Sen. Rubio, speeches are cheap. Let's hear you denounce anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council

Take as much time as you need, Sen. Rubio.

Dear Sen. Marc Rubio,

If you are going to whine about marriage equality supporters being "intolerant," perhaps you need to take a look at those who defend your rhetoric. I have said this twice and now will make the third time. But this time is really special because the Family Research Council is defending your comments:

 The Senator then went where many of his colleagues fear to tread -- the very nature of marriage itself. "The union of one man and one woman is a special relationship that has proven to be of great benefit to our society, our nation and our people, and therefore deserves to be elevated in our laws." However, he said, "there is a growing intolerance ... towards those who continue to support traditional marriage ... and I promise you that even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as a hater, a bigot, or someone who is anti-gay. The intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy."

Just for the edification of my readers, this is the SAME Family Research Council who has been called an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center  in 2010 for its insistence of spreading hateful lies about the lgbt community:

 Headed since 2003 by former Louisiana State Rep. Tony Perkins, the FRC has been a font of anti-gay propaganda throughout its history. It relies on the work of Robert Knight, who also worked at Concerned Women for America but now is at Coral Ridge Ministries (see above for both), along with that of FRC senior research fellows Tim Dailey (hired in 1999) and Peter Sprigg (2001). Both Dailey and Sprigg have pushed false accusations linking gay men to pedophilia: Sprigg has written that most men who engage in same-sex child molestation “identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual,” and Dailey and Sprigg devoted an entire chapter of their 2004 book Getting It Straight to similar material. The men claimed that “homosexuals are overrepresented in child sex offenses” and similarly asserted that “homosexuals are attracted in inordinate numbers to boys.”

That’s the least of it. In a 1999 publication (Homosexual Behavior and Pedophilia) that has since disappeared from its website, the FRC claimed that “one of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the ‘prophets’ of a new sexual order,” according to unrefuted research by AMERICAblog.

'Sen Rubio's lie about 'tolerant debates' Part 2' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Sen. Marco Rubio no doubt won the news cycle yesterday with his deceptive whine that those who oppose marriage equality are the so-called victims of intolerance. I really wish folks would look into this man's background to see how much his claim is indicative of the false tone of victimhood of those who make the same claim. It only takes a little googling. For example, according to Right Wing Watch, in November of last year:

The Florida Family Policy Council announced today that it will host Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) at its 2013 Annual Dinner. The FFPC is led by John Stemberger, the anti-gay activist who most recently helped launch a Boy Scouts splinter group that will ban openly gay youth, and the fundraiser will honor Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver.

 Stemberger and Staver are far outside of the mainstream, but with Rubio preparing for a possible presidential run in 2016 he may use this event, much like his speech at the Values Voter Summit, to soothe any doubts about his right-wing credentials. Stemberger previously chaired Florida for Marriage, which spearheaded the campaign to pass a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions, and founded the anti-gay Boy Scout alternative Trail Life USA.

Stemberger has a long record of incendiary anti-gay rhetoric. He:

Claimed that being gay is an “artificial, social construct” that is “dangerous.”

Warned that the Boy Scouts will experience widespread sexual abuse as a result of including gay members under the age of eighteen.

Said that people are gay because they think it is “hip” and “cool.”

Alleged that affirming LGBT youth is “tantamount to abuse” and “an abuse to that child.”

And let's not forget Staver:

Mat Staver is the head of the Liberty University School of Law and its legal affiliate, Liberty Counsel, a sponsor of the Values Voter Summit. . . .  At a previous Values Voter Summit, Staver claimed that progressives are using LGBT rights and secular government in order to “ultimately implode America” and that the “agenda of the homosexual movement” is to destroy freedom and western civilization.

Through his role at Liberty Counsel, Staver has:

Argued that President Obama “does not respect America” and wants to intentionally cripple America so he can have global power and create his own personal army of Brownshirts.

Defended Malawi’s law criminalizing homosexuality and said U.S. opposition to criminalization was “immoral.”

Urged schools to prohibit students from holding a “Day of Silence” to protest anti-gay bullying and said teaching LGBT history in schools amounts to “sexual assault.”

Alleged that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will lead to child molestation, sexual assault, and even death and “harm women and children” if passed. 

The sad thing about all of this is not what was said, it's that the Beltway media will most likely exclude any talk of the circles Rubio runs with in their attempt to gain "access." 

In other news:

Don't fall for Sen. Rubio's fake cry for 'tolerance' in marriage equality debate

Sen Marco Rubio

One of the most transparent tactics opponents of marriage equality will attempt is to claim that supporters of marriage equality are intolerant of their opinion.

It's not only a transparent tactic but highly cynical. And apparently it's the tactic that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is attempting:

While Rubio has consistently held conservative positions on abortion and gay marriage, his current emphasis appears to be an effort to appeal to social conservatives who have yet to settle on a favored candidate for 2016. "Even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as someone who is a hater or a bigot," Rubio said.

  .. . In his remarks, Rubio acknowledged the United States has a history of discrimination against gays and lesbians. But he said he could not support such unions despite a quick-moving shift in public opinion in support of allowing same-sex couples to marry. "There is a growing intolerance on this issue," Rubio said of those who back same-sex marriages. He then urged his opponents to show civility: "Tolerance is also a two-way street."

No doubt, the folks at Fox News and members of the media who care more about attaining "access" than getting the story correct will fall for Rubio's junk.

But I agree with him that there needs to be civility on the issue. And let's start with addressing the following:

Staver: Gay Marriage Is 'A Direct Attack On Who God Is' 

 Klingenschmitt: Jesus Will Overrule The Supreme Court And Toss Gays Into Hell 

 Ben Carson Explains How Gay Marriage Is A Marxist Plot To Impose The 'New World Order'  

Barber: Gay Marriage Is 'The Brainchild' Of Satan 

 Renew America Pundit Warns Gay Marriage Will Turn Us Into Marxist Slaves 

If Sen. Rubio was honest with his cry for "tolerance," he would address those on his side of the argument with as much vigor as he attempts to place onus on us.

After all, we aren't the ones conjuring up images of Marxism, Satanism, or slavery. 

