'Video catches school officials harassing trans student while she was using the restroom' & other Fri midday news briefs

This is result of anti-trans hysteria promoted by groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom - Minnesota school staff breaking open a bathroom stall door simply because a trans student  is occupying it.

Trans student films being harassed while in school bathroom stall - I had to calm myself down so I can write this without swearing. I will say this - at press time, this is the situation (the facts may or may not change) in the same time period the anti-LGBTQ hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom is publishing bullshyte op-eds in the USA Today pushing false assertions about transgender students using school restrooms (claiming that they violate privacy of other students), we got a real incident in Minnesota about an underage transgender girl being humiliated simply because she was using the restroom at school. The stall door was shut and locked. But they jimmied it open. I am willing to bet you that all of this hysteria over trans students using public school restrooms was NOT started because they were using restrooms, but because groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council spooked people with their lies about "transgender predators."

School officials caught on video busting into bathroom stall with trans girl inside - LGBTQNation covers the situation WITH the tweet.

 Fox News continues to provide a safe space for extreme anti-LGBTQ group ADF - on the risk of sounding hysterical, ADF knows exactly that situations like the above can happen because of them. It's additional chaos which their nonsense causes. And according to Media Matters, this is how they do it. Go on Fox News, which is a safe space for them, and humanize their bigotry, i.e. present fake victims of the supposed LGBTQ agenda. The op-ed I mentioned in the first post was supposedly written by one of their clients. And in this post, the Fox News interview is with a representative of ADF and their latest clients - two owners of a calligraphy studio in Arizona.  The owners are claiming that non-discrimination laws themselves are wrong because these laws would violate their "religious liberty." Media Matters puts it like this:

ADF’s case is a “pre-enforcement” challenge, a common ADF legal tactic in which people sue over a law that has not yet been enforced against them. This case is one of at least half a dozen license-to-discriminate cases that ADF and its allies are pushing through the courts.

Anthony Kennedy says he ‘struggled’ with marriage equality ruling - I bet he did. 

Arizona’s new state House Speaker doesn’t believe LGBTQ people are equal under the law - Oh he doesn't? He will learn.

There is NO justifiable reason to keep LGBTQ people from adopting children

My dream for the LGBTQ community is simple - that we have the right to live our lives by our rights of self-determination instead of having other people - based on their ignorance and/or religious beliefs - decide what we can or cannot do.

And that includes the dream of raising a family if we so desire. A wonderful post by Ellen Kahn of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation accentuates this:

In the last year, Oklahoma and Kansas have enshrined anti-LGBT+ adoption measures into law, allowing child welfare organisations to turn away qualified parents, including same-sex and transgender couples, interfaith couples, and single parents. And politicians in the U.S. Congress last session unconscionably tried to pass a similar amendment that would allow this kind of “licence to discriminate” nationwide.

Meanwhile, experts across the country resoundingly agree – children in care need a larger pool of qualified prospective parents – not a smaller one.

We know that 2 million LGBT+ people are interested in becoming parents. We also know that children need families – and also succeed in families. It is ridiculous and inhumane to put up blatantly discriminatory hurdles for qualified adopters and to put prejudice over the wellbeing of the children we are all trying so hard to serve.

As a lesbian mother, I know that my ability to be a loving, supportive parent is not at all compromised by my identity. And as a social worker, who has counselled so many LGBT+ families through this process, I’ve seen the amazing, transformational results for both the children and parents. We bring wisdom, commitment, and compassion to our role as parents – we are good at this.

The entire post deserves a read and share. It's that good.

'FL school psychologist under fire for helping transgender kids' & other Thur midday news briefs

Pasco schools psychologist comes under fire in transgender flap - Anti-LGBTQ groups stand up for folks who won't do their jobs when it comes to the LGBTQ community because of the supposed grounds of "religious liberty." It's not surprising, but still ugly, how they are attacking a school psychologist in Florida  for going beyond the call of duty of her job in attempting to help transgender students. She doesn't deserve this attack

Faith Groups Call For Whitaker’s Resignation Over Apparent Preference For Christian Judges - Muslim, Christian, Jewish and secular groups issued a joint letter opposing acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. 

How a small community in Texas came together to help local trans women - Wonderful story about community. 

New web series spotlights activism of queer youth of color - About time. 

40 Years After The Assassination Of Harvey Milk, LGBTQ Candidates Find Success - Yep!

How 'Murphy Brown' helped break gay stereotypes over 25 years ago

I haven't done a "let's take our minds off of the struggle for a little while" post in a long time. So, enjoy this bit of LGBTQ television history, courtesy of the Huffington Post and my friend, Matt Baume.



From The Huffington Post:

When “Murphy Brown” premiered in 1988, the CBS series broke new ground in its portrayal of women in the workforce. The show gently pushed the envelope with regard to gay characters, too, according to Seattle-based writer Matt Baume.

In the latest installment of his “Culture Cruise” video series, Baume breaks down a 1992 episode of “Murphy Brown” titled “Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are.” In it, the character of Miles Silverberg (played by Grant Shaud) recalls a dream he had about touring the Washington Monument with a new colleague, Rick (Brian McNamara). After co-workers point out that Rick is gay, Miles begins to contemplate the dream’s arguably homoerotic undertone and, in turn, question his own sexuality.

'Homophobic conspiracy theorist caught up in Mueller investigation' & other Wed midday news briefs

Jerome Corsi, who falsely claimed that Obama is gay and promiscuous, has been caught up in Mueller's investigation of Trump.

