Speaking of banning books. let's have a conversation about the Bible . . .

In light of all of the book banning going on around the country, we should call out the irony when it comes to the 'religious persuasion' - conservative evangelicals - of the groups and individuals behind much of this madness.  This is solely because of the book they claim to be their guide for life, i.e. The Bible. 

Far be it from me to seem petty, but for a group of people so concerned with children being warped from what they read, the book they endorse has a lot of violence and sex in it. 

For example:

We all know the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho, but folks seem to forget that after those walls came crashing down, Joshua's army massacred everybody in the city except for a prostitute called Rahab and her family. 

We all know the story of Daniel in the lion's den, but folks seem to omit that after he was delivered, those responsible for his plight - and their families - were then fed to the lions. 

And the story about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah has been drilled into our heads as proof that homosexuality is a supposed sin. But what about the story afterwards of the incest between Lot and his daughters. Or the Levite man in the book of Judges when faced with the situation of nearly being gang raped - see Sodom and Gomorrah - handed over his concubine to be manhandled to death, which she was.

Then there is the story of the general, Sisera, who had a tent peg nailed through his head while he slept.

The king Agag, who was chopped into pieces by the prophet Samuel,

The queen Jezebel who thrown out of a window and then whose corpse was eaten by dogs after a chariot was driven over her (She was NOT a nice person), 

Elisha the prophet who had bears come out of the forest and attack boys who was making fun of him,

The king Eglon who has assassinated by having a knife so deeply driven into his belly that feces came out

Then there was  Athaliah, a queen so wicked that she had her grandchildren massacred so she could gain the throne. (She was the daughter of Jezebel. That was not a nice family)

And let's not forget massacre after massacre after massacre all done in God's name, including the wedding dowry of 200 foreskins (which of course was NOT handed over voluntarily).

I hope you see where I'm going with this. There are people out there wanting to ban books because of profanity, sex,  discussions of racism and anti-Semitism, or the existence of LGBTQ people for fear that these things are harmful to their children. And yet these are the same people taking guidance  - including the raising of same children  - from a book containing more violence and sex than a Quentin Tarantino movie.

The point is not to disrespect the Bible or the religious beliefs of those who have a deep personal faith in the Bible. But to put it plainly, book banning is not about parental control nor protecting children. It's about protecting an inflated and undeserved sense of self-entitlement. Some seem to think that it's not enough to mandate what ideas are appropriate in their own homes. Instead they want the ability to mandate the appropriateness of ideas to other families and their children.  They want to dictate standards which others are forced to follow while claiming that not affording them this privilege is harming them.

There is a name for that - gaslighting.

Books are not dangerous to children nor are class discussions about controversial issues those books may spark.  The danger lies in the hypocrisy of those exploiting their children to sanction their own personal beliefs and prejudices in laws and regulations.  Especially when we see that the faces and voices of LGBTQ and parents of color have been omitted throughout this controversy.

And most likely, deliberately so.

'Conservatives are banning books from schools while whining about 'cancel culture'' & other Mon midday news briefs

Conservatives Are Banning Books From Schools While Whining About 'Cancel Culture' - We definitely noticed. 

LGBTQ advocates regroup on paid parental leave after Biden's safety net bill stalls​ - Obstructionism affects us all. 

A Guest Was Denied Entry At a Restaurant For 'Not Dressing Their Gender' - So ridiculous of the restaurant. 

Schumer Vows to Pass Federal LGBTQ Non-Discrimination Bill - We'll see.

Video: The time Madeline Kahn put drag and radical queer theater on primetime television

LGBTQ folks loved us some Madeline Kahn. She was highly talented, very funny, and could do anything. She was the only person I knew who could upstage Barbara Streisand and she did that in her first screen appearance. And, of course, she was a wonderful ally. As we cruise into a new week which will bring us probably more drama and eyerolling moments (particularly with the book banning madness going on around the country), let's have a light moment courtesy of LGBTQ video historian Matt Baume. Apparently, Madeline put drag on primetime television decades before RuPaul came on the scene:

Did you ever hear about the time Madeline Kahn used a failing sitcom to introduce America to radical queer theater, convincing ABC to broadcast an appearance by one of the most subversive drag artists in the country? This is the story of how Charles Ludlam, Charles Pierce, and Charles Busch revolutionized queer theater, and how their influence can still be found on your favorite drag shows to this day.

'Minnie Mouse is going to wear a pantsuit and conservatives are angry about it' & other Fri midday news briefs

Minnie Mouse is going to wear a pantsuit & OMG conservatives are upset about it - I WISH this was a joke. They gonna really freak when they hear about Smurfette living in the forest with a bunch of gay guys (well not all of them. wasn't it convenient how Baby Smurf just showed up two years later) 

Lessons Learned as a Gay Son of Holocaust Survivors - Never Again. 

Top GOP staffer compares transgender children to terrorists​ - Guess who he works for.  

Out Princeton wrestler says he quit the team due to rampant homophobia - This is terrible! 

National LGBTQ group GLSEN appoints first Black, nonbinary executive director - Good going, GLSEN!!

'Parental rights' bill could discourage abused children from confiding in their teachers

Imagine being so homophobic that you push a bill which could prevent an abused child from seeking help. That is what's happening in Arizona.

According to The Arizona Mirror by way of Raw Story:

Arizona Republicans this week lined up behind a measure that would discipline teachers and open them up to lawsuits if they don’t tell parents everything a student tells them — even if the student confides that he or she is gay or transgender. The legislation, House Bill 2161, would make it illegal for a government employee to withhold information that is “relevant to the physical, emotional or mental health of the parent’s child,” and specifically prevents teachers from withholding information about a student’s “purported gender identity” or a request to transition to a gender other than the “student’s biological sex.” The bill would allow parents to sue school districts if teachers don’t comply. 

