'Survey - People of faith oppose 'religious liberty' laws' & other Friday midday news briefs

This booklet breaks down anti-gay lies

What Religious People Actually Think About Using ‘Religious Liberty’ To Justify Anti-Gay Discrimination - I hate to sound like Sarah Palin, but the media is not doing this job to get this news out. To hear them tell it, the only religious folks are those white Christian evangelicals who are always spouting against lgbt equality. THIS article is what I'm talking about when I say "nuance." 

 Seoul’s Pride Events Are Off To A Pretty Terrible Start - This is NOT good. The lgbt community in Seoul have been outdone by the anti-gay opposition in a huge way. They would never be able to do that here, but still . . . 

Teen Sues School District In Potentially Key Federal Case For Transgender Restroom Rights - I hope he wins. He certainly has my admiration. 

 'Oranges, Baby Powder, Handcuffs And Duct Tape': Inside The Trial That May End The Gay 'Cure' - I still have my eyes on this trial. The repercussions could be sweet!  

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America - shameless plug time. If you haven't downloaded this free booklet on anti-gay propaganda, please do so. This link will take directly to it for you to download, read, share, etc. Michelangelo Signorile said it best. This is NOT over regardless of whether or not the Supreme Court gives us 50-state marriage equality. As we saw yesterday in North Carolina and Michigan, the anti-gay right and their supporters have already planned for that outcome and we shouldn't ignore them. They have the money, influence, and intelligence to conflate religious belief with anti-gay lies and propaganda. This short, but definitive, booklet on anti-gay propaganda breaks it down in a way it should have been broken down a long time ago.

Ben Carson's 'black vs. gay' gambit backfires in his face

Leave it to wannabe presidential contender Ben Carson to begin the dreadful "black vs. gay" argument again by declaring that gay rights aren't the same as civil rights because there was no segregation against gays.

Of course that would be excluding these "religious freedom laws" which the religious right and their cohorts are pushing through the state legislatures.

But aside from that, Carson is conveniently forgetting the presence of lgbts of color during segregation. One day, I am going to find that spaceship which folks like Carson seem to think people like me were on during segregation and other pivotal moments in black history.

But for now, I will console myself by enjoying how the 'black vs. gay" gambit blew up in Carson's face when Brianna Keller of CNN challenges him on it:



Related column - The Erasure of 'Gay' From Black History and the Black Community Must Stop

Michigan now making it more difficult for gay couples to raise children via bad adoption laws

Michigan Gov. Snyder slaps gay taxpayers in the face with new laws.

If my lgbt brothers and sisters thought that this so-called culture war was nearing the end thanks to a possible Supreme Court ruling for marriage equality (which hasn't even happened yet), they got a wake up call today.

North Carolina's "religious liberty" law regarding magistrates is bad enough, but thanks to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, not only will children be potentially denied good homes, but the state's lgbt community just got a huge slap in the face.

Now it is legal for Michigan's adoption agencies to not only imply to the state's lgbt community that they are not worthy of having families and raising children, but these same  adoption agencies can receive lgbt tax dollars for the privilege:

Michigan's governor signed legislation on Thursday allowing private adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples on religious grounds, one of a series of Republican-backed measures at the state level targeting gay couples. Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, signed three bills into law a day after Michigan's Republican-controlled Senate approved the measures that had been advanced by the state House of Representatives.

 . . . The Michigan bills that were signed into law let faith-based agencies that contract with Michigan refuse adoption services to couples on religious grounds. The legislation does not specifically mention gay couples, but is considered a version of religious freedom acts considered in a number of states to shield businesses that may refuse services to same-sex couples from discrimination lawsuits. Child placement agencies that decline services to couples will be required promptly to provide prospective adoptive parents a list of other adoption agencies willing and able to serve them.  One bill amended the state's child protection act and the others amended other laws to add language on refusing service.

Freedom Michigan, a coalition of business and other groups supporting gay rights, said the law will make it harder for the more than 13,000 children in the state's adoption and foster care system to find nurturing homes.

The ACLU is already considering challenging the laws in court:

ACLU attorney Brooke Tucker said the group is looking at ways to challenge of the law on constitutional grounds."The constitution doesn't allow discrimination based on religion and you can't do that with state funds," she said. "We're looking at our legal options and especially looking to hear from people who will be adversely affected by this."

This is NOT the last we hear about this in Michigan and, unfortunately, in other states. The signal has been given and I am sure that other states will be attempting to follow.

How long will it be before our lazy media creates the false narrative of the "backlash" to the progression of lgbt equality?

