Study says there is no one 'gay gene,' but thousands of genetic variants linked to homosexuality

Before the anti-LGBTQ industry has the opportunity to twist this study, we should get abreast of all the facts.

From Reuters:

A large scientific study into the biological basis of sexual behaviour has confirmed there is no single “gay gene” but that a complex mix of genetics and environment affects whether a person has same-sex sexual partners. 

The research, which analysed data on DNA and sexual experiences from almost half a million people, found there are thousands of genetic variants linked to same-sex sexual behaviour, most with very small effects. 

Five of the genetic markers were “significantly” associated with same-sex behaviour, the researchers said, but even these are far from being predictive of a person’s sexual preferences. 

“We scanned the entire human genome and found a handful - five to be precise - of locations that are clearly associated with whether a person reports in engaging in same-sex sexual behaviour,” said Andrea Ganna, a biologist at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Finland who co-led the research. 

He said these have “a very small effect” and, combined, explain “considerably less than 1% of the variance in the self-reported same-sex sexual behaviour.” 

This means that non-genetic factors - such as environment, upbringing, personality, nurture - are far more significant in influencing a person’s choice of sexual partner, just as with most other personality, behavioural and physical human traits, the researchers said.

The study is significant because it helps to prove that homosexuality is not simply a "behavior" you can switch on and off like a light bulb. But if I know fake experts like the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg (and I've tracked them enough over years to have some knowledge of their tactics), their talking point will comprise of cherry-picking the study like so:

The study says there is no gay gene, ergo homosexuality is a "learned behavior" which can be "treated."

Of course this is not what the study said, but folks like Sprigg generally don't care.  It's not like this would be the first time Sprigg has cherry-picked science to denigrate us.  So now that you know about the possible deception of this study beforehand, you are prepared for when it comes.

'Former NFL player: There are gay, bisexual players on every team' & other Thur midday news briefs

Former NFL Player: There Are Gay, Bisexual Players On Every Pro Football Team - Yep. So true.

Franklin Graham goes berserk over Taylor Swift and the Equality Act: ‘Pushing LGBTQ agenda down the throats of the American people’ - The hypocrite speaks. 

'These parents’ brilliant plan to protect their kids from fascist protestors should spread nationwide - This was awesome. 

How LGBTQ Wedding Planners Make Big Gay Wedding Dreams Come True- This is so sweet. I love this.

Hate group accidentally makes the case for teaching concepts of sexuality, gender, and same-sex families to children

In an attempt to paint the LGBTQ community as negative and dangerous to children, One News Now, the propaganda site of hate group the American Family Association, showcased a video by Queerly Elementary.

From its webpage:

Queerly Elementary provides professional development, consulting, and classroom lessons to help school communities embrace and celebrate people of all genders and sexualities. Complex, dynamic, and occasionally heated topics are presented in a way that is accessible for all participants, regardless of their previous knowledge or personal views. Services are available for all levels from preschool through university. The founder of Queerly Elementary, Olivia Higgins, leads all workshops, class lessons and consulting. She will take the necessary time to learn about your particular questions, concerns, skills, and challenges, so she may tailor all services to best meet your unique needs.

One News Now showcased the video to accompany a ridiculous article which implies that teachers are being "coerced" to push the alleged "gay agenda" on elementary school children. However, all the video does is simply make a good case as to how the concepts of gender and sexuality - and especially the fact that same-sex families exist - can be taught to elementary school children.

I don't think AFA meant for this to happen, so I doubt anyone will hold it against me for not saying "thank you."

'Couple pushing lawsuit seems to be mostly interested in overturning pro-LGBTQ law' & other Wed midday news breifs

This couple is suing to overturn a civil rights law because they want to discriminate against gays - A "religious liberty" case explained and demonstrates why it's not just about a cake. The couple in question didn't do weddings. They only said they wanted to do weddings to put them in a position to overturn an anti-discrimination law.

Texas group advocates for LGBTI migrants - Wonderful because immigration is an LGBTQ issue.

High school students forced to change out of LGBTQ pride shirts: 'We don't promote that here' - Excuse me? I beg your pardon. 

Poland’s Populist Government Has Declared War on the LGBTQ Community - This is scary.

Fighting in Drag with LGBTQ Pro Wrestlers

Due to how the raging nonsense of the Trump Administration and its attack on the LGBTQ community sometimes renders us drained, from time to time, I like to take a break from calling out the anti-LGBTQ industry and feature videos which focus on comedic or unusually educational aspects of our community. I usually do this on Sunday, but today I found this incredible video, courtesy of the Youtube channel VICE Identity  and I had to share it.

Simultaneously, pro wrestling has a history of homoeroticism and homophobia. Images of muscular men in tights staging theatrical fights mixed with angles featuring extremely flaming villains (Gorgeous George, Exotic Adrian Street, Adorable Adrian Adonis) designed to inflame audiences have been a hallmark of  the industry for as long as I can remember. However, a new troupe of pro wrestlers have decided to turn this dynamic on its head and I rather like it.

 From the video:

For these drag wrestlers, there’s more at stake in the ring than a championship belt. Many LGBTQ wrestlers such as Rick Cataldo (aka “The Boy Diva”) and Jason Dewhurst (“The Samoan Wrestling Diva”) faced bullying and ridicule early on, but at their drag wrestling shows, they get to bring queer visibility to the ring in a friendly showdown.

