June 2022 is here with Saturday Night Live's Pride Month Song!

 Wednesday will be the first day of June and thus the beginning of Pride month 2022. I have a feeling that certain people may attempt to make this year's pride month very interesting with all of the chaos they have been attempting from accusing us of grooming kids to demanding that LGBTQ books be banned from school and public libraries.

No doubt that element will present itself in an attempt to spoil our time. In anticipation, I am posting the video above from Saturday Night Live as a way of easing us into the month with a bit of comedy and good feeling. Also as reminder that it's still our month and our time. No one will ever take that and anything else away from us. No matter how hard they try.

BUT if worse comes worse, y'all still enjoy the month. Leave the ruckus raising to me. That will be how I enjoy the month.

 

'Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns' & other Tue midday news briefs

Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns​ - And guess who is on their menu? 

Anti-LGBTQ propaganda is a big part of Russia’s war effort - Possibly coming soon in one form or another to America. That is if it's not already here. But we ain't Russia. 

Laverne Cox Is First Transgender Person To Have A Barbie Designed After Her - In today's climate, let's take all things positive as something to celebrate. 

U.S. Soccer has officially banned anti-LGBTQ chants - Good for them!

Anti-LGBTQ grifter Christopher Rufo makes a fool of himself with latest 'attack' on Disney

 In the midst of this awful tragedy of the mass shooting at Uvalde which claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers, one would think that folks on the far right would cool down their lies about public schools being LGBTQ-indoctrination centers and teachers 'sexually' grooming children to become LGBTQ.

Are you kidding? Not when there's money to be made, fear to be exploited, and clout to be snatched. And on the front line is the guy who is seizing fast notoriety (and possibly becoming a pet project of this blog), Christopher Rufo. 

Check out this tweet he sent out  

SHOCK: Disney+ promoted a drag queen special for children, encouraging kids as young as kindergarten to join the gender identity and trans activist organization GLSEN. pic.twitter.com/8HKTtGsusv

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 25, 2022

To be fair, Rufo sent out this tweet before the tragedy. But if he has an ounce of good taste, he would have deleted it afterwards.

The irony is that there is nothing shocking or unscrupulous about this video. Rufo is obviously counting on the shock value of his accusations to get him and his claim over.  What's even more ironic is the clips he posted were from a Pride celebration Disney had last year, which is available online for anyone who wants to see it. 

And it was spectacular."

 

 So not only was Rufo lying about this Disney spectacular, but he was also very tacky in omitting that it was from last year and is publicly available, which  undermines the narrative that Disney is somehow trying to being sneaky. And personally, I find the spectacular to be wonderful.  I would rather have our children learning about respecting and appreciating the differences in each other and themselves instead of being fearful of being shot at school.

Too bad Rufo obviously doesn't feel the same way.

No doubt with the Pride month of June beginning this week, this is probably an opening salvo of Rufo and company to smear LGBTQ people and further paint us as pedophiles and groomers. Thus far it came across as weak and especially limp, which is an astute resemblance to Rufo's character.

Far-right bigots spread rumor that Rice Krispie mascot is coming out as a trans woman

 Remember when the late Jerry Falwell accused Tinky-Winky, a character from a children's television show of being gay? That's cocktail canape compared the newest anti-LGBTQ conspiracies floating in social media.

From The Associated Press:

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts this week featured an image made to look like an online CNN story about the popular Kellogg’s cereal Rice Krispies. “Kellogg’s spokesperson announces Rice Krispie mascot ‘Pop’ is now a trans woman,” read a fake headline that misspelled the famous cereal brand, Rice Krispies. The image was edited to look like a real CNN story published May 20. While some social media users spread the image as a joke, others believed the fake story and expressed outrage in response. A search of CNN’s website found no legitimate reporting that matched the image. Emily Kuhn, senior director of communications at CNN Digital Worldwide, confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that the image was fabricated and no such story had been published by the cable news network. Kellogg’s spokesperson Kris Bahner also confirmed the company had not made any such announcement.

According to Snopes, a site devoted to debunking rumors and hearsay stories:

The meme consisted of a cartoon showing Snap, Crackle, and Pop, the well-known gnome mascots of Rice Krispies cereal, along with the following text, presented as the headline of a CNN article: “Kellogg’s spokesperson announces Rice Krispie mascot ‘Pop’ is now a trans woman.”

 It’s not clear who created the bogus headline, but it emerged on AR15 , a right-wing forum, and before that, on the /pol/ section of 4chan — a notorious wellspring of bigoted, far-right memes.

Hat tip to LGBTQNation.

'Parents of LGBTQ kids say Tenn legislation is targeting their children' & other Thur midday news briefs

Parents of LGBTQ kids say new Tennessee legislation makes their kids want to move out of state - It's convenient when a certain type goes on about 'parents' right,' they always seem to ignore these parents. 

Montana defies court order to allow trans people to correct gender markers on birth certificates​ - This is a huge problem. States cannot decide to ignore court orders.

Black Gay Candidates Make History With Primary Wins in Texas - Sweet! Good luck to them all! 

