Report - TX governor's order to investigate the parents of transgender kids could put state agency 'on brink of collapse'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order to investigate the parents of trans kids is wrecking the state's child protection agency.

From the Dallas Morning News:

Continuing to investigate the parents of transgender youth could put Texas’ child protection agency over the brink of collapse, a group of its staffers said in a new court filing. In an Aug. 25 brief filed with the Austin appeals court, 16 current and former employees at the Department of Family and Protective Services said there has been an exodus from the agency that could hamper its ability to perform basic and necessary functions. They urged the court to keep the abuse investigations on hold while the policy continues to be litigated.

“As career DFPS employees,” they wrote to “respectfully advise the Court that DFPS is on the brink of collapse, and that the politically motivated decision to compel DFPS employees like themselves to investigate nonabusive loving and supportive families who merely rely in good faith on their doctor’s advice would put DFPS over that brink.” 

 They noted that age appropriate and individualized gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, are supported by the state and nation’s largest medical organizations. These treatments are meant to help treat gender dysphoria, the feeling of discomfort or distress that can occur for those who identify as a gender different from the gender or sex assigned at birth.

 “The great mass of DFPS employees did not choose the child welfare profession to break up loving families who, with no ill motive, malice, or negligence toward their child, are simply following medical advice and administering medicine under a doctor’s supervision,” they added. 

 The staff warnings underscores the chaos that the controversial policy change has created. It was filed less than two weeks after The Dallas Morning News first wrote that internal documents revealed confusion and secrecy marked the decision’s rollout in February. More than 2,000 employees have left the agency this year, The Houston Chronicle reported this month.

Abbott's order to investigate the parents of trans kids was considered a touchstone in this so-called culture war about trans issues. Now that it all seems to be falling apart for him, where is all of the attention? This article is infuriating on so many levels, but one of the main issues why is that very few people in the media seem to be paying attention.

It says lot about they think about LGBTQ people and our issues.

'VA school board adopts anti-LGBTQ hate group's policy for trans students' & other Wed midday news briefs

Virginia school board votes 5-2 to adopt hate group ADF’s policy​ - The Alliance Defending Freedom again. They got their hateful hands in everything.

California may act as U.S. refuge for transgender youth​ - It's terrible that we have to even talk about refuges for our kids, but still I support the idea. 

Yeshiva University petitions Supreme Court in bid to prohibit official LGBTQ club - If you get tax dollars, then forget it. Although I think our SCOTUS may be more inclined to disagree seeing that it is religiously biased. 

How Tobacco Companies Harm the LGBTQ+ Community - Needs to be told. 

Virginia Court Blocks Republican Attempt To Criminalize LGBTQ Books - Nice try but you failed.

LGBTQ teachers open up as their schools -- and identities -- become next front in the culture war - It's on. Stay strong.

Libs of TikTok still threatening to lie about children's hospitals even after Twitter suspension

Some folks are determined to figuratively walk into a volcano.

From Media Matters:

Libs of TikTok’s Chaya Raichik pledged to redouble her attacks on hospitals providing trans people with health care, she wrote in a rant on her Substack in which she called gender-affirming care “mutilating the body.” Raichik’s recent efforts against Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s National Hospital in D.C., and others have led to violent threats against health care providers and at least one request for help from law enforcement. Libs of TikTok has fallen silent on Twitter for the first time in weeks as a result of a suspension for violation of the platform’s rules against hateful conduct. 

 The Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz reported on Sunday that Libs of Tik Tok had earned a seven-day suspension. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the suspension in a statement to Media Matters, saying that “we took enforcement action against the account … for violating our hateful conduct policy. The account was placed in read-only mode for seven days.” 

 Libs of TikTok has reportedly been suspended multiple times on multiple platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Raichik’s last Twitter suspension came for accusing LGBTQ people of “grooming” children, which Twitter confirmed violates its policies against hateful conduct after pressure from Media Matters and others. 

 . . . The suspension comes after Libs of TikTok targeted Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., leading to online suggestions about bombing the hospital and putting its employees in a woodchipper. The account has targeted multiple other hospitals providing gender-affirming care, resulting in threats to patients and providers and forcing at least one hospital to request support from law enforcement. 