'Hobby Lobby fight divides lgbt leadership but the community can rescue it' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Fighting the religious right exacts a toll: How LGBT groups got secretly divided - So the Hobby Lobby decision is causing problems for lgbt groups. If you forgive this anonymous black Southern blogger for "not knowing his place," this situation is indicative of how lgbt groups (I love them so) are like the proverbial fox in the fable of the Fox and the Cat. So much intelligence, so many avenues to consider that they are losing sight of the one thing which MUST be stressed. This "religious liberty" argument is merely a tactic, like so many others from the right, which while seemingly innocent, is merely a covert way to sway the argument in their favor by playing the victim. Perhaps a first step in our fight back is to remind people of this because goodness knows there is a LOT of history of the right pretending to be martyrs in pursuit of their goals of marginalizing the lgbt community. Just a thought from the Underworld of lgbt activism.

Editor's note - I interrupt these news briefs because the last one just reminded me of a crucial bit of news. On the new web page, my booklet, How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America, is merely 22 downloads away from hitting 1,000. I have never asked for money or donations on my blog in the seven plus years I have been in existence and I don't plan to. BUT I will ask that (if you haven't already) to either check out the new How They See Us web page and download the booklet or if you don't want to go through all of that, just click here to download the free adobe acrobat copy of How They See Us. And by all means, please send it to your friends, family, Congressional leaders, acquaintances, enemies, (I think you get the gist of what I am trying to say). Our problem as a people is that we fail to seize the argument. We fail to remind people of the true history and face of the anti-gay industry. That's a crucial reason why they have success with framing the argument of lgbt equality on their terms. I am hoping that my booklet, in its own way, can remind people of that face. I NEED you to make it a success. And again, remember I don't get ANY money for this. Equipping the lgbt community and our allies with what we need to fight the religious right is all the reward I need. One day, I may tell you all why I do this stuff. 

Okay, back to news briefs:

Social Conservatives Unload On Obama LGBT Order - So the religious right is angry at Obama for his recent lgbt executive order. I haven't been THIS shocked since Clay Aiken came out of the closet. 

Right-Wing Media Pretend Religious Liberty Protects Anti-LGBT Employment Discrimination - So the right wing media claims that the "free market" would solve the problem of anti-lgbt discrimination. Didn't they once say that about racial discrimination?

 An Open Letter to Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy - Tony Dungy catches flack for his absolutely stupid comments about Michael Sam.

Anti-gay spokesman - transgender women shouldn't go to church so they shouldn't use the ladies bathroom

When you are listening to this, keep remember that this man, Gordon Klingenschmitt, wants to be serve as a Colorado state representative:



 If you ask me, I think Klingenschmitt just "winged" that one off of the top of his head.


Hat tip to Right Wing Watch

'Former Coach Tony Dungy chooses the way of the coward about Michael Sam' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy Says He Wouldn't Have Drafted Michael Sam - Mr. Dungy, if you can take Michael Vick under your wing after his dogfighting conviction, you should have no problem with Michael Sam, who has done nothing wrong. I simply don't buy your "things will happen" explanation. No shit. Pioneers usually have to endure so others who come after them don't have to endure. But you would be in a perfect position to steer the situation. There is no either/or in this situation. You are either a guiding light or a coward.

The Malaysian Plane Crash May Be A Major Blow To AIDS Research - Even if it may not have, it's still a sad situation. Let's remember and pray for all involved.  

Regnerus Shoots His Own Foot - At this juncture, Mark Regnerus is simply a joke.

GLAAD co-chair on Huffington Post: 5 Things Not to Say to a Transgender Person (and 3 Things You Should) - Something we ALL should pay attention to. 

GOP Representative Goes From Christian Revival Meeting To Supporting Marriage Equality - Heck, let's have more meetings like this one!

Obama signs executive order, anti-gay right nail themselves to their crosses

Yesterday, President Obama signed an executive order expanding protections for lgbt federal workers and prohibits contractors dealing with the federal government from discriminating against lgbts. There were no religious exemptions.

It's not a total ENDA, but it will do for now.

However, to hear some members of the anti-gay right tell it, Obama just gave the go ahead to begin "anti-Christian" persecution across the country.

Matt Barber, no stranger to hysterical hyperbole, had this to say:

Here we have this president acting and ruling as the imperialist president – circumventing Congress, circumventing the separation of powers in order to force his radical, leftist agenda on the rest of America – and targeting and discriminating specifically against Christian companies in order to do so.

Not to be undone, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council reached waaaay back and brought up stereotypes about lgbts:

This order gives activists a license to challenge their employers and, expose those contracted employers to threats of costly legal proceedings and the potential of jeopardizing future contracts. The order further burdens contractors by stripping away their right to set dress and grooming standards. All this amounts to viewpoint blackmail and bullies into silence those contractors and subcontractors who have moral objections to homosexual behavior. 

In spite of the false weeping and portents of doom, what President Obama did was legal and very appropriate. And it shouldn't have to come through executive order.

It should be a given that if you have business with THIS country, you shouldn't be allowed to discriminate, period.

Anti-gay activist Matt Barber has FINALLY gone too far

No one has ever claimed that the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber has ever observed simple rules of good taste and decorum in his attacks on lgbt equality. However, it is extremely safe to say that the image below, accompanying his post on The Coming Christian Revolt goes way beyond anything - a rainbow flag superimposed behind a photo of African-American protestors being sprayed with water hoses during the Civil Rights Movement:

It's not only a personal insult to me as an lgbt but also an African-American that Barber would exploit what I consider sacred images in order to make a false point.

There will be no "coming Christian revolt," Mr. Barber because no Christian in this country is being discriminated against. Being told to treat everyone the same is not discrimination.  Providing goods and services to people whose taxes pay for the safety of your business is not discrimination.

Your disagreement with the fact that lgbts should have the same rights as heterosexuals is just that - YOUR disagreement. You have a right to believe that, but you don't have a right to codify it into law, particularly if your codification involves junk science, cherry-picked science, or out-and-out lies.