A bill like this is shortsighted on a number of levels. The most obvious was how it could undermine a child in an abusive household from telling his or her teacher. This was pointed out during a Jan 25th legislative committee meeting:

Jeanne Casteen, the executive director of the Arizona Secular Coalition and a former teacher, worried about how the reporting function of the bill would impact child abuse. Teachers are mandatory reporters, and Casteen said that every time she had to report child abuse, it was being inflicted by a parent. Under Kaiser’s bill, she said, a teacher would also have to notify the parents — the likely abusers — that the child informed them of the abuse. “I keep hearing about parental rights, but what about the rights of these students?” Casteen said.

A very telling moment about this bill came during the same committee meeting when Rep. Daniel Hernandez, an openly gay legislator, challenged the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Steven Kaiser, about who exactly drafted the bill. Kaiser admitted working with anti-LGBTQ groups instead of educational organizations:

Kaiser initially said the bill was created via a “stakeholder group” and his “own inherent passion” for the issue. But when Hernandez pressed him on which stakeholders were involved in drafting the bill, Kaiser admitted he didn’t work with education groups or teachers, but with anti-LGBTQ advocacy groups — chief among them the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative Christian lobbying organization that has pushed numerous controversial and bigoted bills since forming in 1995. CAP holds sway with most Republican lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey, and is widely considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups at the state Capitol.

 “I know you have a long-standing (dislike) of that organization. I understand where the bait was in that question,” Kaiser told Hernandez, who is gay. “I’m not sure what education group I’d go to, because they’d be against this.” 

 Another stakeholder that Kaiser consulted is Family Watch International, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated an anti-LGBTQ hate group. That group also has its fingerprints on another piece of legislation that would ban any books that have “sexually explicit” content and that critics say would effectively make it illegal to teach about homosexuality.

The Arizona bill is one of many pushed by GOP state legislators across the country. These bills seek to shut down discussions of race, sexual orientation, or gender identity in classrooms under the guise of 'parental right,' which seems to the new buzz phrase for conservatives.

But according to columnist Will Bunch, these 'gag orders' are mimicking 'McCarthyism.'

'Florida lawmaker tells homophobic parents exactly what we all want to say' & other Thur midday news briefs

Florida lawmaker tells homophobic parent exactly what we all want to say​ - THIS is why representation matters. There is nothing wrong with LGBTQ people running for office and thus being able to get into a position to amplify our community concerns.

Florida Senate Bill Could Ban Books With LGBTQ+ Characters - More about the above situation. Unfortunately this is a different bill than the one in the House. Good news though, there was a heavy pushback on the false information. Again, having LGBTQ office holders helps tremendously. 

Amy Schneider's historic 'Jeopardy!' win streak comes to an end after 40 victories - Well darn. Oh well. You did good, girlfriend! 

Jerry Falwell Jr. opens up about pool boy scandal, says the whole evangelical thing was just an act - JUST in case you didn't hear . . . no sh!t. 

LGBTQ Afghans face surge of rape, torture after Taliban takeover, report says - The struggle is real and worldwide. Keep our brothers and sisters in your hearts and prayers.

Don't be fooled. The Family Research Council doesn't give a d@mn about any of your children.

Below is the graphic from a Family Research Council email asking for money:

The email is the usual lies about the need to protect America's children from 'pornographic sex education,'  'LGBT ideology,' 'a pervasive anti-American sentiment' and (here's a new one) Critical Race Theory (which, for those who aren't familiar with the term, is the new way conservatives are scaring the hell out of their base.)

As odious as this ridiculous - and probably successful - fundraising attempt is, it gets even more nauseating when one remembers other ways FRC invokes 'protecting children' in its literature:

.  

I'd be willing to believe that the Family Research Council actually did care about children in its own twisted way if it weren't for the group falsely implying that transgender children are rapists and all-around predators. 

In reality, the Family Research Council sees children in the same manner which it sees religious beliefs, which is as a commodity for money, fear, and power. 

'Over 500 corporations support Equality Act, but it may not even matter' & other Wed midday news briefs

Over 500 corporations back effort to support Equality Act. Does it matter? - It probably doesn't because as the article notes, many of these companies are supporting legislators standing in the way of it being passed. Some people want to blame Biden for this, but we can't.

St. Vincent Catholic Charities wins settlement that allows charity to deny adoption to LGBTQ couples​ - Half of the story. It was an overall victory for our side but little crinkles for the religious right. Such as this. 

This gay NASCAR driver just raced at Daytona for the first time since coming out - How did he do?

'Batgirl' casts Ivory Aquino as first trans character in a DC Comics feature film - Good for them!

Cedar Rapids community rallies around inclusive statement after board member falsely connects it with child sex trafficking

 

No matter how many times the above claim about gay men and pedophilia has been refuted, some people still believe it as an incident in Cedar Rapids IA proved.

A recent incident during a board meeting in Cedar Rapids, IA reminds us that the prejudicial beliefs about groups of people generally don't go away. Instead, they get remodeled or retooled into another form.

 In the past, folks used to accuse LGBTQ people of trying to 'recruit' children. Now they say we are attempting to 'groom' them.  The incident also reminds us of the success we have when we refuse to allow ourselves to be maligned.

From KCRG in Cedar Rapids (link includes a video news report of the situation including footage of the meeting):

A statement meant to promote inclusion in Fairfield, led to controversy, when city council member Judy Ham said it could lead to perversions and sex trafficking. Confused and offended, several community members in Fairfield addressed the city council Monday night over the comments, which were made January 10th. 

 “This is called grooming if you don’t know what sex trafficking is,” Ham said while holding up the Statement of Intent prepared by the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. The statement, condemns discrimination based on several factors including sexual orientation and gender identity. Council member Doug Flournoy, responded to Ham’s concern at the January 10th meeting. 