Coming out as gay gave high school swimmer courage to be outspoken about queer rights - Wonderful. We all need to tell our stories. 

The Right’s Transphobic Disinfo Campaign About the Uvalde Shooter Is By Design - They never stop. So we shouldn't either.

Former Family Research Council spokesman Josh Duggar sentenced to 12+ years for possession of child porn

Josh Duggar

The Family Research Council loves to portray LGBTQ people as pedophiles and 'groomers.' Maybe it should acknowledge the problem it once had in its own house.

From Raw Story:

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar has been sentenced this Wednesday to over 12 years in prison in the wake of his conviction last year on possession of child pornography charges, news outlet KNWA reports. Duggar was sentenced to a total of 151 months. Duggar was arrested in April of 2021 after federal agents executed a search warrant at Duggar’s place of employment, seizing multiple electronic devices and pieces of evidence, including one video that Special Agent Gerald Faulkner called “in the top five of the worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.” Duggar was unanimously found guilty on the charges back in December. 

 According to CNN: 

 Duggar is the oldest son of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, whose family and devout Christian lifestyle were the subject of the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting." The show was canceled in 2015 in the wake of allegations that Josh Duggar had molested girls as a teen, including two of his sisters, Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard, who spoke about the allegations in an interview with Fox News. He was never charged in relation to those allegations. 

 That particular controversy ruined Duggar's reputation as anti-LGBTQ activist for the Family Research Council. He served the group as executive director of  its lobbying group, FRC Action from 2013 until 2015 when the initial scandal of him molesting his sisters forced him to resign.

Before the sh!t hit the fan,  Duggar claimed that he was working with FRC to 'promote family values.'  In 2014, he and his family helped in a successful campaign to repeal a nondiscrimination ordinance in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Central to the effort was a robocall by his mother, Michelle, which implied that trans women were predators:

"Hello, this is Michelle Duggar," the robocall begins. "I’m calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children. The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men — yes, I said men — to use women's and girls' restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only.

 "I don’t believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool’s private changing area?"

Maybe if Mrs. Duggar had her eye on the actual predator who was in her family instead of attacking trans women . . . 

'The 13 gayest Kate McKinnon sketches on 'Saturday Night Live'' & other Wed midday news briefs

The many faces of Kate McKinnon

13 Gayest Kate McKinnon Sketches on 'Saturday Night Live' - We should never forget how lesbian comedian Kate McKinnon made Saturday Night Live better by her presence and her immense talent.

Queer survivors of sexual abuse are frequently blamed for their own victimization​ - This is a sad truth.

Lesbian Mom Removed From Child's Birth Certificate Fights Ruling - And I hope she wins. 

Texas resumes some investigations into parents of transgender youths - This should NOT be happening and it will be rectified. And afterwards, I hope lawsuits will be filed.

Christopher Rufo running a homophobic, 'anti-woke' shell game. Expose his hype

Christopher Rufo

Well today, we saw how the insurance company State Farm got bullied into abandoning a very good project of educating kids about the trans community.  

 From LGBTQNation:

 State Farm, the insurance company, was going to partner with the GenderCool Project to help give LGBTQ books to schools, community center, and libraries. But in an email to employees, the insurance company canceled the partnership, saying that “conversations about gender and identity should happen at home with parents,” echoing language used to support Don’t Say Gay bills. In January, State Farm emailed employees about the small partnership, which was going to involve six agents in Florida giving some books to organizations in their community, part of a nationwide program involving 550 employees. 

 . . . One of the books is entitled A Kids Book about Being Inclusive. Its online description says: “Being inclusive is a choice we can make every day! Being inclusive means reaching out to and welcoming all people and everything that makes them who they are. When we learn to see the beauty in our differences, we can embrace the rich, diverse, and amazing world we live in together!” 

 The anodyne nature of the books didn’t stop the well-connected anti-LGBTQ activist Chaya Raichik of the notoriously hateful Libs of TikTok account from saying that State Farm “is working to fill schools with books on kids becoming trans and non-binary,” leading to an outcry against State Farm. Now State Farm has pulled out of the partnership. In another email to employees, Chief Diversity Officer Victor Terry said that the partnership with the GenderCool Project is over. 

 The 'groomer indoctrination' card strikes again. And conservatives have been practically wetting themselves over State Farm's change in attitude. Like this guy:

'Florida state senator's LGBTQ daughter calls out her prejudice on viral Tik Tok video' & other Tue midday news briefs

‘Putting politics before everything else’: Kelli Stargel’s daughter speaks out against mother’s congressional run in viral TikTok​ - Now see this is a classic case of trying to further your political ambitions via transphobia and ignoring your business at home. Your own child calls you out. 

This Seattle-based softball team was created for trans and non-binary players - I love this! 

Montana not following transgender birth certificate ruling - You lost, Montana. You need to do the right thing. 

LGBTQ police blast SF Pride parade over uniform ban - Here we go again. Come on folks, we got to come to a bit of unity on this.

Anti-grooming conservatives ignore Southern Baptist Convention sex abuse scandal

On Sunday, a blockbuster about the Southern Baptist Convention rocked the country. 