'Trouble for lgbts in North Carolina & Michigan' & other Thursday midday news briefs

House overrides magistrate same-sex marriage veto - A law which allows county magistrates a "religious excuse" to refuse to perform marriages for any couples (i.e. same sex couples) has become law after the legislature overrode the Governor's veto. Ugh! 

Michigan Lawmakers Pass Bills That Could Allow Adoption Agencies To Reject LGBT Families - And then there is THIS thing. Will the Governor sign it? Regardless, when Michelangelo Signorile once remarked that "it's not over," if folks didn't believe it then, they had better believe it now.

  Report Attacks African Nations' Justifications For Anti-Gay Laws - The same lies and junk science which once had IMMENSE power in America has a greater deal of power in Africa.  

Ben Carson: Gay Rights Aren't Civil Rights Because Gay People Don't Have Separate Water Fountains - Oh stop it already! The segregation was a symbol of inequality, just like the sodomy laws, and the pogroms against Jewish people. For a person who is supposed to be intelligent, Ben Carson is a serious dumbass.  

Right-Wing Pundits Rail Against Gay Military Leaders - So much for respecting those who fight for our freedoms. 

22 Stunning Same-Sex Wedding Photos That Are So Full Of Love - Let's end these abysmal set of news briefs with something happy.

Niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. becomes 'Paris Hilton' of anti-gay right

Alveda King - the 'Paris Hilton' of anti-gay activism

Those who read this blog or keep up with the struggle for lgbt equality should be familiar with the name Alveda King.

For those who aren't, she is the niece of the late and legendary activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A polite way to describe her would be the "Paris Hilton" of anti-gay activism, or someone who brings nothing to the table but her name, which gives  a psychological but transparent relevancy exploited by the religious right when they want to make their homophobia sound noble or connected to the African-American civil rights movement.

As such, Alveda really doesn't have the good sense God gave a goose, but she knows how to take advantage of a good gig when she sees one. This being the case, she is constantly on the ready to be called to speak at an anti-gay rally, or on television. In fact, Fox News recently hired her as a pundit (which should say a lot about Fox News, but nothing you probably haven't already heard).

Recently, she took part in a Family Research Council panel discussion where she made several outrageous claims. First she said according to polls, little children have shown that they want a biological father and mother. But hold on because that's not the only outrageous claim she makes. King claims that not only are there more studies which prove that same-sex households are a danger to children, but that media is conspiring to cover this up. She also said she could personally testify about being "harmed and confused." Her statements to this effect begins at 1:30 :

King's entire statement is questionable. I say this as someone who has interviewed her in the past regarding claims she made (more on this later) and based on our conversation, I got the impression that she is a person who is "flying by the seat of her pants," i.e. makes outrageous claims, but can't back them up with proof.

'Target ad breaks down love of pride, will surely confuse Franklin Graham' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Poor Franklin Graham. I guess he is going to have to also get his followers to boycott Target. This ad is simply awesome!

 In other news: 

 Meet The Doctor Social Conservatives Depend On To Justify Anti-Transgender Hate - Wonderful!! There needs to be more refuting of anti-gay junk science on a larger scale. A queen gets tired of feeling like he is doing it alone. 

 Maggie Gallagher's familiar 'victim' psychodrama - Just what I needed today. A silly white woman telling me that a crazy black man is an icon in a black community when the residents of said community are saying the opposite. Maggie Gallagher still thinking of black folks as "the help."

Judge: Arkansas Must Recognize in-State Same-Sex Marriages - By the way, this happened yesterday. It's nice to post something out of Arkansas besides those darn Duggars.  

Family Research Council: Anti-LGBT Conservatives Are The New Civil Rights Leaders - And they are clever, too. They've figured out a way to spread lies in the name of Christ, collect HUGE paychecks, and not even get one hose sprayed at them or one dog nipping at their feet. And the racists simply LOOOOOOOVE them!

How do children feel about Caitlyn Jenner?

One of the constant refrains of the religious right is how learning about lgbts, particularly the transgender community, will confuse and ultimately damage children. It's a load of hokum. Based on the reactions they have about Caitlyn Jenner, children seem to be more hip to the truth of the matter than most adults:

Lindsey Graham kisses his presidential aspirations goodbye with one statement

Lindsey Graham wants Caitlyn Jenner's vote.

Sen. Lindsey Graham is running for president. He's not even going to make it past the preliminaries for a number of reasons, particularly this statement:

Republican presidential contender Lindsey Graham says his party has room for transgendered people like Caitlyn Jenner.