 “No this document in and of itself is not grooming but it’s a component of grooming isn’t it,” Flournoy said. “Yes it is,” Ham answered. “Because you normalize and you teach children these are normal things for people to be doing,” Flournoy explained. 

 The conversation was tabled on the 10th, but led several LQBTQ residents to the microphone Monday night, to call on the city to pass the Statement of Intent. 

According to The Ottumwa Courier, Ham's accusations of grooming had the opposite effect of what she may have intended. Not only did LGBTQ residents speak out in favor of the statement, but her claim was also condemned by the IOWA ACLU:

A statement by ACLU of Iowa Executive Director Mark Stringer said the resolution included language that aligns with what the city is required to do by law. 

 "Treating everyone equally and with dignity, as the letter of intent states, is the foundation of fair and good government," Stringer said. "It's important to note that the law requires the government, including the City of Fairfield, to treat people fairly and equally and not discriminate. We were appalled to hear some city council members express disagreement with those long-held American principles." 

 Several community members have reacted in Facebook posts and letters to the city's leadership, as well. 

 "What occurred during the Council's discourse can only be described as a step back in time," Lore Oliver wrote in a letter shared on Facebook. "To a time at which members of the LGBTQ community were viewed as subhuman and sexual deviants. I was appalled as at least one member of the Council compared myself, and those like myself to "perverts." It was also implied that by validating the humanity of LGBTQ people they would somehow be opening the door to "child groomers" and "sex traffickers." 

Other posts show community members who have urged others to contact their city council members, including Ham. Some have called for Ham's resignation.

The statement ended up passing by a 4-3 vote.

'Chasen Buttigieg: Florida's proposed anti-LGBTQ bill will 'kill kids'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Chasten Buttigieg: Florida’s Proposed Anti-LGBTQ Bill ‘Will Kill Kids’​ -  It's an ugly fact but it's a fact.

 Dozens of Catholic priests just came out of the closet - Hello! 

Anti-LGBTQ group claims Va. marriage amendment repeal will legalize polygamy - STILL fighting this battle. LOL 

Here Are the Out Athletes Competing At the 2022 Winter Olympics (So Far) - So far is right.

Senator Marco Rubio ignores FL 'don't say gay' bill while meddling in Finland court case of anti-gay MP

Sen Marco Rubio defends anti-gay government official in foreign court case while ignoring 'don't say gay' bill in his own state.

Recently, several GOP senators chose to meddle in a foreign hate crimes case, raising questions of hypocrisy. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent out the following press release on Monday:

 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Mike Braun (R-IN) sent a letter to Rashad Hussain, the newly-confirmed U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, urging his office to monitor the alarming case in Finland against two Christians accused of violating Finland’s hate crime law due to their deeply held religious convictions.

 Today, Finnish courts held a hearing on charges brought against former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church for alleged hate crimes based on their tweets and past statements reflecting their beliefs on biblical teachings. “It is our understanding that Finnish authorities believe that these actions constitute hate speech, even though these statements reflect a conception of marriage and sexuality that is upheld not just by hundreds of millions of Christians, but also by many Muslims and Jews worldwide,” the senators wrote. 

“We are greatly concerned that the use of Finnish law is tantamount to a secular blasphemy law. It could open the door for prosecution of other devout Christians, Muslims, Jews and adherents of other faiths for publicly stating their religious beliefs that may conflict with secular trends. We believe that, regardless of whether Finnish prosecutors agree with the religious beliefs that MP Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola have expressed, all people have a fundamental right to the freedoms of religion and speech, which should be upheld without fear of government interference.”

According to Yahoo News  the situation involves Paivi Rasanen, a government official in Finland, and Bishop Juhana Pohjol who are on trial because of an anti-gay Bible tweet. They have been accused of violating Finland's hate crimes law.

 A Christian Democrat MP said Monday she is defending "freedom of speech and religion" on the first day of her hate speech trial in Finland over social media posts condemning homosexuality. Paivi Rasanen, a former interior minister and Christian Democrats leader, denies all four charges of incitement against a minority group, which relate to a radio show appearance and online writings about same-sex relationships. 

 Rasanen described homosexuality as a "psychosexual developmental disorder" and said that homosexual people are "dysfunctional". One charge related to a June 2019 tweet in which the long-time parliamentarian criticised the Finnish Lutheran church for partnering with that year's Pride celebrations, accusing the organisation of "elevating shame and sin to a subject of pride" 

 ... Bishop Juhana Pohjola also faces incitement charges for publishing Rasanen's writings on the website of Finland's Luther Foundation. 

I am not condemning or defending Finland's law, but there is a major problem here. It's rather hypocritical for these senators to meddle with a foreign case involving no Americans in light of how they - specifically one (Josh Hawley) - behaved during the January 6th insurrection of last year and how they continue to undermine the committee attempting to uncover the truth about that day.

And specifically in the case of Rubio, the hypocrisy becomes downright ugly.

Florida is presently embroiled in a controversy over a bill which would ban discussions of LGBTQ issues in classrooms across the state.  While the 'don't say gay' bill passed a committee vote and will advance to the Full House, Rubio has been conveniently silent about it. The main complaint about this bill is that it works to erase LGBTQ kids and same-sex families so maybe Rubio is practicing in anticipation. (that was sarcasm)

The fact of the matter is that these senators were not elected to look after Finnish interests. Americans taxpayers are responsible for their salaries. And in the case of Rubio, he should remember that some of those taxpayers are LGBTQ Floridians. 

' AC Mack becomes pro wrestling's first out LGBTQ male world champion' & other Mon midday news briefs

AC Mack

AC Mack is pro wrestling’s first out LGBTQ male world champion - Note the word 'out.' If we can make it in pro wrestling, we can make it anywhere. 

Republicans are hoping to make Virginia the next state to ban trans youth from sports​ - I don't know if they are going to win this one but they certainly are going to try. 

LGBTQ groups stop short of criticizing Sinema for obstructing filibuster reform - This is a serious quandry. 