According to the BBC:

Leaders of the world's largest Baptist denomination covered up sex abuse by clergy for years and vilified survivors, an internal report says. The seven-month investigation found that survivors had come forward over two decades about abusers within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). But their pleas for intervention were met with "resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility" by officials. 

 With 13 million members, SBC is the largest Protestant body in the US. The investigation - carried out for the SBC by an outside firm - was launched in the wake of 2019 report by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News that exposed hundreds of alleged cases of sex abuse within the church. Amid internal divisions over how to handle the scandal, thousands of delegates at the SBC's annual gathering last year voted in favour of a third-party review of the church's actions. 

 The 288-page report issued on Sunday names a few senior leaders on the church's executive committee as having control over its response to the reports of abuse and of being "singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC". These officials reportedly "protected or even supported alleged abusers", the report says.

After all of the raging we've been hearing this year from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his people, the religious right, Fox News, Matt Walsh, Libs of TikTok and and various other folks about the Disney corporation and schools supposedly 'grooming' kids, one would think they would be stampeding to condemn SBC.

One would expect things like protests at SBC headquarters and Twitter meme after Twitter meme decrying the organization as a grooming factory.

Don't count on it. The silence has been deafening on the right, particularly the religious right. Not even one tweet from folks like Franklin Graham or the Family Research Council.  Apparently the SBC scandal lacks that one single ingredient which would make it irresistible to folks on the right. 

There are no LGBTQ people in sight to vilify.  With no LGBTQ people to vilify, that means no hidden prejudices to exploit, not attention to be grabbed, no money to be raised. And let's not forget that SBC is a religious body. God forbid these so-called moral crusaders give even a smidgen of time decrying their own with the same amount of zeal they connect LGBTQ to the latest lie they craft about us supposedly indoctrinating kids.

It's not surprising to those who know the religious right for what they truly are. Nevertheless, it's still disappointing.

'School board doesn't want anyone to know why it teamed up with anti-LGBTQ hate group' & other Mon midday news briefs

Emails shed light on how Hanover’s School Board and Alliance Defending Freedom came together​ - School board tries to team up with anti-LGBTQ hate group but doesn't want anyone to know about it. 

ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM - Extensive information proving that the Alliance Defending Freedom is a dangerous anti-LGBTQ hate group. 

GOP governor would veto bill that forces schools to out LGBTQ students - A GOP governor with good sense about LGBTQ issues? It must be a day of miracles. 

Through Line of Critical Race, 'Don’t Say Gay,' & Great Replacement - The attacks on black people and LGBTQ people are all connected. 

GOP Ideologues Keep Flopping In Their Efforts To Take Over School Boards - This is nice but the fight don't stop.

Anti-LGBTQ group claims that RuPaul figurines are 'grooming' and 'indoctrinating' kids

Some folks can't handle RuPaul dolls.

And here we go again with the Helen Lovejoy 'won't someone think of the children' busybody moral squad:

The toy company Fisher-Price recently released three “Little People” figurines of RuPaul, the iconic drag ambassador whose Drag Race reality show has launched several international versions. The anti-LGBTQ organization One Million Moms (OMM) is leading ab outrage campaigns against the doll because the existence of a doll of the Black drag queen will “indoctrinate children into transgenderism and homosexuality.”

“The figure pack honors RuPaul’s efforts to inspire people young and old to be true to themselves,” the toy’s manufacturers wrote in a press release, adding that the toy is suitable for people ages 1 to 101. But OMM — an astroturf offshoot of the anti-LGBTQ American Family Association — has predictably reacted by telling parents to write Fisher-Price and boycott the company until it discontinues selling the toy. 

 One Million Moms says the following on its webpage:

Fisher-Price recently announced its launch of the Little People Collector RuPaul figure set which includes three dolls. These three-inch dolls resemble RuPaul from RuPaul’s Drag Race. The dolls promote cross dressing and glorify the drag queen lifestyle. Fisher-Price has actually created a toy that glorifies gender inclusivity and ignores one’s biological sex. The RuPaul figure set comes complete with replicas of RuPaul’s signature on- and off-the-runway looks.

 It includes flamboyant pink and purple gowns with huge blonde wigs, based on outfits worn by RuPaul himself. The third doll in the set features RuPaul out of drag in a bold suit with a loud color scheme. Thanks, Fisher-Price! Now, parents will have to deal with the confusion experienced by their children when these inappropriate dolls are seen on store shelves. It is outrageous that a toy company is marketing and normalizing gender dysphoria to young children. Parents who are not already aware of the company’s agenda, please be forewarned: Children are being “groomed” by Fisher-Price drag queen dolls under the disguise of playtime. 

 This new product makes it clear that Fisher-Price has an LGBTQ agenda that it is forcing on extremely young audiences. Obviously, Fisher-Price is attempting to “groom” the next generation. This company should be enhancing learning during play, but instead, Fisher-Price is brainwashing our preschoolers and elementary-age children. Fisher-Price is hoping to have this doll placed in playrooms solely to indoctrinate children into transgenderism and homosexuality. 

