'Peter Thiel willing to sacrifice the common queers with his support of Trump' & other Mon midday news briefs

Pet

Peter Thiel: 'What Trump represents isn't crazy and it's not going away' - With all due respect to my lgbt brothers and sisters of a "lighter hue," it must be nice to be white, male and a billionaire when you are gay. It helps for folks to not call you "fudgepacker" and "faggot" to your face. Even if they are plotting behind your back.

Here’s Exactly Why A Vote For Trump Is Vote Against LGBTQ Rights - And this stuff bounces right off of you while it burns the rest of the community, or as you would probably call them, the "common queers." 

 Peter Thiel's obliviousness creates historic nonsense - A reminder of what I think of Thiel from July. 

One last thing for you folks who will probably tell me to think of things besides my sexual orientation when it comes to this election - why in the hell should I? It's what everyone else does. It's definitely what the Latino community and the African-American community is doing. It's what those folks that always seem be labeled as "middle America" is doing. It's what the "anti-lgbt industry" and their supporters are doing. Why should lgbts be told to be different? Why do we have to play the martyr and sacrifice our comfort and well-being, our families, our future, and our children when we have fears and desires which are no different or lesser than heterosexual America? I say to hell with it. An election is the best time TO be selfish. 

 In other news: 

 Haunted House That Planned To Recreate Scenes From Pulse Massacre Canceled - This entire situation right here is a HOT MESS!  

The Great Gay Holiday: A celebration of Halloween’s LGBTQ influence - The history of Halloween and the lgbtq community. A wonderful piece!

Trump and his 12 percent of support in the lgbt community

This nauseating image of Trump with a rainbow flag is from a Sunday rally he hold in Colorado. It makes me wish for a recreation of that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where the Nazis melted after they opened the Ark of the Covenant.

But save the nausea for more. According to a recent article in The Washington Post, 12 percent of our community supports this wannabe Nimrod. Why? Check out the article:

Gary Gates, Gallup senior researcher and author of the new poll, confirmed that the LGBT community is becoming more politically diverse, as more people feel free to come out. “This increased political diversity is also present in party identification,” he said, meaning more gay Republicans and more mystified — and outraged — LGBT Democrats.

Photo from Towleroad

''Transgender community want your children' ad debuts in NC' & other Friday midday news briefs

 NOM debuts bathroom attack ad against North Carolina gubernatorial candidate - Here we go again. Where have I seen this ad or a variant of it before? Oh wait. EVERY TIME THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING LGBT EQUALITY!!!! 

For more information on the "LGBTS are after our children" talking point and other religious right lies, see (and download) 'How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America.'  

Virginia could become the next North Carolina for LGBT people - And it's a good time to get educated because there could be trouble on the horizon in Virginia.

 The Equality House Hit By 7 Bullets, Graffitied In Anti-LGBTQ Attack - Complacent is always the enemy of progress. Always work to do. 

Trump to Evangelicals: If You Don't Vote for Me Religious Liberty and Second Amendment Will Be Gone (Video) - Ridiculous but its spooky how some people have no problem thinking that religion and guns compliment each other.

'Witch's coven of haters' meet this weekend to spread homophobia, junk science

Just in time for Halloween, unfortunately:

Stand4Truth Conference Will Focus On The “Politically Incorrect Truth About Sexuality And Gender.” The second annual “Stand4Truth” conference will be held on October 28 and 29 in Houston, TX. The conference purports to tell the “politically incorrect truth about sexuality and gender,” with sessions like “The Truth About Ex-Gay Ministries” and “The Truth of Transgenderism in Ft. Worth” that will advocate for harmful and discredited “ex-gay” reparative therapy.

 . . .  Representatives From Five Different Anti-LGBT Hate Groups Will Speak Throughout The Conference. Sandy Rios of the American Family Association (AFA), Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council (FRC), Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, Brian Camenker of Mass Resistance, and Steve Hotze of the Conservative Republicans of Texas are all scheduled to speak at the Stand4Truth Conference. All five groups have been designated as anti-gay "hate groups" by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for their extremist rhetoric and peddling of "known falsehoods" about the LGBT community. At last year’s conference, Camenker proclaimed that LGBT rights advocates would “send us to concentration camps if they could.”

In The Texas Observer, SPLC Senior Fellow Called The Conference A “Witch’s Coven Of Haters.” In an interview with the Texas Observer, SPLC senior fellow Mark Potok described the conference as a “witch’s coven of haters.” Dan Quinn, a spokesperson for the Texas Freedom Network, similarly described the conference attendees as “political activists who delight in generating hate and contempt for LGBT people across the country.”