NCAA's new trans athlete guidelines sow confusion amid Lia Thomas debate - I'm all for clarification, but this doesn't seem to be clarifying anything for anyone.

Attempt to suppress ad featuring drag queen backfires and creates a 'Streisand effect'

 

An attempt to pull an ad featuring a drag performer gives us all a wonderful opportunity to witness a media term entitled the 'Streisand effect.' Without going into too much detail - yes it is named after gay favorite Barbra Streisand - the Streisand effect is when an attempt to keep people from seeing information causes more people to see the information. In other words, the attention generated from attempts to suppress the information creates interest, thus making people aware of it and wanting to see it. 

Or in this case, according to LGBTQNation: 

Samsung decided to remove an advertisement from airing in Singapore and deleted it from online channels, shortly after posting it, because it “may be perceived as insensitive and offensive to some members of our local community.” The full ad, just under five minutes, featured unknowing individuals — wearing Samsung headphones — hearing their loved ones read letters they wrote about them using a Samsung device. One of the individuals featured was a Muslim woman, hearing her son read a letter thanking her for being accepting of the fact that he is a drag performer. After hearing him read it, he surprises her donning drag apparel and they embrace.

 As with things amplifying the visibility of LGBTQ people, some folks came out of the woodwork with same tired old phrases about 'pushing LGBT ideology,' etc. This backlash caused Samsung to pull the ad. 

But, according to LGBTQNation, the attention generated by this move caused more people wanting to see the ad. And these folks defended it.

“Trusted alternative news source” Wake Up Singapore, which shared a version of the ad on their TikTok channels, reports that “the Streisand effect is in full swing”: “Due to the removal of the video, people who did not even know of the existence of these advertisements learnt about the video and its subjects.” The website claims that as of yesterday, they had “reached 80,000 users” on Instagram and “200,000 people” on Facebook about the ad’s removal, and “it is clear that the majority of people did not share the same views harboured by the conservatives that led to the removal of the videos.”

Far be it from me to be petty, but HA! HA!

'2022 may bring more legislative attacks on transgender Americans' & other Fri midday news briefs

Exclusive: 2022 could be most anti-trans legislative years in history, report says​ - This makes me cringe. To hell with cringing. Let's rock.

A History of Georgia’s Black LGBTQ Celebrities - This is nice. I love this. 

Judge rules trans teacher’s lawsuit against P.G. County can go to trial - Sweet!! 

NCAA adopts new policy for transgender athletes - Clarification never hurts. Get in front of the liars and stop their tactics. 

Tennessee couple sues state after allegedly being denied foster services over Jewish faith - That rumble you're hearing is a nation of queens going "Mmhmmm! We TOLD you that this would happen."

FL 'don't say gay' bill sends message of erasure to LGBTQ kids and same-sex families

Under the guise of parental rights, some Florida legislators are attempting to ban discussions of LGBTQ issues in classrooms.  

From the site Florida Politics:

A bill giving parents more information about their children’s school experience and installing more strict regulation of LGBTQ instruction for younger students received its first committee nod Thursday. The meeting featured strenuous objections from those who worry it will make teachers fearful of some topics and chill schoolhouse conversations, especially those regarding LGBTQ issues. 

 The House Education and Employment Committee approved Republican Rep. Joe Harding’s Parental Rights in Education bill (HB 1557) largely along party lines, with Democrats opposed. It is legislation some see as part of the culture wars shaping this Session’s priorities. “This bill is about defending the most awesome responsibility a person can have: being a parent,” Harding said. “That job can only be given to you by above.” .

 . . The bill prohibits schools from encouraging classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate. That clause drew particular concern Thursday. Critics noted some students may have parents who are hostile to the news their child is a member of the LBGTQ community and might want to confide in a teacher.

 Children from LBGTQ families might also innocently discuss their families in a way other parents would find objectionable, critics of the bill said. Harding said he understood conversations would happen, but he wanted to make sure there was no policy encouraging it. Todd Delmay, who is running for a House seat, said the way the bill is written could prevent his 11-year-old son from discussing his family at school. Delmay and his husband, Jeff, were the first gay men ever married in Florida.

According to the article, the bill is conveniently vague on the definition of what constitutes an 'age appropriate' or 'developmental appropriate' discussion.  No doubt this lack of clarification would most likely encourage confusion and discourage any discussion at all.

A bill like this is dangerous on so many levels, but most specifically, the narrative it spews should be noted. By its very nature, it pinpoints LGBTQ people as outsiders to the concept of families. It has nothing to do with parental rights. Instead it sends of message to LGBTQ parents and kids that they are to be erased and to children in same-sex households that their families are something to be ashamed of.

And no one should be fooled by anyone claiming that these bills weren't intended to send that message because they are lying to you. Telling LGBTQ families and people that they are unacceptable is exactly the message Florida's bill is meant to send.

'Danger: These groups are pushing an anti-LGBTQ agenda disguised as health care' & other Thur midday news briefs

These groups are pushing an anti-LGBTQ agenda disguised as health care ​- Yep. And we had better recognize. This is war.

2022 GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: The Complete List - Congratulations to all of the nominees, including THIS BLOG with its fifth nomination in the category of Outstanding Blog. Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters previously won in 2017. And I am grateful for the nomination and very thankful to you all, my readers, for your continued support over these past 15 plus years. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Here’s A Look At The Gay Dad’s On ‘The Proud Family’ Reboot - Same sex families are real and its about time that this fact is reflected in every form of our media including children's shows. 

Mexico soccer fans who chant anti-gay slurs will be banned from matches for 5 years - Thank you!!

'Gays recruit children' - The intricate networking behind a simple but ugly lie - Reposting my piece from last night.

