening towards disaster in defending his absolutely indefensible HB2 law. I think a moment at last night's gubernatorial debate gives an indication of what I mean.

 North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said during a debate Tuesday that transgender Olympian Caitlyn Jenner better plan on using the men’s bathroom if she visits the state.

 McCrory, continuing his defense of the state’s sweeping anti-LGBT law, blamed “liberals” for “a major change in culture” that forced Republicans to respond with the legislation.

In the private sector in North Carolina, she can go wherever the private sector wants her to,” McCrory, a Republican, said of Jenner, who as Bruce Jenner won Olympic gold 40 years ago. “If she’s going to a shower facility at [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill] after running around the track, she’s going to use the men’s shower.”

Granted, Caitlyn Jenner hasn't exactly endeared herself to the lgbt community, but this isn't about her alone per se. Right now, Jenner is symbolic of the danger and undue stress faced by every transgender man and woman who gets exposed to danger because of the willful ignorance of others like McCrory.

People like McCrory push these transphobic laws because they claim they are concerned about safety.  But it doesn't look that way to me.

Congressman Gohmert - Bill Clinton is to blame for Trump's language on tape

Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se, but then again, yes it is.

Apparently it's Louie Gohmert day on my blog. How in the hell did this man become a Congressional leader?

To paraphrase the below clip. according to Gohmert in an absolutely mind-boggling verbal stream of consciousness, it was Bill Clinton who led Donald Trump to say those awful things about sexually assaulting women. But he should be forgiven because he is a Republican and "religious leader" James Dobson says he is a Christian.

Oh Poor GOP. Y'all can start kissing your asses goodbye.

'Congressman links lgbts to Noah's Flood' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Congressman Louie Gohmert

Louie Gohmert Links Homosexuality To Noah’s Flood - Who else but Louie Gohmert. Before you get blase about this, like everything Gohmert has said over the years, always remember that he is a Congressman with the power to vote on YOUR lives. See why voting matters? 

The Powerful Way Logo TV Is Censoring Itself On National Coming Out Day - Don't be fooled by the headline. This is actually a good thing because LOGO is making a wonderful and very necessary point. 

National Park Service issues LGBTQ history study - YES! I minored in history so this is an especially good thing to me. 

Rainbow Noose Meme “Probably Too Dramatic”, Says Anti-Marriage Equality Campaigner - Just when you think WE had big problems getting marriage equality in America . . .  

LGBTQ people of color victimized by domestic violence face unique obstacles - The struggle is NEVER over.

Flashback: National Coming Out Day 1988 and The Oprah Winfrey Show

Today is the 28th National Coming Out Day. Rather than any long-winded posts about the importance of coming out, how about a blast from the past?

The following is a clip from the Oprah Winfrey Show which spotlighted the first National Coming Out Day in 1988. The words uttered here by members of the LGBT community are as poignant now as they were back then:

'Faith leaders' continued support of Trump an ugly indictment of our nation's choices

For decades, the anti-lgbt industry have targeted our community with deliberate lies and scientific distortions about our lives. They have painted us as valueless indicators of a society running away from God.  But last weekend, all they had to do is make a simple stand against an individual whose comments about women proved that he is pretty much everything they have claimed us of being.

It would seem so easy for them to rebuke him, wouldn't it? Hardly.

  

Evangelical Leaders Shrug At Donald Trump’s Lewd Comments

Ralph Reed

 “People of faith are voting on issues like who will protect unborn life, defund Planned Parenthood, defend religious liberty and oppose the Iran nuclear deal,” said Ralph Reed, who heads the Faith & Freedom Coalition. “A ten-year-old tape of a private conversation with a talk show host ranks low on their hierarchy of concerns.”  

Why some top evangelicals are standing by Trump 

Gary Bauer

" Hillary Clinton is committed to enacting policies that will erode religious liberty, promote abortion, make our country less safe, and leave our borders unprotected.”

 Prominent Evangelicals Still Backing Trump After Lewd Video

Tony Perkins

 “My personal support for Donald Trump has never been based upon shared values, it is based upon shared concerns about issues such as: justices on the Supreme Court that ignore the constitution, America’s continued vulnerability to Islamic terrorists and the systematic attack on religious liberty that we’ve seen in the last 7 1/2 years.”  

Franklin Graham: Trump comments ‘cannot be defended,’ but Supreme Court is top issue

Franklin Graham

 "The crude comments made by Donald J. Trump more than 11 years ago cannot be defended. But the godless progressive agenda of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton likewise cannot be defended. I am not endorsing any candidates in this election. I have said it throughout this presidential campaign, and I will say it again—both candidates are flawed. The only hope for the United States is God. Our nation’s many sins have permeated our society, leading us to where we are today. But as Christians we can’t back down from our responsibility to remain engaged in the politics of our nation. On November 8th we will all have a choice to make. The two candidates have very different visions for the future of America. The most important issue of this election is the Supreme Court. That impacts everything. There’s no question, Trump and Clinton scandals might be news for the moment, but who they appoint to the Supreme Court will remake the fabric of our society for our children and our grandchildren, for generations to come."

In all honesty, the fact that these men are seen as faith leaders in the first place is astounding. Ralph Reed was involved in an ugly scandal exploiting Christian mobilization against gambling casinos.  The scandal cost him an almost assured win as Lt. Governor of Georgia.