 . . . Sponsors Include Multiple Hate Groups And Advocates For Reparative “Ex-Gay” Therapy. Sponsors of the Stand4Truth conference include Mass Resistance, Liberty Counsel, and a project of Family Watch International (We Are Voices Of Change) -- all of which are designated anti-LGBT hate groups. Other sponsors include David Pickup, whose “Reparative Therapy” organization's website claims that “homosexual attractions” result from “unfulfilled” approval from “primary male relationships”; Light Wins, an anti-gay movie Salon described as 2015’s most “bigoted, dishonest and disgusting film”; and Joel 2:25 International, a Texas-based reparative therapy organization that works internationally to heal the “emotional wounds and relational brokenness” of people “who experience same-sex attraction.”

My guess is the "common sense" these "individuals" are talking about will include statements like the following from FRC's Sprigg in 2008:


 
For a full view of the event, go to the link at Media Matters

'Trans-themed deodorant commercial breaks down simple fact' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Secret deodorant’s amazing new trans-themed ad: ‘No wrong way to be a woman’ - This ad is awesome:



In other news:  

Struggle In San Francisco: Being Black And Gay In The Bay - A small look at a big problem in our community. Being black and gay.  

Breaking: Obama to Veto Defense Spending Bill if GOP Includes Anti-LGBT 'Religious Freedom' Provision - Sock it to them, Mr. President!  

Another North Carolina Republican calls for repeal of anti-LGBT law he voted for - Slowly but surely, HB2 will die.

 Sad North Carolina Bigots Asked Paypal To Give Them Back Their Bowl - As long as we exert the pressure.

Religious right hopes to con Georgia with newest 'anti-Christian persecution' victim

Eric Walsh, the religious right's 'religious liberty' symbol.

In the past, the religious right  has always played the "homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle" card in order to fight our advancing equality. In the wake of minds changing about the lgbt community and several high-profile losses (including in the case of marriage equality), they have shifted their argument by playing the "persecution card."

It's a simple tactic. They exploit a public incident by exaggerating it immensely and publicizing it even more (making sure to control the conversation) in order to advance an argument that the progression of lgbt equality will lead "Christians" to lose their businesses and rights if they don't kowtow regardless of their religious beliefs.

'The lgbt community outlasts another bigot, but . . .' & other Wed midday news briefs

We laugh at overt homophobia but can't fight it when it's covertly semantic.

R.I.P. Jack Chick – Here’s His Top 5 Most Homophobic Religious Tracts - One of the most offensive homophobes has passed away but his awful characterizations of the lgbt community lives on. The lgbt community has outlasted another enemy, but as the next article demonstrates, what Jack Chick overtly put out can still be used against us in a covertly semantic manner and our leaders lose easily lose their heads instead of knowing how to fight it. 

Top LGBT Leaders Are Divided Over Compromising On The Bathroom Fight - Easily the most depressing article of the year: 

Conservatives have blocked LGBT nondiscrimination bills by claiming transgender people pose a threat in women’s restrooms. How to break the logjam? Some LGBT leaders say it’s time to support bills that cover housing and employment, but not public accommodations — and largely avoid the bathroom issue. 

Yeah, because the religious right won't see this as a capitulation and transfer their fear tactics to other fights. After all, it's not like they don't want us to have SOME rights. Listen. When it comes to lgbt equality, the big elephant in the room has always been the organizations who move people via exploitation of religion and fears about the lgbt community. They did it by aligning gay men with pedophilia, lgbts in general with AIDS, or our desire to marry to a desire to destroy Christianity. And now is the newest model of scaring people with images of "boys showering with girls" or "grown men using the bathroom with little girls." These are all the same fear tactics and lies repeated for as long as I can remember, but we don't publicly recognize them or call them out an aggressive manner.  In our fight for equality, we have yet to confront groups like the Family Research Council and people like Franklin Graham on the level they should be confronted. Our leadership seems to wait until they make the first move and then play defense and catch-up. Instead of fighting individual battles, there needs to be a GENERAL calling out of religious right groups and their tactics. In naming some of these organizations as hate groups, the Southern Poverty Law Center did a lot of that. But we should have and we still can. This so-called cultural battle should never be about why the lgbt community is deserving of equality under the law. The onus should be on the groups who seek to deny us that right. We have proven ourselves time and time again in the courts and in the marketplace of ideas. We should constantly ask organizations like FRC, the American Family Association and people like Bryan Fischer and Franklin Graham, "why do you all feel that we shouldn't have equality. And most of all, what's with all of the lies you tell in the name of morality and Christianity?"