Robert Mueller’s latest target is a nutty anti-LGBTQ conspiracy theorist - Ain't it amazing how folks making their money partly by denigrating the LGBTQ community is caught up in the Trump/Russia investigation. Thanks to LGBTQnation, we can remember just how homophobic Jerome Corsi is. Particularly when a conspiracy of his is that Obama is actually gay and was "popular" around Chicago bathhouses. Then there was the time when Corsi, while attacking marriage equality at a tea party rally, said that sex is not supposed to be fun. None of THOSE jokes, please . . . (oh who am I kidding?)

Some Libraries Are Facing Backlash Against LGBT Programs — And Holding Their Ground - Damn right! The backlash is only a sign that you are doing something right. It's what you when in the backlash that determines loss or victory.

Administration Officials ‘Deputized’ by Dominionists at Election-Themed Prayer Event - Oh no you don't!!

‘Boy Erased’ Author Garrard Conley: ‘I’m Saying The Stuff No One Wants To Say’ - And it NEEDS to be said. 'Ex-gay' therapy is a huge fraud. 

No, No, No: European Court Rules Russia Can’t Ban LGBTQ Events - Well alright!

Anti-LGBTQ news report accidentally gives positive view of 'Drag Queen Story Hour'

The video above is a shocker, but not for the reasons you think.

First, a little background. Drag Queen Story Hour is an innocent event held in libraries across the nation in which fully dressed drag queens read stories to children. One would think that such an event would be ripe for exploitation by the religious right/anti-LGBTQ industry.

But it isn't. Believe it or not, anti-LGBTQ organizations, fake news sites, and personalities have been steadily attacking the event in order to galvanize their supporters with yet another conspiracy theory about the so-called promotion of homosexuality to children. And it's been a failure.  The main reason behind this is the simple fact that Drag Queen Story Hour is a popular event with the children and their parents. In fact, the parents have to give approval for their children to attend. A lot of parents do such and attend the events themselves with their children.

'LGBTQ equality could face bumpier road at the Supreme Court' & other Tue midday news briefs

Supreme Court poised to drastically reverse LGBTQ equality - There are six cases in front of SCOTUS. The court has yet to hear any of them but even one loss could devastate the LGBTQ community. Could be. Maybe or maybe not. I was reluctant to post this because some in our community have a tendency of shrieking and pulling their hair out at the slightest bit of opposition or setback while others wag the finger at those of us who feel that we need to be poised to fight. "Don't tone-police," they say. Screw that. This negative future of the LGBTQ community at SCOTUS is a spooky possibility and we need to be ready for it with our fists up and our determination unwavering. SCOTUS is simply one avenue, win or lose. Above all, remember one things - the LGBTQ community always know how to ultimately win the hard way. 

A trans asylum seeker was beaten & died of severe dehydration in ICE custody - The nonsense Trump is inflicting on migrants is claiming lives, including those in the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ Advocates File Wrongful Death Suit On Behalf of ICE Detainee Roxsana Hernandez - And something IS being done about it. 

Trump just did 2 major things to set back trans rights nationwide - And Trump is also causing problems for the transgender community in America. 

Today, I am a proud son of Harvey Milk and his message of hope for the LGBTQ community - 40 years ago, we lost an LGBTQ hero to an assassin's bullet. But not his heart nor his spirit.

I am overjoyed with the anger & controversy about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade kiss

A simple kiss during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is worth a million.

By now, we have all heard about the same-sex kiss during the recent Macy's  Thanksgiving Day Parade. Unfortunately, I missed it. Equally as unfortunate, I did not miss the negative reaction some people had because of the kiss.

Or maybe it wasn't as unfortunate as I am implying.

 I hope I don't come across as gloating, but I get a wonderful charge when people get all up in arms about such things as us gay folks daring to kiss in public.  There is nothing wrong with us kissing or holding hands in public. And the discussions about it always reveal to some how homophobic they actually are.

You know the type I'm talking about - those folks who claim that they don't have a problem with the LGBTQ community, but seem to think that we shouldn't kiss in public, hold hands in public, raise children, or do anything to wreck their mindset that we are not normal human beings or that the normal processes of life such as dating, marrying, having a family, etc doesn't apply to us, Apparently in exchange for their "tolerance," we are supposed to stand perfectly still in a corner and simply be a prop to demonstrate how "open minded" they are for supposedly accepting us. . .  with extenuating conditions of course.  These supposed allies learn the needed lesson that we are not commodities nor are we props. And, to paraphrase gay writer Harvey Firestein, we shouldn't have to edit parts of our lives that don't appeal to them. If they are going to be allies, it's either all the way or forget it.

Bursting that bubble of imagined superiority is always fun. Still, there is nothing like the hysterical reactions of those who, while claiming to oppose us because they "love" us, proceed to call us everything but the proverbial "child of God." One can always count on them to drop conspiracy theories of gay subterfuge and invasion. Take "former advertising executive who found Jesus and determined to uncover the Gay Mafia Syndicate" Linda Harvey for example:

Linda Harvey

How many times have you heard activists scoff, denying there’s a “gay agenda”?

 . . .  This agenda is like an airborne infection that’s suddenly everywhere. From “LGBT” affirming church youth groups, to “gay”-affirming anti-bullying school lessons, to rainbow “pride” apparel sold at Target and Walmart during the spring and summer, to the obligatory pro-homosexual article in the daily newspaper, to disturbed transvestites reading to preschoolers in libraries. It seems to be critically important to stick it to our children, all in the name of phony “tolerance” and “acceptance,” embracing sins leading to personal disaster, societal destruction and spiritual death.

 . . .   I am grieved for America and all the lost people, especially the young. I mourn the simple sweetness of mom/dad families and uncomplicated friendships, of holidays that cultivated wholesome childhood unmarred by the shadow of hateful, sexual fascism. Despite the victory that is in Jesus Christ and our ultimate destiny, before that glorious appearing, the night is coming. 