Long before he made a name for himself as a so-called pro-family advocate, Gary Bauer undermined efforts to educate Reagan on the AIDS crisis and efforts to get the president to address it publicly. He undermined Surgeon General C. Everett Koop as the crisis swept through the nation.

Perkins has a long history demonizing lgbts from claiming that we are pedophiles to claiming that we are tools of "the enemy."

Graham has praised Russian president Vladimir Putin for his country's persecution of lgbts. Ironically, Graham has been silent about Putin's persecution of Christians.

Why are we shocked that supposed faith leaders like Graham, Bauer, Reed, and Perkins are willing to overlook Trump's comments about sexually assaulting women?  The question needs to be how in the hell did these folks become "anointed" as this country's faith leaders in the first place?

SBC official - Trump has 'snuffed out' the religious right

I'm sure Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, won't win any applause from folks like Franklin Graham, Tony Perkins, or James Dobson with a recent piece he wrote in The Washington Post.

But he makes a good point in his claim that Donald Trump has wrecked the religious right. Part of it is as follows:

Some of the very people who warned us about moral relativism and situational ethics now ask us to become moral relativists for the sake of an election. And when some dissent, they are labeled as liberals or accused of moral preening or sitting comfortably on the sidelines. The cynicism and nihilism is horrifying to behold. It is not new, but it is clearer to see than ever.
 

There is good news, though, behind all of this, regardless of how this election turns out. The old-school political Religious Right establishment wonders why the evangelical next generation rejects their way. The past year is illustration enough. The evangelical movement is filled with younger, multiethnic, gospel-centered Christians. They are defined by a clear theology and a clear mission — not by the doctrinally vacuous resentment over a lost regime of nominal, cultural “Christian America.”

The people who have used the gospel to sell us politically cynical voting guides have done damage. But they are not replicating themselves in the next generation.

You can read the column in its entirety here.

'Brutal assessment of gay Trump voters' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Understanding Homonationalism: Why Are There Gay People Supporting Trump? - BRUTAL assessment of gay Trump supporters:

Put another way, homonationalists are largely white gay people blinded by privilege and actively working against the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our community. These individuals have received their portion of the proverbial pie through recent LGBT victories ― access to rights and capital ― and don’t feel the need to fight against the ideologies of racism, sexism, ableism, classism, xenophobia, transphobia or Islamophobia that are institutionally ingrained into the fabric of America. Homonationalists believe embodying their freedom means working to violate or deactivate the rights of others. Homonationalists are pawns of their own erasure. 

Pence’s penchant for dodging questions isn’t poise. It’s how he defended anti-LGBT discrimination - Don't be upset that Pence wasn't asked any questions about his anti-lgbt history during the recent VP debate. If he truly becomes the "front runner" in the next presidential election, that is the time we ROAST him. 

 Mike Pence: Appearing on Radio Show of Top Anti-Gay Leader James Dobson 'Greatest Honor of My Life' - So let's start assembling the list NOW.  

Rick Scarborough: Gay Marriage Has Made It Illegal For Christians To Serve As Federal Judges - Oh for crying out loud . . .

Unhinged pastor blames lgbts for recent racial unrest in Charlotte

Resident Charlotte pastor nut Flip Benham knows who is to blame for the awful unrest which took place in the city after the police shooting of  Keith Lamont Scott.

And he lets everyone know during his latest unhinged tirade at a Charlotte City Council meeting:



What can I say? The man NEEDS Jesus. Or at least a huge Valium.

Franklin Graham caught up in Trump Foundation controversy

Franklin Graham

Recently on his Facebook page, Franklin Graham took it upon himself to castigate the media about Trump's unreleased tax returns. He claimed that there are more pressing issues they should be concerned about . . . like the transgender community:

The media keeps talking about it, but to be honest with you, nobody gives a rip about Donald J. Trump’s taxes. What people do care about is their own taxes. And when I read about the government spending $8.4 million of taxpayers’ money a year—starting today—for things like gender reassignment and hormone therapy for military personnel, I’m disgusted! Aren’t you? This is the kind of immoral garbage President Obama and his administration are allowing to be put in place in our country. $8.4 million a year—with all the things our military needs—can you believe that? Things like this need to be stopped. It just shows you how morally warped our politicians have become.

Graham has long used his Facebook page as if he was God delivering  messages from a high mountain. However, this time he probably should have kept his mouth shut.

According to a recent article by NBC News, Trump used his own charitable foundation to give money to several conservative groups who helped him raise his profile in anticipation for his run for president. The Trump Foundation is already facing scrutiny for a myriad of unethical and possibly illegal activity. On Monday, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman ordered the charity to stop fundraising in the state after reports that it had not submitted to routine audits.

According to the NBC News article:

The foundation, which Trump initially financed with his own money but has been funded by outside donors since 2008, gave $286,000 to prominent conservative groups that were important players on the road to the GOP nomination, according to tax filings first reported by RealClearPolitics. The groups included Iowa's Family Leader, South Carolina Palmetto Family Council, the American Conservatives Union and Citizens United.

Together, the donations paint a picture of the wealthy businessman using charity-earmarked money to build relationships with conservative activists in early voting states. There are laws prohibiting self-dealing that would bar these kinds of donations if they were solely for Trump's personal benefit, but there's nothing stopping Trump from donating to these groups as a charitable act — even if it does grease the wheels of his presidential bid along the way. 