 Bisexual Guys Open Up About Their Experiences Dating Both Men And Women - There are sa lot of myths about the bisexual community which need to be refuted.  

How Implicit Bias Affects the Health of Black Gay Men - Siiiiigh!

Political ad featuring mother of Pulse Nightclub victim is the one people should watch

I will be honest. I cringe when it comes to using victims of tragedies in political ads. Having said that, this ad packs a wallop. It features Christine Leinonen, the mother of Christopher “Drew” Leinonen — a young man shot and killed along with his boyfriend, Juan Guerrero, and 47 others at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Ms. Leinonen talks about how her son supported Hillary Clinton and why it is important why we should vote for Clinton. It's both sad but very tasteful and also to the point. I commend Ms. Leinonen for her courage and bravery in the face of her loss.

The Golden Girls starring Trump, Pence, and Putin

 I apologize for my lack of posts today and I can't really blame the election for this one. A serious personal family matter kept me busy. It's all taken care of now and it reminded me just how blessed I am to have so many people concerned about me and my family.

On that note, I'm just going to go lighthearted and repost a video which I think gives an almost good conceptualization of this presidential election. I say "almost" because recent events lead me to believe that Korean dictator Kim Jong-un should be replaced by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (I just know I'm going to catch hell for that one):

Support of Trump exposes ugliness, hypocrisy of religious right

If there is one good thing which comes out of this nasty election (other than the desired result), it's that the need for power has exposed the religious right. In supporting Donald Trump in spite of all of his many moral flaws, groups like the Family Research Council and people like Franklin Graham have revealed that their so-called Christian faces (under which they also demonize lgbts) are merely a mask. Behind that mask are power hungry, egotistical entities willing to work around the values they claim to uphold.

And if you need more proof of this, check out the following tweets, courtesy of People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch.

They are from a Trump rally at Regent University, the "Christian" college founded by televangelist and The 700 Club host Pat Robertson:

Hillary Clinton head on a pike at Donald Trump's Regent U rally pic.twitter.com/HhbBzB4iwF

— Peter Montgomery (@petemont) October 22, 2016

Sold at Trump rally at Regent U pic.twitter.com/NB57JJlQHV

— Peter Montgomery (@petemont) October 22, 2016

 
You can see more here (if you can stomach it).

'17 horror movies only lgbt people fully understand' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Scenes like this made 'A Nightmare on Elm Street 2' a covertly gay horror movie.

17 Horror Films Only LGBT People Understand - Yes, I am leading the news briefs with a frivolous article? Why? Because this election (even though it's careening to the desired results) is bringing me down. And I suspect that it's also doing it to a lot of my lgbt brothers and sisters. So let's be frivolous for a second (even though the list makes a huge error by omitting the original Fright Night (1985).

'We Won!': Trans Girl Can Now Use Girls' Bathroom at Military School - Victory in a controversy I mentioned last week.  

Gay Republican group praises Trump even after voting not to endorse him - I swear, those Log Cabin Republicans . . .  

10 Things LGBT People (And Everyone Else) Should Consider Before Getting Married - In my case, it's finding a groom. 

 Trump campaign mischaracterizes ISIS as anti-gay donor to Clinton - A mischaracterization which should have been tackled a long time ago.

Accommodating transgender students shouldn't be difficult

An interview from a while back but highly educational. Nathan Smith from GLSEN talks about why it isn't (or rather shouldn't e) difficult to accommodate our transgender youth in schools.

'Six religious right leaders who support Trump in spite of sexual assault charges' & other Fri midday news briefs

Any day FRC's Tony Perkins can be set up for future 'shading' is a good day.

6 Homophobes Standing By Donald Trump Despite That Little Sex Assault Problem - Line them up and memorize their names.  I don't want to forget ANYBODY for the sake of throwing future "shade."

Trans Girl Barred From Using Girls' Bathroom at U.S. Military Base School - Yet another story about how this bogus "bathroom predators" junk is hurting our transgender children. And yet another example of how it's only an issue when folks looking to stir up trouble make it one. 

 Thousands of Gay, Bi Men to Be Pardoned in the UK for ‘Gross Indecency’ Convictions - It certainly took them long enough. 

 Here’s How Marriage Changed These Two Men’s View On Creating A Family - I'm posting this article because it made me teary (just a little). Especially the part about the open adoption.