Harvey is on to us. Thank God she doesn't know about our plan to block out the sun unless the birthdays of Cher, Beyonce, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Judy Garland are made national holidays. I would mention the required viewing of RuPaul's Drag Race in our nation's elementary schools, but the committee is still working on that and will have the final plans ready by the next meeting of the Gay Mafia.

On one hand, these conspiracies are hilarious. But on the other, they make me sad because I'm always wishing the LGBTQ community was as organized, disciplined, and ruthless as folks like Harvey make us out to be.

Still, the kiss during Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was a wonderful thing. A lot of us can remember a time when even a notion of a televised same-sex kiss would have caused serious problems. There would be fines, endless words of condemnations from people equally homophobic as Harvey but with more power to cause havoc for the LGBTQ community. The backlash would have been immense.

 Instead there are the delightful grumblings of a group of folks, Harvey included, who are slowly but surely losing power. Meanwhile the rest of us have gone on with our lives, punctuated by short bursts of glee and happiness at the latest much needed dose of visibility. And the latest much needed reminder that every fear, lie, and horror about the LGBTQ community are simply sad illusions.

Take it in, y'all. It's what winning feels like.

'Anti-LGBTQ industry creating horror stories of gay intolerance, recruitment via omission and lies' & other Monday midday news briefs

Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel doesn't mind lying to create a false image of LGBTQ recruitment.

Fox News marks Transgender Day of Remembrance by airing two anti-trans segments - At the University of California, a student senator is horribly vilified for abstaining from a vote on a resolution of support for LGBTQ students. In Florida, a gym teacher is attacked for, as some right-wing publications put it, "refusing to watch a girl shower in the boys' locker room. These events are horrifying, terrible, and TOTALLY UNTRUE. A little omission here, a basic downright lie there, add a dash of Fox News "journalism" courtesy of  Shannon Bream and Laura Ingraham. An anti-LGBTQ hate group representative (Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel) accompanying both the student and the gym teacher during the interviews. Let all of the anti-LGBTQ and right-wing propaganda sources spread the story under the guise of real journalism. Let simmer. And you have the makings of an old, but effective tactic of anti-LGBTQ industry - the creation of a horror story about the LGBTQ community attacking Christians and "recruiting" children.

Taiwan’s referendums on LGBTQ rights have disappointing results - Booooo! Not a good situation in Taiwan. 

Twitter took a huge step to protect trans people from harassment on the platform - Some people may disagree (the TERFs and their allies have been going into orbit all weekend), but I don't. 

Evangelist Franklin Graham desperately insists Trump is a defender of the faith — despite his ‘sordid life’ - It's not only the fact that Graham will wantonly defend Trump in spite of his many offenses, it is also how Graham constantly rails against the LGBTQ community. Since when is an inept liar who imprisons brown children in cages and tear gasses families is considered morally devout while the LGBTQ community are the evil ones?

Report: Anti-LGBTQ 'religious exemption' laws worsening the process of foster care, adoption

The Family Research Council, the Alliance Defending Freedom the Heritage Foundation, and other anti-LGBTQ groups (and their supporters) have been heavily promoting the idea of "religious exemptions" laws with regards to adoption and foster care agencies. That would mean that these agencies would be able to discriminate against LGBTQs wanting to participate in foster care and adoption while still being able to receive tax dollars.

The idea is wrong and insulting to the LGBTQ community. Our hard earned tax dollars shouldn't be made available to entities which would discriminate against us. And now, according to a new report, there is another reason to oppose these laws. They actually make it more difficult for children in foster care and wanting to be adopted to find homes

From MSNBC:

Religious exemption laws allowing child placement agencies to deny LGBTQ prospective parents from fostering or adopting are exacerbating the current “child welfare crisis,” according to a new report from the liberal Center for American Progress (CAP), Voice for Adoption and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.

 . . . In 2017, there were about 443,000 children in foster care across the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Each year, some 50,000 children are adopted through the U.S. child welfare system, but about 20,000 others “age out” before being placed with an adoptive family, according to HHS.  

In addition to helping place more children in permanent homes, the CAP report claims taxpayers could save hundreds of millions of dollars by removing barriers blocking LGBTQ people from becoming adoptive parents.

 . . . The report warns that turning qualified prospective parents away will add unnecessary stress to “an already stressed system,” and it notes LGBTQ people represent a an “important subgroup of potential parents.”

“Same-sex couples raising children are seven times more likely to be raising a foster child and seven times more likely to be raising an adopted child than their different-sex counterparts,” the report states, citing data from the UCLA’s Williams Institute. “They are also more likely to adopt older children and children with special needs, who are statistically less likely to be adopted.”

The report also looked at  two states which have these "religious exemptions" and found that the number of homes which could foster and adopt children were tremendously reduced:

The CAP report undertakes case studies of Michigan and Texas, two large states that have adopted relatively broad religious exemption laws. (Policy analyst at the Center for American Progress and one of the report’s author  Frank J.) Bewkes described the situation in these states as “pretty bleak,” and the report describes an acute placement crisis in each of them.

“Nationwide, 28 percent of youth had been in foster care for two or more years in fiscal year 2016,” according to the CAP report, which cited HHS data. “In that same period, 38 percent of Texas youth and 52 percent of Michigan youth had been in care for two or more years.”

 

In Texas, which has had a religious exemption law for child placement agencies since 2017, the number of foster and adoptive homes working with licensed child placement agencies has decreased nearly 40 percent from 2012 to 2017, according to data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

And in Michigan, which has had a religious exemption law for child placement agencies since 2015, the number of licensed foster homes dropped by more than 20 percent from 2012 to 2017, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The report and article are both good sources of information for the next time FRC and ADF claim that they are pushing for these exemptions because of the children. It's clear that they aren't thinking of the children at all.. 