And Franklin Graham:

Though Evangelical Rev. Franklin Graham is not endorsing a candidate, he was an early ally of Trump — and his charities reaped the benefits, too. "The more you listen to him, the more you say to yourself, 'You know, maybe the guy's right,'" Graham told ABC News in 2011.

The organization named for his father, the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, got a $100,000 check a year later in 2012, while Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief group, got $25,000 the same year. 

Graham should have been more forthcoming with Trump's donations to his groups with the same  eagerness  he attacks the transgender community. He would still be a nasty demagogue, but at least he wouldn't be a hypocrite.

'Trump trying to play lgbts & Muslims against one another' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Trump Is Trying to Turn Gays Against Muslims - The National for Marriage tried to pull this crap with gays and black folks. We didn't fall for it then, I really hope we don't fall for it now. The only reason why Trump wants lgbts to fear Muslim is to take attention away from his cooperation with those who would seek to take our equality away in this country:

In other news:

 A Look at LGBT Artifacts From the National African-American Museum - THIS is wonderful. I am glad that we lgbts of color are included. 

 Evangelist Franklin Graham: Ignore Trump’s Taxes! We Have to Stop Transgender Soldiers’ Rights! - Modesty keeps me from thoroughly commenting what I feel.

Entitlement at the root of homophobic bigotry

So I got this interesting message from someone whom I consider to be an opponent of lgbt equality:

It's great to see the LGBT champions of tolerance and non-discrimination show such intolerance and discrimination against Christians. 

I'm sure a lot of you recognize this as the tired semantic wordplay which goes like this - lgbts are hypocrites because they claim to be tolerant unless you say something they don't agree with, then they try to shut you down.

That argument is the proverbial last refuge of the homophobe, especially in this case when the post at hand which led this anonymous person to send me the message had nothing to do with silencing anyone. The post was about Mike Pence's duplicity in claiming that Indiana's religious liberty law weren't anti-lgbt in spite of him being accompanied by anti-lgbt activists while signing the law.

So that's this person's mindset.  He or she doesn't see us as tax paying American citizens who deserve equality. He or she thinks the proper way for lgbts to "show tolerance" to those who "disagree" with our supposed lifestyle is to allow ourselves to be discriminated and treated like second class citizens.

Or to put it another way, the following is the video of Don Feder, spokesman of the anti-lgbt World Congress of Families, talking about us in awful terms:

Transcript: 

 “The problem is this is a way people are living and they’re demanding that it be respected, they’re demanding that all of society be changed for their comfort and their convenience,” Feder said. “We’re not saying that these people have to be persecuted, we’re not saying that you can’t have compassion for them, of course you can, but you can’t let this be the role model and you can’t allow Christians and other religious people to be persecuted because they refuse to go along with this agenda.”

“You know, other people have demanded minority status based on their religion, based on their race,” he continued. “This is the first group that demands minority status based on what they do in their bedrooms. And that’s what makes it so dangerous. And if you look at the United States, I mean if Africans look seriously at the United States, they should be horrified at what’s going on.”

What Feder - and that anonymous commentator - proves is that the struggle for lgbt equality is in fact one of entitlement.  The religious right - such as Feder, etc.- think that they are entitled to dictate to us the terms of who we are, what we deserve, and what we should have based upon their religious beliefs and hysterically inaccurate notions of our lives.

It will be my pleasure to disappoint these folks and their ridiculous ideas of supremacy as many times as I can.

Eight is Mike Pence's unlucky homophobic number

In anticipation for the upcoming vice presidential debate, the following bears repeating.

I think it's safe to say that no one is fooled about Trump's false gestures to the lgbt community. He claims that he will protect us from foreign countries who would harm us in accordance to their beliefs. Conveniently he doesn't say a word about the American groups who would deny us our rights. In fact, he has aligned himself with them.

But to put it another way, if one wants to garner the truth about how Trump as president would treat the lgbt community, one word says it all - eight.

That's how many times last year his VP pick, Mike Pence, refused to say he is opposed to anti-lgbt discrimination during an interview with George Stephanopoulos. I wonder will the moderator at the upcoming debate between him and Democrat VP pick Tim Kaine ask him about it

'Mike Pence should be asked about extensive history of homophobia during VP debate' & other Mon. midday news briefs

At The VP Debate, Mike Pence Should Be Asked About Anti-LGBT "Religious Freedom" Laws - Let's not feast on Donald Trump's errors that we forget about those of his VP pick. In the upcoming vice presidential debate, Pence has a LOT to answer for with regards to his long history of homophobia, particularly the mess he created in Indiana with his "religious freedom" law. Remember his claim that the law had nothing to do with anti-lgbt discrimination in spite of the fact that he was surrounded by statewide anti-lgbt activists when he signed the bill?:

College Football Championship Will Now Be Held In A City With LGBT Protections - Just in case you didn't hear, North Carolina continues to suffer for its transphobia.  

Lyft driver kicks out rider after homophobic, anti-Semitic rant - A reminder about the work which must be continued.

 Inside Mexico’s Surprise Backlash To Marriage Equality - One guess who was behind it and what lies they used to rally folks. The beast never changes course of attack because no one confronts the beast head on.