You are not entitled to anything, Mr. Barber. If you are, please educate me. And by all means, please tell me how the elimination of your entitlements ranks next to being denied the right to vote, segregation, lynching, being called "boy" or "gal" as a deliberate sign of disrespect. And if that's too difficult for you, then answer me this:

'Religious liberty' the latest buzzword for homophobia

The more I think of this bogus argument of  "religious liberty" or "religious freedom," the more angry I become about how the entire debate is being conducted with no perspective. "Religious liberty" is merely a new anti-gay buzzword. It is the latest in a long line of concepts and claims used to justify anti-gay animus and discrimination.  It's nothing new and it shouldn't be debated as if it is a new concept. Allow me to elucidate with the use of words and visuals from various anti-gay spokespeople in debates throughout the years:

1970s: Gays are pedophiles - "As a mother I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children. Therefore, they must recruit our children." - Anita Bryant

1980s - The AIDS crisis  ''The poor homosexuals -- they have declared war upon nature, and now nature is extracting an awful retribution.'' - columnist and Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan

1990s: Gays in the Military -  "Homosexuals are a very unstable group . . . They are restless in their contacts, lonely, jealous, and neurotic depressive. As a category of people, homosexuals have a greater indiscipline problem than heterosexuals . . ." - Robert (Bob) McGinnis, columnist, present employee with the Family Research Council

 

2000s: Marriage Equality - "Same-sex unions are not marriages. Political regimes based on lies about human nature cannot last. Same-sex marriage takes a sacred institution, with deep roots in human nature, and tries to turn it into the plaything of politicians, a creature of the state, a bundle of rights to be tossed about between adults. Something so feebly rooted, so fragilely constructed and imposed cannot last." - Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage

2010s:  Religious liberty - “I’m beginning to think, are re-education camps next? When are they going to start rolling out the boxcars to start hauling off Christians?” - Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council

NOM's best argument against marriage equality is just TOO sad

Thank you everyone for having patience with me and my lack of posts due to my attendance at Netroots Nation. I should also tell you that I have been "going through it" with other matters so this particular trip was a figurative "fire baptism" of all sorts of problems including a lost I.D., a mistaken canceled prescription, and a break down.

It's not all bad though. Due to my personal issues, I have approached by producers to star in a  new production of Bette Midler's The Rose.

Seriously, please bear with me as I continue to post intermediately about several things.

Today, thanks to Jeremy Hooper, I caught attention to a pitiful argument by your - and mine - favorite organization, NOM.  If one wonders why anti-marriage equality forces are losing in the courts (and now in Oklahoma), consider the fact that this is probably their strongest argument:

Okay. In the face of the couples harmed by not having marriage equality, stand up in a court room and make THAT argument.

If the judge begins laughing, those that mean it's okay for others to laugh, too?

Lgbts 'bossing around' Bryan Fischer is just giving him FITS!

Knee deep in the middle of sessions at Netroot Nations, I wasn't going to post until later day.

But Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association is one of the only people who can divert me momentarily from the sessions. Fischer is pitching a hissy fit because he is so tired of lgbts of "bossing him around:"

According to a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control today, less than three percent of the US population identifies as gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual, which prompted Bryan Fischer to declare that it is bizarre that American society has allowed itself to be forced into accepting homosexuality by a "tiny little minority" of belligerent, intolerant bullies.

 "They are belligerent, they are intolerant, they are bullies," Fischer declared, "and we have been meekly capitulating to this tiny little cluster of belligerent bullies now for a couple of decades and it's time that we stop with all of that!"

Fischer says Christians need to stand up and declare that they will not accept this "sexual deviancy" by urging gays "to turn yourself over to God." "It's almost comical," he continued, "that we have allowed these people to have so much power in our culture where they can force their deviant lifestyle into the public sphere and compel so many sectors of society to recognize this and to celebrate it as some kind of normal lifestyle":

Is this fool for real? Fischer accusing lgbts of being "intolerant belligerent bullies," is like Satan kicking a lesser demon out of hell for being too mean to the "inmates."

In other words:



To put it Fischer's hypocrisy in even simpler tones:

'Group planning 40-day fast against marriage equality' & other Monday midday news briefs

Editor's note - beginning tomorrow, my postings will less on schedule than usual due to my attending the Netroots Nation conferences. But I will have things up, so please check back now and then when you can.

Christian Group Plans 40-Day Fast Against Marriage Equality - Oh for Pete's sake! I am not against this sort of thing (Gandhi would fast for a cause) but don't you think that fasting so that lgbts and their families don't receive rights defeats the noble notion of the practice?

  The Woman Who Helped Change How Police Treat Transgender People - A genuine hero gets her due.

 Former Congresswoman Apologizes For Requesting Religious Exemption From LGBT Protections - Fine. Just don't let it happen again.

 Comic book icon Archie to be killed off while protecting gay friend - Sorry but I simply DO NOT agree with this. 

 Will criminalization of HIV transmission hinder or help prevention efforts? - And Uganda shoots itself in the foot with its homophobia.

The new anti-gay argument - marriage equality will lead to incest

Just preparing folks for the newest anti-marriage equality argument that you will most likely hear:

An Australian judge will be investigated for his "appalling" comments on incest, in which he reportedly said sex between siblings was gaining social acceptance just like homosexuality, authorities said on Friday.

New South Wales state Attorney General Brad Hazzard said he was "extremely concerned" about District Court judge Garry Neilson's alleged comments in a case where a man was accused of repeatedly raping his younger sister, which were reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"In my view the community would be rightly appalled at his reported comments," Hazzard said in a statement.

"Incest is completely reprehensible, unacceptable, disgusting and criminal." 

Neilson was quoted as saying communities might no longer see sex between siblings as "unnatural" or "taboo", likening a change in mindsets to how homosexuality was now socially accepted despite being criminalised in the past. 

That last sentence (highlighted by me) is what unfortunately connects this awful situation to us. I have already read references to it on many anti-gay sites and more are sure to follow.

Granted, the case has nothing to do with lgbts or our fight or marriage equality, except for in the mind of one foreign judge.

But to a crop of desperate anti-gay groups and spokespeople who have been on the losing end of the marriage equality fight for quite a while now, any case or offhand quote coming from the case is fodder.

'Brian Brown reduced to sad anti-gay conspiracy theories on twitter' & other Friday midday news briefs

Poor Brian Brown of NOM. To paraphrase Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show, "we are beginning to get to him."

I have never seen Brown answer back on twitter until this morning but it was both a treat and tragedy to see him attempt to defend the discredited Regnerus study by claiming that some of its challengers (the 200 researchers who signed a letter against it, the American Sociological Association, and the Michigan federal judge who ruled for marriage equality in that state) of being motivated by politics:

.@NOMupdate …disgraced. All of the prominent people know what #Regnerus did & why he did it. http://t.co/gDl37bn8Wr pic.twitter.com/zqia9bWYCM
— Memeographs (@memeographs) July 10, 2014

@briansbrown @memeographs 200 researchers, the American Sociological Association, a Michigan federal judge. Any questions?. #Regnerus
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) July 11, 2014

RT @holybullies: Yes! I suppose the Michigan federal judge and the American Sociological Association were ruled by politics.
— Brian S. Brown (@briansbrown) July 11, 2014

Conspiracy theories - the last refuge of a scoundrel.