God forbid anything distracts them from their mission of undermining LGBTQ equality and safety.

'Anti-LGBTQ activist: Ugly women become lesbians because no man would ever love them' & other Wed midday news briefs

Dave Daubenmire: Ugly Women Become Lesbians Because No Man Would Ever Love Them - We fight everyday against the homophobia Daubenmire demonstrates here in different forms. The difference between him and groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council is that Daubenmire doesn't play games to hide his hatred. Nor does he conjure up legislation and false arguments to justify it. At the end of the day, it is all the same. Remember that.

Chuck Grassley: USDA should not have pressured 4-H to rescind LGBT policy - I'm as shocked as you are. I guess after those nasty judges Grassley has been pushing on us, he figures let us have this one.

Family Research Council doesn't like LGBTQ community, but wants LGBTQ tax dollars - Reposting last night's piece. With the new SCOTUS coming in, anti-LGBTQ groups such as FRC will be looking to take advantage with mess like this. 

Queer & Muslim in Trump’s America - We have a serious problem with division in America's LGBTQ community and it stems from people refusing to understand that we are a multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic group. The LGBTQ orientation crosses all lines. Articles like this provides proof of that. 

Gay Christian Pastor Holds First Worship In Hong Kong Pride Parade - Like I said - multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic.

Family Research Council doesn't like LGBTQ community, but wants LGBTQ tax dollars

The Family Research Council is thinking of new ways to steal LGBTQ tax dollars.

According to the Family Research Council, there is a war on faith-based adoption agencies:

National Adoption Month Kicks off with Attack on Faith

November 20, 2018

By FRC's Mary Beth Waddell, Senior Legislative Assistant

While millions of American were voting, Philadelphia foster parents were in court fighting the government's attempt to shut down Catholic Charities adoption and foster care services because it is faith-based. Nearly half of all Catholic Charities adoptions nationally are for special needs children, so their permanent closure would be especially devastating. It was a somber launch to National Adoption Month for children seeking families.

In March of 2018, the City of Philadelphia (the city) put out an urgent call for foster parents. Despite this urgent need and within days of this call, the City terminated its foster placement contracts with Catholic Charities and Bethany Christian Services -- two of its nearly thirty partner agencies, because they were faith-based. This has resulted in empty foster homes and children left languishing because fewer agencies are working on their behalf. One such empty foster home was Cecelia Paul's. She had fostered over 130 children, adopted six, and been named "Foster Parent of the Year." Other foster parents, like Sharonell Fulton, who is caring for two special needs children, may not be able to continue fostering because they no longer have access to the training, resources, and support of Catholic Charities -- which she and others have observed as superior to that of government agencies.

Worse yet, sibling groups are in danger of not being placed together. When another agency transferred a child into Catholic Charities' custody so that it could be placed with its sibling already in Catholic Charities' care, the city didn't respond favorably. Although the city didn't separate the siblings, it sent a notice to its partner agencies demanding written acknowledgment of the referral contract termination; thus, indicating that siblings would not automatically be placed together.

Taking a page from fellow anti-LGBTQ hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom, FRC looks to  to cover up the truth of the matter. Just as ADF exploited baker Jack Phillips in the Masterpiece case to distort the issue of "religious liberty" to a situation about a cake instead of what it actually was about (using religion as an excuse to discriminate), FRC is exploiting Ms. Paul and Ms. Fulton, the caregivers in piece above, to hide what this issue is about.
 
In actuality, the city of Philadelphia did not terminate the  contracts with the agencies because they were faith-based. The contracts were terminated BECAUSE the agencies would not  work with same-sex couples, which was a violation of the contract with the city.

Alliance Defending Freedom wants to take its war on transgender children to the Supreme Court' & other Tue midday news briefs

Supreme Court asked to mandate segregation for transgender students - Remember the Alliance Defending Freedom, that hate group which is presently the subject of the NoGaysAllowed campaign and webpage? This  judiciary attack on our transgender children (fueled by discredited junk science) is why the campaign is necessary. As well as the four other cases it is hoping SCOTUS will take - cases which, if ADF wins, will cause all sort of hell for the LGBTQ community.

No Gays Allowed - Speaking of the NoGaysAllowed webpage, this is a wonderful time to visit it and educate yourselves on ADF's undercover efforts to undermine our community's equality and safety.

On Transgender Day of Remembrance, advocates honor lives lost to violence - Sad day. Our people are being taken from us. The media, and the rest of us need to step up. 

Walking Dead actress says she lost a role because she doesn’t look ‘authentically LGBTQ’ - Oh girl, I guess I'm not 'authentically LGBTQ' either. 

All Feminists Must Stand Up For Trans Liberation - YEP!

Anti-LGBTQ fake news site whines about 'censorship' while practicing 'censorship'

'Porno' Peter LaBarbera

Lifesite News is another nauseating hard-right fake news site which attacks and smears the LGBTQ community under the guise of preserving morality. Today, the publication is on the warpath because an old enemy of our community, 'Porno' Peter LaBarbera, got checked by Facebook:

Facebook deletes pro-family page for ‘hate speech’ against LGBT

Over the weekend Facebook unpublished the page of a prominent social-conservative group for allegedly using unspecified “hate speech,” Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) president Peter LaBarbera revealed Monday.

AFTAH is dedicated to “apply[ing] the same single-minded determination to opposing the radical homosexual agenda and standing for God-ordained sexuality and the natural family as countless homosexual groups do in promoting their harmful agenda.” LaBarbera frequently debates homosexual issues on mainstream and pro-LGBT media, and has written for LifeSiteNews.