Equality Forum, I love your list but I have a problem with two of your lgbt 'icons'

It's that time of the year again when the Equality Forum selects its 31 iconic figures for LGBT History Month:



I've always supported this endeavor and will continue to do so and I have a dream that one day I will included in a future list.

However, there are two choices this year which I must cry foul over.

 Granted, Equality Forum's list is always controversial and this year is no different. Malcolm Forbes was a multi-millionaire and owner of several successful ventures, including Forbes magazine. But he was not an out gay man. Instead, his outing as an alleged gay man generated a lot of controversy.

James Buchanan, the 14th president of the United States, was the subject of many rumors about his sexual orientation. His status as possibly the first and only gay president is can be considered the only reason why he is included in this list.

But honestly speaking, a lot of historians think of him as one of the worst presidents we ever had.

According to U.S. News and World Reports:

 Even before he became president, he supported the various compromises that made it possible for slavery to spread into the western territories acquired by the Lousiana Purchase and the Mexican War. (Particularly hurtful to the cause of restraining slavery's spread was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, for example, allowed settlers to determine the status of slavery in their proposed state constitutions.) In his inaugural address, the 15th president tacitly encouraged the Supreme Court's forthcoming Dred Scott decision, which ruled that Congress had no power to keep slavery out of the territories. More damaging to his name, though, was his weak acquiescence before the secessionist tide—an unwillingness to challenge those states that declared their intention to withdraw from the Union after Lincoln's election. Sitting on his hands as the situation spiraled out of control, Buchanan believed that the Constitution gave him no power to act against would-be seceders.

My point is  if one is to be considered an official "lgbt icon," one should have more on his or her resume than being an lgbt or an alleged lgbt. An icon is one who is idolized because he or she creates a standard to emulate. Being considered one of the worst presidents of the United States or being a deep-in-the-closet millionaire who gets yanked out at the time of his death shouldn't be a standard anyone should want to emulate.

Gays are coming after YOUR children . . . again?

This lie must be confronted.

One thing the lgbt community should confront as a stand alone issue is the constant propagation of the lie that we are trying to "recruit" children.

From Anita Bryant in the late 1970s to the marriage equality fights, to the present battle over transgender equality, the religious right has consistently created a horrible image of lgbts luring young boys and girls into a so-called life of homosexual squalor and wanton sex.

It is probably the most successful and enduring lie the religious right has in its arsenal.

The latest incarnation is from wannabe anti-lgbt activist Michael Brown in an column at One News Now:

Do you need to lock your doors and windows at night because a homosexual predator is coming after your kids? That is absolutely not what I mean when I say that LGBT activists are coming for your children.I'm talking about educators and government leaders; I'm talking about celebrities and judges; I'm talking about people of influence who want to indoctrinate your children even before they get to school.I'm talking about an all-out war for the minds and hearts of your kids.
 . . . I understand what motivates the activists and educators. They want to teach "tolerance" and they want a child who does not appear to be "gender conforming" to realize that their insides might not be in harmony with their outsides. But that doesn't make what they're doing right, nor does it make it helpful. And the best motivation in the world cannot change falsehood into truth. That being said, it is clear that LGBT activists and their allies have had ample motivation to change the thinking of Americans, beginning with our children, and already in 1995, lesbian author Patricia Nell Warren stated, "Whoever captures the kids owns the future." (Published in The Advocate, October 3, 1995, p. 80, in the article "Future Shock.")

To put it mildly, Brown is an idiot. His hysterical diatribe omits two facts - that many young children are identifying as lgbts without any prodding from anyone and that same-sex families are raising children. That last point is important to combat the semantics of his argument. Lgbts are not after the children of so-called normal families. We are not outside the box watching heterosexuals raising children. We are raising children ourselves.

However, the sad part of Brown's nonsensical column is that some people will believe it as truth. That's unfortunately to be expected.

Still, the lgbts want to "recruit" children is a lie that the community must aggressively call out. And not before someone likes Brown puts us on the defensive.

John Hopkins faculty cry foul over distorted report on lgbt health

Paul McHugh sacrifices his prominence for prejudice.

As many of you already know, this blog began in 2006 as a way to call out how the anti-lgbt right either rely on junk science or cherry-pick legitimate science in order to demonize the lgbt community. By doing this, they create a pseudo-scientific reason to oppose lgbt equality because a solely religious reason never flies in courtrooms.

It has been a fun, albeit too quiet to the mainstream, fight to expose these liars. And it has also been successful because other entities with more access and prominence have joined in the struggle. Because of this, religious right lies about the lgbt community and those who push them have less power than they did over 10 years ago.

But that doesn't mean the religious right are stopping their efforts. I've noticed that there has been a stronger effort to, not rely on junk science or cherry-picked science, but replace legitimate science about the lgbt community with the help of some who should know better.

And it would seem that John Hopkins University is one of the ground zeros of this effort.

From Media Matters:

Faculty members at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health disassociated themselves from a recent report on LGBT health published by fellow Hopkins colleagues in a non-peer review journal, condemning the “troubling” report in a op-ed in The Baltimore Sun for “mischaracterizing” scientific evidence in a way that will “further stigmatize and harm the health of LGBTQ communities.”