In other news:

Photographer to Matt Barber's website: Stop using my copyrighted image or face lawsuit - Looks like Matt Barber is caught being tacky again. Strange what homophobia does to someone.

Watch A Child Dismantle Fox's Panic Over Gender-Neutral Restrooms - When a child can your homophobic argument, that should be a signal to you. But we are talking about Fox News here.

Hobby Lobby Wants To Control Which Bathroom A Transgender Woman Can Use, Too - But ... but religious liberty . . .

Obama Is 'Obsessed' With Homosexuality, According To Peter LaBarbera - 'Porno Pete' LaBarbera claims that President Obama is 'obsessed' with homosexuality. Let that sink in for a while . . .

Inside the American Family Association, an anti-gay hate group

Bryan Fischer of the AFA

Anna Wolfe of the Jackson Free Press has written a very good article on the anti-gay group, The American Family Association. While not "hard-hitting," one could hardly call her article one that panders to the group. In her own style, Wolfe shows how disturbingly vast the AFA empire is (over $20 million a year), how it wages war on lgbts and businesses who support lgbts, and how potentially disconcerting AFA spokesman Bryan Fischer is even to his co-workers:

Fischer, AFA's director of issue analysis for government and public policy, stands by the accusation that local businesses who display the anti-discrimination stickers are bullying Christians. "Apparently, you have a little bit of difficulty grasping the concept that this is what the gay lobby is really all about," Fischer says in a matter-of-fact tone. Fischer speaks with a deep, kind of gargled voice and, sitting at the Jackson Free Press with the receiver to my ear, I can picture his sagged, slightly artificially tanned-looking face. (Maybe it's just the contrast to his bright white hair). His condescension in speaking to a young female reporter is emblematic of AFA's overall tone and image toward anyone the group feels is standing in its way of promoting biblical ideals through condemnation of the LGBT community. This isn't just how AFA officers speak with reporters, but through its press releases and all communication with the

 . . . Fischer, nonetheless, said in an AFA blog post that when it comes to discrimination, "[I]t's time for conservatives to unhesitatingly reclaim the "D" word, dust it off, and use it without apology. A rational culture that cares about its people will in fact discriminate against adultery, pedophilia, rape, bestiality, and, yes, homosexual behavior."

 . . . Fischer admits that religious conscience is personal and depends entirely on individual experience, saying, "His conscience and his standards may be different than the baker down the street."

That is certainly true for Mitchell Moore, the owner of Jackson's Campbell's Bakery. He is a heterosexual, a Christian and a Republican who does not consider same-sex marriage offensive to his religious beliefs.

In May, AFA publicly attacked a campaign Moore helped start in Jackson in opposition to SB 2681. The campaign urged business owners to post stickers reading "If You're Buying, We're Selling" in their windows to ensure customers know they will not discriminate, drawing national attention and requests for stickers from around the country.

In response to the effort, Fischer tells me that gay activists, whom he assumes are responsible for the stickers, are the "most intolerant bullies and bigots on the block."

Since the religious-freedom bill received flack just as the failed Arizona RFRA did, Mississippi business owners including Moore and Eddie Outlaw of William Wallace Salon—both occasional Jackson Free Press columnists—started the sticker campaign to demonstrate their and other businesses' aim to serve everybody. (Outlaw is gay and married his husband, Justin, in California last year.)

The AFA is unhappy about that, saying the campaign illustrates the "homosexual agenda" the AFA is hell-bent on destroying. It sent out alerts to supporters, claiming that the campaign displays hatred toward Christians, despite the fact that Moore is a straight, Christian conservative.

Fox News gives misinformation on the First Amendment to smear lgbts

It's not that the folks on Fox News don't know what they are talking about. They know exactly what they are doing. If you ever look at Fox & Friends, take a look at how many times the hosts look down at the notes in front of them.

I would kill to know what those notes are telling them to say.

From Equality Matters:

On July 10, Fox News host Steve Doocy interviewed Jason and David Benham while an on-screen graphic declared they had been "fired for faith." Doocy argued, "You were fired for having an opinion. I mean, there's this thing called the First Amendment where people are entitled to their opinion and their Christian beliefs as well."

But the First Amendment does not protect individuals from being fired by private employers, as it does not limit the actions that private employers may take based on employees' speech. The First Amendment Center explained:

The First Amendment does not limit private employers. The Bill of Rights -- and the First Amendment -- limit only government actors, not private actors. This means that private employers can restrict employee speech in the workplace without running afoul of the First Amendment.

HGTV did not violate the First Amendment rights of the Benhams by dropping their show. As Columbia Law's Suzanne Goldberg pointed out in an interview with CNN, it was most likely a decision to protect the business' brand following widespread outcry against the Benhams' comments. Even David Benham told CNN that he does not hold a grudge against the network, telling Erin Burnett, "It was too much for them to bear and they had to make a business decision."

 

'Another judge destroys anti-marriage equality arguments' & other Thurs. midday news briefs

The one where Regnerus, most criticized researcher in recent memory, criticizes others' research - And the pathetic attempt to rehash Mark Regnerus and his discredited anti-gay study continues. 

5 Ways A Colorado Judge Destroyed Conservatives’ Arguments Against Marriage Equality - But the right will continue to push these points. The only thing we can do is continue to strengthen the brick wall they keep smashing themselves into.  

Is 'Orange is the New Black''s Laverne Cox the First Trans Person To Get an Emmy Nomination? - Just in case you didn't hear, Laverne Cox received an Emmy nomination for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy. Sweet!

  The Legacy of the Hobby Lobby Case: Protecting Anti-Gay Discrimination? - Bring it on, bitches.

 Police arrest five Ugandans, accuse them of trying to turn kids gay - What America has created . . . 
 
Obama’s Evangelical Gravy Train - . . . it can't kill. Why is the Obama Administration still funding overseas anti-gay groups and other organizations giving out inaccurate information on HIV and pregnancy.