“One Attack A Week”: New Scrutiny On Adelaide’s Gay Hate Crimes - A problem affecting any segment of the lgbt community anywhere affects us all.

The movie about being black & gay told by those who are black & gay

I've done a post on Moonlight before, but since I feel this is a pivotal movie on so many levels, another post is due:



Tonight is the premiere of what I hope will be a multi-successful, much honored movie, Moonlight:

Based on an unproduced, semi-autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, “Moonlight” is the story of Chiron, an introvert living in the Miami projects with his crack-addicted mother (Naomie Harris). Kids pick on him because he’s not as butch as the other boys. “What is a faggot?” he asks Juan, a neighborhood drug dealer (Mahershala Ali) who shows compassion for Chiron. Juan and his girlfriend, Teresa (Janelle Monáe), become surrogate parents. Chiron escapes to their orderly home for the food and comfort often denied to him. He struggles to understand his sexuality and his poverty, and he has nowhere else to turn. “My mama does drugs?” he asks Juan, and we melt with sympathy. “Moonlight” comprises three chapters, each a short film unto itself. In the first, Chiron (Alex R. Hibbert) is a grade-school boy who’s been branded with the nickname Little because he is smaller and daintier than the others. In the second division, Chiron (Ashton Sanders) ages into a teenager, able to fight back but keener to avoid confrontation, including that of his mother, who makes him hand over cash to feed her addiction. It’s in this phase of the film that Chiron realizes his only friend Kevin (Jharrel Jerome) might be gay, too ― what that means exactly, he still isn’t sure. But Kevin won’t defend Chiron outside of their private enclave, and the violent homophobia continues. In the third division, Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) has become a hardened drug dealer himself, pumped-up muscles and fake grills concealing a truth he’s determined to bury. Loneliness radiates off of him. 

Read more about Moonlight here

'Spirit Day combats bullying of lgbt youth' & other Thur. midday news briefs

Editor's note - Last debate is over (Thank God) and soon I will be back on schedule of monitoring and exposing the religious right. And that's not just words. I've been doing some serious reading and research. New junk seems to be on the horizon and it would be my great pleasure to put a couple of folks on blast.

But until then, bear with me:

Social media goes purple for Spirit Day to fight bullying of LGBT youth - Happy Spirit Day, folks! 

 Johns Hopkins to resume gender-affirming surgeries after nearly 40 years - In response to transphobic and homophobic actions by faculty members, Johns Hopkins University is righting a serious wrong with regards to the transgender community. 
 

Donald Trump Is Exploiting LGBT People To Perpetuate Islamophobia - Well duuuuh!

 ‘Walking While Trans’ Can Be A Death Sentence In The U.S. - An important story

'Judge deals Obama's transgender bathroom policy a setback' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Small setback on the road to equality

Judge largely maintains nationwide ban on Obama transgender school bathroom policy - Don't get discouraged. The fight for equality was NEVER supposed to be easy. 

I Am Young, I Am Gay, I Am Black: Australia’s First Openly Gay Aboriginal Politician Enters Parliament - Awesome reminder from Australia just how universal we are as a community.

  Donald Trump’s Long-Held Promise To Pick Rabidly Anti-LGBT Supreme Court Justices - Yes he will pick awful anti-lgbt justices. I don't care how far ahead Clinton is. THIS battle isn't over until he goes down in defeat. HARD DEFEAT. Vote!

  ‘My Faith Shattered’: In Viral Letter, Watermark Church Revokes Gay Man’s Membership - If THAT happened at a black church . . . never mind. I think my pastor knows about my blog so I don't want to get into trouble.

Jerry Falwell, Jr. under fire for censoring anti-Trump article in Liberty University newspaper

Jerry Falwell, Jr.

In his zeal to support GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. is losing integrity amongst his students.

Politico just reported the following:

The president of Liberty University censored an article critical of Donald Trump, according to the sports editor of the school's official newspaper, the Liberty Champion.

The editor, Joel Schmieg, posted a statement on his Facebook account claiming it was Jerry Falwell Jr., the university's president and a Trump supporter, who spiked the column, which criticized Trump for lewd comments he made on a hot mic during a 2005 taping of "Access Hollywood."

"Yesterday I was told [Falwell] was not allowing me to express my personal opinion in an article I wrote for my weekly column in the Liberty Champion about Trump and his 'locker room talk,'" Schmieg wrote.