One wonders if this silly group is speaking against the dolls or trying to sell them. It's like saying action figures of superheroes are telling children that they have super powers or toy trucks and cars are telling kids that they can drive.

There is nothing wrong with these dolls and no one is forcing parents to buy them.

LGBTQNation points out the following about OMM:

The rabidly anti-LGBTQ group has a habit of throwing a fit anytime any company anywhere publicly acknowledges the existence of queer people. 

 Their past moral outrage has been directed at Parents magazine for featuring a same-sex couple, an anti-smoking ad that mentioned erectile dysfunction, Highlights magazine for acknowledging the existence of gay people, Scholastic books for featuring LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books, the Roseanne reboot for featuring a non-binary child, a Disney cartoon series for its brief scene of two men kissing, a Zales jewelry commercial for featuring a lesbian couple and the fairy tale drama series Once Upon a Time for showing a lesbian kiss. 

This is true when one looks at the entirety of OMM's webpage, but we shouldn't allow our amusement over OMM's hysteria blind us to the seriousness of its bigotry. Even though its campaigns are highly unsuccessful, the group amplifies the hideously dangerous idea that being LGBTQ is something we should be ashamed of and that also our kids and our families are also something we should be ashamed of. By shrieking about even a smidgen of positive LGBTQ visibility, OMM feeds into and adds to the mindset that we are anomalies to the American experience instead what we actually are - a normal part of it.

OMM claims that we are aggressively shove things down people's throats when in actually, the group is actively trying to cut out our tongues 

GOP lawmaker suing Barnes and Noble bookstore for selling LGBTQ book (under the guise of 'saving the children')

'Genderqueer' is not dangerous or obscene.

Well we should have seen this coming. First they came for classrooms, then school libraries, then public libraries. Now they are coming for bookstores. It's to 'save the children,' they claim. Of course that's a bunch of bull.

According to Fox 8 News in Virginia:

A book retailer may be facing a legal fight in Virginia over selling certain YA books. According to a Facebook post, Attorney and state delegate Tim Anderson and his client Tommy Altman, a congressional candidate in the district around Virginia Beach, said “the Virginia Beach Circuit Court has found probable cause that the books “Gender Queer” and “A Court of Mist and Fury” are obscene to unrestricted viewing by minors.” 

 The post goes on to say that Altman has directed Anderson’s office to “seek a restraining order against Barnes and Noble and Virginia Beach Schools” in order to stop the sale or loaning of these books to minors without parental consent. “We are in a major fight. Suits like this can be filed all over Virginia. There are dozens of books. Hundreds of schools,” the Facebook post reads. 

 Bookriot reports that neither of these books contains pornographic material, nor do they fit the definition of obscene.

The Bookriot articles goes into more detail:

No longer is this about the rights of students to access books. It’s now about the rights of private businesses to sell books. Anderson suggests this is a new avenue for parents to fight. 

 . . . Barnes & Noble has yet to respond to the legal actions taken. As a private business, they are not only allowed to sell what they wish to sell, but they are under no obligation by anyone to move materials out of their facilities. Further, no private business like the bookseller would simply “supply” books to the school district. Right-wing groups are pushing a narrative that suggests public schools are at the epicenter of indoctrination, forcing gender and sexuality onto young people starting in kindergarten. Lawsuits like this further fuel misinformation campaigns by these groups.

Well if these folk are going to play these games, then I suggest that they also sue to have the Bible not available to kids and - if they want to take it that far - removed from not only bookstores but public and school libraries. After all, it contains, murder, rapes, tortures, castrations, animal attacks, knifings, crucifixion, genocide, incest, adultery, abortion, infanticide, genocide. (yeah I DELIBERATELY omitted homosexuality).

These phony moral crusades always leave me frustrated, exhausted, and angry.  

'In Midwestern schools, LGBTQ teachers face discrimination, hate and their own fears' & other Thur midday news briefs

In Midwestern schools, LGBTQ teachers face discrimination, hate and their own fears - Hate never really goes away. It simply hides until its power grows. Our job is always to beat it back and remain vigilant for when it attempts to grow again. 

Campaign Seeks to Support LGBTQ+ Rights in Red States​ - This campaign is needed. Don't desert our LGBTQ people in the red states. I happen to be one of them - South Carolina. 

Texas Democratic candidate compares gay opponent’s HIV status to gambling & drug addiction - Girlfriend, you know you were being tacky.

There are 7 out LGBTQ women players at the French Open, and 0 men - At one time, this would seem like an ugly stereotype. I think of it now as a positive show of power.

Dear Dave Rubin, the LGBTQ community doesn't owe you a d@mn thing. You're getting exactly what you deserve.

Dave Rubin is the victim of his own opportunistic nature.

For those who have been keeping up, prominent conservative Dave Rubin has been catching hell from other conservatives and Republicans. Earlier this year, he and his husband announced that they are going to be parents. Needless to say that his allies didn't approve and they let him know by throwing at him the same vitriol they have slung so many times at the rest of us LGBTQ people.