'Gays recruit children' - The intricate networking behind a simple but ugly lie

Bigotry will never go away. It's probably as old as the Earth itself and will remain here even when those of us reading this blog have long since passed away. The key is not eradicating bigotry, but recognizing it in all of its forms. And also the fact that those who push bigotry have innocuous ways of going about their nefarious business.

When it comes to opposition to the LGBTQ community, said bigotry seems to be always wrapped up in deceitful phrases and soundbites which designate us as a people seeking to cause harm. Especially to children. 

“Gaining access to children has been a long-term goal of the homosexual movement.” — Robert Knight, Family Research Council director of cultural studies, and Frank York, 1999 

 One of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order." — Family Research Council publication, "Homosexual Behavior and Pedophilia," Robert Knight and Frank York, 1999 

 “While activists like to claim that pedophilia is a completely distinct orientation from homosexuality, evidence shows a disproportionate overlap between the two. … It is a homosexual problem.” —  Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, FRC website, 2010

Back in the day when they had more power and we had less visibility, there was no second guessing what groups like the Family Research Council and their spokespeople were saying about LGBTQ people. They could just outright say that we want children for sexual activity and then leave it to the fear and ignorance of their audience to paint the disgusting picture.

 However as things have shifted in our favor in terms of visibility and education, they use more skillful ways of pushing that false argument. At times, they rely on an intricate network of dark money and media slick spokespeople fronting astroturfed groups and amplified by biased media entities. The ugly connotation remains the same, but the pattern it pushes is more intricate.

 Check out the following excerpt from a recent Family Research Council post:

 . . . In Saint Paul, Minnesota, moms and dads are furious about the district's "Office of Equity" foisting transgenderism on pre-schoolers. Thanks to a quiet partnership with radical groups like OutFront Minnesota, even toddlers are being exposed to messages that the American College of Pediatricians calls "child abuse." Books like When Aidan Became a Brother and I Love My Colorful Nails started trickling into local districts, aimed at children as young as three. One handout tells teachers to "Ask Students for Name and Pronouns" and to "Refer students to the Name/Gender Change Request Form."

Sounds scary, doesn't it? Except for the fact that this claim by FRC about 'transgenderism being forced on toddlers' comes from an article pushed by The Daily Signal,  an extension of  The Heritage Foundation which a conservative think tank. The purpose of The Daily Signal is to amplify conservative claims and causes under the guise of objective journalism.

And the specific claim in the article comes from a group called Parents Defending Education which, according to the National Education Association, claims to be a grassroots group but isn't:

An investigation conducted by NBC News in June identified at least 165 local and national groups across the U.S. working to turn disagreements over COVID mandates and lessons on race and gender into divisive wedge issues that can be manipulated for political purposes. Many of these groups are directly or indirectly supported by larger conservative think tanks, media outlets, and organizations that amplify cultural grievances around education to galvanize voters. The outrage machine surrounding CRT, public schools, and local school boards has already led to legislative responses. Education news outlet Chalkbeat identified 28 states that have attempted to “restrict education on racism, bias, the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history, or related topics.”

And according to Media Matters:

A recently released IRS filing for the right-wing activist group Parents Defending Education (PDE), which was founded to promote the ongoing scare campaign against the supposed teaching of “critical race theory” in schools, reveals the symbiotic relationship between the right-wing media echo chamber and conservative political activists stoking a cultural panic. 

 The group’s president, Nicki Neily, has appeared on Fox News as part of the network’s dishonest coverage of efforts by school board officials and the FBI to respond to threats and harassment. But Neily is not just a parent defending education, as she has a long history of managing right-wing organizations funded by the Koch brothers and Bradley Foundation networks. .

 . . Another director of PDE is Edward Blum who has a long association with right-wing funding networks that have backed his challenges to civil rights laws. These challenges include a successful case in 2013 in which the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key protections of the Voting Rights Act. 

'Virginia bill seeks to restrict trans students' restroom access' & other Wed midday news briefs

Virginia Bill Seeks to Restrict Trans Students' Restroom Access - And they are going to start this mess again. Game on.

Andrew Blaser makes U.S. Olympic history as the first out gay man in this super fast ice sport - Keep making that history!

Jim Obergefell, namesake of landmark Supreme Court case, to run for Ohio House - Good for him! 

Jessica Watkins, Trans Jan 6 Insurrectionist, Faces Decades in Jail​- Girlfriend, you KNOW you were wrong.

Hate group whines that Biden isn't using religion as a weapon against LGBTQ people

On Sunday, this country celebrated Religious Freedom Day. Apparently this is to commemorate the freedom to worship as you feel - and even not at all - in America. President Biden even issued a proclamation, which reads in part:

From the earliest days of our Nation, courageous people from every part of the world have come to the United States in search of religious liberty, risking everything to flee oppression, persecution, and discrimination because of their beliefs. Our Founders enshrined the principle of religious freedom in the First Amendment to our Constitution, establishing it as a cornerstone of who we are as a Nation. Today, America remains a religiously diverse Nation — a land uniquely strengthened by the routine and extraordinary commingling of faiths and belief systems. On Religious Freedom Day, we recommit ourselves to the protection and advancement of this vital aspect of our American character — and to protecting the freedom of people of all faiths and none, both across our Nation and around the world. 

 All in all, President Biden's statement was congenial. However, the Family Research Council and its president, Tony Perkins was not happy with it. In fact, they made the argument that Biden was being hypocritical. 

And why? 

Because apparently their version of 'religious freedom involves using the concept as a weapon to foster anti-LGBTQ discrimination. And President Biden doesn't see it that way.

FRC and Perkins gave a list of reasons why they felt Biden's proclamation was hypocritical. However, in doing so, they made the argument that the President has a high commitment to the safety and equality of LGBTQ Americans. 

 . . . even though the president's comments rightly place religious freedom as essential to the American way of life, his administration has unfortunately failed to meaningfully protect the rights of the faithful. 