On Sunday, Facebook took down AFTAH’s Facebook page entirely, leaving only a “Page Not Found” message in its place as of the time of this writing.

'"You disgust me" - Parents abandon lesbian daughter after she refuses to leave college for 'ex-gay' therapy' & other Mon midday news briefs

‘You disgust me’: Christian parents cut off lesbian daughter after she refuses to leave college for conversion therapy - 'Christians parents' my black ass! And the situation got worse: 

Friends raised money for a gay college athlete after her parents disowned her. Then the NCAA called. - The NCAA made the situation worse. She has an awful decision to make. I cannot perceive how people who claim to "love" would cause this situation to happen to their child simply because she is gay. But the sad thing is that this happens. A lot.

UPDATE from ThinkProgress - according to a statement from Canisius College - the NCCA will allow Scheck to retain her eligibility while receiving GoFundMe donations.  But still, those parents! My God! It just gets me angry!

House GOP Urges Trump to Remove ‘Inappropriate and Insulting’ Protections for LGBTQ Workers in New Trade Pact - One more month to go before the new House takes over and these folks just can't stop being homophobic.

New Report Details Ongoing Epidemic of Violence Against Transgender People - This SHOULD NOT be happening period, to nothing of the fact that it shouldn't be happening without anyone paying proper attention.

Iowa 4-H Leader Fired For Defending LGBT Inclusion: Report - Attack of the Trump Administration AGAIN.

'Anti-gay activist 'Porno' Peter LaBarbera angry about LGBTQ success in midterm election' & other Fri midday news briefs

Me presenting this noxious interview above is not gloating by any means. The LGBTQ community has EARNED the right to see this while laughing our asses off, drinking champagne, twerking, doing a celebratory booty dance, whatever. Long-time virulent homophobic activist "Porno" Pete LaBarbera is interviewed by equally repulsive bigot Cliff Kincaid. LaBarbera spends the entire interview bellyaching how the so-called gay issue was ignored during the midterms, how the LGBTQ community picked up Congressional seats, and how an anti-transgender referendum was defeated by a landslide in Massachusetts. As disgusting as he is, LaBarbera brings up a point. Being openly LGBTQ used to be a deterrent to running for public office. In the recent midterms, it wasn't. We don't know what the future holds, but a door has blown open, right in LaBarbera's face. It's a joy to watch him gripe about it. You don't have to watch the entire interview. Just the sad expression on his face "is like heroin." (Editor's note - I have never used heroin. It's a line by the late actress Debbie Reynolds from the movie 'In & Out.')

 In other news:

Why Jussie Smollett Said ‘F**k No!’ To His ‘Empire’ Character Having A White Boyfriend - I probably wouldn't have said it like that, but I am in agreement with Smollett. We do need to see more black gay couples on television. It means a lot to LGBTQs of color to not send a message that our blackness can't mix with our sexual orientation, i.e. eliminating the ridiculous idea that we are only who we are because of the "influence" of white people.

Conversion therapy harms kids’ mental health, new study finds - We know this, but IT STILL NEEDS TO BE REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN! We are in a war and any fact which rips homophobia should be repeated until folks can cite it from memory. 

This Short Film Takes A Powerful Look At The Struggles Of Transgender Youth - In honor of Trans Awareness Week.

IF you care about LGBTQ equality & safety, you need to check out the devastating webpage 'NoGaysAllowed'

A new website, NoGaysAllowed.org, is calling out the largest and most powerful anti-LGBTQ hate group in America, the Alliance Defending Freedom, and it's not taking any prisoners (Editor's note - click on the graphics if they are too small to read):

Finally recognizing how ADF and other anti-LGBT hate groups and organizations tend to play nice in the public eye via perfectly coiffed spokespeople and precisely rehearsed talking points, NoGaysAllowed is taking it upon itself to yank all of the organization's garbage out of the closet and into the streets.

 

And now a word from 'GOP Jesus'

Don't let the evangelical anti-LGBTQ right fool you with their support of Trump. As I understand it, people are running away from their brand of religion. While there will be many guesses as to why, the hilarious video from above via Friend Dog Studios probably gives the most accurate reason. Basically, the evangelical anti-LGBTQ right, teaming up with the Republican Party in general, has created a bastardized version of Jesus - selfish, homophobic, and totally hypocritical to what the Bible claims that his mission was. And just in time for the 'War on Christmas.'

'Kansas governor-elect does NOT support anti-LGBTQ adoption law' & other Wed midday news briefs

KS governor-elect Laura Kelly

Kansas governor-elect hopes to thwart adoption law seen as anti-gay - The situation in Kansas is why A. elections always matters and B. there isn't a %!@  thing wrong with the LGBTQ community supporting someone who will protect our rights and safety. Due to the Blue Wave last Tuesday, we have gone from a Kansas governor who sees nothing wrong with a law which will allow anti-LGBTQ entities to receive gay tax dollars to a new governor who is saying "oh hell no!"


Professor sues over rebuke for calling female transgender student 'sir' - I've posted a news brief about this incident before but I want to throw a positive shout out to NBC for including something very important in its article:

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed the lawsuit on Meriwether’s behalf. The Arizona-based conservative Christian law firm has a decadeslong track record of litigating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, and it has been labeled an anti-LGBTQ “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center . . .

This passage means millions of readers will be able to link to SPLC's work on ADF.

The GOP strategy to make the midterm elections about bigotry pretty much failed - hehehehehe!

Some Of The First Migrants From Caravan To Reach U.S. Border Are LGBTQ Asylum Seekers - Sad story of how LGBTQ migrants aren't treated right by their own people.