Vice Identity also has a impressive web page of videos focusing on crucial issues such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. You should check it out. 

'Gay man's neighbors show their support after he receives death threats' & other Mon midday news briefs

A gay man got a death threat when he flew a rainbow flag. His neighbors’ reaction is amazing. - Wonderful story of having someone's back.

When Transgender Travelers Walk Into Scanners, Invasive Searches Sometimes Wait on the Other Side - What happened to Olivia is a damn shame. It shouldn't happen to ANYONE at all.

Liberty Counsel Issues Money Beg To Defend Kim Davis - Forget it! 

The treachery of gay Republicans - Preach!!

Hate group doubles down on falsely blaming trans community for heterosexual man's crime

The anti-LGBTQ industry tries so hard to make our community the villains in American society that they will blame us for crimes we had nothing to do with.

Hate group the American Family Association has been attacking Target for a number of years because of its policy of allowing customers to use bathrooms and restrooms which match their gender identity. By exploiting the "transgender bathroom predator" lie, AFA gained a lot of media attention, lots of signatures on a petition seeking to shame Target, and probably lots of donations.

But it would seem that all of those things are running dry for the group. Why else would it be sending folks the following email:

It happened again. Target's dangerous policy of allowing men to enter women's dressing rooms has resulted in possible sexual crimes against female customers – both women and underage girls. 

In May, Sean Anderson was allegedly arrested for taking pictures of undressed females after drilling holes in women's dressing rooms in several Target stores in Pennsylvania.
After his arrest, police searched through Anderson's phone and found 56 images of women, 12 of whom were without tops and one who was completely unclothed. They also found six images of young girls who were either partially or totally undressed, investigators said. 

Here's the rub. Anderson allegedly drilled the holes on a prior visit. Target knew the holes were in the dressing rooms and knew that these holes allowed for "Peeping Toms" to spy on women undressing. Rather than protecting female customers by prohibiting men from the area, Target merely plugged the holes and continued to let men enter without restriction. 

With something as simple as a ballpoint pen, Anderson returned and pushed the plugs out of the holes and used his phone’s camera to continue his disgusting crime of violating the privacy of Target's female customers over and over again. 

Target had the ability to completely prevent this type of crime, yet it didn't. Target still has the ability to prevent this type of crime 100% of the time, yet it won't. 

The bottom line is this: People who shop at Target and use its restrooms or dressing rooms are at risk for sexual exploitation.

AFA's rendition of the situation is mostly accurate, except for one huge and easily recognizable flaw. The situation had absolutely nothing to do with Target's policy or the transgender community at all.  The incident took place last week and almost instantaneously, AFA began exploiting it. LGBTQNation caught wind of the nonsense and said the following:

Most Target dressing rooms aren’t gendered already since they’re normally only for one person and Anderson did not enter a “women’s” dressing room by pretending to be a transgender person. What Anderson did is a crime and is being treated as such. But that crime had nothing to do with transgender people.  

 “As AFA has stated many times, our worries do not stem from fear of the transgender community, but rather from both the real and potential threat that predators and voyeurs would take advantage of the Target restroom policy to harm women and children — and there are plenty of incidents to show that they have,” Tim Wildmon, the group’s president, said in a statement sent to LGBTQ Nation.

Wildmon's statement is an inane cop-out because as LGBTQNation pointed out, Anderson didn't take advantage of Target's policy to commit his crime. He entered the dressing room as a heterosexual man and drilled holes. When Target employees noticed the holes in the changing room, they caulked them over. My guess is that no one from the store knew who created the holes but in caulking them, they recognized the danger they presented. It's rather shady that AFA tries to accuse the store of wrongdoing even about the detail regarding the holes.

But the main problem seems to be that when being called out for the ridiculous attack on the transgender community by LGBTQNation (and The Advocate), AFA chose to double down with its deception regarding Target's policy.

It's rather embarrassing enough to be proven a liar, but to double down on the lie after being shown to be wrong is simply tacky.  But if any group has rightfully earned this embarrassment, it's the American Family Association.

Hate group of attorneys plotting to wreck LGBTQ equality under guise of defending 'religious liberty'

The Alliance Defending Freedom is a supposed Christian law firm which claims to protect the religious liberty of all Americans. However, others see it as a hate group plotting to overturn laws protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination.  I am in the latter category.

ADF has been working behind the scenes to undermine the rights and safety of LGBTQ Americans for a number of years. The organization has been the architect behind several anti-LGBTQ cases  (such as the Masterpiece bakery case and the Baronnelle Stutzman case) which it has skillfully painted as innocent Christian businesses vs. the onslaught of radical gay activists. Or even worse, children and women fearing for their safety in bathrooms and locker rooms against so-called transgender predators.

But it has a carefully cultivated image in the media of legitimacy.

How does ADF get away with it? Part of the reason is that a lot of people aren't aware of its existence or the extreme positions it takes.  Also,  it has high profile connections in the Trump Administration, a budget of $50 million and a global network of over 3,200 attorneys.  And all of that is devoted to creating a carefully crafted image of purity and discipline in the public eye and the media (some of which are very accommodating, i.e. Fox News) while it slowly picks away at LGBTQ rights and safety.