Anti-gay group attempts to trick Pride attendees into 'converting'

During a recent pride event in Minnesota, an evangelical group attempted  to infiltrate in an attempt to "bring lgbts to Jesus:"



Like the video said, the group, Trinity Works, was bragging about its so-called victory on Facebook, claiming to have "converted" 80 people. While there is no way to verify this, according to Andy Birkey of The Colu.mn (a statewide lgbt publication), the group was engaging in some tactics which can be seen as highly un-Christian:

Trinity Works’ tactics were indeed deceptive. When TheColu.mn approached the evangelical outreach teams, they refused to acknowledge Trinity Works or the mission to encourage LGBT people to leave “the lifestyle.”

Some of the outreach workers posed as medics and evangelized to people who sought assistance. The Trinity Works group created fliers to mimic those being handed out by OutFront to warn the community about the groups efforts to evangelize.

Outfront also notes that Trinity Works’ outreach workers appeared to have started wearing coral colored shirts to mimic OutFront Minnesota support team members in an attempt to confuse Pride attendees.

Trinity Works held a corn feed at 11th Street and Hennepin Avenue along the Pride parade route. According to OutFront, the support team had to counsel dozens who mistakenly thought it was part of Pride activities.“Pride-goers who went in, assuming it was LGBTQ-friendly, were surrounded by Trinity works people who said they would burn in hell because of their sexual orientation,” OutFront’s Monica Meyer said in a statement.

Surprising? No. Outrageous? You better believe it.

How come I never get approached at Pride by folks like that? I got some choice words for them that I haven't used in YEARS.

'Family Research Council's persecution list is laughably pathetic' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Tony Perkins' Christian-Persecution Report Highlights Persecution of Tony Perkins - The Family Research Council not only embarrasses itself this time, but also minimizes the terrible practice of persecution via a silly report featuring anecdotes of what the organization deems is "the persecution of Christians in America." According to Miranda Blue of Right Wing Watch:

Some anecdotes highlighted in the report are troubling incidents that FRC admits were later rectified. Others are incidents that we might not all count as examples of religious hostility — for instance Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean being “mocked and ridiculed” for her answer to a question on same-sex marriage in 2009.

Still others are stories of dubious accuracy — for instance, the story of a girl in Florida supposedly punished for praying at school, who just so happened to be the daughter of the man in charge of promoting Todd Starnes’ book on Christian persecution.

And then there was this:

Minister’s Invitation to National Prayer Luncheon Revoked because of His Comments on Homosexuality in the Military – February 2010*

 An ordained minister and Marine Corps veteran was punished for speaking out on a topic unrelated to his planned comments at the National Prayer Luncheon at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C. The minister criticized President Obama’s call to end the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, resulting in his invitation to speak at the National Prayer Luncheon being rescinded. The minister criticized the action as “black-listing” to suppress unwanted viewpoints.

Who is this unnamed minister who was disinvited from the National Prayer Luncheon? He wasn’t just a minister who had criticized “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal. He was none other than the Family Research Council’s own president Tony Perkins.

OMG! Tony Perkins was "persecuted!" Let's make him a saint! Modesty and good taste keeps me from saying just of what. Personally, I wouldn't invite Perkins to give the eulogy at the funeral of my pet dog. But that's just me.

In other news:

Religious Right Denies Claim Evangelicals Embracing Same-Sex Marriage – With A Regnerus Study - Guys, the Regnerus study is DEAD. It is a rotting corpse. But if you insist on bringing it up, then the lgbt community will just have to remind everyone of why it died a deservedly nasty death. 

Six LGBT groups: No you can't refuse our cake and fire the gay baker too! - In which the religious right actually does us a favor. This version of ENDA was tainted from the start and thanks to Hobby Lobby, it is done for. 

 Russian MP: Naked Apollo on Banknote Threatens Children - Well now in Greek mythology, Apollo WAS a freak. It could have been worse though. His father, Zeus, could have been on the bank note and Zeus was a Super freak. Who do you think Rick James was talking about? The god messed with any and everything and loved to do so with disguises. A shower of gold, a bull, an ant, a cuckoo bird, a swan. . . .  Talk about your strange imaginations.

The anti-gay mind is a stupid mind

Of course we know that many anti-gay spokespeople freely lie and demonize the lgbt community, but have you ever heard their rationalization for their behavior?

Here are two examples, courtesy of Right Wing Watch. The first is from Robert Reilly, an author of a new anti-gay book (which I refuse to mention) on a radio show with Jesse Lee Peterson. They both agree that lgbts are so "full of guilt" that we act out:

For the record, as a gay man I haven't done anything I should feel "guilty" about in over a year. And I say that with the utmost sorrow. Now the second clip is the Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver at a recent "celebrate America" event. Staver proceeds to explain how "sexual sin" is worse than other sins in a word salad so convoluted that Sarah Palin was calling him for tips:



It's a good thing that Staver doesn't feel the same about lying as he does about "sexual sin." Otherwise, he would be in enormous trouble.

Anti-gay groups chomping at the bit to limit lgbt equality after 'Hobby Lobby'

Well it's like I always say - never say a war is over until the other side totally and completely surrenders. It looks like the Hobby Lobby decision is giving the religious right encouragement to get crazy.  Let's get ready to fight and fight hard. These folks will go overboard. They always do.

From Talking Points Memo:

Religious leaders in Kansas view the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision last week as an opportunity to revive legislation that would protect their "religious freedom" -- measures that gay rights advocates warn would legitimize discrimination against LGBT people.

The Associated Press reported this weekend that social conservatives believe they have an opening to bring the state's religious freedom bill back in 2015. The legislation failed this spring; it passed the House, but stalled in the Senate after significant backlash from business groups. It would have prevented businesses from being sued if they refused to serve LGBT people for religious reasons.

"We are not going to let it die. We are very committed," Rev. Terry Fox, a leading Southern Baptist minister, told the AP. "The Body of Christ is a powerful movement when it comes together."

 . . . Gay rights advocates don't seem to be fretting yet. First, they see the Hobby Lobby decision, and Kennedy in particular, on their side. Second, the forces that doomed the Arizona and Kansas bills -- namely, the business community -- are still in place. They aren't surprised by the renewed push in Kansas, but they don't believe it poses a danger to their cause.

 . . . 

