Pastor who claimed that gay men have sex with cellphones blows gasket over Buttigieg being hosted by church

NC pastor Patrick Wooden (second photo), who once falsely claimed that gay men have to wear diapers and stick cellphones up their rectums, is angry that openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg (first photo) was hosted by another church in early December.

I was too busy celebrating the holidays so I missed a very interesting item which took place last week. Apparently openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is bringing all of the homophobes out to condemn him. First Franklin Graham, then Don Boys.

Now this guy via an article from The Christian Post:

Outspoken North Carolina Bishop Patrick Wooden Sr., founder of the conservative Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, slammed William J. Barber II, pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, for hosting gay Democratic presidential candidate, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and for arguing that Jesus didn’t speak out against homosexuality. 

“I’m a registered non-affiliate, so I don’t want you to think I’m in any party. I’m for the Lord and what is right, but it is a disgrace that we live in a country where, if a person of color dons a ‘Make America Great’ hat, people now, on MSNBC and other news agencies, they call that hat a trigger ... But you can invite a man married to man to a Christian church and there is no outcry,” Wooden declared in a message to his church earlier this month. “Something is wrong with that. And the only way to get you to buy into that, they’ve got to try and get you to ignore the Scriptures and to take Jesus Christ out of the public eye.”

Wooden was upset about Barber hosting Buttigieg at his church on Dec 1.  The Christian Post points out that during the event Barber addressed the so-called divide between the LGBTQ and black community. He called it a "false narrative." He also said we must address issues of poverty and social justice instead of being exploited by false narratives:

 “Just to clear the house, because I know it’s out there, we here to talk about poverty. Somebody sent me this question: ‘What are you gonna say to the mayor about being gay?’ I said, ‘Nothing.’ That’s not a Bible question. You don’t see Jesus raising that. It’s not a constitutional question. There’s no constitutional provision. I just got on a plane and flew four hours from Arizona here. I ain’t ask the pilot was he gay, but I did ask him could he fly the plane,” Barber said to applause.  

 “My surgeon, I don’t ask him if he’s gay. I want to know, can he do the surgery? And right now, what we’re looking at is, are there candidates who can have the political courage, wisdom to address the issue of poverty and the interlocking injustices. That’s the question before us. … We need to kill some of these false narratives,” he asserted.

'Federal court demands military turn over secret documents about trans military ban' & other Fri midday news briefs

Federal court demands the military turn over secret documents about the trans military ban - This could be the moment a lot of us have been waiting on i.e. exposing the religious right angle of Trump's ban.

Iowa man sentenced to 15 years after burning church's LGBTQ flag - BEFORE folks say that the sentence was excessive, they should know that there is more to the story.

Democrats, civil rights groups voice opposition to Trump anti-LGBTQ rule - Oh yeah. The attempt to give LGBTQ tax dollars to entities which discriminate against LGBTQ people.

Where Are All The Trans-Friendly Gynecologists? - THANK YOU!

Big Freedia song 'Rent' is a perfect anthem for Trump's impeachment

'Rent' by Big Freedia is the perfect anthem for Trump's impeachment.

On Wednesday night, Donald Trump got impeached. It's not a surprise. The man has no impulse control or maturity, so he was bound to do something which would finally get him into trouble. Now whether or not he will be removed is another story. The conventional wisdom is that the GOP led Senate will not convict him. Of course in 2016, the conventional wisdom was that Hillary Clinton would be our first female president (and she should have been), so I think it's safe to have a wait and see attitude.

At any rate,  I have a perspective on Trump's impeachment which I think needs to be shared. Instead of  writing a long diatribe on the matter (because I don't think I can add anything new to the outpouring of long diatribes by folks who get paid to do that sort of thing), I am going to make mine short, succinct, and with the help of fellow "family" member, "The Queen of Bounce" Big Freedia. I'm sure when she recorded the song 'Rent'  in 2018 Big Freedia didn't think someone would use it as an anthem of the Donald Trump Impeachment. But I think it perfectly fits the situation, because Trump is a big freeloader.

'White House denies that anti-LGBTQ leader is part of committee' & other Thur midday news briefs

Who is the big liar here? The Trump Administration or Tim Wildmon?

Anti-LGBTQ activist brags about being Trump appointee — but White House denies it - I don't know who to believe because both parties are craven liars.

Don’t wait on Hallmark. Here are a few LGBTQ holiday films you can already watch. - I've never been one for Christmas movies, but feel free.

LGBTQ Issues Complicate Kalamazoo Elementary Book Program - Come on folks! Shutting us out doesn't mean we don't exist. You can't push us into a closet because you fear us. And you DO fear us.

12 Black LGBTQ Artists Who Shaped the 2010s - Sweet!

Get your Trump Prayer Coins here!

Don't be surprised. You just KNEW someone would be coming out with this.

Impeachment or no impeachment, removal or no removal, I sincerely hope that Trump's legacy will  include how he unleashed a "grifter class" on America. From conspiracy theory spewing slop artists to propaganda rags to Twitter bomb-throwing shysters, a segment of  hucksters felt emboldened by Trump ascension to the highest office to grab a moment for themselves in the spotlight hoping to gain attention and few bucks.

And no where is this more prominent than in right-wing evangelical circle. Trump has given them an unwritten, self-appointed mandate to hustle and sell their wares. Trump's personal pastor  Paula White,(or as I call her -  "Sister Hot Mess)  is just one of many.

Disgraced former PTL head Jim Bakker is another. He has hopped with both feet on the Trump train, as you can see via this tweet in which he and another religious leader are selling a coin which is then supposed to be used to pray for Trump possible re-election. It can be yours for $45.

For $45, Lance Wallnau and Jim Bakker will sell you a Trump/Cyrus coin that you can use as a "point of contact" between you and God as you pray for Trump's re-election in 2020. pic.twitter.com/EwKgGL7sNp

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) May 14, 2019

Before Trump came along, Bakker was promoting "emergency food buckets," which he encouraged people to buy in case of an "apocalypse."

'Another homophobe joins Trump's 'Faith Advisory Council'' & other Wed midday news briefs

AFA leader Tim Wildmon

Antigay Activist Tim Wildmon Joins Trump's Faith Advisory Council - Ew! Ew! Ew!

The religious right is melting down over Chick-fil-A & Hallmark Channel this month - They are SUCH drama queens. Oh well. Suffer!

Congress agrees to boost in funds for Trump’s HIV plan — and then some - Good. But I am not giving him credit for it. Read the article to find out why.

The Salvation Army says it doesn’t discriminate against LGBTQ people. Critics say that’s not true. - For those who need further credit on the situation.

Anti-LGBTQ activist Scott Lively thinks government officials should be prosecuted for allowing gays to adopt children

Scott Lively, a homophobe for all seasons

I've been insistently covering the Hallmark Channel controversy because it presents something we should never forget. Behind their self-victimization and cries about persecution and accusations of "the radical gay agenda," the aim of religious right groups is to either erase the humanity of our community or confine us into their false definitions of who we are and what our lives are comprised of.

Lo and behold comes a long-time anti-LGBTQ activist by the name of Scott Lively to further illustrate this point. To the lucky who have never heard of him, Lively is an extreme homophobe. He wrote and published discredited book, The Pink Swastika, which accused gays of creating the Nazi party in Germany.

But Lively's biggest claim to infamy was going overseas to Uganda in 2009 with other religious right figures and railing against the LGBTQ community with such vitriol that Ugandan officials proposed the infamous "Kill the Gays" bill. If this bill had become law, people could have been legally executed in the country for being LGBTQ. Before it died in 2014, the part about execution was changed to long prison sentences.

'Resources for teaching LGBTQ history are coming in demand' & other Tue midday news briefs

As More States Require Schools to Teach LGBTQ History, Resources for Teachers Expand - The religious right is gonna flip over this. Get ready for their next backlash. Oh well. To hell with them.

The queer community lost two heroes you may not know. You should. - We need to know this. All of this. 

Hallmark's decision to accept inclusive LGBTQ ad "further delegitimizes One Million Moms": GLAAD - That it does. 

Tips For LGBTQ+ People As Well As Their Parents & Allies This Holiday Season - More needed information.

Religious right - Hallmark 'surrendered' to 'homosexual pressure'

Dear religious right, are you mad? Good. Stay mad.

To say that the religious right and conservatives are breathing fire over the Hallmark Channel's decision to apologize for axing a gay marriage ad would be an understatement. With articles bearing titles such as Hallmark surrenders to pressure from homosexuals, the American Family Association and other like-minded groups have no room for subtlety. They are furious.

 Monica Cole, head of the AFA affiliate One Million Moms, had this to say:

“Most of (Hallmark's) viewers are conservative, and so they’re going to push away a majority of their viewership if they do this to appease a small percentage of viewers . . .  "so we just want them to realize that they are offending their primary audience by doing this and ruining family movie time. So many feel betrayed because this is one of the very last channels that families could go to and not be bombarded with politically correct commercials and LGBT agenda."

And of course the majority of the comments on the article reads as such:

'How the Salvation Army is trying to change its 'anti-LGBTQ' reputation' & other Mon midday news briefs

How the Salvation Army is trying to change its 'anti-LGBTQ' reputation - We will see . . .

After Years of Antipathy, Construction Puts Out Welcome Mat For LGBTQ Workers - Well how's this for a stereotype breaker? 

Trans people in Japan can no longer be banned from bathrooms, court says - Way to go, Japanese court!

Queer women who stood up to ‘drunk’ gang chanting vile abuse want you to help publicly shame them - My respect forever. That was a brave thing to do. I don't know about the shaming though.

Just in - Hallmark apologizes for pulling ad featuring same-sex couple

Hallmark should have never pulled this ad.

Well now I am dizzy. The Hallmark Channel pulled an ad featuring a same-sex couple after hate group the American Family Association and its affiliate group, One Million Moms, complained.

The company behind the ad, the wedding site Zola, pulled all of its ads from the channel in protest. In addition, LGBTQ organizations, LGBTQ community, and a lot of other folks spent the entire weekend figuratively dragging Hallmark, especially on Twitter with the hashtags #boycotthallmark and #BoycottHallmarkChannel .

Now comes this:

Hallmark CEO's statement: "I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused… Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials… We will continue to look for ways to be more inclusive & celebrate our differences"

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 16, 2019

Okay, American Family Association and One Million Moms, it's your turn. Top that if you can. Whatever happens next, this is still a victory for the LGBTQ community. Our lives, our loved ones, our families, and especially our children will not be excised, erased, or eliminated to fit someone else's narrative. We don't need anyone's "tolerance" or "acceptance." And we damned sure aren't going to take your disrespect.

Repost - What if Jesus came back & saw what was being done in His name?

I posted this last year, but based upon recent events (the Trump presidency, the fake "War on Christmas," the Hallmark nonsense, how the evangelical right have gotten out of control thanks to Trump), this needs a respost. We NEED this lesson from Saturday Night Live more than ever now. All of us. But honestly speaking, some of us need it more than others.
SNL Peanuts tv funhouse from john on Vimeo.

'Students would be allowed to sue if they see a trans person in the bathroom if new bill passes' & other Fri midday news briefs

Students would be allowed to sue if they see a trans person in the bathroom if new bill passes - Seriously? Good grief! Talk about out of control hysteria.

Thousands petition Hallmark Channel to 'reject' LGBTQ content - It's bad enough when some folks think that our lives consist of solely sex. But when they try to fight folks trying to combat that ignorant point of view, it's worse. 

Ben Shapiro - the fake intellectual attempting to save Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from the LGBTQ community - Reposting this from last night because it's one of my best and I want more folks to read it. 

Republicans Confirm Judge Rated ‘Not Qualified’ For Being ‘Lazy,’ ‘Arrogant’ - When mess like this comes back to haunt the entire country, remember who made it so.

Ben Shapiro - the fake intellectual attempting to save Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from the LGBTQ community

Ben Shapiro is an overhyped fraud.

Have you ever read a book considered to be a "classic" and wondered "who the hell picked this to be put on a pedestal?"

I feel the same way about certain folks proclaimed to be great thinkers or intellectuals. At the top of my list is conservative Ben Shapiro. I know all about his "pedigree" and honors, but  I still say while he may have a mind, his maturity is something to be desired. But I will give him credit for exploiting the angry people  - those on the right who always have to be pumped up about something no matter how stupid - for profit. That, and going on college campuses for rigged debates later described on Youtube as him "destroying an argument" has gotten Shapiro more acclaim than he originally had. And more money.

He certainly knows how to get his audience riled up such as with this excerpt and clip below in which he is raising hell when someone from our community say that they relate to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer:

Right wing extremist Ben Shapiro is demanding LGBTQ people leave Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer alone. Shapiro, who runs the far right website The Daily Wire, says the popular children’s Christmas character has enough problems and doesn’t need any more. “Can’t you just leave Rudolph alone?” Shapiro asked on his radio show. “Like, he’s got enough problems without you putting your own issues with sexual orientation on his fragile flying back.” Shapiro, who is virulently anti-LGBTQ, was reading from Wednesday’s New York Times opinion piece, “‘Rudolph,’ the Queerest Holiday Special.”

Ben Shapiro attacks the LGBTQ community for saying they relate to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: "Can't you just leave Rudolph alone? Like, he's got enough problems without you putting your own issues with sexual orientation on his fragile flying back" pic.twitter.com/TxoQs4DQh1

— Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) December 12, 2019

Oh Ben, you get so many things wrong. First of all, no one is talking about "sexual behavior" but you. And no one is talking about "political sexual behavior" but you. Folks can talk about LGBTQ issues and our community without mentioning anything about sexual intercourse,  but apparently YOU can't. However, since I am not a psychiatrist, I won't ponder any further about your state of mind on that plateau.

'New York Law Restores Benefits to Many LGBTQ Veterans Discharged Less Than Honorably' & other Thur midday news briefs

New York Law Restores Benefits To Many LGBTQ Veterans Discharged Less Than Honorably - This is a wonderful thing to do. Anyone fighting for our freedoms should be treated with respect.

Three Ways the “Fairness for All Act” Doesn’t Protect LGBTQ People from Discrimination - Good commentary from the ACLU. 

Antigay lawmaker who wants to cleanse America of all x-rated content won’t share his browser history - Gee, I wonder why. 

Wichita Public School board member resigns, than rescinds resignation over anti-LGBTQ discrimination vote - Some people are so fickle.

Once Upon A Time When Homophobia Was Less Subtle

There doesn't seem to be much going today when it comes to the LGBTQ community and the anti-LGBTQ industry, so I thought I would take a jaunt through the history of homophobic images via a publication I have used on many occasions.

Homosexuality: Legitimate, Alternate Deathstyle was created and published in the mid 1980s by a man named Dick Hafer. As you can see below, it spotlit all of the anti-LGBTQ stereotypes of the day and presented them as facts. And as you can also see by the second image, several noted public figures at the time (including a Congressman who died this year), endorsed it as fact. There really is no need to refute this booklet because it basically refutes itself.  But it's important for that things like it be remembered for two reason:

1. It is a wonderful, albeit nauseatingly foul, historical resource on homophobia in the United States.

2. If you took a look at the images, you would see that the religious right/anti-LGBTQ industry are saying pretty much the same things about our community as this book, but with more subtlety and less shock.  It's not that hard to go from "homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle" to "Christians need religious liberty to protect their rights from the homosexual agenda."

(Click on the images to make them larger)

'Starbucks scapegoats trans manager for employee's actions' & other Wed midday news briefs

A Starbucks in Oklahoma fired its transgender manager after a policeman complained about her employee's actions; actions she knew nothing about until it happened and then tried to rectify.

Starbucks fired a trans manager after a cop complained on Facebook about her employee - Not only did she NOT have anything to do with the incident, but as manager, she attempted to rectify the situation. It's ridiculous what happened to her.

Trump's LGBTQ 'pride' merchandise is a hypocritical insult to queer Americans - No shit!   

SHOCKER: Senate confirms Trump nominee as highest-ranking out gay judge - What's the catch?

For LGBTQ Youth, Human Rights Day Has Special Meaning - Wonderful commentary.

Dear Chick-fil-A, welcome to our world

The latest in the religious right's "How dare Chick-fil-A betray us! We are going to grind them into dust!" saga came my way via email from Tim Wildmon, head of  hate group the American Family Association :

On Monday, December 2, I overnighted a letter to Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy. In the letter, I asked him to clarify statements made by the leadership of Chick-fil-A and the Chick-fil-A Foundation. You can read the letter here. 

As you know, Chick-fil-A recently said it would no longer be supporting The Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Moreover, the Chick-fil-A Foundation announced its support of Covenant House, an outreach that affirms homosexual orientation and funds LGBTQ causes. 

At the time I sent this email to you, Mr. Cathy had not responded to my letter. This is disappointing. 

Specifically, I asked Mr. Cathy to answer these two questions: (1) Will Chick-fil-A publicly state that it does not believe The Salvation Army and FCA are hate groups because of the ministries' beliefs about sexuality, marriage, and family? (2) Will you publicly state that Chick-fil-A will not hesitate to fund these two ministries again, should the opportunity arise in the future? 

Along with the letter, I included the signatures of over 100,000 people who want clarification from Chick-fil-A regarding its recent decisions. 

This means that Mr. Cathy has not only snubbed AFA's concerns, he has also chosen not to respond to your concerns.

If Chick-fil-A is truly funding the Covenant House, then it's a good thing and more power to the restaurant. But I still won't be singing its praises any time soon. I'm indifferent about the entire thing mostly because I remember how, in 2012, reasonable attempts to explain the LGBTQ community's problem with the fast food restaurant got overwhelmed by lies generated by Mike Huckabee that Chick-fil-A was supposedly being attacked because its "Christian" values.

'Transgender student bathroom bill back before Kentucky lawmakers in 2020' & other Tue midday news briefs

Transgender student bathroom bill coming back before Kentucky lawmakers in 2020 - Some folks are simply determined to give our transgender children all sorts of problems.

Update: Nearby congregation welcomes judge who was shunned by her lifelong church - This is true morality here.

Meet The Miss Universe Pageant’s First Openly Gay Contestant - She may not have won the crown, but she did achieve a victory. 

Kristin Chenoweth Says Faith, LGBTQ Activism Don't Always Go Together - Love ya, Kristin. And no one can blame you because the Fox News host didn't ask you to elaborate. It's because of people like her that the false LGBTQ rights vs. Christianity narrative exists.

My opening shot in the '2019 War on Christmas' - Trump DID NOT 'bring Christmas back,' you morons

The religious right and other Trump supporters have been trying to establish a narrative that Donald Trump supposedly 'brought Christmas back.' Their subtle dog whistle appealing to racist attitudes make it imperative for us to remind people of the wonderful Christmas greetings and celebrations which took place when Obama was in office.

The religious right and other Trump supporters are not only intent on handing him credit for Obama's policy successes, but they also seem to be determined to craft a narrative that Obama wrecked American traditions and values and that Trump is restoring them.

It's especially annoying during the religious right's annual "War on Christmas" freak out. There has been a vile addition to their yearly bitchfest that the forces of darkness are trying to eliminate "Christ in Christmas."

They are claiming that Donald Trump "brought Christmas" back.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council -  "America isn't the only thing making a comeback under President Trump -- so is Christmas! The candidate who vowed, "We're gonna be saying Merry Christmas again," delivered on that promise again in a big way Thursday night. Thirty-feet of big, to be exact. In front of the giant spruce, the president made it very clear that this event wasn't about illuminating the tree -- but shining a light on the real reason for the season." 

Robert Jeffress, prominent Trump supporting pastor - “President Trump celebrates Christmas, has brought it back to the forefront of our country, and that means bringing Christ back as well.”

We've gone through this every year since Trump has been in office.

'Conservatives flip out over possible Hallmark gay Christmas movie' & other Mon midday news briefs

We asked Hallmark for a gay Christmas movie. Conservatives were scared and created a fake petition. - I don't even like Hallmark Christmas movies in general (when they are on, 'Murder She Wrote' takes a hiatus), but I am enjoying this.

Republicans are introducing a new compromise LGBTQ rights bill. But everyone already hates it. - Yep. I loath it as well. 

Tucker Carlson calls transgender rights “an issue for rich people” - Huh?

Ex-judicial panelists: Abbott ousted them over gay marriage - TX Gov. Greg Abbot is a mega jerk.

Trump campaign selling 'LGBTQ for Trump' merchandise while Trump tries to strip away LGBTQ rights

Selling merchandise claiming that the LGBTQ community supports him in spite of his constant stabs in our back. Only Donald Trump would do something like that.

The most annoying thing about Donald Trump and his Administration is how they will simply lie in your face. No, more than that. They will lie in your face in spite of the fact that you know that they are lying and they know that you know that they are lying. It's as if they think that they have some type of Jedi mind trick which will beat you down if they repeat the lie enough times.

Why am I on this tangent? Because of this madness, courtesy of NBC News:

President Donald Trump’s campaign has introduced new LGBTQ Pride merchandise through its website, sparking criticism that the offerings appear to be at odds with his administration’s policy track record. 

The merchandise, which was first reported by NewNowNext, includes a white T-shirt that reads “Make America Great Again” in rainbow letters. The product description reads, “Show your support for the LGBT community and the 45th President with this exclusive Make America Great Again T-Shirt.” The site is also selling a rainbow "Make America Great Again" hat, which is currently sold out. 

“Trump selling ‘Pride’ t-shirts when his very administration attacks LGBTQ people on the daily,” one person tweeted. “It’s like we are all in the damn Twilight Zone.”

And speaking of NewNowNext being the one who broke the story, the news site had this to say:

In addition to being grammatically incorrect and seemingly designed by your Uncle Barney on his 1998 Apple iMac, the shirt was at odds with every policy move made by Trump with regards to LGBTQ people. Less than two hours after taking office, Trump wiped all mentions of LGBTQ people from the White House webpage. He went on to ban trans people from the military and systematically dismantle LGBTQ health care protections.

While we're at it, let's not forget how his Administration is trying to award  tax dollars to religiously based adoption and foster care agencies while also allowing them to discriminate against us. Also, there was recent rebuke of his homophobic healthcare conscience rule by three courts; a rule his Administration attempted to enforce via blatant lie.

And the kicker is this -it isn't the first time the Trump campaign has attempted to sell LGBTQ merchandise while he put figurative knife wounds in our backs. NBC News points out that the campaign was selling "LGBTQ for Trump" t-shirts earlier this year.

Unbelievable . . . but then again maybe not.

As infuriating that it is, I 'm not completely mad at Trump for this. He is a user and a bloodsucker. And you can always trust users and bloodsuckers to be themselves.

When Trump ran, he said he would be a friend to the LGBTQ community. Before he even sat his undeserving fat ass into the Oval Office, he stabbed us in the back and then throughout his first term decided to snip our equality away bit by bit. And no one in the media interviewing him or asking him general questions has ever mentioned his two-faced behavior to his face.

Seriously, how hard can it be to ask "Mr. Trump, when you want for office, you said that you support the LGBT community. You even sent out a tweet saying that you support the community more than Clinton would. But since you were elected, your actions have been totally opposite to what you promised. Would you please comment about?"

Trump has lied to the LGBTQ community, tried to chip away at our rights and our safety, and finally is presently working to create narrative that we support him in spite of all of this. The fact that media has been silent about it all only sends a message to him that he can get away with it.

Related post - Trump's betrayal of the LGBTQ community is central to the dishonesty of his joke of a presidency

''Lifelong conservative Republican' fired after announcing transition' & other Fri midday news briefs

“Lifelong conservative Republican” fired from job after announcing transition - Just goes to show that LGBTQ issues, particularly trans issues, goes across all spectrums.

Melania Trump Is a Perfectly Manicured Hypocrite - Sit down, Melania. We don't like you. 

Matthew Shepard Honored With Plaque At Washington National Cathedral - Wonderful! 

World of Weddings: Israeli same-sex couples find legal loophole for marriage - Good for them!

LGBTQ characters in 'Star Wars' & black women in James Bond movies has former Trump official in silly outrage

The possibility of LGBTQ characters in the upcoming 'Star Wars' movie has former Trump official Seb Gorka upset. 

I've never been a fan of Star Wars movies (shut up), but the upcoming chapter of the series, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, has people excited by a number of reasons including the following from the New York Daily News:

J.J. Abrams’ latest “Star Wars” offering may have finally adapted to modern times. During an interview promoting the upcoming film, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” on Tuesday, the filmmaker teased that there will be LGBT+ representation. While some fans have hoped for a gay romance between Finn and Poe (played by John Boyega and Oscar Isaac) , nothing has quite materialized as of yet. But Abrams, who said that he’s always tried to find a cast that “looked more the way the world looks than not,” isn’t ruling out the possibilities. “In the case of the LGBTQ community, it was important to me that people who go to see this movie feel that they’re being represented in the film,” he said.

Knowing how conservatives and the anti-LGBTQ industry are, I'm sure that they will be milking the fake outrage teat for all its worth. Remember how they flipped out over a gay character in Beauty and the Beast?

And apparently one has started early with this probably soon-to-be overblown drama.

'Judge refuses to perform gay marriages because she doesn't want to 'offend God'' & other Thur midday news briefs

Judge refuses to perform gay marriages because she doesn’t want “to offend” God - New cause celebre of the anti-LGBTQ industry no doubt.

WV Senate president tentatively backs LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill - We'll see how this turns out.

Boy's relative abandoned him on the side of the road because he thought the boy was gay: Police - Disgusting. Put his ass UNDER the jail. 

The UK used to be LGBTQ-friendly. What happened? - TERFS, etc.

Which Celebrity Caused Your 'Gay Awakening?'

 After a day like today - particularly with the impeachment hearing and the GOP fakery that came with it - I'm exhausted. So forgive this happy LGBTQ warrior and proud member of the Rainbow Mafia (it's a religious right slur, but damn it's still cool) for presenting something frivolous right now. I invite you all to tell me who was your first LGBTQ crush, i.e. the celebrity who awakened the gay in you.

To answer your question - I didn't come to grips with being gay until in college. Still, I had a childhood fascination (which turned out to be unofficial crushes) on the following:

 Jackie Earle Haley, Stephen Geoffreys, Lance Kerwin, Ike Eisenmann, River Phoenix (I had it for him REAL BAD), Meeno Pelucee (woof! woof!), Matthew Laborteaux, Billy Jacoby, and Chris Makepeace.

And those are the ones I can think of for now.

'Group flips out over Christmas drag show' & other Wed midday news briefs

Christian group goes ballistic over a Christmas drag show: “An insult to the birth of Christ” - They'll have to get over it.

Christian higher ed can't win the LGBTQ debate unless it transforms - Truer words were never spoken. 

Free PrEP program unveiled under Trump’s HIV initiative - Knowing Trump's affinity with the anti-LGBTQ industry, count the days before this is rescinded. 

Rep. Pramila Jayapal wants transgender people in Congress - I would love to see that, too.

Hate groups - 'Curse those dastardly homosexuals!'

To hear or read anti-LGBTQ hate groups like the Family Research Council or the American Family Association tell it, our community shouldn't be worried about Donald Trump. Apparently we are too busy raising hell.

First there is this "tasteful" image courtesy of FRC:

And when FRC says "the left," you just know that we are front and center. And locking up the Bible in chains it appears. I thought we saved the chains for each other via sexual play. At least that's what FRC and the others used to accuse us of doing.

 But when it comes to spinning itemized hysteria, FRC takes a back seat to the American Family Association.  AFA has a list of the havoc we have allegedly accomplished. And even though you should take AFA's rendition of these events with a grain of salt, it still makes me feel rather butch to be a part of a large group who can supposedly cause this much ruckus:

In the past three decades, LGBTQ activists have demanded the embrace of homosexuality by society and the church. This LGBTQ demand for “equality” has gone viral, and its stormtroopers take no prisoners.

They don’t allow Christians to take a “hate the sin, love the sinner” approach. No, they would say that by not affirming homosexuals, we are fostering what they call “hate.” And they desire to outlaw hate and punish those who preach it.

Many Christians don’t know how to stand firm when criticized on this issue. They understand what the Bible teaches on this topic, but the idea of being called a “hater” is mortifying to them, so they try to straddle the proverbial fence. It happens a lot. Here are some examples: 

The Boy Scouts of America: While not an explicitly Christian organization, the BSA upheld Christian values to millions of young boys for decades. In recent years, they have completely sold out to the homosexual cause. 

Tim Tebow: What a great example for boys across America this man has been. Yet, when the LGBTQ groups applied pressure on him, he canceled a speaking engagement at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, because the church teaches that homosexuality is a sin and he wanted to avoid controversy. 

Louie Giglio: The founder of the Passion youth gatherings, Giglio was one of my favorite Bible teachers. He was asked to pray at President Obama’s second inauguration, but when a 20-year-old sermon surfaced in which Giglio warned against the rise of homosexual activism in America, he was severely criticized by the LGBTQ community. Giglio sheepishly withdrew from the event and then would not even reaffirm his own sermon.

'NBA's Dwayne Wade defends his son from anti-LGBTQ trolls' & other Tue midday news briefs

NBA player Dwayne Wade, his wife actress Gabrielle Union and their family.

NBA player Dwyane Wade forced to defend his preteen son from anti-LGBTQ trolls - Now THIS is a true black man to stand up for his son. Not one of those annoying ho-teps.

Legal reckoning: New abuse suits could cost church over $4B - It seems to me that children are safer being read a book by a drag queen than attending the Catholic Church. Just saying.

Why the LDS Church Joined LGBTQ Advocates in Supporting Utah's Conversion Therapy Ban - Let me sit down for this one.

I Was Harassed After Being Outed By My Students. Then Something Amazing Happened. - An awful story, but with a happy ending. Just another bit of proof of how our community turns adversity into an asset.

Trump put the right amount of 'money on the dresser' to gain white conservative evangelical support

One thing definitely proven by Trump being in the White House is in spite of all of their talk about morals, integrity, Christianity, etc., white conservative evangelicals are just as for sale as a lot of  other groups peddling their wares in DC.

And they have no problem whoring themselves out. According to a column in Rolling Stone (by way of Raw Story), it wasn't that difficult for Trump to get them on his side. It was just a matter of putting the right amount of 'money on the dresser.'

In a column for Rolling Stone published this Monday, Alex Morris tries to shed some light on this contradiction.

According to Morris, it all started with a September meeting in 2016, six weeks before the election, where an audion recording of the meeting revealed how evangelical leaders handed Trump a mandate that he promised to fulfill. 

“He would end the contraception mandate of Obamacare; … he would select only anti-choice judges; … he would do away with the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt entities from endorsing politicians; … he would support prayer in school; … he would oppose any bill that pulled funding from Christian schools that were charged with discrimination; … he would keep transgender people from using the ‘wrong’ bathrooms and locker rooms; … and he would protect Israel, following the biblical pronouncement that nations that do so would be blessed (‘[Obama’s] been the worst thing that’s happened to Israel …” 

Despite Trump’s newfound allies in the evangelical movement, he never bothered to put out the image that he was a true believer. But that didn’t matter — it was Trump’s perceived devotion to their cause that had evangelicals sold. As Morris points out, close to 81 percent of white evangelicals cast their ballots for him on election day. Fast forward to 2019, 82 percent of evangelicals would vote for Trump if the election were held today. “Two-thirds believe that he has not damaged the decency of the presidency, 55 percent agree with Sarah Huckabee Sanders that ‘God wanted him to be president,’ and 99 percent oppose impeachment,” Morris writes. 

Their eagerness to anoint Trump as some sort of messenger of God shouldn't be all that surprising. Remember how they anointed beauty queen Carrie Prejean as some sort of modern day Queen Esther due to her opposition of marriage equality? That is until the controversy regarding her semi-nude pictures.

One would think that after that and their general loss in the marriage equality fight, conservative evangelicals would be wary of counting on unsavory means or people to gain their goals. Then again, their unity with Trump only signifies how they have no trouble selling out the values they claim to uphold for a little political power.

Only time will tell whether or not this will blow up in their face just like their fight against marriage equality eventually did. 

Is Franklin Graham now using his ministry to endorse political candidates?

Franklin Graham seems to be using his ministry to endorse political candidates.

Former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the news recently by announcing that she may be eyeing the governorship of Arkansas.

And she has already got one high-profile person in her corner:

There's talk about @SarahHuckabee running for gov. She told @NYTimes there’s a difference in someone who wants to be a senator or governor & someone called to serve. We need more people like her who are called by God to serve in positions of leadership. https://t.co/ogeEreWua1

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) November 30, 2019

Trump supporting evangelical leader reportedly felt that AIDS was 'God's punishment'

When Gary Bauer worked in the Reagan Administration, he allegedly undermined the fight against HIV/AIDS because he felt that it was God's punishment.

Editor's Note - On World AIDS Day as we commemorate the lives lost because of HIV/AIDS and those who continue to live with the condition, we should also remember those with power back then who either stood by and did nothing or actually applauded how the disease attacked our community. Gary Bauer who, as far as I know, has never had to answer for his behavior in the Reagan Administration as HIV/AIDS spread in our community. He remains to this day looked upon as a pro-family evangelical leader as he prominently supports the actions of Donald Trump. Trump even appointed him on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The following is a repost from 2014:

The late President Reagan gets a lot of deserved flack for his negligence in the early days of the AIDS crisis. Today, we learned that there needs to be some flack dispensed around because Reagan isn't the only person in his Administration who needs to be called to the carpet.

According to Right Wing Watch:

Anyone who is familiar with Gary Bauer's anti-gay extremism will not be surprised to learn that his bigotry goes way back. Just in time for World AIDS Day, we now know that when Bauer was working in the Reagan White House, he fought hard to keep gay people off the nation’s first AIDS commission.

Right Wing Watch published part of a memo he sent to Reagan regarding this:

 3. Millions of Americans try to raise their children to believe that homosexuality is immoral. In many states homosexual practices are illegal, including sodomy. For you to appoint a known homosexual to a Presidential Commission will give homosexuality a stamp of acceptability. It will drive a wedge between us and many of our socially conservative supporters. 

4. While it is true that homosexuals have been major victims of AIDS, they are also responsible for its spread. Recent students show the average gay man with AIDS has had over 150 different sexual partners in the previous 12 months. 

Bauer proposed instead appointing a relative of someone with AIDS, or a caregiver, or as a last resort, a “reformed” homosexual: “that is, someone not currently living a gay life style. We have identified several individuals that meet that criteria.”

 In the end, Reagan ignored Bauer’s pleadings and appointed Frank Lilly, an openly gay geneticist, to the Presidential Commission on the HIV Epidemic.

'Homophobic pundit disappears from Trump campaign website after outcry' & other Wed midday news briefs

Trump doesn't seem to be eager to be seen with Clarence Mason Weaver at the present.

Misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ pundit disappears from Trump campaign website following criticism - Making noise instead of being blase tends to work. Of course that doesn't mean he's completely gone, but it does mean a reaction was caused.

Black LGBTQ activists split over Harris, Buttigieg spat - I'm quoted in this and I meant every damn word I said. 

Norterra Canyon Principal Quashed Student Project on LGBTQ Pride - Excuse me? Why?

Anti-LGBTQ activist doesn't think the LGBTQ community should celebrate Thanksgiving

Linda Harvey

How coldhearted and homophobic do you have to be to not want the LGBTQ community to even enjoy Thanksgiving? Let's ask perennially obsessed anti-LGBTQ activist, the once labeled 'most homophobic woman in America,'  Linda Harvey. Apparently she thinks our community shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving:

The internet is replete with homosexual/transgender hostility toward parents, those who lovingly provided a home, allowance, support, and often college tuition, not to mention the child’s genetic heritage — and receive derision and scorn in return from sexually sinful or gender-deviant children. The tears of these parents could fill a cathedral. God knows their pain. 

 Our current culture applauds the person who “comes out” of the closet, no matter what betrayals result from the pursuit of sinful desires. Recently, I was deeply grieved when a young minister we knew as he grew up declared his homosexual preference very publicly. But it was also stunning to watch those who claim identity as believers gush with applause for his “courage.” This is not courage, but rebellion, indulgence, and pride. Those who embrace homosexual sin or gender rebellion are declaring that God never created them — they create themselves.

Can you imagine how much of a drag it would be at Linda Harvey's house at Thanksgiving.

You would probably have a meal of unseasoned, dry-as-the-dust turkey with bland watery cranberry sauce and macaroni and cheese with raisins. For desert, you wouldn't have any because desert is so sweet that it has to be made by Satan.

Then after washing it down with a glass of lukewarm water, you would settle down for a  watching of some awful z-grade right-wing Christian propaganda movie starring Kirk Cameron and Kevin Sorbo  about some child who dreamed of going to Heaven after being coerced into a low-grade abortion by her evil gay friend plotting to convert her boyfriend into homosexuality while his father, the even more evil Democratic Congressman, plots with the forces of socialism to put the little old Christian lady in jail among drooling lesbians because she refuses to sell flowers for the wedding of the very very evil gay couple who is plotting to adopt two children so they can indoctrinate them to be transgender and set them loose in the area public school so they can "force" it to allow transgender students to use showers and bathrooms of their true gender expression so that the girls would be targeted by predators who will in turn sexually assault them, which will lead one girl's father to come out of retirement and embrace his former occupation as an assassin, where he will be brainwashed into attempting to take Trump out at his next campaign rally.

Or something like that.

Needless to say that some of the comments below Harvey's piece aren't exactly positive towards her point of view. I particularly like the following one so much, I think I will end this post with it:

Respect is a two way street, Linda. This homosexual will be bringing a cheesecake to Thanksgiving dinner celebrated together with my wonderfully accepting father, brothers, sister, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews. The fact that you simply can't imagine people having that in their life is a sad commentary on your own state of mind.