But let's do a visual. The following video is how ADF portrays itself to the public. On Youtube, the organization pumps out incredibly polished videos like so:

That's the image ADF wants you to see. The reality is uglier:

 

This should serve as a lesson to the community. The threats to our equality and safety don't necessarily come from off-the-wall street protesters. They don't necessarily come from bakeries or florists who won't treat us like regular customers. They come from groups with huge budgets planning behind the scenes to play long games and weave narratives which will cost us our freedoms. It's not paranoid to say that there are people and groups with huge budgets conjuring up plots against us in expensively laid board rooms because that's what happening. It sounds like a silly spy movie, but unfortunately it's reality.

In the fall, the ADF will be arguing in front of SCOTUS again in cases which may decide whether or not companies and businesses can fire us simply for our sexual orientation. I have a hope that good will prevail.  But regardless, folks need to get educated and send the word out about ADF.

I look at the ADF like the infamous Koch Brothers. The group is very powerful when it can do its  business without notice. The most dangerous thing to the ADF is notoriety. You can steal when no one is watching.  When people are watching and know you as a thief, it's not so easy.  ADF's unearned sterling reputation partly comes from the fact that not too many people are aware that it exists. I think we as a community should change that.

Because no one can dish out the dirty like we can.

Related posts:

No Gays Allowed - A website devoted to all of the vulgar positions that the Alliance Defending Freedom is hiding from the public
.
SPLC profile of the Alliance Defending Freedom

The extremism of anti-LGBTQ powerhouse Alliance Defending Freedom - Media Matters has an exhaustive profile on ADF. Everything you need to know and then some.

GLAAD spotlights Alliance Defending Freedom’s decade long anti-LGBTQ legal strategy - GLAAD spotlight on ADF from 2017 but with a wonderful detailed look at the history of the cases it has brought against the LGBTQ community.

Conservative publication PJMedia digs a hole into the credibility of anti-LGBTQ hate groups - A piece I wrote last week. The conservative media network bends over backwards to sanitize ADF.

'Teen says he was attacked in school locker room for being openly gay' & other Fri midday news briefs

Alexandria teen says he was attacked in school locker room for being openly gay - This child is all of us. He is one of the reasons why we must always fight like hell for what belongs to us.

Republican congressman slams trans people in new campaign ad - Disgusting. I didn't make a blog post focused solely on this because I didn't want to give this pig too much attention. 

Meeting series aims to connect LGBTQ biz owners, allies - This is a wonderful idea. 

Munroe Bergdorf Reflects on the 'Toxic' LGBTQ Hierarchy - She makes a good point and it is a conversation which needs to happen.

Sorry, but you can't blame the LGBTQ community for any predators in the church

Courtesy of  Right-Wing Watch is an off-the-wall conversation about sexual abuse in the church featuring E.W. Jackson.

Jackson  is a Trump supporter who once accused presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg of attempting to turn America into a "homocracy." I have no idea what that is. In addition, Jackson has railed against gay parents, called us "servant of Satan," and apparently has more lurid ideas of gay sex than most of us. I guess you can say that he's not an ally of the community. To quote Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show, "he's a nut."

Now one homophobic nut is bad enough, but when more than one get together, you get a "nut synthesis"  This means you are going to hear all sorts of zany mess about the LGBTQ community. And with that, I give you a conversation Jackson had with Amy Cooper, the host of vague "Christian show." They are discussing gay men in the church, so you know the conversation is bound to be  . . . something:

Okay, none of that stuff is true. And you will note that neither Cooper nor Jackson offered any proof that gays have been coming into churches and molesting children.

The irony is that while the above conversation happened last week, on Thursday of this week an article came out revealing that a former prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention mentored and assisted a younger pastor even after learning of allegations of said pastor engaging in the sexual assault of several women.

Paige Patterson, the leader in question, isn't exactly an angel himself when it comes to the treatment of women:

Patterson’s infamy became clear in April of 2018 when we learned he once offered “advice” to women trapped in abusive marriages by telling them to stay and pray. In a separate sermon, he made creepy sexual remarks about an underage girl. As president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he once told an alleged rape victim to not talk to the police and forgive the rapist. Last September, he body-shamed a woman during a sermon while also condemning those who make false accusations against men (as if that routinely happens). And in June, a lawsuit alleged that a former seminary student told him that someone at the school had raped her at gunpoint and taken pictures of her for blackmail purposes… and Patterson responded by shaming and shunning her.

But go ahead and blame gay men in the church, Jackson and Cooper. Go ahead with your bad selves.


# apologies to the  tv show The Boondocks for pilfering its idea to create the notion of the "nut synthesis."

'Bigots continue to freak out over Drag Queen Story Hour' & other Thur midday news briefs

Right-wing and evangelical media are freaking out over Drag Queen Story Hour in Washington - While those dipsticks are freaking out over this . . .

Couple Who Ran Gay Conversion ‘Camps’ for ‘Troubled Boys’ Indicted for Human Trafficking: WATCH - . . . we have some real trouble here. 