"I understand Joel's frustration regarding the situation," Cierra Carter, the opinion editor for the Liberty Champion, told POLITICO. "Our president has been very vocal with his opinions during this election season and we'd like that same privilege." 

The article goes on to point out that this is the second time Falwell's support of Trump has pitted him Liberty University students. Last week, a group of students issued a statement against Trump and called out Falwell for continuing to support the GOP nominee in spite of allegations of sexual assault.

'Pro-Confederate leader 'chased' out of the closet' & other Tue. midday news briefs

Editor's note - My apologies for not putting out a post this morning. Frankly this election has exhausted me. There are just so many times you can say "Donald Trump is a dumbass and the religious right have proven that they have no integrity for supporting him" before ennui starts gnawing at you. So forgive my brief rest period.

I don't think anyone feels sorry for the guy in the first article below.

Secessionists chase ‘rainbow Confederate’ out of the closet with ‘salacious’ rumors - Great. This junk just HAD to happen in my state of South Carolina. Way to gnaw on the evolutionary chain, guys!  Nobody is going to hold a protest march for your ass

GOP State Lawmakers Sign Brief Opposing Same-Sex Benefits - Next they will probably attempt to keep us from getting cheese on our burgers. Talk about mean-spirited.

 Anti-LGBT Dominican pastor appears to defend Trump -Surprising whom?

  Kid’s Magazine Apologizes After Eyebrow-Raising Response On LGBT Families - I mean it's not lgbts have children . . . 

  Most LGBT adults don’t have a will: survey - Get a will, folks (and leave me everything . . .)

'NC Gov. McCrory trolled by lgbt advert on birthday' & other Mon. midday news briefs

Advert trolls McCrory's transphobia.

North Carolina governor trolled with rainbow newspaper advert on his birthday - Hilarious! I swear us lgbts  and allies can be downright evil when we want to be. 

Miami Bans 'Ex-Gay' Therapy To Minors - Another one down. So many more to go . . .  

Peter Thiel Will Donate $1.25M for Trump - You jackass! Perfect time to repost my "reading" of this out-of-touch gay billionaire:

 Peter Thiel's obliviousness creates historic nonsense  

The New York Times just provided a massive platform for transphobia - Boooooooo!!!!

Gay Republicans want to "make gay straight again"

Let's slowly ease into Monday with this plea from gay Republicans to vote for Trump and help "make gay straight again."

 For satire, it gets a B+

'Publishers of faulty anti-lgbt report tripping over themselves explaining it' & other Fri. midday news briefs

New Atlantis can't make a bad report into a credible study.

Publishers of anti-LGBT ‘special report’ doth protest too much - So true. Zack Ford covers the sad attempts by the publishers to explain away this bad report's mistakes. Though I don't cover it here, I even got several tweets from the publishers of this monstrosity, The New Atlantic.

  Gavin Grimm Could Be A National Hero For Trans Students, But He’d Rather Be A ‘Normal Child’ - Mr. Grimm, you are a normal child and I know it's hard but because of your fight, you are helping so many transgender children to stand up for themselves.

“It’s Time For Us To Be Afraid Again”: Charlotte Observer Investigates Anti-LGBT Discrimination In North Carolina After HB2 - Never a time to be afraid. But always time to watch for the signs.  

Slur in video exposes racial rifts in Philadelphia’s iconic gay neighborhood - A problem we don't talk about enough.

The Queer Sex Ed You Wish You Had In High School - Yes we all need to know this.

James Dobson's support of Trump causes comment backlash at online 'Christian' publication

James Dobson

The American Family Association's fake news source, One News Now, has a clientele which generally takes in everything it says without challenge no matter how false or idiotic it may seem. This is seen by the site's comment's section.

There was only one time in which readers rebelled against the publication;s position (i.e. a controversy involving former quarterback Tim Tebow) by voicing their disagreement in the comments section.

A recent article about James Dobson's support of GOP candidate Donald Trump in spite his comments about sexually assaulting women seems to be causing yet another rebellion. The article said nothing about the new allegations Trump is now facing regarding actual sexual harassment. But the commentators still weren't having it. Some comments are as follows:

• “You got to cut him some slack,” Dobson insisted. “He didn’t grow up like we did.” - So that somehow justifies and gives Trump the ability to say and act however he chooses? I think not Sir...

•  Dobson should just admit the real reason: Party outweighs candidate. He would rather have a womanising buffoon who agrees with his policies than a competent leader who opposes them, and there is nothing wrong with that.