 . . . In a screed posted to her Substack after the suspension, Raichik alleged a diabolic plot by medical providers, writing that “a false belief in the mind is not treated by mutilating the body. Any doctor performing these surgeries should have their license revoked. They belong in prison.”

Again, let me remind people that Raichik is LYING when she claims that children's hospitals are mutilating trans children. She has been exposed several times for deliberately taking footage and clips out of context. 

If Libs of TikTok and Raichik want a degree from the University of FAFO (F@k Around and Find Out), I sincerely HOPE that Twitter stands ready to make them summa cum laude.

'MI GOP nominates Satan-obsessed homophobe for Secretary of State' & other Tue midday news briefs

Kristina  Karamo 

MI GOP nominates Satan-obsessed homophobe for Secretary of State​ - Oh mercy! Why?! 

Now rightwing Christians don’t want girls to play sports at all - Should this surprise anyone? 

Billy Eichner calls out “homophobe” Clarence Thomas in fiery, full-volume VMAs speech - Well, did he lie? 

What LGBTQ+ Families Should Know For Back-to-School Time - Write it down.

Libs of Tik Tok suspended from Twitter for seven days after continuing to spread lies about trans kids receiving hysterectomies

It was bound to happen, but it should be longer than seven days.

Libs of TikTok is locked out of twitter for a FULL WEEK after they led a massive hate campaign resulting in shutting down websites of Children's Hospitals, threatening the patients in the process.

All over trans people.

Lets keep the pressure up. @Shopify! Drop Libs of TikTok! pic.twitter.com/6tS180cktI

— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) August 29, 2022

Libs of Tik Tok has been targeting children's hospitals around the nation, claiming that they are performing hysterectomies (the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and sometimes ovaries) on trans kids. In spite of the fact that this claim has continuously been refuted, the site and its founder, Chaya Raichik, continues to spread it.

And her followers have been threatening these hospitals with violence. According to The Daily Dot, an incident with the Children's National Hospital in DC may have been the final straw:

On Thursday, Aug. 25, Libs of TikTok shared audio that caused a right-wing explosion, in which she spoke to at least two employees at Children’s National Hospital and asked them if they would perform hysterectomies on children under the age of 18 to aid in transitioning.

 The call came as conservatives have led a charge against children’s hospitals for providing care to trans patients, as part of a moral panic against transgender people, one which Libs of TikTok both spearheaded and egged on. In the audio, it’s unclear who Raichik speaks to, but she goads them into saying they would conduct hysterectomies on patients under the age of 18. 

 According to the Washington Post, Children’s National Hospital didn’t dispute the accuracy of the audio but said that the employees provided inaccurate information. Conservatives have pointed back to a line on Children’s website, which said the hospital provided gender-affirming care to patients from ages “0-21.” 

 Children’s Hospital told the Post that the information on its website was also erroneously posted. But the denials from Children’s National Hospital did not satiate the right-wing crowd stirred up by the audio. It led to a flood of threats against the hospital, which has happened to a number of children’s hospitals that Libs of TikTok and other prominent conservatives posted about this month.

(Editor's note - You can listen to the audio on the Daily Dot's webpage. Raichik has long since blocked me on Twitter months ago.)

There are two things about this which bothers me. 1. Gender-affirming healthcare is very complex. It isn't always about surgeries, particularly involving trans kids. 

2. Until I see more information, I have a serious problem with believing that Raichik talked to an actual worker. She has been called out in the past for deliberately misrepresenting comments or taking them out of context:

Some of the claims about Children’s National, Boston Children’s and other hospitals were pushed by the Libs of TikTok account, which regularly reposts videos and social media posts from LGBTQ people, teachers, schools and other institutions. The clips are sometimes taken out of context and framed to fuel outrage or ridicule of LGBTQ and anti-racist causes, in what the account owner has described as “exposés” of “the crazies.” For example, a short clip about gender-affirming hysterectomies from a video originally posted by Boston Children’s that Libs of TikTok reposted makes no mention of patients’ ages. But Libs of TikTok tweeted alongside the clip the false claim that the hospital offers the surgery “for young girls.”

And her defenders aren't exactly credible themselves.  Prominent conservative Seth Dillon posted the following telling people to support Raichik's 'work'.