The South Carolina senator calls himself a "traditional marriage kind of guy." But he says he "can only imagine the torment that Bruce Jenner went through" before becoming a transgendered woman. He hopes that, now, she's "found peace."

The underdog Republican candidate is campaigning on the need to counter threats from terrorists and Islamic State militants. He shares the opposition to same-sex marriage expressed by his rivals but says the Supreme Court is settling that question.

 

Graham says if Jenner wants to be a Republican, she's welcome. And he says if she wants a safe country and a strong economy, she should vote for him.

He spoke Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

That ought to play well with Rush Limbaugh, Erick Erickson, other conservatives, and the wannabe kingmakers of the religious right.

My guess is that James Dobson hasn't commented on this yet because he is still being fed oxygen after originally hearing it.

'Franklin Graham moving finances from one lgbt-inclusive bank to another' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Poor Franklin Graham. He can't escape pro-lgbt banks.

Franklin Graham Drops Bank Over LGBT Rights Stance, Joins Bank That's Sponsoring A Pride Event - Way to go, stupid. I do love karma. 

 Related post - Franklin Graham's abusive definition of 'love' is something we can do without  

GOP Senator: Churches Could Be Forced To Close If Supreme Court Rules For Same-Sex Marriage - Such are the rules of the religious right and their supporters. No matter how many times a lie has been refuted, they will continue to repeat is consistently. It's a deliberate tactic of propping up a headless monster (i.e. an idea which has been proven to have no bearing in truth). 

Trailer: New anti-gay movie stars actor who was on Logo's 'Sordid Lives'?! - I've heard of "gay for pay," but "anti-gay for pay?"

 Obama Appoints Transgender Attorney Shannon Minter To White House Commission - Wonderful!

Franklin Graham's abusive definition of 'love' is something we can do without

This is the commercial which has led Franklin Graham to pull his ministry's finances from Wells Fargo  and suggest  that other "Christians" begin boycotting the bank. And by the way, via email, the Family Research Council supports his sentiments.

Wells Fargo may be the first American bank to feature a lesbian ad -- but it may also be the last. The outrage over these in-your-face commercials is finally reaching a boiling point with consumers, who are sick and tired of watching companies pitch agendas over products. American powerhouses like General Mills, Tiffany & Co., Amazon, Starbucks, Tylenol, Target, Nabisco, Alaska Airlines, and even Betty Crocker are tripping over themselves to pander to 2.3% of the buying public with intense LGBT advocacy. Like us, Rev. Franklin Graham has had enough. In response to Wells Fargo's new ad, the son of evangelist Billy Graham is making an enormous withdrawal: his ministry's accounts. On Facebook, Franklin challenged Christians to take a long, hard look at where their money is going.

Mr. Franklin Graham,  just what is the problem with this ad?  Are you claiming that the commercial celebrates sin? If so, who are you to dictate what sin is? And that's not even the point. You seem to be saying that it is wrong for Wells Fargo to even acknowledge the fact that same-sex families exist. You seem to demanding that facet of American society, who has done you NO harm, shouldn't be acknowledged; that they should be erased, omitted, yanked from the view of the American public simply because YOU think they are sinful.

You are certainly free to bank where you wish, but the larger message you are sending is simply un-Christian. And you have the temerity to do these things cause you say you love us?

If I wanted love like that, I would go to jail cells of all of the men locked up for domestic violence and pick out four or five to date.

Lgbts should exploit the religious right because it's so easy to do

LaBarbera

When it comes to good old fashioned strategic warfare, the lgbt community stinks. We really do.

How is it that we can allow anti-gay figures to falsely claim that they have no animus against us, no ignorance against us when we have so much ammunition to choose from?  How is it that folks like Tony Perkins and organizations such as the Family Research Council can even begin an attempt to control the argument in this so-called culture war when at the very least, all we need to do is to raise a stink by making conversations like the following (an old "friend" of ours, Peter LaBarbera being interviewed by VCY America's Crosstalk call-in show) go viral:





Why do we go out of our way to either minimize this as simple ignorance or do something needless such as speculate whether or not LaBarbera is secretly gay when we could be using this conversation to prove animus. Wouldn't it be wonderful to make someone like Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation or even Perkins himself address this junk. But as it is, it is our silence which is preventing us from moving faster in our struggle for equality than we should.

And it's not just LaBarbera. Day in and day out, we are inundated with religious right members, conservative politicians and think-tank minions who say outlandish things about the lgbt community and we hardly ever use their words to rightfully demonstrate their animus.

Perhaps we should get less desensitized to homophobic words and more willing to exploit them.