'Conservatives trying to fix anti-gay study's credibility problem' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Without his bad magic, there wouldn't have been a 'Mark Regnerus witch-hunt' - Family Research Council's sad attempt to rewrite history about Mark Regenerus's discredited study on same-sex families was just a prelude. According to Jeremy Hooper, right-wing big wig magazine National Review is getting in on the act. Both are pushing the same false theme, i.e. Regnerus was the victim of a "witch-hunt." Well they get points for audacity, that's for sure. But it would be best for the lgbt community to take this seriously instead of laughing this off. It's an insane plan for sure but the difference between insane plans and clever plans is the rate of success. We got the facts on our side (goodness knows I've stated them enough times) about the Regnerus study and since the opposition likes to use the metaphor of us "ramming things down their throats" (figuratively of course), let's indulge them with the facts about Regnerus's discredited study until they upchuck. 

No, JPMorgan Chase Doesn't Have An "LGBT Loyalty Test" For Employees - Speaking of which, this lie has been heavily pushed via right-wing circles. Thank you, Equality Matters for refuting it.  

Same-sex marriage in the UK: A look at how far we’ve come - Not bad. Not bad at all.  

Uganda On Their Anti-Gay Legislation: It Was All For The Children - Anita Bryant's lie will NEVER die it seems.

  Todd Starnes Warns Of Anti-Duck Dynasty Violence, Links Same-Sex Marriage To Healthy Food Initiatives - Todd Starnes -  just trying to "get paid."

Family Research Council makes fool of itself in attempt to refute positive findings of lgbt study

Perkins

A recently new study confirmed yet again that children do well when raised by same-sex couples.

From ThinkProgress:

The study, conducted in Australia by University of Melbourne researchers “surveyed 315 same-sex parents and 500 children.” The children in the study scored about six percent higher than Australian kids in the general population. The advantages held up “when controlling for a number sociodemographic factors such as parent education and household income.” The study was the largest of its kind in the world. The lead researcher, Dr. Simon Crouch, noted that in same-sex couples parents have to “take on roles that are suited to their skill sets rather than falling into those gender stereotypes.” According to Crouch, this leads to a “more harmonious family unit and therefore feeding on to better health and well being.” The findings were in line with “existing international research undertaken with smaller sample sizes.”

Just like clockwork, however (I swear you can set your watch by it,) the Family Research Council is crying foul. From an email sent by FRC President Tony Perkins:

 The Washington Post could barely contain its excitement in a new headline, "Children of same-sex couples are happier and healthier than peers, research shows." This was double trouble, since the Post got its analysis wrong, and the latest study out of Australia suffers from the same flaws as almost all other pro-homosexual parenting research. The study is not of same-sex couples, but of "same-sex attracted parents," who may or may not be in a relationship. It found that children with such a parent scored higher on measures of "general health," "general behavior," and "family cohesion" -- yet lower (by less tha n the margin of error) on "mental health."

But the data are of dubious value to begin with, because they are based on the parents' own self-report ("My kid is doing great!") rather than a more objective measure; and they are drawn from a "convenience sample" (like people responding to an ad in the "gay" media) rather than a genuinely random one. The distortion this introduces is clear from the socioeconomic profile of the sample -- 73% of the homosexual parents had at least a college degree (vs. 28% of all Australian mothers), and 59% (79% of the men) had household incomes over $100,000 in Australian dollars (the median Australian household income is only $64,168).

It gets better. Guess what FRC compares the Australian study to:

In his 2012 research, sociologist Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas at Austin turned the conventional wisdom of the politically correct academic world on its head by proving that children raised by homosexual parents do suffer disadvantages when compared to children raised by their married mother and father. FRC's Peter Sprigg analyzed the study -- published in the journal Social Science Research. He and others confirmed that it was the most careful, rigorous, and methodologically sound study ever conducted on the issue -- which explains why liberals have tried so desperately to discredit it.

Regnerus's research found numerous and significant differences between these groups -- with the outcomes for children of homosexuals rated "suboptimal" (Regnerus's word) in almost every category. His study remains the gold standard for such research -- and it clearly showed children do better with a married mom and dad.

First of all, let's get one thing out of the way (and I admit I am doing this to be extremely bitchy even though the words I say are true),  Peter Sprigg couldn't analyze himself out of a paper bag.  He is a former actor and - judging by the anti-gay hate group he chooses to associate himself with, i.e. the Family Research Council - a presently failed Christian pastor.

But I find it so deliciously ironic that the Family Research Council uses the Regnerus study in an attempt to discredit the Australian study. I'm sure that the Family Research Council is aware of the multitude of credibility problems the Regnerus study had in terms of accuracy and partiality as evidenced by the statement "liberals have tried so desperately hard to descredit it."

Speaking as one of those liberals, we didn't have to try all that desperately hard to discredit Regnerus.  It was rather easy to refute.

FRC did not mention that Regnerus's study was discredited by over 200 researchers, the sociology department of his own university, the American Sociological Association, and last but not least Michigan federal judge, Bernard Friedman earlier this year when he struck down that state's law against marriage equality.  Friedman said the following about the Regnerus study:

“The Court finds Regnerus’s testimony entirely unbelievable and not worthy of serious consideration. The evidence adduced at trial demonstrated that his 2012 ‘study’ was hastily concocted at the behest of a third-party funder, which found it ‘essential that the necessary data be gathered to settle the question in the forum of public debate about what kinds of family arrangement are best for society’ and which ‘was confident that the traditional understanding of marriage will be vindicated by this study.’ … While Regnerus maintained that the funding source did not affect his impartiality as a researcher, the Court finds this testimony unbelievable. The funder clearly wanted a certain result, and Regnerus obliged.”

This sad attempt by the Family Research Council to discredit pro-lgbt study findings reminds me of that old saying "it's better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." However, it would be fitting to remove the word "fool" and substitute the phrase "ignorantly sputtering homophobes."

Anti-gay spokespeople profiting from spreading fear

Tony Perkins

I don't care what anyone says, I think there is a certain "we are just saying this @!#* just to get paid" mentality amongst some anti-gay leaders. And as of today, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and Fox News personality Todd Starnes has entered that club.

According to Right Wing Watch:

Tony Perkins invited Fox News’ go-to-Christian-persecution-commentator Todd Starnes to join him on the weekend edition of “Washington Watch,” where Starnes pointed to recent remarks by Rick Warren and Russell Moore warning of the imminent imprisonment of Christians in America as proof that Christians will indeed soon face jail sentences. Perkins, who recently warned that gay rights advocates are about to launch an anti-Christian Holocaust, naturally agreed that such arrests are going to “play out very quickly in our day.”

Seems to me that if I were Perkins, or Starnes, Warren, and Moore for that matter, I wouldn't worry about Obama or any lgbts putting them in jail. I would be more worried about someone obtaining my bank statements and paycheck stubs. If that ever happened, after some Christians I know got hold of them, they would be begging to be put in jail.