And bear in mind that Rubin isn't simply a gay conservative. He has on several occasions amplified various racists:

Rubin has been cultivating an intolerant audience for several years, with his talk show The Rubin Report functioning as a cushy platform for hate-mongers like Stefan Molyneux and Milo Yiannopoulos, a safe space where all the questions are softballs. According to Rubin, his show is "a hub for misunderstood or canceled people or to-be-canceled people to express themselves honestly."Rubin has previously compared progressivism to a “mental disorder,” and through his talk show, attempts to push the idea that leftists and liberals are the real bigots, and that conservatives are more accepting of dissent.

He has also amplified right-wing lies about gays "grooming" children and personally slurred other prominent LGBTQ people (such as when he referred to House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as a 'black lesbo').

It goes without saying that this extreme brush with the homophobia of folks on his side has not been a learning experience for Rubin. And a recent comment he made underscores that. 

According to Mediaite:

Dave Rubin finally commented on the backlash he received following the announcement that his husband, David Janet, and he are expecting two children via surrogate later this year. Speaking with The Daily Wire’s Candace Owens on her show, Rubin was asked about how he handled all the naysayers. 

 “How — what was it like going through it?” Owens asked. 

 Rubin replied, “All of the tolerant lefties were seemingly so thrilled to tell me how the people on the right hated me. It’s like, ‘Well, are you guys showing me tolerance?’ I didn’t get any love or affirmation from you guys.

 I could go into detail about the article omitting all of the ugly stuff  Rubin has said about LGBTQ people, but I was - and continue to be - amazed by his audacity and mistaken belief of privilege. When he goes into the usual tired conservative narrative about the "intolerance of the tolerate left," you know that he also means LGBTQ people. That gets me angry. 

More than that, it pisses me off to the "highest level of pissivity."

Dave Rubin makes his money siding with a group of homophobes and contributes to slandering LGBTQ people. But suddenly we are supposed to flock to him and give him support when his own allies do to him what they have done to other LGBTQ people? He is obviously out of his damn mind if he thinks we should follow that narrative.

Hell yeah, we're laughing at him because he's getting what he deserves. Granted, I think he has a right to have a family with his husband. It's one of the rights LGBTQ folks have fought for and continue to fight for. But it's downright insulting that he wants to ignore how much his actions and statements - which will no doubt pay for the surrogacy of his children  - has led to the undermining of other LGBTQ people getting our rights, including the right to have a family.

And what's even more insulting is that he wants us to also ignore this fact.. He has got one hell of a nerve.

Don't try to disguise what Rubin is doing with nonsense about "having a debate," "being intolerant" or anything thing else which conservatives have reduced to argumentative gibberish and gaslighting.

Let's call this for what it is

Dave Rubin is a trifling, no-account opportunist trying to run a game to get paid and he's getting burned  No one in the LGBTQ community owes Dave Rubin anything except  maybe the marshmallows for the bonfire emanating from the torches conservatives are figuratively putting him to.

We don't owe him a defense, any pity, not even a small drop of concern. He spits in our faces by amplifying the lie that the LGBTQ people are evil while simultaneously taking advantage of the hard work the community has done to put him in a position to legally marry and have children. 

In my humble opinion, Dave Rubin knows where he can go and also what he can kiss.

'Despite surge in brutality, anti-trans violence is being basically ignored by the media' & other Wed midday news briefs

Despite a surge in brutality, broadcast and cable TV news spent just 43 minutes covering anti-trans violence in 2021​ - A damn disgrace. 

Biden warns of 'rising hate and violence' against LGBTQ people - Ain't that the truth. 

Florida High Schooler Zander Moricz On Fighting “Don’t Say Gay” - This brave young man is going through it. 

Federal Court rules against Tennessee’s anti-Trans restroom sign law - Good news.

Video from Equality Texas spells out how the political war on transgender children is harming their families

Power hungry politicians treat trans kids like pawns in a chess match.

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, Equality Texas announces the launch of a short animated video created by Free Lion Productions that highlights the struggle of Texas trans kids and their families. 

 For the past two years trans kids have been the target of political attacks, and lawmakers have been abusing their authority to bully health care providers from caring for their trans patients. Children’s health care decisions should be a collaboration between parents, their doctors, and the patients themselves. This video illustrates the pain that parents and trans kids feel when politicians insert themselves into the doctor’s office.

 

Texas Trans Youth Health Care from Equality Texas on Vimeo.

'John Oliver blasts Alabama, governor for anti-trans law' & other Tue midday news briefs

John Oliver

John Oliver Blasts 'Garbage Lady' Kay Ivey for Anti-Trans Law - PREACH!!

Homework assignment requires kids to explain how they would de-gay their friends - Oh mercy! 

Danica Roem’s new book is far from a typical politico’s story​ - Danica Roem isn't playing any games. 

GOP candidates unleash wave of ads targeting transgender rights - Singularly, they are dangerous. But I think they send a message when grouped together. They give a message that the GOP is targeting trans people instead of trying to right a wrong. And folks don't respond well when they are given the impression that a group of people is being picked on. 