Three faculty members from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published an op-ed on September 28 in The Baltimore Sun criticizing a new report on LGBT health that they say is cause for “concern” because it “mischaracterizes the current state of the science on sexuality and gender.” The recent report is written by current Hopkins “scholar in residence” Lawrence Mayer and faculty member Paul McHugh. McHugh has long peddled anti-LGBT pseudoscience and refused to accept medical consensus on LGBT health, having previously written op-eds for The Wall Street Journal in which he lamented the increasing visibility of transgender rights and warned that transgender identities should be treated as "confusions" and illnesses.

The authors of the op-ed cited concerns with the report’s analysis and conclusion, noting that previous research was inexplicably excluded from the study. Additionally, the report was published in a journal -- The New Atlantis -- that that is not “subject to rigorous peer review” normal of scientific research. The New Atlantis is published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, which is dedicated to “applying the Judeo-Christian moral tradition to critical issues of public policy.” The Hopkins faculty also expressed their fear that “the report's findings could further stigmatize and harm the health of LGBTQ communities.”

You can read an excerpt of the op-ed at Media Matters.

One thing is clear. I doubt this will be the last time we hear of such efforts and I think our community should do more to educate ourselves because it will probably get worse.

'Human Rights Campaign calls out homophobic 'medical' hate group' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Newt Gingrich thinks we've forgotten about his anti-lgbt history.

New HRC guide on trans children by pediatricians busts myths, offers support - This is huge. The Human Rights Campaign teams up with the American Academy of Pediatrics to take on and destroy the lies of the hate group/fake medical association The American College of Pediatricians. I give HRC props for this. But, as much as I hate to sound like Little Richard, I was sounding the alarm about this group since 2009. The ACP was one of the reasons why I created this blog:

The American College of Pediatricians and the Laundering of Junk Science

 American College of Pediatricians, NARTH pushes new site featuring old anti-gay lies 

American College of Pediatricians trying to work anti-gay web site into the schools 

 In other news:

 Endorsement or not, Log Cabin Republicans shill for Trump - Siiiigh!

Gingrich seeks unity with gays against ‘Islamic supremacism’ - More about the above nonsensical meeting. Gingrich invoked history to claim that Republicans stood with the lgbt community. If Gingrich wants to talk about history, he should talk about the time in 1994 when he promised virulent homophobe Lou Sheldon (of the Traditional Values Coalition) that he would hold public hearings against public-funded AIDS programs. Pitting the lgbt community against Islam doesn't make that fact go away.  

This Is What It’s Like To Have Your Transgender Kid Splashed Across The Media - Something we haven't thought about but very important to consider.

Anti-lgbt hate group leader - Vote for Trump or Clinton will destroy America

Mat Staver

Mat Staver, head of the anti-lgbt hate group the Liberty Counsel, has a dire warning for "Christians."

Either they vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton is going to destroy America. This, of course, leaves me jealous and confused. I thought lgbts were going to destroy America.

'Video shows first Pride Flag launched into outer space' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Stunning Video Shows First Pride Flag Launched Into Outer Space - Sweet!: 



In other news: 

 Alabama Court Concludes Hearing on Roy Moore as Commission Charges Chief Justice 'Learned Nothing' - It doesn't look good for anti-lgbt Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. This is good for us, but if he is removed, will he attempt to exploit the situation to run for governor? His fate will be known in 10 days.

ID laws may ‘disenfranchise’ 34,000 trans voters - A population of voters not generally thought of in the controversy involving those dreaded ID laws. But a population who can be harmed tremendously. 

 Haiti LGBT festival cancelled due to threats - So sad. Still more work to do

Transgender and homeless? The religious right doesn't care about you

The American Family Association's fake news site One News Now is kicking at the transgender community yet again. But this time, they have chosen a particularly vulnerable segment:

Christian-based homeless ministries are expressing concern over the latest mandate from the Obama administration that allows men to be housed with women.

Housing and Urban Development has finalized and issued a rule that homeless shelters that receive federal funds must allow transgender men to be housed with women in homeless shelters on an equal basis. Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America tells OneNewsNow that her friends in Christian homeless ministries are concerned about the obvious issues of privacy and safety, but there's more. 

“Shelters need the freedom to make decisions independently on a case-by-case basis,” she explains. “And any time the federal government takes that ability away from them, they create hazards for everyone involved. At bottom, these are Christian ministries that must stay true to their core values.”

First of all, in spite of the claim that Christian-based homeless ministries are up in arms about this new rule, the article interviews not even one representative from these ministries.  The article is nothing more than an interview with Nance.

In addition, there is no genuine information in this so-called article about homelessness in the transgender community. So allow me to provide some.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality:

One in five transgender people in the United States has been discriminated when seeking a home, and more than one in ten have been evicted from their homes, because of their gender identity. Homelessness is also a critical issue for transgender people; one in five transgender individuals have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives.

 . . . Family rejection and discrimination and violence have contributed to a large number of transgender and other LGBQ-identified youth who are homeless in the United States – an estimated 20-40% of the more than 1.6 million homeless youth. Unfortunately, social service and homeless shelters that work with this population often fail to culturally and appropriately serve transgender homeless people, including denying them shelter based on their gender identity; inappropriately housing them in a gendered space they do not identify with; and failing to address co-occurring issues facing transgender homeless adults and youth. 