But earlier this year, Dillon got in trouble for spreading a false story that a child tipped a half-naked drag queen.

For folks not happy at the short suspension, stay tuned. Raichik remains defiant and is threatening to target more hospitals. A permanent ban could be imminent.

BREAKING: In a rant posted to her Substack, Chaya Raichik responds to Twitter suspending her account Libs of TikTok by alleging a sinister conspiracy in gender affirming healthcare, promises to redouble her dangerous harassment campaign against hospitals if unbanned. pic.twitter.com/rbucHFklxY

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) August 29, 2022

Meanwhile Shopify is still allowing Raichik to sell merchandise off of her brand of smearing LGBTQ Americans. Here is what you can do to stop it

Everyone go here and report LoTT to Shopify's customer service. Select "does not comply with TOS"

When you do, note that they use "Groomer" as a coupon, target LGBTQ+ people, and are currently leading a harassment campaign on Boston Children's Hospital, and mention the lockout. pic.twitter.com/EJA4ksfVpn

— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) August 28, 2022

Huge hat tip to Ari Drennen, Erin Reed and so many others on the frontline doing the hard work. 

''Straight pride' event in Modesto erupts in violence' & other Mon midday news briefs

“Straight Pride” in Modesto erupts in violence - Mercy!

  LGBTQ+ Migrants Caught in Deadliest Border Crossing Ever​ - The struggle is universal, y'all. 

  BYU pulls LGBTQ resource pamphlets from new freshmen gift bags - NOT a good move, BYU.

  ‘A League of Their Own’ remake shows what it’s like to be Black and trans in the 1940s - I haven't seen it yet, but it's gotten rave reviews.

Article shows how Libs of TikTok lie about transgender children, then runs away when confronted

 

Libs of TikTok is run by a person who will deliberately spread lies about transgender kids but will then run away instead of backing up her claims.

A recent NPR article looked at how children's hospitals are being falsely accused of harming children when in truth they are simply providing legal and safe gender-affirming care. The article names social media sites like the viciously bigoted Libs of TikTok as the culprits.

Hospitals and doctors around the country are facing harassment and even death threats over the medical care they offer to transgender kids. In many cases, they have been the subject of posts by a Twitter account called Libs of TikTok, as well as stories in conservative media outlets casting gender-affirming care as child abuse and mutilation. 

 . . . Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. became the most recent target this week when Libs of TikTok posted an audio recording in which hospital staff appeared to say that gender-affirming hysterectomies had been performed on minors. The hospital said that claim was incorrect and that none of the people recorded deliver care to patients. 

 “The information in the recording is not accurate. We do not and have never performed gender-affirming hysterectomies for anyone under the age of 18,” Children’s National said in a statement to NPR. “The operator speaking provided wrong information.” The statement continued: “Since the spreading of misinformation on Twitter, we have been the target of a large volume of hostile and threatening phone calls and emails.” Childrens’ hospitals in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon, have also been targeted. 

Two portions of this article should stand out. One involves how Libs of TikTok instigates this madness by what seems to be deliberately pushing false information. This false information appeals to misconceptions some people already have about gender-affirming healthcare given to trans kids:

These false narratives about pediatric gender-affirming care are rooted in fundamental “misperceptions,” said Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, a pediatrician and director of the Gender Health Program at Children’s Minnesota. “People have misperceptions that we’re doing surgery on young kids. People have misperceptions that we are changing kids from boys into girls at a very young age,” they said. They said care for transgender kids is wide-ranging, from efforts to help children socially transition to puberty-blocking medications, and is undertaken with the input of pediatric psychologists, clinical social workers, hormone experts and endocrinologists, as well as families. Gender-affirming surgeries are not a routine part of pediatric gender care, they said, and Children’s Minnesota does not perform any such surgeries.

Some of the claims about Children’s National, Boston Children’s and other hospitals were pushed by the Libs of TikTok account, which regularly reposts videos and social media posts from LGBTQ people, teachers, schools and other institutions. The clips are sometimes taken out of context and framed to fuel outrage or ridicule of LGBTQ and anti-racist causes, in what the account owner has described as “exposés” of “the crazies.” For example, a short clip about gender-affirming hysterectomies from a video originally posted by Boston Children’s that Libs of TikTok reposted makes no mention of patients’ ages. But Libs of TikTok tweeted alongside the clip the false claim that the hospital offers the surgery “for young girls.” 