Conservative publication PJMedia digs a hole into the credibility of anti-LGBTQ hate groups - Post from last night cause it deserves repeating. 

Donald Trump’s War On LGBTQ Americans Is Ramping Up - Hold my wig and earrings cause things are about to get ugly.

Gay conservative group loses several leaders after Trump endorsement - Nice to see some gay Republicans with a degree of self-respect.

Conservative publication PJMedia digs a hole into the credibility of anti-LGBTQ hate groups

Conservative site PJMedia tried to refute the notion that the Family Research Council (top) and the Alliance Defending Freedom (bottom) are hate groups. It failed.

On Wednesday, conservative publication PJMedia attempted to prove that SPLC's claims about the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom being hate groups were false.

That was the intention. By publishing a one-sided, very shoddy article, Tyler O'Neil, the publication's senior editor, probably sought to give the groups ammunition and cover. What happened was that he inadvertently opened up a huge hole in the two groups' claims and credibility

And naturally, I had to stroll in with a few facts he conveniently sought to omit.

O'Neil's piece, 5 Reasons the SPLC Is Profoundly Wrong About Two Notorious Christian 'Hate Groups,' was the second in two weeks by conservatives trying to paint SPLC as a dangerous group out to smear Christian organizations. The first, by ADF employee Jessica Prol Smith, took a personal, but highly evasive view of the situation.

Unlike Smith's piece, O'Neil's article sought to address and refute the specific reasons why SPLC considers these organizations as hate groups. Whereas Smith was evasive, O'Neil sought to be direct. In taking this route, O'Neil committed several errors of distortions and omission.

Let's look at a few sections of his article:

The SPLC's accusation against FRC breaks down into two issues: FRC demonizes LGBT people and FRC suggests homosexuals are pedophiles. So, does this Christian organization demonize LGBT people? 

In the pamphlet "How to Respond to the LGBT Movement," FRC's senior fellow for policy studies, Peter Sprigg, lays out his organization's position on these issues. That pamphlet opens by emphasizing that "every person, no matter who they are sexually attracted to, is created in the image and likeness of God" and therefore is "equal in value and dignity and must be treated with respect." Sprigg goes on to explain that FRC does not believe that sexual attraction defines a person, so the idea that homosexual activity is sinful does not involve a degradation of dignity. 

"The key reason why FRC believes that homosexual conduct is harmful to the people who engage in it is the high rate of physical health problems which are a direct or indirect result of their sexual conduct," Sprigg told PJ Media on Monday. "This is particularly true of men who have sex with men (MSM), who have dramatically higher rates of HIV and syphilis, as well as high rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV. High rates of the latter cause MSM to have rates of anal cancer 17 times higher than among heterosexual men, according to the CDC." 

Physical health risks for lesbians are less extreme, but may include Bacterial vaginosis, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and Breast and other cancers, he argued, citing Web MD. 

"Those who engage in homosexual conduct have also been shown to have higher risks of mental illness and substance abuse. Although LGBT activists blame 'discrimination' and 'stigma' for these problems, that theory is undermined by the fact that these problems have persisted at high rates even in countries that are very accepting of homosexuality, such as the Netherlands.," Sprigg added. 

"Many of these conditions put others (such as sexual partners) at risk; and governments have spent billions of dollars in prevention, treatment, and the search for cures for these diseases. This is why we believe the cost of these behaviors is also being borne by society at large," he concluded. 

LGBT activists are free to vehemently disagree with these claims, but FRC does not spread them in order to demonize LGBT people.

This entire section is a careful mischaracterization of LGBTQ health.  Sprigg's statement - Although LGBT activists blame 'discrimination' and 'stigma' for these problems is blatant cherry-picking.

The claim about how discrimination and stigma leads to negative health problems in the LGBTQ community is not an idea conjured up by activists as Sprigg implies. It is a fact which has been voiced by legitimate medical professionals on numerous occasions. As a matter of fact, they are the same medical professionals cited in O'Neil's article. The article linked to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) when giving a listing of the diseases affecting gay men. This is what the CDC also said about stigma, homophobia can lead to these diseases in gay men:

Homophobia, stigma (negative and usually unfair beliefs), and discrimination (unfairly treating a person or group of people) against gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men still exist in the United States and can negatively affect the health and well-being of this community.

'LGBTQ books are being censored in middle schools' & other Wed midday news briefs

LGBTQ books are being censored in middle schools. Authors are speaking out. - THIS right here is some mess to keep the books away from our kids.

Right-wing and evangelical media helped land anti-trans parent group the Kelsey Coalition in USA Today - We got a bunch of trashy so-and-so's trying to create havoc for our transgender children under the guise of "helping" them.

Trump claims ‘some of my biggest supporters’ are gay & support his plan to legalize discrimination - Sheeeeiiiitttt! Don't even.

Medina LGBTQ referendum effort fails to get enough signatures - We win. 

Federal judge overturns Wisconsin Medicaid provision barring transgender surgery - We win again. Nice.

'Veggie Tales' creator doesn't want to be 'forced' to talk about LGBTQ issues (but no one asked him to)

The creator of the children's show 'Veggie Tales' doesn't want to make it  LGBTQ-inclusive. But no one asked him to.