'Houston conservatives successfully exploiting fear of transgender community' & other Monday midday news briefs

Children Of Gay Parents Are Happier And Healthier Than Their Peers, New Study Finds - Naturally the religious right is silent over this revelation. We won't be, though. 

Houston Conservatives Submit Signatures To Challenge City’s Nondiscrimination Protections - "Bathroom meme," see my earlier post. 

 Herman Cain Nostalgic For Time When Burger King Didn’t Support Gay People - I'm nostalgic for the day when every dumbass didn't think he was presidential material.  

AFA's Fischer spends Independence Day equating homosexuality with necrophilia - I PERSONALLY would have been disappointed if he had not done this. LOL  

Matt Barber Celebrates The Fourth Of July By Warning That America Is On The Verge Of Judgment - And every payday, Barber will cash his paycheck. Kinda gives you a clue as to whether or not he believes the junk he spews.  

Scott Lively: There Is A Gay Agenda, And It 'Reflects An Insane And Satanic Delusion' - Blah, blah, blah, we are trying to destroy Judeo-Christian values. That in itself is a huge lie which is easy to disprove. Anyone with a quarter of a brain know that Lively himself is taking care of that function rather nicely.

How the gay community can defeat the 'bathroom bill' lies of the religious right

Time and time again, anti-gay groups and their supporters have exploited fear of the transgender community in order to hinder lgbt equality.

Beware of "predators invading women's restrooms and locker rooms pretending to be women," they tell us. They also say that this will happen should communities pass  lgbt anti--discrimination laws.

Of course, no lgbt anti-discrimination law has ever caused this to happen. Unfortunately a fact of life is that there are some folks who prey on women and children, but no lgbt anti-discrimination laws have ever assisted them in this effort.

Better yet, check out this following graphic courtesy of Media Matters. The organization published it a while back and  I was hoping that it would be picked up and passed around to educate people on fears of the transgender community.

It hasn't, but it should be:

'Online booklet on nasty anti-gay propaganda nears one million hits' & Thursday midday news briefs

Barney Frank has his free copy. Get your free copy now.

Seeing that we are in the midst of the 4th of July celebrations and its a slow news day, I thought I would push a little self-promotion.

For over a year, I have driven you all crazy and I appreciate your patience and support but now we are almost at the end of one part of a journey.

My online booklet, How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America is less than 6,000 hits from reaching 1,000,000. It's a remarkable achievement fueled by all of the support I received from the netroots. Things have changed tremendously since January of last year when I published this booklet. Thanks to the recent Hobby Lobby decision, the anti-gay religious right is gaining traction with their bogus "religious freedom" argument. Of course we know the truth; that their "religious freedom" argument is another tactic in a long line of tactics and arguments going back decades whose goal is the demonization and stigmatization of lgbt individuals in order to deny us our God-granted right to equality.

If you haven't already, read this short, but graphics intensive booklet, which I consider a definitive history on anti-gay propaganda. Download it, and above all, PLEASE share it. Our desire for full equality is noble and true, but we have to deal with crafty enemies who shied their homophobic animus behind Scripture and the claim of "deeply held religious beliefs."  It's a lie and using their own words and images, How They See Us proves it.

You can read an embedded copy of How They See Us printed on the right side of this blog, or  go directly to the Scribd site or to this second site where you can download an adobe acrobat copy.

If you desire to fight back against homophobic lies, then realize that knowledge is the first key. Passing along this knowledge is the second one.

(And just to clear things up, this booklet is free. I don't get a dime for it. I created it because I am tired of talking about lgbt equality on the terms of the religious right. Plus, our community - particularly our young ones - should have something like this)

In other news briefs:

Tony Perkins Says Obama's Push For 'Radical Sexualism' And 'Global Homosexuality' Is Persecuting Christians - So Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council thinks that standing against anti-gay persecution somehow means persecuting Christians. I tell you, the moderate Christians really need to speak up and stop letting folks like Perkins boggart the conversation.

33 Photos That Prove There Is No One Way To Be An American Family - Pay attention, National Organization for Marriage.

Rick Warren Joins Letter Asking Obama For Strong Religious Exemption In LGBT Executive Order - FORGET THAT!!

These Photos Of Two Dads Meeting Their New Baby Will Make You Cry Happy Tears - I couldn't help myself. I had to post this.

Anti-gay extremist inspires AWFUL song, video

A very dear online friend pointed this out to me.

Apparently aside from causing anti-gay violence and awful laws in foreign countries, Scott Lively seems to be offhandedly declaring war on the music industry. From his webpage:

Friends,

You will be blessed by this amazing song “The Rainbow Belongs to God. It was written my friend Johny Noer, a Danish pastor living in the Negev Desert of Israel, and performed by the very talented singer/composer Signe Walsoe.  Johny was an attendee and guest lecturer at my Bible seminar in England last fall and was inspired by my article/strategy “The Rainbow Belongs to God” which I created to encourage the Russians to reclaim the rainbow as a Christian symbol during the Winter Olympics. This beautiful music video is a fruit of our ministry partnership and I encourage you to forward it to your pro-family friends around the world.

Well. Wasn't that putrid on so many levels. Now let me take a guess what the song and video's defenders may say: "This song is about God, it's not about hatred towards anyone."

If you watched even a small part of that video, the following is the antidote:

 

Dennis Prager: Heterosexual AIDS is leftist myth

Prager

I weep for American journalism today where just about every inane opinion is presented without discernment under the guise that it's merely "an opinion." Where talentless twitter trolls, humorless comedy hacks, loudmouth jerks, bloodsucking shrews and lamias from the worst part of a child's nightmares, or all-around-jackasses are the faces we see and the voices we hear. Where good research and writing has been replaced by half-assed punditry by partisans who are grossly fattened off of think tank and wingnut welfare.

From Equality Matters:

Conservative columnist Dennis Prager claimed that “heterosexual AIDS” is a crisis “entirely manufactured by the Left,” continuing his years-long campaign of peddling dangerous and inaccurate AIDS denialism.