PHOTOS: Meet Evan Saint, the long-haired indie wrestler who just came out - Oh?

U.S. Senator booed for transphobic comments during commencement speech

Senator Cynthia Lummis

Classic case of f@king around and finding out

During her speech delivered to the University of Wyoming’s College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education commencement Saturday afternoon, Republican U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis told graduates that “the existence of two sexes, male and female” was a “fundamental scientific truth.” 

 The audience’s immediate reaction to her transphobic remarks were loud expressions of disapproval including jeering, boos, and demands she leave the podium. 

 The senator’s remarks came in the latter third of her twenty-minute address which had primarily focused on the critical need for teachers and in the fields of agriculture and other endeavors she noted were Wyoming hallmarks. 

 In a statement released by her office Sunday, a spokesperson noted that Lummis was apologizing to those who felt “un-welcomed or disrespected” by the comments. “My reference to the existence of two sexes was intended to highlight the times in which we find ourselves, times in which the metric of biological sex is under debate with potential implications for the shared Wyoming value of equality,” the statement read.

“I share the fundamental belief that women and men are equal, but also acknowledge that there are biological differences and circumstances in which these differences need to be recognized. That being said, it was never my intention to make anyone feel un-welcomed or disrespected, and for that I apologize. I have appreciated hearing from members of the University of Wyoming community on this issue, and I look forward to continuing this dialogue.”

Full story courtesy of The Los Angeles Blade.

'Students protest after they say teacher was removed for giving student crisis hotline number' & other Mon midday news briefs

Students protest after they say a teacher was removed for giving student crisis hotline number​ - Simply inhuman to remove this teacher for simply helping students.

Urvashi Vaid, Legendary Activist for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights, Dies at 63 - Rest in power. I only met her once but she was a sweetheart to me. A very kind woman. 

Drag queen crowned prom king at Indiana high school - Seemingly small victories are the best. 

Gay senator Shevrin Jones put his homophobic colleagues on blast and it was incredible - Hopefully he's headed for larger things. 

The number of LGBTQ foster kids is on the rise, but does Colorado have enough accepting homes? - The omission of LGBTQ kids when it comes to adoption and foster homes is not accidental. It's deliberate by religious right groups and personalities.

'Hello! I'd like to report several cases in which children are being 'groomed' for danger.'

 We are so sadly oblivious as a country. While some folks are accusing LGBTQ people of trying to 'groom' children, the actual grooming is going on under our noises and probably with full approval of those pointing the finger at the LGBTQ community:

And let's throw two more in particularly for those who live for accusing LGBTQ people of attempting to 'sexualize' children.

Someone call Libs of TikTok and Christopher Rufo.

'Joe Rogan claims teachers are telling straight kids they'll 'burn in hell' if they don't turn gay' & other Fri midday news briefs

Joe Rogan is a jackass.

Joe Rogan claims teachers are telling straight kids they’ll “burn in hell” if they don’t turn gay​ - Joe Rogan is a moron whose popularity is accentuated by the fact that he is heterosexual and white so it's easy for him to fake that 'common day every man' bull. 

Disney Reports Disney+ Subscriptions Up, Theme Park Revenues Doubled Last Quarter Even After DeSantis Declared War on Mickey - So much for the idea that DeSantis is beating up Disney. 

Gay Florida High Schooler Faces Threat Over Graduation Speech - The fight goes on. 

Greek lawmakers ban conversion therapy for minors - Meanwhile, the United States is way behind.

Politifact: Talking about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom is not 'grooming'

It may have taken a while, but thank you Politifact for stating the obvious:

“Grooming” is a term strongly associated with child sexual abuse; it refers to a process or set of behaviors adults use to make it easier to introduce and complete sexual interactions with a child. 

 Talking about gender identity and sexual orientation in the classroom would not be grooming, because it is done without intent to sexually abuse a child, experts said.

 Experts in psychology and child development said they are not aware of any evidence showing that increased exposure to LGBTQ people or topics makes children more likely to join the LGBTQ community. Instead, they said it is likely an environment of increased acceptance allows people to more openly consider whether they might be part of the LGBTQ community. 

Our problem seems to be that so many ignorant people think that talking about sexual orientation and gender identity,  i.e. LGBTQ people, in the classroom is the same as talking about sexual interactions. That's not the problem of LGBTQ people, it's the problem is a society with a twisted mind.

The entire Politifact article is very extensive and deserves a read and a share. I especially liked this excerpt:

Another reading of the "grooming" narrative  . . .  suggests that, over time, children might be taught to or coerced into claiming an LGBTQ identity as their own — even if they otherwise wouldn’t have. There is no evidence of that — and it points to a fundamental misunderstanding of human sexuality and gender identity. 

 Experts said they were not aware of any research or evidence that increased exposure to topics such as gender and sexuality makes people more likely to join the LGBTQ community. Instead, they said, it is likely an environment of increased acceptance allows children to more safely and openly think about, question and discuss their gender identity and sexual orientation. 

 Exposure to these topics "does not change the way people develop," said the University of Minnesota’s McGuire, who studies family relationships and gender identity and the health of transgender youth. 