I've never seen the children's show Veggie Tales and after the creator's ridiculous comments about the LGBTQ community, I doubt I ever will.

From The Advocate:

The co-creator of the Christian-oriented children’s video and TV series Veggie Tales predicts Christian kids’ shows will soon be forced to be LGBTQ-inclusive, but he intends to resist. “Parents are definitely going to have to deal with a growing LGBT presence in children’s media,” 

Phil Vischer told The Christian Post. “It’s going to show up more and more as the world has decided that LGBT issues are in the same categories as race and civil rights issues. So to say you shouldn’t have a same-sex couple on Sesame Street is the equivalent of saying you shouldn’t have a black couple on Sesame Street.” The famed PBS show is, of course, secular in nature. 

He said that when another secular PBS show, Arthur, featured the wedding of two male characters this year, it was a “shot heard through the Christian parenting world.” It sent “such a strong message of, well, kids, of course you’re fine with gay marriage, because there’s nothing to question about it,” he said, which is “concerning.” 

“If I get pressure from Hollywood to show two men getting married because we’ve all decided it’s right and correct, my pushback is: ‘No, I won’t. Because that’s not what I believe is best for kids,’” Vischer continued. “It’s more about what we show as normal rather than explicitly showing something and saying, ‘That’s wrong.’ I’m portraying the positive rather than the negative.”

Mr. Vischer shouldn't think so much of himself to believe that he is going to be coerced into talking about LGBTQ issues or same-sex families. We get it loud and clear that you either want to omit our families or address us from a negative perspective.

And we have enough support out there to not care about you. So don't worry your empty head about being coerced to talk about our issues or our families. We don't need you or your 'vegetables.'

'Church sends lesbian couple ugly letter a year after kicking them out' & other Tue midday news briefs

She met her wife at church so the pastor kicked them out. Then he sent them a letter.- Kicking them out was bad enough. Sending an ugly letter a year later was just vile. Be strong, ladies. Don't let those awful folks make you think they speak for God. They don't.
 
Nebraska’s First Openly LGBTQ Lawmaker Wants to Get More Queer People Elected - Wonderful idea. I'm all for it.


Morally corrupt drug pricing policy hurts black LGBTQ community the most - Yes it does!

Anti-LGBTQ hate group employee embarrasses herself and her faith via empty attack on SPLC - Reposting my piece from last night. 

Palestinian Authority Bans LGBTQ Group's Activities - This is awful.

Anti-LGBTQ hate group employee embarrasses herself and her faith via empty attack on SPLC

Jessica Prol Smith wrote a column of lies

I missed the opening part of this dust-up, but not the best part. Last weekend, Jessica Prol Smith, a former employee of the Family Research Council and a present employee of another anti-LGBTQ hate group, the Alliance Defending Freedom, published a piece in the USA Today claiming that the Southern Poverty Law Center is "hate-based" and nearly got her killed.

She speaking of that 2012 awful incident in which Floyd Corkins, a deranged young man, attempted to start a mass shooting at FRC headquarters. Thanks to the providence of a security guard, tragedy was avoided. Unfortunately, FRC and its president, Tony Perkins, has since exploited this incident to lay the finger of blame on SPLC. Two years before the incident, SPLC designated FRC as a "hate group" because of the way it smears and denigrates the LGBTQ community via lies, junk science, and cherry-picked science.

Perkins, FRC, and other supporters of the group have attempted to connect SPLC with Corkins on numerous occasions, even though it has been proven that SPLC didn't encourage or persuade the young man in his vile attempt to create havoc.

Ms. Smith is the latest person to exploit the 2012 shooting and also recent troubles that SPLC has had to endure (and overcome). The big hoot of her column is  the closing statement:

If the SPLC thought that its hate would intimidate or silence me and my colleagues, they’re sadly mistaken. I’m lucky — blessed, really — that I didn’t take a bullet for my beliefs back in 2012. But the center’s ugly slander and the gunman’s misguided attack have sharpened my resolve and deepened my faith in my Savior, who commands my destiny and shields me from the schemes of man. The same is true for my colleagues.
Fifty-one years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fell to an assassin’s bullet. The SPLC pretends to carry his legacy but weaponizes hate labels instead. Unlike SPLC's name-calling, Dr. King’s words and vision stand the test of time. “Injustice anywhere,” he warned, “is a threat to justice everywhere.” 

The SPLC, as an institution, has thoroughly disqualified itself as an arbiter of justice. But this country would be a better place if the center’s donors, lawyers and friends would truly believe and apply Dr. King’s legacy — his peaceful pursuit of justice and his love of neighbor.

''Ex-gay' march planned near site of Pulse nightclub tragedy' & other Mon midday news briefs

Christian conservative activists are planning an ex-gay march near the Pulse nightclub - This right here is some tacky shit. Be what you feel, but you don't have to disrespect the memories of those who were proud to be LGBTQ and their families.

A referee stopped a soccer match because of a homophobic chant - Good for him!

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Permit Employment Discrimination Against Transgender Workers - In case you didn't hear, Trump is attacking our trans sisters and brothers again. This will not stand. 

This Teenager Is Speaking Out Against President Trump's Proposed Repeal Of Transgender Protections - She's not the only one, either. 

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson comes out as gay - No matter what age, better than never.