For example, following his inauguration on January 20, 2021, the new president issued an executive order that requires federal agencies to interpret federal laws that prohibit sex discrimination as also prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In doing so, Biden expanded the holding of the problematic Bostock v. Clayton County U.S. Supreme Court decision far beyond its intended scope of employment discrimination. 

 On February 4, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum on "Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World." This memorandum "reaffirms and supplements" an Obama administration executive order that sought to ensure "United States diplomacy and foreign assistance promote[s] and protect[s] the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons everywhere." 

What this really means is imposing the far Left's human sexuality agenda onto other countries, including U.S. allies with laws upholding natural marriage and human sexuality. This is just one example of how instead of prioritizing religious freedom overseas, the Biden administration has given preference to radical LGBT policies.

  . . .On March 26, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memorandum on the application of Bostock to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, paving the way for schools' mandatory acceptance of gender identity ideology. In addition, President Biden issued a statement on May 17 recognizing "International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia," which celebrates the anniversary of the World Health Organization's declassifying homosexuality as a mental disorder.

It's rather clever how Perkins and FRC attempt to cloud their prejudices as legitimate concerns with regards to religious freedom. But let's not be fooled. Their complaints simply aren't legitimate.  They are angry because President Biden won't adhere to their version of religious freedom in which the concept is used as a cudgel to keep LGBTQ people underfoot. Perkins and FRC have on so many occasions stolen ownership of the words 'Christianity' and 'religion'  while full knowing that they aren't the only or final voices on both matters. Whether they like it or not, some religions don't consider homosexuality as a sin and that includes some denominations of the Christian faith they claim to uphold. 

Perkins and FRC have very right to believe that LGBTQ equality and religion are two diametrically opposite beliefs never to overlap and that the freedom of one must be sacrificed for freedom of the other to endure. But the point is that they have no right to impose that belief on America for any reason, especially under the false guise of  'religious freedom.'

What they want is the weaponization of religion to foster an environment of discrimination against LGBTQ people. That's not religious freedom. That's bigotry. And bigotry is bigotry even when it comes in the name of God and draped around a cross.

'Writer behind the new bisexual Superman turned death threats into donations for LGBTQ youth' & other Tue midday news briefs

The writer behind the new bisexual Superman has turned death threats into donations for LGBTQ youth​ - Good for him to turn something negative into a positive. 

36 LGBTQ+ Movies We Can’t Wait To See In 2022 - This is progress. I remember when you couldn't even see one. I remember the local network in my city refusing to show the movie 'Making Love.' 

S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem releases national ad targeting transgender student athletes - A certain trifling governor is targeting trans student athletes to take attention away from the scandal involving her daughter getting real estate license with possibly her help. 

Why some LGBTQ students in Utah say their health education is inadequate - Kudos to these kids for speaking out.

Video: Why Do Gay Men Love The Golden Girls?

On Tuesday, I turn 51 (shut up) so in honor of this, I'm going to post something entertaining and edifying with the help of my friend Matt Baume. He does so many wonderful videos on gay culture, but I think this one probably ranks as one of his best. There is no need for a description because the title says it all. 

Hypocrisy alert - Evangelicals embrace the Bible to be homophobic, then abandon the Bible to embrace Trump's 'stolen election' lies

Evangelical leaders Gary Bauer (top), Mike Huckabee (middle), and Tony Perkins (bottom) are always quick to smear LGBTQ people because of their 'Christian beliefs' that homosexuality is a sin. They have also amplified Donald Trump's 'stolen election' lie even though the same Christian beliefs say that telling a lie is also a sin.

One of the reasons why the anti-LGBTQ industry (commonly known as the religious right) have the power they do is because it's rare that the mainstream media calls them out on their hypocrisies.

For over 15 years, I have pointed out how the religious right claims to oppose LGBTQ equality because of  religious beliefs while simultaneously undermining these same beliefs due to their reliance on lies, junk science and cherry-picked science which they freely use against LGBTQ people. And when groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center publicly and rather loudly make the same argument (with the receipts, just like me), certain pundits and publications attacked them while defending these groups. 

Therefore, I don't expect to see any mainstream attention about the latest hypocritical contradiction of the religious right. 

According to Right Wing Watch:

Right-wing leaders who have promoted former President Donald Trump’s stolen-election lies and supported new voting restrictions based on those lies are predictably unhappy about President Joe Biden’s renewed push for passage of federal voting rights protections​. 

One day after Biden called for senators to change filibuster rules to overcome the ​Senate Republicans’ blockade against voting rights legislation, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee appealed ​to religious-right activists ​via email to make a monthly commitment to My Faith Votes, a Christian-right turnout operation for which he serves as honorary chairman.  . . After the 2020 presidential election, Huckabee promoted Trump’s false claims about election fraud. On Nov. 5, 2020, he published a blog post under the headline “The Art of the Steal” in which he promoted multiple election conspiracies being circulated by Trump supporters. 

 . . . The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins—who promoted Trump’s false claim to have won the 2020 election—similarly denounced the effort by Biden and Senate leaders as a “federal takeover of elections” that would put Democrats “one step close to a one-party system that controls the states and every lever of government.” A month after the 2020 election, Perkins had urged state legislators in battleground states won by Biden to simply assert their power to name pro-Trump electors.

 Former Reagan administration official and longtime religious-right activist Gary Bauer​,​ who​, like Perkins, claimed a month after the 2020 election that Trump was the “lawful winner,” claimed in his daily email newsletter Wednesday that the “idea that minority Americans are disenfranchised is a hoax on the same level as the Russian collusion hoax!”

Huckabee, Perkins, and Bauer said and done awful things to LGBTQ people all in the name of religious beliefs:

Bauer was  pointed out by the late C. Everett Koop, the surgeon general under Ronald Reagan, for undermining his attempt to educate Reagan about the AIDS crisis because he felt that AIDS was "God's punishment for them."