 The second point is equally as important. When she is asked to questioned about her actions, the woman behind Libs of  TikTok refuses to comment while simultaneously playing the victim:

Libs of TikTok, run by a Brooklyn woman named Chaya Raichik, has 1.3 million followers on its biggest platform, Twitter. It’s gained prominence and influence in right-wing circles over the last year as conservatives increasingly try to use anti-LGBTQ sentiment to gain support. NPR reached out to Raichik for this story. She initially responded and agreed to an interview, but did not respond to a follow-up message. Raichik frequently condemns criticism of her online activities as efforts to “cancel and silence” her. She has said that she has also been targeted with death threats.

What Libs of TikTok is doing is no different than past tactics used to demonize LGBTQ people. Like I always say - neither the lies nor the tactics change. But the scapegoats always do. 

'How a far-right Christian cellphone company 'took over' four TX school boards' & other Fri midday news briefs

How a far-right, Christian cellphone company ‘took over’ four Texas school boards​ - Cause they got money and no one was paying attention. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ Liberty Counsel hacked in major data breach - Oops!

LGBTQ Venues Accused of Extreme Racism in UK’s ‘Gay Capital of the North’ - There is a problem and we shouldn't hide it.

Texas Hate-Preacher Goes on Crazy Anti-LGBTQ+ Rant in Online Video - Some comedy to end today's news briefs.

Transgender Americans receive two major court victories

Recently, transgender Americans received two victories in the courtroom, one having major implications on the unfortunate war against gender affirming healthcare.

According to the Associated Press:

A federal appeals court on Thursday said Arkansas can’t enforce its ban on transgender children receiving gender-affirming medical care. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a judge’s ruling temporarily blocking the state from enforcing the 2021 law. 

A trial is scheduled for October before the same judge on whether to permanently block the law. Arkansas was the first state to enact such a ban, which prohibits doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to anyone under 18 years old, or from referring them to other providers for the treatment. There are no doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery on minors in the state. 

 “Because the minor’s sex at birth determines whether or not the minor can receive certain types of medical care under the law, Act 626 discriminates on the basis of sex,” the court’s ruling Thursday said. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the law on behalf of four transgender youth and their families, as well as two doctors who provide gender-confirming treatments. 

The article also talked about a ruling last week which bodes well for the transgender Americans:

The 8th Circuit covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and the Dakotas. The ruling on Arkansas’ law comes after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that covers Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia ruled last week that gender dysphoria is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Experts and advocates have said that decision could help block conservative political efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming care. 

 NBC News said:

The ruling could become a powerful tool to challenge legislation restricting access to medical care and other accommodations for transgender people, including employment and government benefits, advocates said. “It’s a very important and positive ruling to increase people’s access to gender-affirming care,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. The ruling is binding in the states covered by the Richmond-based 4th Circuit — Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia — but will inevitably be cited in cases in other states, said Kevin Barry, a law professor at Quinnipiac University.

The decision came in the case of a transgender woman who sued the Fairfax County sheriff in Virginia for housing her in a jail with men. The decision is not limited to transgender people challenging jail policies, but also applies broadly to all areas of society covered by disability rights law, including employment, government benefits and services and public accommodations, Barry said. “This decision destigmatized a health condition — gender dysphoria — and it says that what Congress did in 1990 wasn’t OK,” Barry said.

These rulings are significant as some states are attempting to outlaw gender-affirming healthcare for children and some adults via legislation. This legislation has been pushed via lies about children being castrated and rendered sterile by gender-affirming healthcare. Calculating politicians  religious right groups, propaganda industries masquerading as legitimate news media, and social media personalities have exploited these lies even going as far as to target children's hospitals. 

It's rather convenient how none of these people are volunteering to speak in the court on behalf of their anti-trans stances.

'TX officials were secretly furious over order to investigate trans kids' & other Thur midday news briefs

Texas officials secretly pissed over order to investigate trans kids - Good. This needs to be widely known.

Missouri high school asks teachers to remove gay pride flags​ - And folks protested as they should have.

Monkeypox ‘misjudgment’ leading LGBTQ people ‘to avoid care,’ FOLX Health CEO warns - No such thing as too much knowledge about this situation. 