It would seem to me that a core value of a Christian homeless ministry would be taking care of the homeless, no matter who they may be. And I am betting that this is the case. It's just too bad that One News Now and Nance  are too busy exploiting the false "transgender predatory" meme to genuinely talk about the issue.

''Modern Family' casting TV's first transgender child actor' & other Tue midday news briefs

'Modern Family' makes history in a good way.

‘Modern Family’ Makes History By Casting TV’s First Transgender Child Actor - This is wonderful because it sends a positive message to our transgender kids. The importance of seeing someone like yourself on television and portrayed in a positive manner does so much good to your self-esteem. I know this from experience.

Donald Trump pledges to sign anti-LGBTQ ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ - Before his abominable debate performance, Trump was plotting to backdoor lgbts. Some friend!

New lawsuit targets Colorado’s LGBT nondiscrimination protections - You cannot ignore these anti-lgbt groups and figures in hopes that they go away. They aren't going away. They get paid too much money for causing havoc.

 We Asked People Why They’re Proud To Be Bisexual And The Responses Are Perfect - Wonderful!

'When Hillary slaughtered Donald' - last night's presidential debate

Whoever wins the upcoming election will have a huge voice in deciding the direction in which lgbt equality will go in this country for the next four years.  Therefore, it is imperative that our community make the correct decision in terms of who we will be voting for.

And let's be real. Clinton slaughtered Trump at  last night's debate. This fact needs to be seen and repeated continuously so that folks know what's at stake and who is the best choice for the Oval Office.

With that in mind, I am posting last night's debate just in case you missed it. Don't worry about watching it all if you are unable to. Start at any point and you still won't miss Trump's total decimation. Clinton figuratively punched at will:

'Letting our transgender kids tell their own stories' & other Mon. midday news briefs

For transgender students, acceptance goes beyond a bathroom stall - This is how we win the "bathroom bill" issue. Let our transgender children tell their stories.

 Multi-trillion dollar investors tell North Carolina: ditch ‘hate-filled’ HB2 - McCrory is one stubborn governor. We will see if it helps him come election day.

 Pope Francis Supports Protests Against Same-Sex Marriage in Mexico - Enough of the is the Pope supportive or not supportive of lgbts. We might as well write him off now.

Why Is Nightlife So Important To The Queer Black And Latino Communities? - Wonderful article!

Reminder - Trump is no friend to the lgbt community

A reminder from my friend Matt Baume:

'Out magazine backlash continues over editorial choices' & other Fri. midday news briefs

The Out magazine puff piece of alt-right Milo Yiannopoulos created a backlash.

Journalists Reprimand Out Magazine for Its Journalism - And the controversy grows. WONDERFUL! 

 Three myths about bisexual people debunked to mark Bi Visibility Day - We don't talk about our bisexual brothers and sisters as much as we should.

 Gay teen sues his Catholic school for depriving him of his senior year - Good luck to him, although I'm not sure about the issue about private religious schools unless they are getting tax dollars.

 
Trans Teen Gives Tear-Jerking Speech After Student’s Ridiculous Complaint - We must never forget that the issue of lgbt equality is important not just for ourselves but for our lgbt kids. What we do helps the next generation.  

Trump Gives Another Gift To Far Right With New Supreme Court List - This involves the lgbt community and it's scary.

Donald Trump's 'Legion of Homophobia' revisited

In light of the news that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has selected the extremely homophobic Rick Santorum to be one of his advisors, I want to repost this list of Trump's other "advisors."  They are to be his "Evangelical Advisory Board," but I call them the "Legion of Homophobia." You can see why:

Trump seems to be calling out almost every "big-name" anti-lgbt activist to help him create policy, should he become president. That should alarm every lgbt in America.

'LGBT magazine under fire for 'puff piece' on alt-right figure' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Milo Yiannopoulus

LGBT media condemns Out Magazine for Milo Yiannopoulos puff piece - Picture a young man working for a venomously anti-lgbt publication. He delights in being a so-called provocateur, i.e. making transphobic comments, Islamophobic comments instigating troll attacks, sometimes racial, against celebrities, and being an all-around vicious proud "alt-right" member. One more thing. He is openly gay. It still doesn't take away from the fact that this young man (Milo Yiannopoulos) is a waste of space. But him being gay caused Out magazine to give him a "superficial puff piece" in its magazine. Naturally a lot of folks are angry. And with good reason.(Full disclosure note - I signed the open letter condemning Out for running the puff piece. My decision was for a number of reasons. It's gay men like Milo who once called me a "tar baby.")

Milo Yiannopolous - More information on this young man courtesy of Media Matters.  

NC Guv Lurched To The Right And Now It's Costing Him - How HB2 is biting NC Gov. Pat McCrory in the ass.  

Fired GWU coach accused of
 trying to out athletic director - Oh this is interesting . . .

Here’s How You Can Explain What ‘Queer’ Means To Kids - It's easier than you think. Heck, I'm surprised some kids won't sit their parents down and explain it. This mess from the religious right about the supposed corrupted innocence of children is a crock.

The deliberate ignorance of anti-lgbt activists

According to the above graphics from a defunct Facebook page, the argument over lgbt equality is relatively simple. One one side is a clean cut young man innocently stating his beliefs against the lgbt community and on the other is an angry person calling him names because of it.