'Boy Erased' has anti-LGBTQ right running scared because it exposes the lie of 'ex-gay' therapy

It's almost Oscar season, which means Hollywood will be coming out with big prestige pictures all vying for the golden statuette. One movie, out in limited release, is already causing a buzz.

 From Wikipedia:

Boy Erased is a 2018 American biographical drama film based on Garrard Conley's 2016 memoir of the same name. It is written for the screen and directed by Joel Edgerton, who also produces with Kerry Kohansky Roberts and Steve Golin. The film stars Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Edgerton, and follows the son of Baptist parents who is forced to take part in a gay conversion therapy program.  

My guess is Boy Erased will not only be a hit, but will also shine another a much needed light on the dangerous fraud known as "ex-gay" therapy. And apparently I'm not the only person who feels that way. Peter Sprigg from the anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council wrote a post on the group's webpage which (suprise, surprise) pans the movie. In a humorously long-winded piece Sprigg takes it upon himself to analyze the movie, calling out what he claims are "Hollywood" errors and fabrications.

You can read it here if you want, but the most important thing which I took away from Sprigg is the hilarity of him attacking someone else's personal story because he doesn't agree with the outcome. Sprigg's attack on the Boy Erased is less about clearing the air and more about his preemptive fear of how the movie refutes the deceptive message he and his group tries to put out about the LGBTQ community and attempts to change one's sexual orientation.

'Anti-LGBTQ folks swept out of Congress via Blue Wave, the 'Crying Nazi' returns' & other Tues midday news briefs

'Crying Nazi' Christopher Cantwell is back with fake bravado and a horrible video game. See news brief five.

The Blue Wave Swept Many Of The GOP’s Anti-Gay Bigots Out To Sea - This cannot be emphasized enough. Dana Rohrabacher, Jason Lewis, Steve Knight, Karen Handel, Dave Brat, Pete Sessions, and so many others who used their Congressional power to undermine LGBTQ equality and safety are gone. Voted out. This was a sea change in LGBTQ history and should be remembered as such.

The religious right wants you to think it blunted the blue wave - Who's going to tell them the truth?

Anti-LGBTQ Pastor Heads to Congress with Help from Karen Pence, Christian Nationalist David Lane, Trump ‘Prophet’ Lance Wallnau - Unfortunately, the anti-LGBTQ industry did get one new Congressional leader.

What This Dad Of 4 Wants You To Know About The Foster System - We need to talk more as well as raise more awareness about LGBTQ parenting. The opposition will lie by calling it a "social experiment." That dehumanizing language is far from the truth. 

 You ‘win’ a horrific new video game by shooting LGBTQ people in a nightclub - What kind of mess is this? Guess who came up with this abomination? The "Crying Nazi," Christopher Cantwell Remember that chickenshyte bastard? He can dream up junk like this, but when it comes to facing the consequences of his actions, he cries like a bunch of babies who want their bottles. 

Tanzania: Officials order physical exams of 10 men arrested at gay wedding in Zanzibar - Ugh! The struggle is real. And it is universal.

'Over 100 LGBTQ candidates claimed victory in midterm elections' & other Fri midday news briefs

The LGBTQ community voting in 2016

The LGBTQ community voting in 2018

Still looking over the positive repercussions of Tuesday's midterms for the LGBTQ community. There are just so many. It is astounding. This what happens when you get out, run for office, and vote en masse. It may not have been a quick victory but that makes it tastier.

Over 100 LGBTQ candidates claim victory in midterm elections - The final count (for now) is that over 100 LGBTQ candidates won.This article came out on Nov. 7 so things may have changed but not for the worst.

Record LGBT support for Democrats in midterms, NBC News Exit Poll shows - And we love our Democratic party.

In seven years, Zach Wahls went from an activist to the Iowa state Senate - Even the children in LGBTQ families kicked ass on election night. I know this young man and he is going far.

A Florida Town is Now Completely Run by LGBTQ Folks - Don't let the religious right know but Wilton Manors, FL is now completely run by us.

A Rainbow Wave in Texas? 14 of 35 LGBTQ Candidates Win - Forty percent of LGBTQs who ran for public office in Texas won their races.

But let's not waste too much time celebrating. A good friend of mine, Michelangelo Signorile once said after the marriage equality fights that "it's not over" and he was right. Whenever we win, those who oppose our equality and safety always spring back with something meaner and deadlier like the news brief below proves. We have to always be ready and every victory should be a way to gain more victories because junk like this is going to be with us for a while:

A professor was told stop denigrating a student. Now he’s suing because God told him to do it.

Blue wave sweeps vicious North Carolina homophobe out of office

Bill James.

To the rest of the country, former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James is unknown. But to the LGBTQ community in North Carolina, he has been a headache for a long time. According to the LGBTQ newspaper QNotes:

When, in 2009, County Commissioners voted 6-3 to approve same-sex partner benefits for county employees, Commissioner Vilma Leake delivered personal remarks as to why she supported the measure, bringing up her gay son who died from complications of AIDS. James leaned over to her and, over a hot mic, asked, “Your son was a homo, really?” Leake answered back, “Don’t make me hurt you. Don’t do that to me. Don’t talk to me about my son.” James later refused to apologize, comparing homosexuality to alcoholism, and calling Leake a “religious hypocrite.” James’ comments against Leake’s son resulted in then Chair of the Mecklenburg County Commission, and current mayor, Jennifer Roberts, publicly condemning his comments, although without directly naming him.

 When Jennifer Roberts, then County Commissioner Chair, made a request to send a letter thanking some members of the Charlotte area congressional delegation for their “yes” votes on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal, James sent off one of his famous emails, this time saying, “Homosexuals are sexual predators.” He went on, stating, “The US Government would not allow Hetero men and women to share showers and other personal facilities yet the leading homosexual in Congress (Barney Frank) thinks it is OK for homosexuals to do so allowing enlisted men and women to fall prey to higher ranking or more powerful homosexuals who ogle them (or worse).”