Explaining why the Family Research Council is an anti-LGBTQ hate group in less than two minutes

The Family Research Council (FRC) is listed as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the SPLC for its demonizing rhetoric about the LGBTQ community. FRC portrays LGBTQ people as sick, evil, perverted, incestuous and a danger to the nation. It has linked being gay with pedophilia, an incendiary claim that pours fuel on the fires of hate – but one that has been thoroughly debunked by the American Psychological Association.  

Read more at www.SPLCenter.org/FRC 

The Southern Poverty Law Center just came out with this awesome less than two minute video which we should watch and share. It explains why anti-LGBTQ organization Family Research Council is a hate group. It is a reminder that it's not enough to call organizations like the Family Research Council hate groups. We need to say why. Lucky for us, they have a long paper trail of homophobic activity to shine the spotlight on.

Related post - 16 Reasons Why the Family Research Council is a Hate Group

'Trans women athletes deal with misconceptions, ignorance' & other Fri midday news briefs

'SPORTS ISSUE 2019: Trans women face many hurdles in quest to compete fairly - There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to trans women athletes. We need more education on the issue.

Equinox gym makes $1 million donation to LGBT, cancer groups after fallout from Trump fundraiser - Mo', baby! Mo'!

My redneck Lyft driver shocked me when I told him I’m gay. Now he’s going viral.  - This is a wonderful story.

Biden, Castro among 2020 hopefuls to attend Iowa LGBTQ forum - A presidential forum on LGBTQ issues is an idea which is long over do.

Family Research Council giddy over Trump plan to discriminate against LGBTQ taxpayers

As far as the Family Research Council is concerned, it doesn't matter if Trump is tanking our economy, causing people to be more violent against each other, and basically wrecking the integrity of our nation and the office of president. As long as he continues to do stuff like making it easier for federal contractors to fire or not hire unmarried pregnant women or members of the LGBTQ community, he's the Second Coming of Jesus as far as the group is concerned:

Mary Beth Waddell, Family Research Council’s Senior Legislative Assistant released the following statement in response to a proposed rule by the Department of Labor that protects religious employers from government discrimination: 

 “Given recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court protecting religious liberty, today the Department of Labor issued a proposed rule clarifying the rights of religious employers to contract with the Department without being forced to violate their conscience rights. This is in keeping with our nation’s history of respect for moral and religious beliefs. 

 “Family Research Council applauds the Department for taking steps to ensure that religious employers are free to operate according to their religious beliefs without fear of government punishment,” concluded Waddell.

 You'll notice what FRC conveniently failed to post. According to The Huffington Post:

U.S. businesses with federal government contracts would be allowed not to hire LGBT+ candidates on religious grounds under a proposed rule announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor. The policy change would state that government contractors, including universities, hospitals and corporations, can claim religious exemptions in employment decisions if they can produce evidence of “religious purpose” in their organization.

The policy, overseen by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) which sets anti-discrimination rules for businesses working with the government, would weaken an LGBT+ nondiscrimination order by former U.S. President Barack Obama.

. . . About one in four workers is employed by a government contractor, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 

Opponents expressed concern that the rule amounted to tax-funded discrimination against vulnerable populations, including single mothers and LGBT+ Americans.
They also criticized a potentially loose interpretation of what constitutes a religious contractor, saying that was both deliberate and dangerous. Government contractors would be able to site evidence of religious purpose through founding documents, articles of incorporation or other means under the new policy. 

“This proposal guts the executive order without having to take the step of removing it,” Ian Thompson, a senior legislative representative for the ACLU told the Thomson ReutersFoundation. 

“This is about religiously motivated discrimination.”

So not only does this rule allow federal contractors to discriminate and receive tax dollars from the folks they are discriminating against, but it also furthers the false narrative of LGBTQ rights vs. religious freedom. It is a narrative solely created by groups like FRC in retaliation to lose the fight against marriage equality.

So why am I am posting FRC's cloying press release? Strictly for the sake of guile and remembrance. When Trump's incompetence comes back to completely bite folks in the ass - and it will - just in case certain groups attempt to downplay their coziness to Trump . . . well there's a lot to be said about throwing things back in the faces of folks  who deserve it.

'LGBTQ creators sue YouTube for discrimination' & other Thur midday news briefs

LGBTQ Creators Are Suing YouTube For Discrimination - And I hope they win.

Bus driver leaves passengers stranded after deciding vehicle is gay and he is offended - What in gay hell . . .

IMDb announced that it will no longer deadname transgender celebrities - About time.

Proposed anti-LGBTQ Labor Department rule would let federal contractors discriminate - Oh no you don't, Trump. You KNOW you are going to get sued.

Anti-LGBTQ Congressman gives bizarre defense of rape and incest

Rep. Steve King

It always amazes me when folks accuse the LGBTQ community of all sorts of nasty things when more often than not, those who point the finger at us are the ones who should be watched.

Case in point,  Congressional Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). He has never been a friend of the LGBTQ community.

In 2010, he said that if we weren't open about our sexual orientation or gender identity, we wouldn't have a problem with discrimination.

In 2014, he defended anti-LGBTQ legislation from Arizona by claiming that homosexuality is "self-professed" behavior.