Huckabee has made many homophobic comments while claiming that his beliefs comes from "being on the side of the Bible."

Perkins is a literally a running faucet of homophobic bigotry, all geared to implying - when not outright saying - that LGBTQ people want to destroy America because we hate its supposed 'Judeo-Christian' heritage.

Demonizing LGBTQ people by labeling us as unhealthy, religion-hating sinners trying to undermine Christians and God's supposed plan for America is their brand. It's their mantra. Meanwhile, they support the continuously  proven lies of a wannabe despot who isn't man enough to admit that he lost an election.  

And here I thought lying and bearing false witness is also a sin.

Meanwhile, our mainstream media yawns or ignores the entire situation taking place, that is until they call on these folks for interviews i.e. implying that they speak for all Christians. Maybe it's just me, but I always thought that a lie is a lie. And a hypocrisy is something which should be called out instead of embraced or amplified.

'The Biggest Moments in LGBTQ+ U.S. Politics of 2021' & other Thur midday news briefs

The Biggest Moments in LGBTQ+ U.S. Politics of 2021 - How many do you remember? An old article, but one which bears another read. 

Early access to gender-affirming hormones linked to better mental health, study finds​ - Yet ANOTHER study reaching the same conclusion. If we have to pound this fact into people's heads, then so be it.

Sidney Poitier Paved a Path for LGBTQ+ Acceptance on Film - Yes he did.

Hungary sets a date for referendum on controversial LGBTQ law - Hoo boy.

Right-wing media attempting to pass far-right conservative author as expert on trans athletes

 

Cynthia Millen is the latest far-right activist attempting to make a name for herself by attacking transgender athletes

As I have noted on many occasions, when the right-wing media talks about trans issues, they rarely include trans people or medical professionals who have experience with trans health issues. Instead, they spotlight fake experts from right-wing groups and amplify their carefully prepared talking points. 

Not to mention conservative activists looking to make a name for themselves. 

According to Media Matters:

Fox News billed guest Cynthia Millen -- a right-wing writer with a history of hardline beliefs -- as simply a “former USA swimming official” in multiple segments in which she attacked trans athletes, including in an appearance where she decried best practice health care and promoted conversion therapy. 

 Millen is a writer for the website Catholic Stand, where she has documented extreme views on reproductive health care, same-sex couples, and critical race theory. She gained more prominence in right-wing media after releasing a letter to The Washington Times notifying USA Swimming that she was abruptly resigning from her duties because she could “no longer participate in a sport which allows biological men to compete against women. Everything fair about swimming is being destroyed.” Since then, she’s been billed simply as a “former USA Swimming official” in multiple media reports, including her January 11 appearance on Fox News.

Media Matters points out that Millen has appeared on numerous right-wing media shows where she is passed along as merely a former USA Swimming official and thus giving her attacks on trans athletes an undeserved bit of credibility. These shows conveniently omit the following:

At Catholic Stand, Millen has documented her extreme views on reproductive health care, same-sex couples, and critical race theory. Catholic Stand is owned by Tito Edwards of Little Vatican Media, who runs a list of other far-right websites including The American Catholic, which has accused gay people of “recruitment” of children with the goal of “legalizing pederasty” and has spread dangerous COVID-19 misinformation from Project Veritas. 

In one article for Catholic Stand, Millen stated that the the transgender movement is “reverting to old stereotypes of what a girl should and should not be” and referred readers to a video whose title included the deadname of celebrity and former Republican gubernatorial candidate for California Caitlyn Jenner. (Deadnaming is a form of harassment that targets trans people by referring to them by their former name against their wishes.) 

Millen has also attacked same-sex couples, writing that same-sex adoptions are “not good for children; it’s not fair to children” and arguing that LGBTQ affirmation “only serves to promote the notion that people with same-sex attraction are different from the rest of us, or that ‘unrepressed’ sexual activity is healthy for them. It is not. The Church should re-emphasize the teaching and benefits of chastity for all.

Millen the only example of the right-wing passing along their activists as concerned ordinary people speaking out on issues. Media Matters has an extensive list of GOP operatives claiming to be "concerned parents" speaking out with regards to another conservative cause celebre - Critical Race Theory:

Nearly a dozen of the Fox News guests the network has presented as concerned parents or educators who oppose the teaching of so-called “critical race theory” in schools also have day jobs as Republican strategists, conservative think-tankers, or right-wing media personalities, according to a Media Matters review.

 Critical race theory is an academic legal framework which examines the systemic impact of racism in the United States. But “critical race theory,” like “cancel culture” and “political correctness” before it, also functions as an umbrella term the right-wing movement uses to turn its mostly white adherents’ racial anxiety into political energy.

 In this case, a sophisticated, nationwide network of conservative think tanks, advocacy groups, media outlets, and GOP officials have seized on the term and, in the words of Christopher Rufo -- a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute and a key player in the effort -- sought to render it “toxic” and apply to it “the entire range of cultural constructions that are unpopular with Americans.” Republicans have proposed or passed a slew of legislation restricting “critical race theory” and hope to use it as a core part of their political strategy in upcoming local, state, and federal elections.

 

It only goes to show conservatives aren't interested in having a true discussion when it comes to seemingly controversial issues. If they were, they wouldn't be attempting to rig the narrative.

Hat tip to Ari Drennen, Media Matters’ new LGBTQ Program Director  

'He wanted to burn LGBTQ-related books. Now he is school board president' & other Wed midday news briefs

He wants to burn books about LGBTQ topics. He just got elected school board president.​ - Good Lord! This does NOT send a positive message. We simply have to do better. 

As high court signals Roe v. Wade reversal, states eye same-sex marriage protections - Some states think that SCOTUS will reverse Roe v. Wade so they think marriage equality could be next. Because of that, they are working on state laws to protect marriage equality. Even though I still think it's too early to predict about Roe v. Wade, you never know. Preparing for the future never hurts.