(James) is more gay sex obsessed than most gay people – although one study suggests that homophobes may be tormented closet cases, which is interesting, isn’t it?
The best example of James’ gay sex obsession can be found in this 2005 email. Notice that he mistakes felching – the act of sucking one’s own semen out of someone’s anus [note that this is an act that could be committed by a male-female couple just as easily, making it not exclusively a homosexual act…although I imagine it is not terribly popular in either the gay or straight communities] – with gerbiling – the most likely completely urban myth act of sticking a gerbil up one’s own anus. He also apparently thinks this is something that the gay community is into, in spite of the fact that it is not actually something the gay community is into.

There is a reason why I called him "former." On Tuesday, after 11 terms in office,  James was finally defeated. He was one of three Republicans who lost their seats in the area due to the "blue wave."

Or as QNotes puts it:

At long, long, long, long last — Bill James has gotten the boot!  . . . So, Bill, I guess that 11 terms was enough for the Queen City and the county. Frankly, one was more than enough for me. Now, our crown can shed its brilliance and polish and truly become a “world class city,” complete with a group of folks who do not let bigotry and bias become the rule of law. We are so much better off for it

'Gays for Trump' founder lost his NC election in landslide' & other Thur midday news briefs

Not a popular sentiment during the midterm vote on Tuesday.

The founder of ‘Gays for Trump’ got trounced in his North Carolina election - It's wrong to gloat so consider what I'm doing as pointing out the obvious. It was like one of those superbowls in which a team loses 56 to 10. 

Don’t Let Your Expectations Fool You, The Midterms Were A Huge Defeat For Trump - Preach, Mr. Signorile. 

With Democrats winning the House, LGBT advocates have great expectations - You had better believe it, jack!  

New Acting AG Defended Man’s Right to Call LGBTQ People the ‘Gaystapo’ and ‘The Enemy’ as ‘Religious Beliefs’ - Ugh!  

Caitlyn Jenner Donates $85,000 To LGBT Charities - Keep working at it. You got a long way to go, girlfriend.

Anti-LGBTQ activist claims (without proof) that the Democrats cheated to win the House in midterms

And how fun would it be to reminisce over last night's midterm victories without a zany right-winger making a fool of himself in anger over losing. In this case, it's anti-LGBTQ activist Dave Daubenmire. Daubenmire, who once said masturbation is actually gay sex, totally unconvinced that the Democrats won control of the House last night without cheating. Of course he offers up no proof but who needs proof when you are a right-wing conservative Christian?

News brief special - 2018 midterm Blue Wave fueled heavily with a shot from the rainbow: LGBTQ community garners huge victories

The Blue Wave took place last night with a huge shot of the rainbow

Don't let some members of the media push the false narrative. A blue wave took place last night and not only swept Democrats into having control of the House of Representatives, but certain wins conducive to their future successes took place. This is not to say that heartbreaking losses weren't suffered and voter suppression didn't do its work (particularly in Georgia). But the under written story of Tuesday night has to be the mega success of LGBTQ candidates and positions. It used to be that being an LGBTQ was a nonstarter to seeking public office. In this particular midterms, it wasn't. The news briefs below is list of our immense victories from last night. Let's not be too quick to celebrate yet. If I'm seeing this, then I am sure that the anti-LGBT industry is also seeing this. And we all know they don't back down from their homophobia. They tend to double down.

Celebrate LGBTQ Victories in the Midterms!:

A Pro-Equality Majority in the House of Representatives!

Democratic control of the U.S. House brings:

• a pro-LGBTQ-equality majority to one arm of Congress, and the incoming House leadership has promised to make the Equality Act a priority
• the potential for meaningful oversight of the Trump Administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda
• the potential to advance the Every Child Deserves a Family Act

Record Wins for LGBTQ Candidates, including LGBTQ Parents! 

Just a few examples:

• Sharice Davids becomes first LGBTQ person and Native American to represent Kansas in Congress
• Jared Polis from Colorado becomes the first gay man – and gay dad – to be elected governor in the U.S.
• Chris Pappas becomes New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress
• Angie Craig defeats anti-LGBTQ congressman to become first openly LGBTQ person – and lesbian mom – elected to Congress from Minnesota

… and across the country, many state legislatures added their first, or additional, out LGBTQ representatives to their rosters.

LGBTQ parents can let our kids know that families like ours were heard, respected, and elected last night.

Outspoken Generation Co-Chair Zach Wahls Becomes First Person with Openly LGBTQ Parents Elected to State Government!

Many of you will remember the viral video of Zach defending his moms against an attempt to invalidate same-sex civil unions in back in 2011. Continuing his record of leadership, Zach is now Senator-elect for Iowa’s Senate District 37.

Voters in Massachusetts Overwhelmingly Rejected Repeal of Transgender Protections

In doing so, Massachusetts became the first state in US history to successfully defend transgender rights by popular vote!

Democrats Regain Control of the New York State Senate

… raising the prospect of finally overturning the state’s draconian law prohibiting gestational surrogacy.

 LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave - More on the victories

 In addition:

Vote Blue on Tue for equality, fairness and to send a message to Trump evangelicals

The LGBTQ community will be voting for equality, fairness, & to send a message to these Trump evangelicals.

Those of us who will be voting blue will be voting for honesty and the integrity of our country. We will be voting to send a message that our leaders need to do better and not cower under the nonsense that Trump spews. We will be voting to say that Trumpism is vile poison.