In 2015, he participated in an absolutely horrid anti-LGBTQ documentary created by long time religious right personality Janet Porter.

And he has been known to make homophobic jokes, such as in 2018 when he said he was hoping that SCOTUS justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor elope to Cuba.  Lastly, at the same event, he attacked his own party for endorsing a gay candidate in CA.

In addition to all of this, Rep. King has a history of making racist remarks. Earlier this year, that particularly controversy came to a head when he made arguments sympathetic to white supremacy during an interview. It led him to be stripped of his committee assignments. In February, several members of the anti-LGBTQ industry, including Porter and James Dobson, teamed up to defend King in hopes of helping get his assignments back.

However, I doubt they will be defending him after what he said on Wednesday.

According to the Huffington Post:

Racist Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said generations of people would not be here without rape and incest while making the case for anti-abortion legislation without exceptions for victims of those crimes. 

Speaking to members at the Westside Conservative Club on Wednesday, King argued that humanity would not have the population it does today if not for rape and incest, the Des Moines Register reported. 

“What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest?” King said. “Would there be any population of the world left if we did that? Considering all the wars and all the rapes and pillages that happened throughout all these different nations, I know that I can’t say that I was not a part of a product of that.” 

More from the Des Moines Register: 

The Kiron Republican was discussing his defense of not allowing exceptions for rape and incest in the anti-abortion legislation he tried to pass in Congress. Republican leadership had prevented bills he sponsored on banning abortions from advancing through the House, despite GOP support for the measures, King said.

As you would expect, King has been condemned all around, with several folks- including GOP Congresswoman Liz Cheney - demanding that he resign.

Maybe Rep. King will be forced to resign because of this. However, if you ask me, I think he will be too stubborn to do the right thing and this entire incident will blow over until possibly election day 2020. Either way, this is yet another case of the LGBTQ community collectively sitting in our easy chairs and sipping our cups of tea while we observe yet another opposer of our equality pick up his cracked face from the ground.

'The New Hate Pastors' & other Wed midday news briefs

Steven Anderson

The New Hate Pastors - This is spookier and possibly more dangerous than mainstream religious right groups. If these pastors don't first self-destruct.

Christian conservative explains ‘deal with devil’ between Trump and evangelicals - You deal with you know who, you always get burned.

Republican official says the ‘sin’ of homosexuality kills gay men at age 42 - Just in case you didn't hear, anti-LGBTQ propaganda doesn't die so easily. 

Jake Shears on LGBTQ Acceptance in Music, Homophobia in the Industry and How Pop Is Changing - Well this is interesting. What do you think?

Family Research Council won't stop falsely implying that the LGBTQ community are a danger to children

A while back, anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council saw no problem with openly smearing transgender children as predators:

The group seems to have gotten the message sent by many folks -.myself included - just how ugly and vulgar this was. Not to the point that it would stop targeting transgender children, mind you because smearing the LGBTQ community is a cash cow for FRC.  Instead, the group made a pivot:

So the inference from FRC is "We aren't against anyone. We are simply attempting to protect women and girls." It reminds me of the pivot made by white supremacists, i.e. "We aren't anti-black. We're simply pro-white. We just want to protect our race."And like white supremacists attempting to flim-flam, the heart of FRC's message remains to be all about bigoted scapegoating.

'Religious right groups funding Danica Roem's anti-LGBTQ opponent' & other Tue midday news briefs

Danica Roem

Anti-LGBTQ groups are funding the bigoted opponent of this trans legislator - Trying so hard to get rid of Danica Roem. Hope she withstands the nonsense.

Modesto ‘straight pride’ organizers lose parade permit battle – for now - Too bad, so sad. NOT!

Two Gay Penguins Just Adopted an Abandoned Egg - Awwww! That's cute!

BACK TO SCHOOL 2019: New kids’ books spotlight LGBTQ life - We NEED more things like this.

Anti-LGBTQ talking head exploits Boy Scouts scandal to smear gay men as pedophiles

A nasty lie about gay men (top picture) is resurrected by the viciously homophobic Bryan Fischer (bottom picture)

When it comes to scandals about pedophilia, some members of the anti-LGBTQ industry, practically salivate at the chance to blame gay men.

From Media Matters:

Former American Family Association spokesperson and current American Family Radio host Bryan Fischer used reports of sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America to falsely claim that there is a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia. Extreme anti-LGBTQ groups and figures such as Fischer have repeatedly used this myth to attack LGBTQ people and fight pro-equality policies. 

On August 6, a group of lawyers filed a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, saying they had “identified 350 previously unknown scoutmasters and volunteers” who reportedly sexually abused boys in the organization. Fischer discussed the story on his AFR radio show, Focal Point, calling it a “homosexual pedophile scandal” and claiming that “people don’t want to accept” the “profound connection … between homosexuality and pedophilia.” These comments add to a long list of extreme anti-LGBTQ statements from Fischer, who has said gay men are condemned to hell and claimed that gays were responsible for the formation of the Nazi Party.