Last in, first out: Chambersburg prepares to reverse local LGBTQ protections - A calamity which proves why elections are important. Every time.

Caitlyn Jenner retweets transphobic tweet aimed at trans athletes - Caitlyn, girlfriend. Just stop. Please stop.

LGBTQ kids say efforts to pass anti-trans laws is negatively affecting their mental health

This terrible development shouldn't surprise anyone. Nor, unfortunately, should the fact that in spite of all of their constant refrains of wanting to protect children, those pushing these bills really don't give a damn about the children they are truly hurting.

From The Hill:

More than two-thirds of LGBTQ+ youth say recent efforts by states to limit the rights of transgender and nonbinary people have negatively impacted their mental health, according to a poll released Monday by the Trevor Project. States in 2021 enacted a “record-shattering” number of anti-LGBTQ+ policies, making it the worst year in recent history for LGBTQ+ state legislative attacks, according to the Human Rights Campaign. 

 . . . In the Trevor Project’s survey of 820 LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 24 years old, 70 percent said they were closely following recent news about issues impacting the transgender community, and two-thirds of LGBTQ+ youth said debates about state laws restricting the rights of transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health. That impact has been more dramatic among transgender and nonbinary youth, with more than 85 percent of that group reporting that their mental health has taken a hit, according to the survey. 

 "These results underscore how recent politics and ongoing crises facing the globe can have a real, negative impact on LGBTQ young people, a group consistently found to be at significantly increased risk for depression, anxiety and attempting suicide because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society," Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project, said in a statement.  

 . . . "I see multiple patients daily that are suffering with depression and suicide ideation and suicide attempt and anxiety, and my fear is that if we deny them this evidence-based treatment, we’re only going to see massive more patients come to the emergency room," Jesse Martinez Jr., a doctor of psychiatry at Children’s of Alabama, told Axios in May.

'Fox News guest tells audience to treat COVID with drugs used for transgender health care' & other Tue midday news briefs

Fox News guest tells audience to treat COVID-19 with drugs used for transgender health care​ - These folks are beginning to exhaust the hell out of me. 

Gay Ambassador Rufus Gifford: America’s First Handshake! - More visibility is always a good thing. 

These 27 trans athletes have competed openly in college - Meanwhile, this nonsense about trans athletes having an unfair advantage has yet to be proven. 

Pope Francis Removes Vatican Official Behind Document Barring Blessings for LGBTQ Couples - I'm encouraged. Not impressed, but encouraged.

Youngkin's pro-voter suppression pick once exploited gay son to hide her group's homophobia

Youngkin pick Kay Coles James has history exploiting minority status for conservative causes.

Some people have voiced their disagreement with newly elected Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin picking Kay Coles James, a woman who promoted voter suppression and false voter fraud claims, as his choice for Secretary of the Virginia Commonwealth.

 According to Right Wing Watch:

Until last year, James served as president of the Heritage Foundation, a Trumpist right-wing think tank that has aggressively promoted bogus claims about widespread voter fraud that are used to justify more restrictive voting laws. James has opposed federal voting rights legislation such as the “For the People Act,” which she denounced as a “federal takeover of elections” and a “threat to election integrity.” She claimed last year that “the left’s real agenda isn’t about helping minority voters; it’s about helping themselves: They believe voter fraud favors their candidates, plain and simple.”

Ms. James is a black woman, which may have helped her get the appointment. Granted, I don't know that for sure and it can be seen as an unfair shot to make such an assumption. Still, one shouldn't be so naive to not consider that her ethnicity will be exploited to blunt accusations of racism which generally come up (because they are mostly true) with regards to voter suppression.

Also, when it comes to exploiting minority status, this wouldn't be Ms. James's 'first time at the rodeo,' so to speak. 

In a 2019 interview on Fox News, she attempted to divert from accusations that the Heritage Foundation - which she led at the time - was a homophobic group. She did so by revealing that her son is gay.

 According to Media Matters:

Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James downplayed the organization’s long anti-LGBTQ history in an appearance with Fox “straight news" anchor Shannon Bream. 

 . . . On May 2, Bream interviewed James about Google’s recent decision to disband its Artificial Intelligence ethics board after Google employees and others protested her inclusion on the board in part because of her and Heritage’s positions against transgender rights. During the interview, James whitewashed her organization’s anti-LGBTQ history and responded to criticism of the organization’s stance on queer issues, saying, “None of which is true, by the way. None of it is true.” She also suggested she could not be a “homophobe” because she has a gay son.

This is what James said:

 . . .Homophobe? I don't think so. You know, I, I, I've never talked about it publicly, but I have a gay son whom I love beyond all measure. And he and his community have welcomed me, have helped me grow, have helped me to understand. There’s no hatred there. That’s my child you are talking about.

Bream did not challenge James about this because of simple bias. 

Media Matters has pointed out that while Shannon Bream pretends to be a journalist, she has used her show as a sounding board for anti-LGBTQ groups and positions. She is especially "known" for inviting anti-transgender groups and spokespeople on her program where all involved routinely smear and misgender trans people. 

If Bream was any type of decent journalist, she would have asked James about the contradiction between her statement about her gay son and the Heritage Foundation's homophobic and transphobic positions.

Bream could have even asked James about the contradiction between her statement  and the tweets which she (James) were sending out at almost the same time about the Equality Act. James claimed that the gay community accepted her and allowed her to grow, but apparently not so much that it prevented  her from amplifying misinformation about laws benefitting the community and particularly her son.

So perhaps my accusations about James's ethnicity being exploited by the Youngkin administration aren't as rude as they seem. If she has no problem exploiting her son's sexual orientation to cover up homophobia, why should she have a problem exploiting her ethnicity with regards to potential  voter suppression accusations?

Even worse, based upon how easily she exploited her son's sexual orientation, LGBTQ Virginians may also have something to fear with regards to her appointment.