 And we won't forget the enablers of Trumpism, i.e. the right-wing evangelicals. The so-called Christian and moral leaders (James Dobson, Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, Franklin Graham, the Alliance Defending Freedom, Robert Jeffress, etc. etc.) who traded the religious integrity they were supposed to uphold for power and White House access. Those leaders who weaponized the Bible and twisted it with  ease to make excuses for Trump or give him "mulligans" for his un-Christian behavior.

The LGBTQ community know these Trump evangelicals much more than we would like to.

In the 50s and 60s, they said we were perverts who ought to be jailed.  

In the 70s, they said we recruit children.

 In the 80s, they said we were diseased freaks who run around catching AIDS. 

 In the 90s, they said we wanted "special rights." 

 In the 2000s, they said we wanted to redefine marriage. 

 Now they claim we are trying to put Christians out of business and jail them.

And in the two years in which Trump has been in the White House, he has given them the power to make policy and has basically done their bidding to make our lives hell. From attempting to steal LGBTQ tax dollars and award them to entities which would still be allowed to discriminate against us to attempting to ban transgender men and women from serving in the military to attempting to erase the trans identity to attempting to erase all of us from the Census, Trump and his allies have done the LGBTQ community dirty. But on Tuesday, we can begin to collect the dues and pay back the attacks. We've always had power to stop them and tomorrow, we need to begin exercising that power by voting.

'Six LGBTQ candidates to watch on election night' & other Mon midday news briefs

Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Here are the 6 LGBTQ candidates to watch on election night - Get your ass out there and VOTE. I think it could good night. BUT it depends on all of us who care about fairness, equality, and making America fulfill its promises and potential. 

Transphobic Parent Activists Target Journalists With Misinformation About Pediatricians - Simply a damn mess.

  U.S. State Department Urges Gay People in Danger in Tanzania to Take Cover on Social Media Immediately - Siiigh! ‘

Duck Dynasty’ Patriarch’s GOTV Message: Democrats Are Evil and Depraved God-Haters - The who? The what?

To the fool who wants to "save" my soul from homosexuality . . . do not come for me

Every now and then, I get interesting messages from people trying to "save" my soul from the supposed sin of homosexuality. I got this one today:

Homosexuality SHOULD be AVOIDED and not celebrated. Straight people(Christians especially) do not 'celebrate' homosexuality. We serve a God who shuns gay lifestyle as an abomination. We don't stand for gay lifestyle. We stand for Godly lifestyle. We have every right not to take part in applauding homosexuality. Jesus loves you. He died for you to SET YOU FREE from your sins, not so you could PERISH celebrating the wrong things. Gays certainly don't celebrate Christianity and heterosexuality. So why should we celebrate men destroying themselves with AIDS? How is that a GOOD thing? 

My answer:

Dear Person Who Makes A Lot of Assumptions,

If I ever need to find out what God thinks of homosexuality, I will go to the source and ask Him. As it is, I already know the answer. The God I know doesn't shun his LGBTQ children. He made us exactly as we are. To paraphrase a Biblical quote:

  We are the Lord's doing and marvelous we are in His eyes.

I know this personally because it is my faith in God which allowed me to accept myself exactly as I am. Perhaps you should educate yourself before you draw LGBTQs and Christians into two opposite camps. Some of us are Christian, some of us are Jewish, some of us are Muslim, while some of us embrace no religion at all. I don't need some irrelevant nobody to tell me that Jesus loves me. I know that already. As God made me to be gay, Jesus loves me as gay.

What you claim to stand or not stand for is none of my concern. No one is forcing you to celebrate anything you don't want to. But I am telling you that we are as much a part of this world as you and you need to lose that self-righteous tone which led you to invade my blog and start pronouncing judgements on me without the courtesy of getting to know me.  If you don't like it, that is your problem. You have no right to demand that the LGBTQ community live our lives embracing your sad sense of entitlement. You have no right to demand that we edit our lives to suit your ignorance and lurid imagination of what you think we do in the bedroom.

You are a sad, ignorant bigot. Your hiding behind religious beliefs doesn't make you a hero. It doesn't make you noble. It reveals simply how much of a coward you are. 

'Conservative evangelical leaders deliberately silent as Trump scapegoats immigrants' & other Fri midday news briefs

Conservative evangelicals have a new 'savior.'

Trump-Loving Evangelical Leaders Silent as He Bashes Migrants - Prime example of right-wing evangelical hypocrisy. The Family Research Council, Robert Jeffress, James Dobson, Gary Bauer, etc. go to the outer limits falsely accusing the LGBTQ community of "recruiting children" and trying to "destroy Christianity." Here we have a president openly and actively bashing immigrant men, women, children and these so-called protector of morality are conveniently silent. And why? Because they don't want to jeopardize the goodies Trump gives them with regards to access and shaping policies. Don't forget whenever Trump leaves that we got a LOT of conservative evangelical leaders we need to make give an account of their behavior when he was in office. 

 Trump: Nobody’s Done More For Religion Than I Have - White conservative evangelical dominionism is hardly a religion worth bragging about.  

Gay Billionaire Peter Thiel Says He’ll Support Trump in 2020, Calls His Lies ‘Exaggerations of the Truth’ - I don't care how much money Peter Thiel has. He ought to be ashamed of himself for supporting someone who has declared war on the LGBTQ community. 

Christian woman terrifies kids when she crashes children’s story time to yell anti-gay slurs - This right here is a hot mess. Children AND their parents were enjoying a wonderful event when Ms. Anita Bryant Wannabe came busting in talking about "homosexual indoctrination." I'm not one for violence but if I had a child and was at the event, girlfriend would have had her weave snatched.

Can't Be Converted: An Arkansas Woman on Surviving Conversion Therapy - Sad but wonderful story.