The graphic omits a bunch of details. It omits the reliance on denigrating lies against the lgbt community, such as the comparison of gay men to pedophiles. It also omits the reliance on cherry-picked and junk science often used by folks like the young man on the left to make an argument against lgbt equality.

And it also omits the constant attempt to pass laws designed to make us second class citizens. These laws range from allowing businesses to discriminate against us on a religious basis to policing bathroom usage of our transgender brothers and sisters.

Taking all of that into account, how could anyone not agree with the anger of the guy on the right rather than fall for the subterfuge of the guy on the left.

And now for something completely campy and non-political . . .

Because there are times when even yours truly gets tired of the struggle. And with the election this year, we ALL need a break.

So, instead of a serious post, I present some of the best videos from one of my favorite shows growing up, The Electric Company. And for those asking about certain people - yes, that is Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Denise Nickerson (Violet Buearegarde from the original Willie Wonka movie), and Todd Graff:

'DC Log Cabin Republicans discussing Trump endorsement' & other Wed. midday news briefs

D.C. Log Cabin weighs Trump endorsement - Oh I can't wait for this one (if it's what I think it will be, I think I would rather wait.)

 Scott Lively Hopes To See Passage Of Russian-Style Anti-Gay Laws In America Under President Trump - Scott Lively is low-level trash, but don't discount this notion. I've been tracking the anti-lgbt right for 10 years and the one big rule I follow is that nothing is for sure. What you make perceive as impossibilities become possibilities just enough to cause problems. 

 Pat McCrory’s shifty gambit: N.C. governor tries to blame pro-gay laws for NCAA boycott - Oh look. We're being blamed for yet another thing. It's not going to work.

North Carolina court rejects anti-gay magistrates case - Do the job or quit the job. It's simple.  

When The Alt-Right Attacks - Ah yes. Cowards target what they think is your vulnerabilities. It doesn't matter who you are (in this case though, we are talking about a same-sex family)

Campaign wants transgender community to 'ask them first' before using restroom

What's worse than religious right groups lying about the lgbt community? It's when they get patronizing:

Minnesotans are the face of a new campaign by a national network of anti-LGBTQ organizations. The campaign, #askmefirst, features Christians imploring schools, businesses, and “transgender activists” to ask them for permission before allowing transgender people to use the bathroom.

A video released with the campaign’s launch last week features Emily and Jamie. The video doesn’t say where the duo are from. Their story is about a school that didn’t “ask them first” before making steps to be inclusive of transgender and gender nonconforming youth. The two parents formerly had children at Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul and were outspoken critics of what they call “gender confusion.” Both appeared at a press conference earlier this year with Republican Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen and spoke in support of barring transgender people from using the bathroom.

 In the video released last week, they spoke of a “gender confused student.” Emily said, “This is a battle for our children’s innocence… It’s a battle that I think is worth fighting and I will continue it for other people’s children.”

The Ask Me First campaign was developed by the Family Policy Alliance — formerly called Citizenlink — which provides a network of financial and political assistance for Family Policy Councils throughout the United States including the Minnesota Family Council. 

No, their children's "innocence" is not threatened by transgender boys and girls using bathrooms.  That is a lie which has been refuted continuously. And unfortunately refutations mean nothing to these groups and their supporters because they repeat the lie, as if they believe that constant repetition is the same as truth.

And what's worse is how these ladies claim to be fighting for children. That is the crux when it comes to the absolute moral obscenity of this campaign.

What about transgender children? Don't they have rights? Who is fighting for them? Or do these women, in spite of their perky smiles, June Cleaver personas, and precise talking points, even care about transgender children?

Or could it be that they and the organization behind this monstrosity of a video simply don't care about our transgender kids?

Gay soldiers wearing diapers & other predictions that didn't happen after DADT was repealed

To celebrate the fifth year anniversary of the official ending of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Right Wing Watch took a look at the top five failed predictions the anti-lgbt right made about what would happen should DADT be repealed.

You can go here to read them all but I'm just going spotlight one because it's a doozy:

 Just two years ago, Gordon Klingenschmitt, a former Navy chaplain who is now a Colorado Republican state lawmaker, approvingly read a quote from Chaplain John R. Kauffman, who said that gay service members will be “taking breaks on the combat field to change diapers all because their treacherous sin causes them to lose control of their bowels.”

Yeah, I don't think that is happening anywhere . . .

'DADT repeal five years later - still work to do' & other Tue. midday news briefs

We still have work to do five years after Congress repealed DADT.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Is Still Destroying Lives - Five years after repeal of DADT, there is still so much work to do.

 Photographer Who Took Iconic Image of 12 Year Old Stopping Anti-Gay Protestors Gets Death Threats - Just sad. 

Mom of Transgender Son Receives Some Hate Mail, But Mostly Support - Absolutely brave family. 

 Sen. Nelson becomes latest to co-sponsor Equality Act - Merrily it rolls along. 

 Pat McCrory’s Utterly Absurd Excuse For Not Repealing HB2 - Keep trying, Pat. You amuse us.

A gay Latino attends a press conference of racist Trump supporters while filming it . . .

Stop me if you hear this joke.

A Latino gay guy goes to an right-wing racist press conference of Trump supporters while filming it. . .