'Franklin Graham calls for boycott of Wells Fargo for featuring same-sex family in ad' & other Monday midday news briefs

Franklin Graham

Billy Graham's Church Calls For Christians To Boycott Wells Fargo Bank Over Same-Sex Adoption Ad - So ads showing same-sex couples and their children should be considered as anti-Christian persecution now? THIS is the very reason why these claims about anti-Christian persecution in America will be treated like the "boy who cried wolf." 

Huckabee Stands By 'Commonsense' Transgender Locker Room Joke - Apparently to folks like Mike Huckabee, common sense means being bullheaded, ignorant, refusing to educate yourself on things you know nothing about and putting it all on "Jesus."

Scott Walker Backs Constitutional Amendment Allowing States To Ban Same-Sex Marriage - That headline should read 'Scott Walker ain't ever gonna be president (hopefully).  

Beck: We Have 10,000 Pastors Who Are Willing To Die Resisting Anti-Christian Persecution In America - Which is news to everyone, ESPECIALLY those 10,000 pastors.

Bill Maher 'declares war' against false cries of anti-Christian persecution

Say what you will about Bill Maher, in this case about those constantly whining about Christian persecution in America, he is on point:

'Senate won't extend veteran benefits to married gay couples and their children' & other Friday midday news briefs

 
Senate Rejects Extending Veterans Benefits To Married Gay Couples And Their Kids - This here is some @!%$! Don't tell our fighting men and woman that you appreciate their service and then refuse to give them fair compensation.

‘Transgender, at War and in Love’ - Before anyone succumbs to nonsensical fears regarding transgender men and women in our Armed Forces, they really should see this documentary. Hat tip to my buddy John Becker. 

Air Force Takes A Big Step Toward Allowing Transgender Service - Speaking of which.  

Federal Judge Strikes Down Guam's Gay Marriage Ban - Awesome!!  

Five Insights From A 1961 Documentary On Gay Men That Still Resonate Today - Because lies never die. They just take different forms.  

Alan Keyes: Voting For Gay Marriage Like Voting For The Holocaust - I KNOW that there some sane black conservatives out there somewhere . . . somewhere over the rainbow cause they sure aren't showing themselves.  

Sandy Rios: Duggar And Hastert Are Victims Of 'Systematic Targeting' Of Conservatives - When you see the people that the religious right are propping up as spokespersons . . .

Family Research Council still exploiting actual anti-Christian persecution overseas to fundraise

In an Iranian prison, a man is praying . . . for Christians in America.

In a hidden location in North Korea, a kneeling circle of believers cry out to God . . . for Christians in America.

I know of no stronger evidence of the connection between the persecuted church overseas and the persecuted church in America than this: they are praying for us!

That's why I urge you to allow me to send you a Nasrani Pin as my thank you for your gift to help FRC stand for religious freedom in America as Christian faith comes under growing attack -- and also speak out for the persecuted Christians overseas.

- - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in a sleazy fundraising pitch conflating actual incidents of anti-Christian persecution overseas to evangelical Christians in America being told to follow the law like everyone else and serve all customers, gay and straight.

'Negative fall out from Duggars interview, HRC having problems' & other Thursday midday news briefs

The fall out from the Duggars interview is not pretty (as many of knew it wouldn't be) and there is a LOT of criticism thrown around:

CNN's Chris Cuomo: Megyn Kelly's Duggar Interview Was "A Conversation Among Friends" - Even though I still think Kelly got lucky with the way this interview turned out, Cuomo makes an EXCELLENT point. 

The Duggars totally misrepresented their anti-LGBT robocall in Fox News interview - As I predicted, the robocall question was a KILLER to the Duggars. 

 In Fox Interview Duggar Dad Falsely Describes Michelle's Anti-Trans Robocall To Cover Up Hypocrisy - Etc.

Fox News fans defend Duggars the only way they know how — by blaming Bill Clinton and black people - But the Duggars had their defenders . . . but they were NOT helpful. 

 In other news: 

 Internal Report: Major Diversity, Organizational Problems At Human Rights Campaign - Having an "outsider" status in the lgbt equality movement, I've never been one for the internal squabbles and the name-calling (such as the "Gay,Inc" label), but this internal report about HRC gave even me spooky pause. Whether some of us like the group or not, HRC is a powerful and much needed organization when it comes attaining lgbt equality. I hope it takes this report to heart and makes the necessary changes (particularly getting more people of color in visual and leadership positions).  