Bear in mind that there is absolutely no proof that gay men are responsible for this awful situation. Furthermore, this scandal has been occurring decades before the Boy Scouts opened the door to allow gays to serve as scouts and scoutmasters. Of course, none of this means anything to Fisher and the rest of that bunch. They operate from the constantly refuted notion (one which they KNOW has been refuted) that a pedophile who molests boys is automatically gay:

'Gay candidate targeted by tacky ad accusing him of pedophilia' & other Mon midday new briefs

Justin Carroll

Gay New York candidate targeted by ‘amateurish’ ad subtly accusing him of pedophilia - Tacky as hell.

Illinois Governor Signs Bill Mandating Public Schools Teach LGBTQ History - I support this completely. 

N.C. exec. order stops pipeline to ‘conversion’ therapy - Good for NC! 

Gavin Grimm wins bathroom court case against transphobic school board, but… - Victory! But still working on things.

Franklin Graham goes after Disney and LGBTQ teens, gets brutally ratioed on Twitter

Franklin Graham has to learn the hard way on Twitter about attacking Disney and LGBTQ teens.

On Saturday, Franklin Graham ran into a Twitter ratio buzzsaw for his latest attack on the LGBTQ community. And it restored my faith in humanity. Graham sent out a tweet criticizing the Disney show, Andi Mack, for showing a teenage gay couple

Disappointed in @Disney again. Parents be aware of what your kids are watching.https://t.co/SMe36qjSlu

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 10, 2019

Needless to say, quite a few folks weren't happy with his tweet and they defended Disney for showing a teenage gay couple. Some of the the many tweets blasting Graham are as follows:

The Family Research Council wants you to help Donald Trump wreck LGBTQ healthcare

While Donald Trump's latest mess has been sucking up attention for the past few days, anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council is busy attempting to gain support for his attack on LGBTQ health via an awful policy change to the Affordable Care Act. This change would reverse healthcare protections for the LGBTQ community and women seeking abortions.

From the FRC blog:

Do you ever wish that government officials had to listen to what you have to say? 

Comment here and they must review your comment. No, really, it’s required by federal law. 

The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a rule making important changes to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and is still taking public comments. This rule would protect the conscience rights of people of faith who have a moral objection to performing abortions. It would also undo an Obama-era regulation on Section 1557 that shoehorned “gender identity” into the definition of “sex” (as opposed to meaning just “male” and “female”). 

Here’s what Family Research Council Action said in an alert on this HHS Rule: 

Doctors – and patients – need your help! Here’s how: send a comment to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar! The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a proposed rule to remove old Obama Administration regulations that would prevent doctors from being able to treat patients based strictly on science, biology, and their medical judgment! 

The old regulation said that “sex” means “gender identity” meaning that if a doctor didn’t affirm a patient's self-identified gender they could be sued for discrimination. Medical judgment and what is best for the patient didn’t matter!

When you click on the words comment here  (which I unlinked), you are invited to submit your name, email address, and a form letter to the Department of Health and Human Services. The form letter contains deceptive talking points about "conscience protections" and the "rights of healthcare providers." Conveniently, it doesn't mention how the policy change would wreak havoc on women's health and the health of the LGBTQ community at large.

'Mayor campaigns against LGBTQ curriculum in schools' & other Thur midday news briefs

Ocean County mayor campaigns against LGBTQ curriculum in schools - Ridiculous. Always thinking that the LGBTQ community is solely about sexual intercourse.

National, Local Democratic LGBTQ and Allied Leaders Convene at Detroit Forum - I didn't know this happened.

Gay Republican Carl DeMaio running for anti-LGBTQ Rep. Duncan Hunter’s seat - This would be a wonderful change. 

Murder, 'gay-hunters' strike terror in Russia's LGBT community - This is awful.

And now a word about homophobia, 'acceptance,' and 'tolerance'

I ran across an image on Twitter today which caught me a bit:

This is what some homophobes are claiming today - that they are merely pushing back against the LGBTQ community because we want too much and that we are attempting to force them to supposedly accept us and give us access to their children.

It's a cute lie because that has always been the argument of the religious right and their supporters - that somehow we are outsiders who are overstepping our bounds.  And that any lies told about us (such as how we are supposedly trying to "recruit children") is acceptable because Christians who practice the faith like them (note the cross in the image) are the real victims.

This is nothing more than sad tripe which enshrines ignorant presumption and false privilege. It's ridiculous to think that our goal is to seek "tolerance" or "acceptance" from heterosexuals, as if they are some higher power.  It deliberately casts the LGBTQ community as outsiders and erases not only our humanity but also our families.

We don't need "tolerance" or "acceptance" from heterosexuals. Nor do we need their respect. What we want and will get is merely the thing which belongs to us - the ability to live our lives by our rights of self-determination. And not in accordance to the whims and prejudices of others.

'VP Mike Pence gives hypocritical advice to anti-LGBTQ group' & other Wed midday news briefs

Mike Pence Advises Antigay Group to 'Spend More Time on Your Knees'- Hypocritical as hell to talk about praying when your goal is to stigmatize a group of God's children.

Hundreds of LGBTQ families came together & OMG would you look at these photos of cute kids?! - Wonderful! We need more of this! 

Victoria’s Secret Hires First Openly Transgender Model, Agent Says - Congratulations to Valentina Sampaio! 

Michigan doctors reach out to LGBTQ community to narrow health disparities - THANK YOU! We need more of THIS, too.