 "It changes how they feel about how they develop," McGuire said. "Accepting parents don’t change whether or not their kid is trans — they change whether or not their kid hates themselves and gets kicked out of the house for being trans. The kid’s transness is there regardless."

'Florida students win after yearbook censorship drama . . . with a caveat' & other Thur midday news briefs

School Reverses Decision to Cover Up ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protest Images - A win with a caveat is still a win.

As WNBA tips off, 20% of players currently on rosters are LGBTQ and publicly out​ - Yep. 

GOP senator introduces “blatantly unconstitutional” bill to take away Disney’s copyrights - Josh Hawley showing his a$$ in front of the cameras again. 

Sharing LGBTQ Identity A Fireable Offense, Mississippi High School Warned Teacher - This right here is a mess. 

Accusations of 'grooming' are the latest political attack — with homophobic origins - An old attack under a new cover.

Fox News takes time away from accusing Disney of 'grooming' children to celebrate Disney movie

In the past, Fox News has echoed and amplified lies about Disney supposedly 'grooming' children to be LGBTQ and folks have noticed:

Fox's Laura Ingraham makes outlandish claim that Disney is “grooming” children 

Fox News has spent over 3 hours melting down about Disney's support for the LGBTQ community this week

However, the following tweet from its online streaming network Fox Nation celebrating the Disney movie Frozen should raise some eyebrows. Especially when one takes into account the debate on whether or not a main character in the movie, Elsa, was gay.

No matter if you're a fan of Frozen or not, we haven't been able to LET IT GO since 2013! Watch 'Who Can Forget?' now on Fox Nation! https://t.co/DPnOrBi1GO pic.twitter.com/ykrarvvgKd

— Fox Nation (@foxnation) May 11, 2022

What's happening isn't rocket science. Fox News is a propaganda spewing crap shack which feeds off of outrage.  That's how it makes it money and no one employed there cares about propriety or standards because there are no repercussions for the network's hypocrisy. 

'VA delegate Danica Roem announces state Senate bid' & other Wed midday news briefs

Danica Roem

Virginia Delegate Danica Roem announces state Senate bid - Good luck, Danica. Make more history because I know you will be a wonderful state senator. 

Gymnast abused by team doctor comes out swinging at rightwing claims of LGBTQ “grooming”​ - Thank you for doing this. 

The Trans Americans We've Lost to Violence in 2022 - Just read. I have nothing else to say. 

Political Notes: LGBTQ candidates capitalize on leaked draft abortion ruling - They got the right idea. The rest of the Democratic Party needs to catch up.

The latest plot to 'turn' men gay involves . . . sweatpants?

 In the mind of homophobes, practically anything can be construed as a plot to turn someone gay. Between you and me though, I almost wish this were true. Goodness knows I have a list of people I would send these sweatpants to.

'White conservative gay smears Biden deputy press secretary by calling her a 'black lesbo'' & other Tue midday news briefs

Dave Rubin 

White gay conservative Dave Rubin calls Karine Jean-Pierre “a Black lesbo”​ - Ugly thing to say and to have it come from a gay man is equally nauseating. Remember that it was recently that Rubin was getting attacked by other conservatives when he and his husband announced that they were going to be parents. He has learned nothing. 

Florida teacher allegedly fired after discussing sexuality with students - They are trying so hard to push us back into the closet. Not gonna happen, guys. 

This antigay congresswoman was just declared “Worst Boss in Congress” and she seems like a nightmare - She sounds like a sweetheart . . . 

Lil Nas X Wins Outstanding Music Artist at 2022 GLAAD Media Awards (Full Winners List) - I didn't win for 'Outstanding Blog' this year, but congratulations to my friend Susan Kerr who won her second in the category.

Fox News, hate group working together to create false transgender controversy in school

On Monday, hate group the Family Research Council sent out this tweet advertising a segment on its podcast:

If one would believe FRC's spin, it's the latest example of public schools supposedly trying to 'groom kids' into being LGBTQ - especially 'T as in transgender' behind the backs of parents.

In the reality, it's the latest example of conservatives and right-wing groups manufacturing controversies in order to demonize public schools, teachers, and their reliable punching bags - LGBTQ people.

From what I was able to garner (at least for now), here are three facts about this incident:

1. There is no gender transition happening. It was simply a letter about what the child prefers to be called. 

2. The entire 'controversy' is comprised of a VERY biased Fox News article which doesn't even quote anyone except an activist from a far right 'parental rights' group. A second Fox News article is claiming that the school is facing a backlash, but provides no proof of this. No quotes from angry parents, concerned parents, or any parents. It is mainly an interview with the same activist from the far right 'parental rights group' who was quoted in the original article.

3. The idea that anything was hidden from parents is highly specious. We see this in three points.

A. Via the FRC interview itself:

Meg Kilgannon on a School's Attempts to Hide a Student's Gender Transition from Parents. https://t.co/RLNMUzTINR

— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) May 9, 2022

At the beginning, the interviewer, FRC spokesman Joseph Backholm, hints that there was an attempted working relationship with the school and the parents regarding the child in question.