•  Dobson speaks as if Bill Clinton is running for president. He's not. If Bill was Hillary's brother, or cousin, or a current close colleague, would people like Dobson and Trump's advisers still be ragging on him? Why can't Hillary be the object of criticism and not Bill? That's an intentional distraction to try to pull people away from the main event which is that Trump is a womanizer, a molester of women (sexual assault), a guy who talks about grabbing women by the genitals, a bully who walks into women's dressing rooms claiming ownership of the pageant as his right to do this... and I believe there will be much more coming to light. Do you really want such a pervert to be president? If Dobson hopes that Trump will stand up for traditional marriage, he has a disappointment coming. Trump is twice divorced and doesn't respect women so do we really want such a person to lead the way on Biblical marriage when he is a lousy role model for it?

•  Dobson says vote for Trump, not because he is good, but because he is been (in Dobson's opinion) than Hillary. That is moral relativism at its worst.

 

• ---"To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never abused women physically" -- Apparently Mr Dobson lives in an information bubble with triple layer force field shields

• I have never trusted Mr Dobson as he has always seemed to justify bad behavior by conservatives and comdemn all behavior by liberals. He is a politican before a Christian and has led many people astray.IMO He, and many Christians politicals, seem more interested in wealth and power than doing positive things to advance people or the nation.I truly believe he has made many people uncomfortable about walking in faith due to his political activities

'James Dobson ushering religious right on Trump Train to hell' & other Thur. midday news briefs

James Dobson

James Dobson Continues To Support Trump Because His Comments ‘Don’t Threaten The Future Of This Nation’ - There was a time when this man was praised as a kingmaker of American politics. One of the MVPs of Bush's 2004 election is now our puppet as he continues to support Trump, thereby demonstrating to the world how the anti-lgbt industry never had any integrity. That is if, instead of yawning about it, we "exploit" (yes I said it) this moment.  We can be petty.

Republican Texas Judge Officiates Gay Wedding, Comes Out As A Democrat - Awwww, this is cute! 

 Massachusetts faces grueling, two-year fight over where trans people can pee - Unfortunately, "it's on" in Massachusetts.  

Belarus Leads Group of Nations Blocking LGBT Rights in UN Plan - This is NOT good, y'all. 

 Why it matters: Outcome of presidential race has implications for LGBT rights - Pay attention, write it down, memorize it!

Liberty University students rebel against supporting Trump

To call this election a hot mess would be a massive understatement. I won't go into detail about the very recent allegations by four women (and I think the number is growing) that Trump sexually harassed them. But I will talk about an interesting development regarding students at the conservative Liberty University:

Students at Liberty University have issued a statement against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as young conservatives at colleges across the state reconsider support for his campaign.A statement issued late Wednesday by the group Liberty United Against Trump strongly rebuked the candidate as well as the school’s president, Jerry Falwell Jr., for defending Trump after he made extremely lewd comments about women in a 2005 video. The students wrote that Falwell’s support for Trump had cast a stain on the school’s reputation.

“We are Liberty students who are disappointed with President Falwell’s endorsement and are tired of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history,” the statement said. “Donald Trump does not represent our values and we want nothing to do with him. … He has made his name by maligning others and bragging about his sins. Not only is Donald Trump a bad candidate for president, he is actively promoting the very things that we as Christians ought to oppose.”

Ironically, this statement came out just as Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. said he stands by Trump in spite of the growing allegations of sexual harassment.

The controversy at Liberty University is a microcosm of the conundrum facing the religious right when it comes to Trump. For years, they have painted lgbts as sexual predators. Recently, they've falsely pinpointed the transgender community with awful "bathroom bills," claiming that they are a risk to children. What are they going to do if it turns out that someone they are supporting turns out to be an actual sexual predator?

'Anderson Cooper attacked on twitter by Trump supporters' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Anderson Cooper

Twitter Full Of Gay Slurs Attacking Anderson Cooper After Debate - Proceed with caution. This is mega-ugly.  

Tony Perkins On #Pussygate: Christian Leaders Must Support Trump No Matter How Insane He May Be - From a good friend of mine, Joe Jervis (yes I name dropping) comes this. It is of no surprise but let's not discount the power of repetition. The anti-lgbt religious right has run one of the biggest frauds on America (the fact that they are "religious" or "right") and it's up to us to continue to drill this fact into the heads of Americans with snippets like this . . .  

The Religious Right’s pro-Trump anti-transgender hypocrisy - . . .over and over and over gain.

 Court to reconsider if anti-gay bias barred under Title VII - Thank goodness!

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.