Prager’s July 1 syndicated column featured a defense of the Washington Redskins’ name. Prager accused the “American Left” of being preoccupied with “manufactured” controversies and crises, including “heterosexual AIDS”:

The great majority of American Indians understandably just don’t care. Like heterosexual AIDS and so many other crises, this has been entirely manufactured by the Left. Since 1947, there has been a movie theater, the Redskin Theatre (with the same logo as the football team), in Anadarko, Okla., a city whose population is divided evenly between Indians and whites and that calls itself the “Indian Capital of the Nation.” Why, in 67 years, have the Indian populations of Anadarko and Oklahoma not changed this theater’s name? Because the Left hadn’t made it an issue. It’s not an Indian issue; it’s a left-wing issue. [emphasis added]

Prager’s comparison is the latest in his long and bizarre history of falsely asserting that HIV and AIDS aren’t issues for heterosexuals. As Adam Serwer wrote for The American Prospect in 2008, Prager exemplifies a strain of “AIDS denialism” that suggests that “AIDS is a ‘gay’ problem, and so heterosexuals don’t have to worry about it.”

You can read more here if you haven't gotten disgusted yet

'Family Research Council spins deceptive Hobby Lobby poll' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

FRC Finds Majority Side With Hobby Lobby If You Lie To Them - For a supposed Christian organization, the Family Research Council certainly lies A LOT.  

Judge Overturns Kentucky’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban: ‘These Arguments Are Not Those Of Serious People’ - Just in case you haven't heard and I LOVE what the judge said. I've been saying that for the longest time now. 

Video: Man challenging marriage equality in Wisconsin once vowed to burn pro-gay book - No anti-gay animus my foot!  

Scott Lively Upset That John Oliver Quoted Him - Awwww, the poor homophobe!

 Linda Harvey Horrified That Soldiers And Scouts Marched In LGBT Pride Parades - Anything which horrifies Linda Harvey is cool with me.

Religious right movie should be early favorite for bad movie awards

Who in the hell put Rick Santorum in charge of a movie studio, even if its a small one. This trailer is one of his efforts and gives a good reason why all of this junk about "persecution" you hear from supposed Christians like him and the rest of the religious right is going to backfire.

These folks don't believe in nuanced discussions. They are like children who have to get their way all of the time. Any opposition or disagreement with their point of view is automatic grounds for them to start conjuring up images of oppression, death camps, the so-called destruction of liberty, and especially Nazi Germany.

Nazi Germany? REALLY? This corny movie will be out in September.

Anti-gay Catholic bishop under investigation for gay 'sexual misconduct'

Nienstedt

All I can say about this is HOT DAMN:

From The New Civil Rights Movement:

John Nienstedt has a long and dark history of not only opposing marriage equality, but of actively investing a reported $650,000 of the Roman Catholic Church's funds to prevent same-sex couples from marrying. It could easily be said of the nation's most active anti-gay crusaders, he's on a top ten list. Before the 2010 election, the 67-year old Archbishop of Minneapolis and St. Paul spammed 400,000 Minnesota homes with unrequested anti-gay DVDs in a failed attempt to get voters to ban same-sex marriage. Not only did his efforts fail, but lawmakers actually later ushered in marriage equality.

. . . But now, Commonweal Magazine reports that Nienstedt own diocese is investing him for sexual misconduct with other men, including priests, having received ten signed and sworn letters of accusation.

Nienstedt denies the allegations, claiming, “I have never engaged in sexual misconduct and certainly have not made any sexual advances toward anyone." he also artfully spun the charges in a statement, according to the Atlantic Wire. "The allegations do not involve minors or lay members of the faithful, and they do not implicate any kind of illegal or criminal behavior." 

More on the story here

I would like to say - before folks start in on their judgements - that nothing has yet to be proven. But again, HOT DAMN!! And I say this because I've written a few times on Nienstedt and his attacks on the lgbt community. Whatever the case may be, this is going to rock the anti-marriage equality movement.

Related posts:

Catholic Church is overstepping its bounds against marriage equality in Minnesota


Minnesota Archbishop plays politics with Catholic Mass

Bishop tells woman she risks going to hell if she accepts her gay son

'Gasp and swoon! Are drag queens trying to steal black men?' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

How A South Carolina Lesbian Police Chief Got Her Job Back - The controversy involving Crystal Moore in Latta, SC was not only a victory for lgbts, it demonstrated how stereotypes about small towns aren't always true and in the long run, people believe that fair is fair. Zack Ford of ThinkProgress provides an excellent summary of the entire situation. 

Obama To Sign Executive Order Protecting Transgender Federal Employees - Thank you, President Obama!

 Mat Staver 'deeply saddened' California can still recognize and ban junk 'therapy' - The victory overshadowed by yesterday's Hobby Lobby debacle. The smallest violin in the world weeps for Staver.
   
Are Drag Queens Trying To Steal Black Women’s Femininity And Take Our Men? - In its own way, Madamenoire magazine exposes the tribulations that lgbts of color face because our community will not discuss sexual orientation, i.e. so-called experts coming out with an inane theory about sexual orientation and folks actually believing the tripe. Remind me to tell you all about the book  a Nation of Islam author wrote about how to "tell if your man is secretly gay." I have posted on it in the past and would do so again but my insurance can no longer cover that many deaths brought about by too much laughing.

Anti-gay spokesperson hopes Hobby Lobby decision will lead to lgbt discrimination

Linda Harvey and Matt Barber, two people who can never been  mistaken as friends of the lgbt community, are furious that the Boy Scouts of participated in a recent Ohio gay pride parade:

The exchange would be funny except for Barber's tweet yesterday regarding the Hobby Lobby decision:

#HobbyLobby may help protect businesses from those pushing counter-biblical #LGBT lifestyle & anti-Christian agenda http://t.co/Lgg2zrcmFB
— Matt Barber (@jmattbarber) June 30, 2014

Guess what, folks. Calling Harvey or Barber rude names, making pseudo-comical comments about their supposed sexual proclivities, or dreams of how raising hell in the way it used to be done in the "old days" won't cut it.

We're dealing with some vicious, albeit idiotically single-minded folks. And maybe it's time we stopped being blase and started being just a little bit more serious in how we handle things.

Serious and a bit more methodical. We've been winning in the courts thus far but perhaps we should stop resting on our laurels, grabbing the hankies to cry about how "we've waited so long for equality," and start assessing what our true problems are.

The mindset of the above two are a big problem and we have been kicking it aside for too long.

You want one suggestion from me? Don't ignore stuff like this. Broadcast it, get fired up enough to register and vote, and to speak out. Make folks aware that this sort of hatred exists.

You would be surprised how many folks aren't aware.