B. Backholm is interviewing Meg Kilgannon, another FRC spokesperson. While they both repeat unproven claims about how this is happening across the nation, Kilgannon seems to be very unsure about the particulars in this case. At one point, she claims that she "suspects" that the parents were getting stonewalled.

C. The original article which formed the basis  of this podcast (coming from Fox News - and we know how biased they are when it comes to transgender issues) says nothing about parents. Even though Backholm claimed that 'reportedly' (his word) the school was acting without parental consent and thereby caused concern, there is nothing in the article which states this.

What this sounds like is yet another attempt to push the lie that schools are pushing being LGBTQ on children, much like the lie used by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to justify his 'Don't Say Gay' bill which was recently passed into law.

Ironically, one of the reasons that the Florida bill passed was because of another false story about a school attempting to turn a child transgender behind his parent's back.

This is how the religious right and their allies in the conservative propaganda news industry work. Fox News publishes story which makes an allegation without backing it up. Then the Family Research Council  amplifies it. Since no one is paying attention, no one refutes it. So then it's believed and continues to be amplified.

By the time it has been refuted, it has done its damage. And then we start all over again with a new fake controversy.

Video - LGBTQ characters in cartoon and animation. Deal with it, GOP.

 

 By now, you've probably heard the news how some GOP members of Congress have lost their minds about LGBTQ characters on television: 

 Five GOP senators sent a letter to the head of the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board asking that the rating system add new warnings so parents can keep their kids from watching shows with LGBTQ characters. The letter was crafted by Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and signed by Indiana’s Mike Braun, Montana’s Steve Daines, North Dakota’s Kevin Cramer, and Utah’s Mike Lee.

 The senators want the TV regulator to put up a warning for shows that feature what in their eyes is “disturbing content” of LGBTQ characters to help parents keep their children from being exposed to gay, lesbian, or trans characters. “In recent years, concerning topics of a sexual nature have become aggressively politicized and promoted in children’s programming, including irreversible and harmful experimental treatments for mental disorders like gender dysphoria,” the senators wrote. “To this end, we strongly urge you to update the TV Parental Guidelines and ensure they are up-to-date on best practices that help inform parents on this disturbing content.” 

 . . . The senators’ demand is the latest in a homophobic and transphobic moral panic from the right that somehow kids are being “groomed” to be LGBTQ by adults who refuse to stigmatize the community. This specific kind of absurd moral panic is nothing new. Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. spent a whole lot of time back in the late 1990s yelling about the Teletubbies and insisting one of the main characters on that children’s show was gay. Social conservatives have for more than a half-century smeared LGBTQ people, and specifically gay men, as pedophiles out to recruit their children to the gay lifestyle—and possibly for sex.

 But the letter marks the latest escalation of official homophobia and especially transphobia on the right.

Bring it on, boys. You've inspired me to post the above videos to amplify the fact that no matter what you try, we are not going back into any type of closet nor will we be ashamed of who we are.  Deal with that.

'Researchers say science behind Texas/Alabama anti-trans policy is full of errors' & other Fri midday news briefs

'Science' Behind Texas/Alabama Anti-Trans Policy Is 'Full of Errors'​ - It's not surprising but it still needs to be repeated. Consistently. 

U.S. Congressman Introduces Bill to Censor LGBTQ+ Content in Schools - Not a chance in hell of getting passed. But that's THIS time.

GOP senators want new TV rating for shows with LGBTQ characters - This right here is NUTS. 

Pete Buttigieg nails rightwing anti-LGBTQ hate in just 15 words - Bring that fire, Pete! 

Almost half of LGBTQ youths 'seriously considered' suicide in past year, survey says - All of this hate is taking a toll and it gets me frustrated. I feel helpless sometimes with watching to what the religious right and their allies are doing to our kids.

Video - Parents of trans and non-binary kids weigh in on ugly year of legislative attacks on their children

 

Dear mainstream media, you are not doing enough to amplify the voices of transgender and non-binary children nor their parents as they are being attacked by conservative lawmakers and legislatures.  Please do better in rightfully presenting their stories, such as what's being done in this video.

Before the GLAAD Awards - An Online Chat with 'Outstanding Blog' Nominees

For those who have never seen me on video, I do apologize for the above video.

Just kidding. 

In anticipation of Friday's GLAAD Awards, GLAAD recently hosted an online chat with the five nominees of the 'Outstanding Blog' category. As folks know, I was blessed to have won the award in 2017 as well as receiving five nominations with this year included.

The online chat was hosted by social media personality Peppermint of RuPaul's Drag Race. I am appreciative to her and to GLAAD for spotlighting the work of us tireless LGBTQ bloggers. We work diligently and with little acclaim to bring news, hope, style, and (in my case) fire to our community and to educate the mainstream about who we are. 

(Memo to myself - next time use some of that Streisand lighting. I was definitely channeling that 'Gloria Grahame went straight from work at the studio to the Oscars' look.)

 (And to answer certain questions, yes those are action figures behind me . . . hush)