Carlos Maza of Media Matters does what I could never do:

On September 9, three of the country’s most notorious white nationalists held a press conference in Washington, D.C., titled “What Is The Alt-Right?” The event, organized by the white nationalist “think tank” the National Policy Institute (NPI), came in response to growing media interest in the “alt-right” movement. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has helped mainstream the racist movement, including by hiring Breitbart News executive chairman Stephen Bannon as his campaign CEO. As the Southern Poverty Law Center has noted, under Bannon’s leadership, Breitbart has “has been openly promoting the core issues of the Alt-Right, introducing these racist ideas to its readership.”

'LGBTs dominate the Emmy Awards' & other Monday midday news briefs

Lgbts dominated the Emmys

68th Primetime Emmys: Laverne Cox, Jill Soloway, Jeffrey Tambor share support for trans community from stage - From Louie Anderson to Sarah Paulson. From RuPaul to Kate McKinnon. From the show Transparent to Orphan Black. Lgbt performers and lgbt-oriented shows dominated the Emmy Awards. 

Texas ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy Billboards to Come Down Following Pressure From Locals: VIDEO - Good.

 This Gay Man Is Fighting For LGBT Rights In The South And Beyond - Just in case you didn't see it, an interview in The Huffington Post with yours truly.

  This Dad “Hacked His Wife’s Facebook” To Respond To An Anti-Gay Politician - Now THIS is what you call "reading."  

Pat McCrory’s Staff Plants Softball Questions For Governor At Event - McCrory has problems . .

Franklin Graham still trolling for HB2, spreading transphobic lies

NC Gov. Pat McCrory is in the middle of a firestorm over HB2. Businesses are boycotting the state and they are now joined by the NBA, NCAA, and the ACC. Of course this is getting many folks in the state, including legislators who voted for HB2 talking about a repeal.

McCrory seems to be remaining firm in support of that ridiculous law. And backing him up is the Rev. Franklin Graham via twitter and Facebook, where he continues to push inaccuracies about HB2 and the transgender community:

The momentum of public opinion seems to no longer embrace these lies. McCrory would do himself a favor if he stopped listening to this lessening minority of fear. But apparently he wants to do things the hard way.

Same-sex families gain a major victory in Wisconsin

While everyone ruminates over the election, let's not forget that the fight for full lgbt equality goes on. And on that front, same-sex couples and their children just won a major victory in Wisconsin:

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Wisconsin officials discriminated against a married lesbian couple by refusing to list the name of the non-biological mother on their child’s birth certificate.

The couple, Chelsea Torres and Jessamy Torres, had married in New York in 2013 and conceived through artificial insemination in 2014 ― the same year same-sex marriage became legal in Wisconsin.

But when their son was born in 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services denied them a birth certificate listing both of their names ― as the birth mother, only Chelsea was listed in the document.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb said on Wednesday that this practice ― which Wisconsin enforced by law against same-sex couples but not different-sex couples ― is unconstitutional, and ordered the state to read its artificial insemination rules in “gender-neutral terms.”

Full story in The Huffington Post

'NCAA & ACC boycott getting ugly for NC GOP' & other Thur. afternoon news briefs

Editor's note - If I said it once, I will say it again. I'm going to have to buy a tablet. Today the computers in the public library were offline so that meant no midday news brief. In all honest, this hasn't been a good week in general. Yesterday, I was sick as a dog so I couldn't post but one item. And tomorrow may continue the light posting as I prepare for my blog's 10th anniversary party to be held Saturday.

Just bear with me, folks. You have stood with me for 10 years (and I haven't thanked you all enough for that) so I hope that you can stand with me through this week.

Anyway, enjoy the following news items:

After NCAA, ACC Pull-Out Of North Carolina, Editorials Slam Gov. McCrory For Continued Support Of HB 2 - The fallout from the NCAA and ACC boycotts of NC because of HB2 continues as Gov. McCrory is getting a figurative chunk taken out of him. He deserves it and more. 

NC Republican who voted for ‘bathroom bill’ panics as poll numbers plunge - Enjoy it. You certainly earned it.  

Second GOP NC senator calls for action on HB2 - Two GOP state senators want action on HB2, possibly an appeal. Oh yeah. They are running scared.  

Gay Dads Won't Be Covered by Trump's Maternity Leave Plan - AND she "copped an attitude" when asked about it. She is so saddity.  

Fox’s Sean Hannity Pretends He Doesn’t Care “What Anybody Does In Their Bedroom,” Forgetting His Own Years Of Anti-LGBT Extremism - Hannity once implied that gay men eat each other's feces. As if us lgbts couldn't stand him enough.

NC feeling the heat of boycotts because of HB2

With both the NCAA and ACC boycotting the state because of that awful HB2 law, North Carolina legislators have the eyes of many on them. The question is what will they do? It seems that Gov. McCrory is starting to lose his bravado:

'NC Gov McCrory trying to dodge fallout from NCAA boycott' & other Wed, midday news briefs

The Latest: Gov. McCrory: NCAA disrespected North Carolina - NC Gov. McCroy joins in the hissyfit over losing NCAA championship games because of HB2.

Ed Hardin: A slap in the face from the NCAA, and McCrory's to blame - But try as he might, he cannot escape the blame from it.  

Transgender Man Sues Gov. Mike Pence Over Indiana Immigration Law - How's this for an odd development?  

ACLU asks Supreme Court not to hear Gavin Grimm case - Good development or bad?