Gender Transition Tougher than Caitlyn Makes It Look - WONDERFUL article which includes my very good friend Dayna Smith who reminds us that while yes we should praise Caitlyn Jenner, let's not forget the larger picture. Gender transition is not easy for those who undergo it because of a number of reasons, financial and otherwise. 

Religious Right Angry At Business Support For Marriage Equality - Gasp! How DARE those awful, awful, equality-loving businesses.

Michelle Duggar reduced to awkward silence when confronted by her transphobic hypocrisy

Well the Duggars interview with Megyn Kelly of Fox News is over and here are my thoughts.

I was disappointed in how Kelly glossed over several details regarding the type of counseling the Duggars claimed their son, Josh, went through after admitting he inappropriately touched several underage girls, including his sisters. To say that Kelly was on their side is an understatement. Several invectives and tones in her voice when she mentioned "the tabloids" or when she implied how the family was being targeted bothered me.

However, all in all, I view Kelly like a football team who won a crucial game because the other team played worse. She actually stumbled her way through a very good interview and I only say that because of one moment.

Aside from the molestation charges, many folks have called out the Duggars for anti-gay campaigning they have done on several occasions. Josh was a member of the Family Research Council and spoke several times against lgbt equality including marriage equality while claiming it was for the sake of the children.

Last year, Michelle Duggar made a robocall to residents in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a part of a successful attempt to defeat a pro-lgbt ordinance. Her robocall implied that transgender men and women were predators who will harm children in public restrooms.

During the interview, Kelly asked her specifically about the hypocrisy of her robocall in light of knowing what her son had done.  Michelle Duggar began a rambling answer which descended to uncomfortable silence.

To me, that moment was the pivotal part of the interview and speaks for itself as a very important part of this entire mess. The line of questioning begins at 5:05:

Anyone wishing to view the entire interview can do so at Mediaite.

Preview of Duggars interview - I am NOT impressed

Bill Gates doesn't have enough money nor does Rob Kardashian have enough tush to make me watch the nauseating Fox News channel for any reason.

However, with that in mind, I am showcasing this preview of tonight's Megyn Kelly interview with Michelle and Jim Bob Duggars regarding the child molestation scandal with their son, Josh. I don't do this with any type of glee. My heart goes out to all of the victims - definitely the little girls who were molested and let's not forget members of the lgbt community (particularly our transgender brothers and sisters) who were made the victims of lies and propaganda because this family had the audacity to claim that we are a harm to children even after the situation with their son, Josh. Take the following for what you will:

My opinion? Kelly needs to ask questions about why they made public stances and accusations about the lgbt community harming children even after they knew what they knew about their son. If she bungles that part in any shape or form, it will haunt her career.

Lastly, that was an awful preview to show.  Already it is getting criticism in the comments section of Mediaite.

Somebody better squeeze out some tears during this interview. I'm talking Noah's flood, here.  This could be a potential disaster in the making for ALL parties involved.

'Conservative magazine busy with pseudo-intellectual attack on lgbt equality' & other Wed midday news briefs

Conservative magazine The Federalist is attacking Caitlyn Jenner

What The Media Should Know About Walt Heyer And "Transition Regrets" - Not only that it's the latest attempt to undermine lgbt progress via junk science and lies (this time attacking Caitlyn Jenner) but it is the latest attempt to do so by the conservative magazine The Federalist. The Federalist helped push the "stories" of the adults who regret being "raised in a gay household," as well as pushing other outrageously homophobic pieces. It would seem to me that The Federalist is attempting to push a pseudo-intellectual objection to lgbt equality. HEAVY on the pseudo. 

Everything That’s Wrong With Huckabee’s Transgender Bathroom Remarks - You got a week to do nothing but listen to me count the ways?  

Jindal: Left Trying To 'Outlaw Firmly Held Religious Beliefs That They Do Not Agree With' - Forget it, Bobby. You simply ARE NOT going to get that nomination.  

Mary Cheney shames anti-gay GOPers: ‘For years I have listened to them talk about importance of family’ - She makes a good point (and none of that "where has she been talk. In her defense, her sister, Liz, is simply a monster).

 A Trial In New Jersey: One Man's Religious Freedom Is Another Man's Torture - Pay attention to this trial. The outcome, if it happens as I hope it will, could potential destroy ex-gay therapy.

Anti-gay spokesman says gays recruit children because 'adults don't go there'

David Barton

After hearing this bizarre rambling from popular religious right "historian" David Barton (in which he attacks the transgender community, claims that gays are "evangelizing" to children, and that gays have to recruit children because we can't "recruit" adults), one has to wonder do we have spies who are deliberately causing the other side to lose this "so-called" culture war: