'NOW That's What I Call Family Values DVD' - For parents who fear their children are being 'indoctrinated into homosexuality'

 

This week promises to be interesting (at the very least) so let's slide into it with a little comedy and a lot of satire. Comedian Lilly Singh brings it with her ad for parents who fear that their kids are being 'indoctrinated' into homosexuality by children's movies and television shows. Her solution -  'NOW That's What I Call Family Values DVD.

'No charges for Wyoming librarians for making LGBTQ-themed and sex ed books available to young people' & other Fri midday news briefs

One of the books in the center of a Wyoming controversy.

No charges for Wyoming librarians over sex ed, LGBTQ books - Good. It's incredibly insane that they would get into trouble for harmless and beneficial act. 

Evangelical leader demands foreign nations refuse entry to Americans with gender-neutral passports​ - Franklin Graham still mad cause Biden won't kiss his ass like Trump did. 

“Sodomy-free” Milo Yiannopoulos is offering “Pray the Gay Away” services on college campus now - 'Sodomy-free' but still an asshole. 

Lesbians stand by trans women in open letter after 'dangerous' BBC article - That's right. Stand with your sisters. I am still not over the fact that the BBC published such irresponsible junk 

Why Halloween is 'gay Christmas' to many LGBTQ Americans - Oh?

NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson believes that being LGBTQ is just about sex. And he wants to force LGBTQ people to live in accordance to that belief.

NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson 

North Carolina Lt Governor Mark Robinson seems to be having the time of his life riding the controversy he started a while back by railing against LGBTQ people and LGBTQ-themed books in schools. He has been steadily playing the victim by claiming that the so-called evil and intolerant gay community has been slurring him because he only wants to protect the children from homosexuality.

According to Right Wing Watch, on Tuesday, Robinson held  conference call with equally homophobic nut E.W. Jackson. During this call, he hinted on running for governor (God help NC if he does.) He also made the following statement, which LGBTQ people have heard from folks like him so many times, we can recite it from memory:

“One of the reasons why they’re attacking me is because of my religious beliefs,” Robinson griped. “I am a firm believer, and I’m not shy about saying this: homosexuality and transgenderism are sin. According to the tenets of my Christian faith, that is sinful behavior, and it is sinful for people to wrap themselves up in it and identify themselves by it, and it is immoral for people to promote it to other people.” 

 “In this country, you have the right to be able to be a homosexual and transgender person, there’s no doubt about that, and I’ll stand up for your rights to be able to do that,” he continued. “But as far as you going into schools and promoting it to young people and trying to push your feelings or your lifestyle on someone else, that is an absolute no go.” “Just because I disagree with your lifestyle doesn’t mean that I hate you or that I want to take away your constitutional rights,” Robinson said.

 

Robinson repeats the same nonsense that we've to deal with from his sort on so many occasions and it proves that when you break it down, LGBTQ people aren't the aggressors here. We aren't the ones attempting to force people to condone or accept any standard of behavior. 

People like Robinson are.

His controversy has nothing to do with keeping children from harm or his religion.  It's about a man with a limited view of a group of people attempting to force said group of people to live in accordance to his limited view. Robinson has a right to his personal beliefs. He has a right to believe that homosexuality is a sin and that the LGBTQ identity is all about sex.

But what he doesn't have is the right to force LGBTQ people to conduct ourselves in accordance to his standards. To him, our identity has nothing to do with who we are, but his perverted idea of what we supposedly do in the bedroom. And that's not our problem. He has no right to reduce the complexity and diversity of LGBTQ lives to simply sexual encounters. He has no right to render our families invisible. He has no right to render LGBTQ kids in schools invisible either. 

And he definitely has no right to mandate how we should behave. We shouldn't have to edit, censor, or transfer any part of our lives simply to suit the stupidity of a man who thinks that God has given him dominion to transfer his sick ideas about LGBTQ people onto LGBTQ people. I would suggest that Robinson get over himself.  Stop using his religious beliefs as an excuse to stigmatize people or expect them to behave as if he gets to dictate who they are.

LGBTQ people do not have lifestyles. We have lives. Robinson needs to get one.

'GOP lawmaker demands schools tell him if they have books on racism & LGBTQ people' & other Thur midday news briefs

GOP lawmaker demands schools tell him if they have books on racism & LGBTQ people​ - Remember earlier this year when the GOP claimed we were trying to ban Dr. Seuss books? Good times.

Lil Nas X’s Dad Puts On Cape To Defend His Son Following Boosie Badazz’s Latest Homophobic Rant - Say what you will, this is getting good. 

Activists demand ICE release transgender, HIV-positive detainees - The fight for basic fairness goes into so many different directions. 

U.S. Issues First Passport With Third Gender Option - SOME idiotic folks are angry. I can't understand why. It does them no harm or damage.

Trump supporting, anti-vaxxer Congressman blames gay marriage in part for society's 'plagues'

Congressman Bob Good

Members of the religious right and the anti-LGBTQ industry blame us for so many things. Maybe Virginia GOP Congressman Bob Good got tired of waiting for blame us every time something bad happens in the world and instead decided to shoot for blanket scapegoating.

While opposing a domestic violence prevention bill, a Republican claims nearly everything that “plagues our society” is a result of failing to follow “god’s rules for and definition of marriage” pic.twitter.com/z4ktzEpx8m

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 26, 2021

The irony is that Good said this in opposition of a bill designed to curb domestic violence. How's this for another irony - he is not only a strong supporter of Donald Trump but also a supporter of the lie that Trump was cheated in the 2020 election.. He voted to overturn the election. In addition, he has gone on record calling the coronavirus pandemic a 'hoax' and is infamous for spreading a lot of misinformation about the pandemic.

In the days of my youth, he would be called a 'nut' but thanks to today's political climate, he is called 'Congressman' by some and a 'faithful warrior of Jesus Christ' by others. 

It goes without saying that his scapegoating of the LGBTQ community is as bogus as his morality and integrity. To me that's a good thing. One reason is obvious. The other reason is that it would have depressed me tremendously to contemplate that us LGBTQ people have so much power, but  I still can't get Rob Kardashian to be my love slave.

'Historical initiative wants to preserve, tell stories of South Carolina city's LGBTQIA+ community' & other Wed midday news briefs

LGBTQ Columbia History Initiative seeks to preserve, tell stories of city's LGBTQIA+ community - Yep, I hope to be involved. As you know, I live in Columbia, SC  and it's about time South Carolina gets a positive shout out in the community.

Billy Porter Is Directing the Gay Summer Camp Romance Film We Deserve - This promises to be interesting.

Intersex people have been challenging 'gender-normalizing surgery.' Doctors are starting to listen. - It's about time. 

Brazil’s anti-LGBTQ president claims COVID-19 vaccines cause AIDS​ - I feel so sorry for Brazil right now for electing such a jackass.

Drag Queens RULE!!

Drag queens get a bad rap. Whenever certain people - whether they be internal concern trolls or outsiders thinking that our existence depends upon their acceptance - want to make a gripe about how LGBTQ people try to be "deliberately different," they seem to always point to the drag queens. Asserting that drag queens are what's wrong with our community, they falsely portray them as a sort of public enemy number one. All of this madness came into focus during the multiple and increasingly silly attacks on Drag Queen Story Hour.

The truth is, drag queens are some of the most popular facets of LGBTQ culture, and that includes with heterosexuals. And why shouldn't they be?  They are the epitomes of talent in our community. They create their own personas, make their own costumes, practice their own routines until they get them perfect. And on top of all of this, they lend their time and talents for charitable endeavors, seeking no monetary payment but simple acknowledgement for what they do. 

So while we give homage to the hell raisers and rabble rousers of LGBTQ history, let's not forget the queens who raise our spirits with their performances and who continue to remind us just how wonderful it is to be unique. They prove on a daily basis that unique folks need not follow the crowd. The crowd follows them.

'Religious right outraged at a mattress ad for showing lesbian and gay couples' & other Tue midday news briefs

Conservative Christians outraged at sweet mattress ad that shows lesbian & gay couples​ - Let them stay mad. Enjoy the above ad. 

‘Christocrat’ Rick Scarborough Has Big Plans to ‘Take Over’ School Boards All Across Texas - Oh yeah. Here we go again. 

'Worst List' names 180 colleges that are 'unsafe' for LGBTQ students - Siiigh! 

A Texas school suspended male & non-binary students for having long hair. They’re suing. - Sock it to 'em! 

North Carolina lieutenant governor doubles down on LGBTQ beliefs, criticism of books - A jackass will be a jackass.

Dave Chappelle tries to work defiance but comes across as tone deaf and clueless

Dave Chappelle comes across as a bigger idiot in his phony defiant statement about his recent controversial special,

Guess who wants to be back in the news and I know I am going to get grief from my own for covering it. Some seem to think that if I don't give him any attention, he will go away. Uh uh. That's not how it works. Since I have a platform, albeit more minor than his,  I will do my best to speak for the folks who are being bullied by him because they aren't celebrities and thus don't have thousands of people groveling at their feet and feeding on their every word. They are just folks trying to live their daily lives as best as they can.

Dave Chappelle is talking about the controversy he started with his Netflix special. In the special, he attacked the transgender community and erased the lives of black LGBTQ people in order to make his attacks seem justifiable via  the tired black people vs. LGBTQ people narrative. He got a lot of people calling him out. Also,  probably because he's a celebrity,  he has a lot of individuals supporting him. Trans employees of Netflix staged a protest last week to call him and Netflix out.

Chappelle addressed this in a video he put out:

Chappelle remained unapologetic about the special — which was accused of containing transphobic and homophobic remarks and led to a walkout at Netflix — saying: “I said what I said.” “It’s been said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused. That is not true — if they had invited me I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we would be speaking about,” Chappelle said in the video. “I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like I’m the only one that can’t go to the office anymore.” 

He also claimed that the media has been framing the entire situation wrong

“I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames it that it’s me versus that community, that is not what it is. Do not blame the LBGTQ [sic] community for any of this shit. This has nothing to do with them. It’s about corporate interests and what I can say and what I cannot say,” Chappelle said. “For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been loving and supporting, so I don’t know what all this nonsense is about.” Chappelle also spoke about his upcoming documentary about his summer 2020 comedy tour, claiming that it has now been excluded from film festivals. “This film that I made was invited to every film festival in the United States and some of those invitations I accepted. When this controversy came out about ‘The Closer,’ they began disinviting me from these film festivals,” Chappelle claimed. “And now, today, not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival, nobody will touch this film. 

 . . .Though Chappelle said he was willing to meet with members of the trans community, he jokingly listed off a slew of conditions that would have to be met: “To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody’s demands. And if you want to meet with me, I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”

What a goddamn simpering asshole.  Seriously, what kind of bullshit is this? He's blaming the media now? It wasn't the media who made ugly comments about trans people. It wasn't the media which designated themselves as 'Team Terf." All of that was him.

And then he has the gall to make it seem like he is being a defiant underdog besieged by a group of bullies? Excuse me? Who the hell called out who? Who began this shit?  It certainly wasn't the transgender community.  

Then he has the audacity to set conditions as to when and how the transgender community can meet with him for a discussion. Excuse me, but when did Chappelle become a king? I mean I wish I had his audacity to push an argument up against a group of people and then attempt to dictate when and if they get to meet with me to register their anger.  But yet even with all of that mess, Chappelle considers himself the canceled one. He still considers himself as a victim.  He must be out of his damn mind.

I don't know what's worse about Chappelle's statement  - the fact that he comes across as a two-faced tone deaf moron or the fact that as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't even address the main reason why I've been pissed at him. And that has to do with how in his special, he dishonestly made his personal attack on the trans community seem like a racial issue by erasing the existence of LGBTQ people of color.  And he does it again with his weak-ass idea of a defiant statement by not having the decency to address us. Even though we haven't gotten much attention for it, us LGBTQ people of color haven't been silent with our displeasure about the controversy. 

We take very much offense to being erased yet again by heterosexuals in the black community who either take our lives for granted or act as if we don't exist, even though we are going through the same mess which hobbles them. In the year 2020, 44 trans people were murdered and the majority of them were of color. But Dave Chappelle won't mention these trans people. Apparently to him, black lives only matter when they aren't LGBTQ black lives.

The only reason why some folks support Chappelle is because they are either his friends or sad folks who will eat grass if a celebrity does it first. But to me, Chappelle has disproven any claims that he is a comedic genius or can even adequately work a whoopie cushion. He's turning into a one-note idiot who is coming unglued because maybe some folks are realizing that he was nothing more than hype. Maybe that's why he had that "issue" years ago which caused him to cancel his television show.

Far be it from me to diagnose anyone's 'issues,' but I will say this. Whatever his mind is going through, he has no right to make trans people his scapegoats or erase the existence of LGBTQ people of color. 

We aren't your problem, Dave. So stop attempting to be ours.

Related post - Dave Chappelle can kiss my black gay ass

'Survey goes around school asking if 'queers' should use 'normal people' bathrooms' & other Mon midday news briefs

Survey goes around high school asking if “queers” should use “normal people” bathrooms - Easily the single most ridiculous mess this week (so far)

Queer Black lives on screen: A brief history of the good, the bad and what needs to come next​ - Damn right. Don't forget us. 

Rep. Jim Banks suspended from Twitter for misgendering trans government official Dr. Rachel Levine - What a tacky thing to do, Rep Banks. 

Boosie BadAzz Sends Violent Tweet About Lil Nas X and Gay Sex - What a sad man to have such a ridiculous reaction. 

12 superheroes who came out in 2021 - One thing wrong with this. Loki is NOT a superhero.

'Normalizing homosexuality to children' is a phrase disguised to sugarcoat bigotry and lies

South Carolina Pride was last weekend and it was fun and inspirational. As they always do, the organizers did a wonderful job. It even got a great article in the area newspaper, The State, breaking down how Pride is important for LGBTQ children and families in general:

“Our LGBTQ community is making its own families now. We’ve grown so much and we’ve come such a long way. Marriage equality — we’re all getting married. We’re having kids,” SC Pride President Jeff March said. “So family pride is an important part of our street. We have children in school, and so it’s as much their pride as it is ours.” This year, Famously Hot South Carolina Pride is back in Columbia after a COVID-19 hiatus, and the weekend-long event has something for everyone. Children and families seeking out experiences specifically for them can check out the Family Pride section of the Saturday’s Pride festival, located near intersection of Washington and Main streets in downtown.

 . . . “One of the things that I like about the family area of Pride is that not just LGBT families are attracted to coming,” Harriet Hancock Center board secretary Christian Hesch said. “And because of that, you allow them to open the door in an age-appropriate level to their own kids, so if they if they realize one day that maybe they’re part of the community, they know, ‘Oh yeah, I went to family pride with my mom, and I know she’s going to accept me and I can talk to her.’” 

In envisioning the Family Pride area, Hesch said she wanted it to be a place where people like herself, a mom of four, could go and enjoy LGBTQ+ Pride without having to have uncomfortable conversations with their kids the next day. “My wife and I have four kids elementary school age, and I want families like ours to see that they’re not alone in the area,” Hesch said. “It’s critical to recognize that we have LGBT folks in the community and South Carolina generally that are of all different family makeups. “We’re not just targeting LGBT youth. We’re also talking about targeting LGBT parents. We’re parents. We have kids. We would like to be able to go celebrate our Pride in our family unit with our kids. ... This is about celebrating pride in an entire community, and family is just one aspect and one segment of that community.”

It's about time an article about Pride focused on what it does for our kids and families. Generally we are portrayed as outsiders attempting to barge into the American idea of family.  In contrast, this article brings forth a simply truth - we are not outsiders. We are a part of the American idea of family.

However, there is also bad with good as seen by this tweet criticizing SC Pride:

The tweeter is reacting to the picture (which was chosen to run with the article) by citing an unfortunately common stereotype imposed on LGBTQ people. And that stereotype is any visibility about us, any talk about us, anything about us at all has to do with sexual intercourse and how children need to be guarded from all things about us because we would 'normalize' homosexuality (particularly sex) to them.

It's a bunch of bull. 

Now there was a time in which I would have of course totally disagreed with the statement but with the proviso that the picture above wasn't the best choice to be run. Well chalk it up to  the weariness of getting older and simply not giving a 'f@k' but I don't think there is anything wrong with the picture. I love it. It's an adorable thing to me on so many levels. And it pinpoints the idiocy that comes with fearing LGBTQ people. 

All I see is an LGBTQ man in make-up holding a baby (they are both identified in the picture above the article in the link) who is obviously curious about what he's seeing. But most babies are like that. That's all. It's simple and basic. Some folks will conjure up nonsense about 'grooming,' 'sexualizing children,' 'normalizing homosexuality' and a bunch of other ridiculous words and phrases designed to make their silly fear sound like concern. But it would appear to me that our concern shouldn't be with the LGBTQ man holding the baby, but with the minds of folks who see something dastardly about it.  Because frankly, I can't make any connection of the infant being exposed to any danger. And I don't think that anyone thinking logically could either.

But I do get how the picture is scary to some people just like the article following it is scary. They both represent LGBTQ people as being happy and free, unencumbered by the stereotypes and lies some try to anchor to our heels, and especially not in a prostate frame of mind begging for 'tolerance.'

You don't beg for tolerance so that you can live in your own house. You simply live. And it's high time that LGBTQ folks begin that asserting that because America is our house, too.

BTW, folks did pushback on our friend in the above tweet (including yours truly. Twice):

'How the extreme right is weaponizing bigotry to campaign in Virginia' & other Fri midday news briefs

How the extreme right is weaponizing bigotry to campaign in Virginia - Ground zero and if you've been paying attention, it's not pretty.

GOP senators highjack judicial hearing to spread already refuted transphobic story about sexual assault in school bathroom - My post from yesterday because it further demonstrates the facts behind the first news brief. 

Jonathan Bennett details the extreme homophobia that made him develop ulcers - Unlike what some people may claim, having to deal with homophobia does more damage than simply "hurt feelings." 

A Man Allegedly Shot His Stepfather Over LGBTQ+ Houseguest - Speechless . . . 

UDC hosts event recognizing LGBTQ support at HBCUs - Wonderful! Historically black colleges and universities need this sort of thing.

GOP senators highjack judicial hearing to spread already refuted transphobic story about sexual assault in school bathroom

Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) (top) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo) (bottom) were only two of several GOP senators who highjacked a hearing for a Biden judicial nominee to repeat an transphobic horror story about an sexual assault in a school bathroom. But the aspect of the story having to do with the transgender community, which the senators continuously brought up,  was refuted a day before the hearing.

And now a double lesson on

1. Why we shouldn't ignore anti-LGBTQ entities and especially the lies they tell about us

2. Why we should never be so naive as to think that we only have to refute an anti-LGBTQ lie only once.

Earlier this week,  I posted about how the group Media Matters exposed that an assault on a female student in a Virginia school last year was being exploited to create a negative narrative about trans students and pro-trans policies in schools:

Right-wing media have seized on a report of a sexual assault at a high school in Loudoun County, Virginia, to attack trans-inclusive bathrooms, often suggesting that a policy in the school district opened the door to predators in girls’ bathrooms. In reality, the policy was not in effect when the reported sexual assault occurred, and it is always illegal to assault or harass someone.

Also, according to The Washington Post (by way of Media Matters), conservative entities  identified the young man perpetrating the assault as gender fluid and wearing a dress, but the authorities did not verify either assertion.

If you thought this was the end of it, then you obviously don't know the anti-LGBTQ right or their allies. As I have written about on numerous occasions, they tend to repeat false stories and junk science about LGBTQ people even when said false stories and junk science have been refuted.  With regards to this particular false anti-LGBTQ story, Republican members of the United States Senate used it to interrupt a judicial nominee's hearing on Wednesday. 

According to The Huffington Post:

Holly Thomas, President Joe Biden’s pick for a lifetime seat on a powerful U.S. appeals court, got her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday. But Republicans on the Judiciary Committee decided to make something else the focal point of the hearing: their own transphobia. One by one, GOP senators used their allotted time for questions with Thomas, a civil rights attorney up for a California-based seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, to talk about a months-old case of sexual assault at a high school in Loudoun County, Virginia.

 . .  .“Last week, we learned that the Loudoun County school board in Virginia covered up the fact that a male wearing a skirt had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in the girl’s bathroom at the school,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the committee. “In 2016, you argued in multiple briefs that concerns about the safety of young girls in school bathrooms were unfounded,” he said to Thomas. “In light of the troubling news about Loudoun County, do you still believe that concerns about safety and privacy, especially for young girls, in school bathrooms are [not] valid .

 . . “Do you stand by your comments in these [2016] briefs that there is no evidence of violence or crime in restrooms by allowing biological males to use biological females’ restrooms?” asked Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

 “It should not be lost on you how unsettled that Tennesseans that I represent are by your nomination because of what you have said about the transgender rights and the assault that happened in Loudoun County,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). “People want to know that their children are going to be safe.”

 “I want to get back briefly to what Sen. Hawley was talking about,” said Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), referencing one of her 2016 briefs relating to bathrooms. 

 “You said that, ‘In states where nondiscrimination protections are already law, Texas’ predicted safety harm has never materialized.’ It then went on to classify Texas’ concerns as ‘anxiety about possible future bathroom crime as nothing more than unsupported speculation,’” said Lee. “How would anyone know in that circumstance ... that no harm could ever materialize?”

It's sad that these elected officials disgraced their office by repeating a lie designed to demonize transgender kids, thereby making their lives more difficult. However it could have been worse. At least the truth regarding the incident was on record before they started. So instead of achieving a slam dunk against a Biden nominee, the GOP ended up with egg on their face, so to speak.

Of course the problem with that is how very few are paying attention. This means that Grassley, Lee, Hawley, Blackburn, and any other senator involved in this sad effort  can pretend as if they didn't cynically highjack a judicial committee meeting to sabotage President Biden's judicial nominee at the expense of trans children. And these children unfortunately have to depend upon them for their safety.

'Hundreds rally in Netflix walkout over Chappelle Special debate' & other Thur midday news briefs

Hundreds Rally in Netflix Walkout Over Chappelle Special Debate​ - Netflix brought this on themselves by so many missteps. And they deserve it. 

GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert Slammed As ‘Hateful Bigot’ For Tweet About Transgender Official - Stank people are always trying to jump on the successes of others. 

Unearthed docs show US gov’t tried multiple times to deport WWE star for being gay - Damn. They tried to do Pat Patterson dirty simply because he was gay. 

Out athletes barely exist in male team pro sports. Here's how that's changing.- Damn right. Keep working forward. 

Across Africa, major churches strongly oppose LGBTQ rights - The struggle is real and it is universal.

Amber Ruffin has a message for people angry at a bisexual Superman - 'B!tch, Please'

I ran this in Wednesday's news briefs, but it needs a wider audience. It speaks to these false moral panics that the religious right and certain conservatives, like Fox News personalities, manage to successfully create over the stupidest things.

Since the announcement by DC Comics that the character of Superman (actually the son of the original Superman and Lois Lane) will be coming out as bisexual, the usual parties of fake outrage have been making noise about the so-called indoctrination of children and perversion of American society. The woke whiners (people who denigrate things they refuse to understand by derisively labeling them as 'woke') and the P.C. blamers have been working over time to exploit ignorance and fear over a fictional character. Comedian Amber Ruffin speaks for all of us rational individuals by basically saying to all of them, 'Bitch, Please!'

'Dr. Rachel Levine becomes nation's first trans four-star officer' & other Wed midday news briefs

Dr. Rachel Levine

Dr. Rachel Levine becomes first transgender four-star officer across all uniformed service branches​ - That's right. And you haters can go do things.

Comedienne Amber Ruffin roasts haters over Superman’s coming out - Best video I have seen today!

MTV: Awards Show in Hungary Will Show Stand Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws - Good.

Convicted Homocon Rioter: Please Get On Twitter And Facebook And Stop All This “Demonization Against Me” - Oh you're breaking my heart, Brandon. Not. 

'Queer Eye' Star Responds to Marjorie Taylor Greene Comparison of HIV Status to COVID Vaccination - Goodness knows Greene needs to be called out. And often.

Anti-LGBTQ industry blames trans policy for school assault. But the policy did not exist at the time of the incident.

The transgender bathroom predator lie has been called out many times over the years. But that doesn't stop the anti-LGBTQ industry from continuously repeating it.

 Here we go again:

Right-wing media have seized on a report of a sexual assault at a high school in Loudoun County, Virginia, to attack trans-inclusive bathrooms, often suggesting that a policy in the school district opened the door to predators in girls’ bathrooms. In reality, the policy was not in effect when the reported sexual assault occurred, and it is always illegal to assault or harass someone. 

 On October 11, right-wing outlet The Daily Wire published a story about the reported assault and interviewed Scott Smith, the victim’s father, who was arrested at a June 22 school board meeting after an altercation. 

 In the article, Smith seemed to acknowledge that the suspect might not have been affected by the district's trans-inclusive policy, which allows students to use facilities that align with their gender identity. He said, “The person that attacked our daughter is apparently bisexual and occasionally wears dresses because he likes them. So this kid is technically not what the school board was fighting about." However, he then seemed to blame the policy, saying, “The point is kids are using it as an advantage to get into the bathrooms.” 

 However, the policy was passed by the school board on August 11 -- months after May 28, when the assault was reported to have taken place, making it impossible for the suspect to have used the protections “as an advantage to get into the bathrooms.” 

 The myth that trans-inclusive bathrooms allow predators to attack women has been repeatedly debunked; additionally, assaults and harassment are already illegal regardless of whether bathrooms allow trans people. In fact, the suspect was later charged in a second assault in Loudoun County that was reported to have taken place in “an empty classroom.” The suspect has now been arrested and detained in juvenile detention. 

 The Washington Post has noted that authorities have not confirmed the gender identity of the suspect or that they were wearing a dress but identified as a boy.

Media Matters goes on to call out the right-wing publications and activists who spread the lie about the incident, none of which have issued a clarification.

This is second time in which the conservative propaganda and the anti-LGBTQ industry have been caught spreading false stories about trans students or policies designed to help trans students. In June, The USA Today published an expose which pointed out that bills pushed by state legislatures which banning trans athletes from girls sports were based upon lies and misrepresentations.

'Holiday film season will be very LGBTQ friendly' & other Tue midday news briefs

These new, LGBTQ+ holiday films are going to make the yuletide hella gay in 2021! - Not generally a fan of holiday movies but that's only me. I know others in the community are and I like how we are included here. 

Netflix talent to support employee protest of Dave Chappelle- Jonathan Van Ness, Jameela Jamil and Colton Haynes are among the stars who will be featured in a PSA presented by Netflix employees at Wednesday's walkout. 

Anti-gay Daily Wire host says 2 men shouldn’t be allowed to adopt babies - The Daily Wire and Matt Walsh can go to hell. We make wonderful parents. We proved that time and time again. 

Two LGBTQ-affirming Baltimore churches — one historic and one young — unite with installation of new pastor - This is awesome. LGBTQ folks are people of faith. The religious right has no ownership of faith or God. 

8 Working Gay Porn Performers Living With HIV - A very important article which should generate some discussion.

Supporter of homophobic NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson once said gays wear diapers because they stuff bats and cellphones up their rectums

NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson's homophobia is attracting odd defenders.

Homophobia is everywhere and it's amazing how many idiots in American society will attempt and succeed to transform bigots into noble people. Take North Carolina Lt Governor Mark Robinson.

Robinson has been in a controversy recently for a bunch of ugly comments he has made about the LGBTQ community by making it seem that we are attempting to 'recruit' children via books. He has pegged these books as "borderline pornography." He is also playing the media like a harp by attempting to look like he is being besieged because supposedly he is attempting to protect children from filth in classrooms. Of course some members of the media are unconsciously playing along with his narrative by running headlines and articles detailing how Robinson refuses to apologize or resign for his comments, as if he is some type of lone hero fighting an evil menace.

Luckily for us, egotistical types like Robinson don't know when to let go. They mistake notoriety for fame and continue to talk, thereby making themselves look less heroic and more stridently annoying. Robinson seems to be entering that phase about now.

An added advantage is when certain others weigh in during such controversies seeking to get their bit in the spotlight.  In this particular case, there are some coming in to defend Robinson. One is anti-LGBTQ hate group the Family Research Council, which should surprise no one. Dehumanizing LGBTQ people is a massive part of its brand and usually my blog post would talk about them.

However in this case, a more interesting party has decided to defend Robinson and this person makes an excellent point about the vulgarity of Robinson's position. 

'Lesbian sues federal government after being rejected by foster agency' & other Mon midday news briefs

Lesbian sues federal government after being rejected by foster agency - After the last SCOTUS ruling, this should be interesting. 

Netflix Fires Black, Pregnant Leader of Trans Resource Group​ - Netflix keeps digging that hole deeper.

Krysten Sinema seems intent on dragging down the Biden presidency - Between Krysten Sinema and Peter Thiel, it would seem that the LGBTQ community's worst enemies are our own people. 

Kenyon Farrow: 'Too smart' Dave Chappelle has fallen for 'old right-wing political device' - A nicer way of saying the point I made in my piece. Chappelle is being used to advance the gay vs. black false narrative. 

Pete Buttigieg calls out Tucker Carlson over attack - Pete was being too nice.

Article said bills banning trans athletes was based on lies and misrepresentations. The media ignored it.

Editor's note - If it hasn't already, Texas will be passing a bill banning trans students from playing school sports.  That in itself is depressing to me, but added to that is something which underscores how trans Americans - and LGBTQ Americans in general - are being mistreated by our media. In June, the USA Today came out with an expose which proved that the laws banning trans students from playing school sports have been based on misrepresentations and lies. It was an excellent article. The problem is the rest of our media didn't seem to give a damn. The article came and went without a bang or so much as a whimper. There was simply no excuse for that, particularly in light of the fact that so many want to defend Dave Chappelle in spite of the anti-trans comments he makes.  Whatever the case may be, I am resposting my June 30 blog entry about this article. Perhaps some folks will now amplify it. But in a general sense, the entire thing is depressing as hell. It makes one wonder what's the point of exposing the truth about a situation if those who are supposed to give a damn about truth ignores it.

In an exceptional piece of journalism, The USA Today took a look at the efforts and groups behind statewide attempts to ban trans athletes and found a lot of lies and misrepresentation. 

It shouldn't surprise those of us in the know because every effort by religious right groups to denigrate LGBTQ people or deny us rights has been a smorgasbord of cherry-pickings, distortions, and out-and-out lies.  Exposing the anti-LGBTQ industry and calling out their history of lies is how this blog made a name for itself since 2006. 

In the spirit of all of that, I simply have to say that The USA Today article,  Conservatives want to ban transgender athletes from girls sports. Their evidence is shaky by Rachel Axon and Brent Schrotenboer is a goddamn masterpiece worthy of a Pulitzer.  

Yes, it's that good. I'm going to post snippets of it and highly suggest that folks read and share the entire article.

Excerpt 1

Grace Waggoner told lawmakers in February 2020 that her team had lost the first state tournament game it had played in decades to an opponent with a transgender player. She blamed an “unfair” Arizona Interscholastic Association policy that allows students to join teams consistent with their gender identity after going through a review. Waggoner offered few details on the athlete’s impact on the game, but bill sponsor Rep. Nancy Barto accepted it as evidence of a problem in her state.

 . . The game Waggoner referenced in her testimony turned out to be a state tournament play-in game in 2019 that Scottsdale Christian Academy lost to Heritage Academy, 16-6. Heritage Academy coach Steve LaDrigue said his team did not have a transgender player. What Waggoner didn’t say is that she’s the daughter of Kristen Waggoner, general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom – a conservative, legal nonprofit that has pushed transgender sports bans in states across the nation. When pressed for details about the game, an ADF spokesperson said in an email, “The widespread understanding on the team – including the coach, parents, and players – was that the athlete was male.” LaDrigue guesses the suspicion fell on the team’s catcher, his daughter, because she has short hair.

Editor's note - The Alliance Defending Freedom is the group behind efforts to ban trans athletes

Excerpt 2

Across the nation, state lawmakers supporting transgender athlete bans have painted a picture that girls sports teams will be overrun by athletes with insurmountable physical advantages. But a USA TODAY investigation of the lobbying effort shows that narrative has been built on vague examples that have been overstated or are untrue, and lawmakers have accepted them as fact with little effort to verify their accuracy. The more than 70 bills lawmakers have offered in at least 36 states would suggest a bigger problem facing girls sports, but that didn’t check out either. 

Instead, USA TODAY could find few transgender athletes participating and even fewer complaints about them. In South Dakota, the sponsor of a bill said a transgender girl who played basketball was “consistently scoring 25 points above females” in high school and that the Sioux Falls district alone had three transgender athletes competing in 2019. But the state association responsible for approving participation of transgender athletes says only one transgender girl has competed since 2013, and she was an average athlete who didn’t live in Sioux Falls.

Editor's note - That's just one of the cases the USA Today article revealed that those attempting to ban trans athletes misrepresented.

Excerpt 3

During a discussion at the influential Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Milstead joined former Southern Utah University runner Linnea Saltz to speak about the issue – and Saltz referred to a transgender athlete who has gained mythic status among supporters of these bills. June Eastwood, a University of Montana runner, became the first openly transgender cross-country runner in major college sports in 2019-20 after undergoing hormone therapy for a year to suppress testosterone, as required by NCAA rules. But bill proponents often exaggerate Eastwood’s accomplishments or take them out of context.

Those are three examples of religious right distortions and misrepresentations made against trans athletes in an article filled with examples. This is the type of article I hoped to write when I began this blog - the one I wish was published during the time I was attempting to come out. 

Please read and share it.

Homophobic ad comes across as demented episode of 'Leave It To Beaver'

According to LGBTQNation, there was a small controversy with the above homophobic ad released earlier this year. Recently, conservatives were claiming that YouTube had deleted it. If this were the case, they have been thanking YouTube.

The ad is the usual fearmongering nonsense which implies that anything which doesn't look at America through a white heterosexual gaze is somehow dangerous to children. Aside from lies that legitimate debates about racism are anti-white, the ad also pushes ugly beliefs about the LGBTQ community. It claims that trans girls are trying are cheating cis girls in sports and that LGBTQ people are "indoctrinating" children, making sure to omit the simple fact that we are raising children too. 

And while these lies should be enough to get one angry, the ad itself  is simply strange in a brainsick sort of way. 

For one, some are accusing the star of the ad (who portrays the husband) of giving a "trying so hard to be heterosexual that you just know that he is gay" vibe. Far be it from me to spread such rumors, but I will say that he comes across as a bizarro Ward Cleaver in a demented episode of Leave It to Beaver. 

The ad itself tries too hard in creating a ridiculously romanticized-to-death idea of America - the white, upper middle class motif,  the man referring to his wife as 'hot stuff' (By the way, she doesn't talk or do anything else except lurk in the background like a good Stepford Wife), the 2.5 children (Two boys, one girl), and the obscenely enormous American flag placed at the front of the house. The only thing missing is Fox News playing in the background.  And I didn't even mention the husband making one of his "sons" in video do the "truffle shuffle"  (Which is comprised of the little boy standing on a chair,  baring his stomach, and attempting to jiggle it. Just how are LGBTQ people a danger to children again?)

So apparently us LGBTQ people are a danger to "values" like this? If that were true, we should get a medal. On second thought, a medal and a postage stamp in our honor.

Hat tip to LGBTQNation

'NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson compares LGBTQ activists and drag queens to pedophiles' & other Thur news briefs

NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson

NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Suggests Transgender Rights Activists and Drag Queens Want to Molest Children - A bigot is like manure. No matter how folks try to pretty it up, you simply can't hide it. And folks have been attempting to pretty up Robinson's attacks on LGBTQ people. But he mistakes notoriety for fame and continues to step out further on the rails. And for the record, Mr. Robinson, the drag queen you attacked was wearing feathers, not horns. . . asshole.

Biden uses Trump-era policy to expand health care for transgender Coloradans - Good! 

7 Things to Know About 'Eternals' Phastos, the MCU's First Gay Hero - I still ain't buying the action figure. 

Apple CEO, NBA's Dwyane Wade help LGBTQ group build homes - Wonderful! Don't forget to kick out some ducats. Especially you, Mr. Cook. You know you ain't hurting for some change.

Transgender student asks state legislators - 'Why in the hell are y'all doing this? There is no point.'

There is a war of fear and misinformation across America's schools because Fox News and other right-wing entities have been spreading lies about children being attacked and "indoctrinated."

First there is the lie that Critical Race Theory is sweeping the nation's schools and  teaching white students to be ashamed of themselves. This, of course, is ludicrous.

Then conservatives are also targeting transgender kids with the lie that they hold an unfair advantage against cis kids in sports. There have been attempts at passing laws across the nation fueled by beliefs  that trans athletes are stealing scholarships and records from their cis counterparts.  This is another lie, but like the CRT stories, truth means nothing.

Truth is irrelevant when you have organizations with vast reaches smothering the debate with lie after lie. And when you have government officials and others hiding behind religious beliefs and false assurances that they don't hate while labeling  LGBTQ people and our kids as Satanic or demonic.

The 59 second video above will break your heart. It is of a trans student, Eli, speaking at a Texas state legislation hearing. The state is attempting to pass an anti-trans bill for the fourth time. Eli breaks down all of the awful things which happened to him in high school because of transphobia and how his participation in sports - which Texas legislators want to ban trans students from participating in - helped him get through it all.

Eli's simple question at the beginning breaks through all of the fear mongering. 

Related post - BUSTED! USA Today article makes strong case that attempts to ban trans athletes are based on lies and misrepresentations

'Gay Trump insurrectionist complains he can't get a date' & other Wed midday news briefs

Brandon Straka can't get a date.

Gay Trump insurrectionist complains he can’t get a date. Go figure. - Cause we got taste. 

Lt. Gov. Robinson defends himself, as LGBTQ leaders say he ‘lit a match of hatred’ - The man is disgusting and any narrative which makes him look brave is garbage. 

Madonna called Dave Chappelle “the next James Baldwin” in her new tour doc and fans are pissed - Madonna done lost her damn mind. 

Lego vows to remove gender bias from its toys - Cue the conservative outrage.

Video: Black LGBTQ Pioneers deserve more attention than Dave Chappelle

 

  

While we are still having to deal with this Dave Chappelle mess, let's amplify the voices of black people who have truly done positive things for both the LGBTQ and Black communities. This two-part special about Black LGBTQ Pioneers came out in February, but it is still remains pertinent viewing.

 . . . Phillip Alexander Downie commemorates the Black LGBTQ pioneers who have exceeded the expectations placed upon them, and surmounted hurdles some called ‘impossible’ to overcome. In this two-part special we celebrate the remarkable people that have changed our path in history, and made the world a better place. Fighting for a voice in their time that sent cultural and artistic shockwaves, and inspiring the voices of the next generation with their actions and ideas—they have fought not to garner acclaim, but to promote love and equality.

Hat tip to Montgomery Municipal Cable. 

'New Superman comes out as bisexual, GOP candidate flips out' & other Tue midday news briefs

GOP Candidate Josh Mandel Declares ‘They’ Are Trying to ‘Destroy America’ Because New Superman Is Bisexual - Mercy! Has this fool ever read Garth Ennis? 

New Superman comes out as bisexual in upcoming DC comic - More about the issue which has little Joshie upset. 

National Coming Out Day: 21 people who have come out in 2021 - Nice! 

Franklin Graham praises GOP Lt. Governor for telling “the truth” that LGBTQ people are “filth” - A moron defending a moron. 

 Finally, if black lives truly matter to some black heterosexuals, they would stop defending Dave Chappelle and listen to black LGBTQ people when we say he is hurting us: 

Dave Chappelle’s Betrayal

Dave Chappelle's 'The Closer' Neflix special is no laughing matter to LGBTQ people like me

Neither Dave Chappelle nor any other Black heterosexual has sole ownership of the Black experience

Today, I heard a caller on a radio show say that Dave Chappelle was simply saying that the life of a black person should mean as much as one in the LGBTQ community. The fact that she ignored the existence of LGBTQ black people is the problem here and I don't think it is being stated enough.

The majority of attention seems to be the ugly things which Chappelle said about transgender people, but I think that the erasure or minimization of LGBTQ people in his mind is the root of the problem.  Chappelle implies a belief which is prevalent in the black heterosexual community.

This is not to say that the majority in the black community are homophobic or transphobic, but truth be told, there seems to be an "either/or" mentality with some heterosexual black folks. Either you are LGBTQ or black. To these folks, you can't be both. Your identities can't overlap. When they talk about system racism or violence against black people in general, they refuse to acknowledge that LGBTQ people of color have particular problems with those injustices. And when talking about the black family, the black church, black survival in general, we are overlooked. 

While Chappelle and his followers claim that LGBTQ lives mean more than black lives in America, there is an epidemic of violence affecting the black trans community. In 2020, 44 trans women were murdered and the majority of them were black. I doubt that  hardly any of these folks clinging to  Chappelle as if he is Jesus on the cross and they are the Virgin Mary would even care if they were aware of this.

Apparently in spite of what many of them say about "Black Lives Matter," ours don't.

'Here we go again - American group causing anti-LGBTQ persecution in another African nation' & other Mon midday news briefs

How a US group with links to the far-right may have influenced a crackdown on Ghana's LGBTQ community - What the hell. Apparently some folks learned nothing from Uganda.

North Carolina’s Lt. Governor refuses to resign after calling LGBTQ people “filth” - North Carolina elected a nut as its lt governor and brother does it show. 

Doctor Lists Homosexuality as Woman's 'Current Disease' - Say what?

New film chronicles fight to remove homosexuality's 'mental disorder' label - I am watching this.

Dave Chappelle and the warped self-victimhood of transphobes - I especially like this part: 

" At another point, Chappelle expresses jealousy about his perception that LGBTQ people have made more progress than Black people, because a white gay man once called the police on him at a bar. He begs LGBTQ people to "free" DaBaby and Kevin Hart, as if these men are being unfairly held hostage for the truly horrific comments both have made about queer people. Last we checked, DaBaby just recorded a track on Kanye West's new album, and Hart has several movies coming out in 2022 alone. They're hardly suffering."

Video - Fox News is the author of America's recent division and pain

The above video featuring MSNBC's Chris Hayes breaks the down the recent problems of anger and rage in this country. He talks about one factor that the rest of our news gatherers seem to be afraid or too selfish to mention. - the Fox News Channel. This video will probably be ignored by a lot of folks. And this is a real shame because as long as the danger of Fox News remains unrecognized, the danger to the country will remain.

Related post - 400+ moments that defined Fox News. The network just turned 25. It's been a disaster – and it's getting worse.  

 

'Trans Netflix staffers call out company, quit over Dave Chappelle' & other Fri midday news briefs

Dave Chappelle controversy goes on.

Trans Netflix Staffers Call Company Out, Quit Over Dave Chappelle​ - I am impressed. These folks are making a huge stand.

A teen was beaten for carrying the pride flag at school. His classmates support the bully. - This right here is why our fight for equality must continue. This is awful. 

A New York Times article proclaiming “Homosexuals Proud of Deviancy” is resurfacing online - A bit of history we should never forget. 

Dave Chappelle can kiss my black gay ass - Speaking of the first item on this list,  my Tuesday post about the controversy has been viral for several days. I got some compliments about it. But also some rude statements, one of which you can read below. It's hilarious how some people have accused me of trying to 'cancel' Dave Chappelle. Nope. I don't do that sort of thing. But I won't sit for myself and my being people disrespected, degraded, or erased. 

So some folks - like the deluded child below - should get over themselves:

Video: 'Now That's What I Call Yikes' - the worst of Pat Robertson

 

In celebration of Pat Robertson stepping down from hosting The 700 Club, The Daily Show presents 'Now That's What I Call Yikes,' which celebrates the worst things he has ever said while on the air for 60 years. 

My question is how were they able to pick the truly worst with so much to choose from?