This school newspaper put out an issue with LGBTQ content. The school board axed the entire program. - Simply ridiculous.

Being jaded is not a good look for the LGBTQ community

 

 This video by my online friend Matt Baume is a few years old but I find it still relevant.  And amplifying it is a perfect way for me to bring up something which has bothered me for a while. 

I think we're a bit jaded as a community. 

These days we are inundated with positive LGBTQ images in all forms of media. So much so that it's blinding us to actual threats which can cripple our community. We tend to forget that we are still in a fight against folks who are determined to either undermine our rights or do what they can to eradicate our presence from society. From the 'Don't Say Gay' bills and laws to groups selling swag by smearing us as groomers of children to the constant attack on the trans community, there is too much garbage out there for us to become complacent.

That's why videos like the above are important. It's  a reminder of  where we were and how we got where we are. Some of us seem to have the belief that people raged at Stonewall, busted a couple of windows and suddenly we got rights the next day. Stonewall was just a touchstone. It was one of many. We fought like hell before that night in New York and we fought like hell after it to get where we are. And all of it did not include raising hell and shutting things down.  People always forget the planning, the organizing, the intricate details of discipline which got us the organizations and the laws. People always forget that progress doesn't happen in one hot day or night and that long-term plans and goals are always needed if  one is truly serious about attaining success. They forget because things like that aren't seen as glamorous as shouting in the streets and carrying signs.

 I was born in a time when there was no "Will and Grace" or "RuPaul's Drag Race." I remember when AIDS was ravaging the community and people joked about how it was killing our community as if it was the latest gag. Some of us have forgotten and still others weren't born yet. We need a remembrance, a wake-up call. 

In the black community, we are constantly reminded of how we progressed in this country and the sacrifices made to get us there. We are also constantly reminded that there are folks out there who want to take it away from us if we  blinked just once.  And we are constantly reminded of our history, of the time when we couldn't run for public office, when we were beaten and lynched in broad daylight and when we suffered other indecencies.  Because of that, our eyes are always at the figurative gate just in case someone tries to break in.

The LGBTQ community would do well to take to heart what the black community does.We love to immerse ourselves in the trivial aspect of LGBTQ culture, but let's not forget that the fight isn't over. Don't let your eagerness to celebrate Pride blind you to the termites trying to eat away at our foundation.

'Church will apologize, pay damages which will go to LGBTQ causes because of 'Hamilton' controversy' & other Wed midday news briefs

Texas church forced to donate to LGBTQ causes: report - That's what you get when you mess with 'Hamilton.' Pay the price.

Texas woman files criminal complaint after high school declines to ban book about gay Boy Scout​ - She lost and made a fool of herself. 

Texas school board bans teachers from saying that trans people exist - On the other hand. 

Conservative activists want to ban 400 books from a library — but they aren't even on shelves - Always with the pretext for hysteria. 

P-H-M delays change to student pronoun policy after push back from parents, LGBTQ community - Us and the opposition actually agree on something.

Hilarious anti-LGBTQ school board rant goes viral. But with the mockery comes a huge addendum

This man's highly bigoted rant at a TX school board meeting would be amusing except for the fact that the policy he supported passed.

This guy's insane speech has gone viral. He was speaking during board meeting at the Grapevine-Colleyville school district in Texas in support of a policy similar to Florida's Don't Say Gay law.

I'm not sure exactly how this guy who supports the anti-trans policy at GCISD thinks this speech is going to make him look.

25/ pic.twitter.com/F9zB5DGPng

— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) August 23, 2022

Yep, he is one to mock. But you also know that the board passed the policy. 

The policy gaining approval and  folks like him spewing stuff at school board meetings in general are the result of a cellphone company and far right Christian activist group, Patriot Mobile, investing $500,000 in flooding Northeast Texas school board elections with conservative candidates. And winning.

If it sounds scary, then good. It should. Basic bigotry is always fun to laugh at until you see its consequences.

Hat tip to independent journalist Steven Monacelli. He does really good work and you should support him. Click on his name to go to his linktree.

'American Idol alum Sanjaya comes out as bisexual' & other Tue midday news briefs

Sanjaya Malakar

American Idol phenomenon Sanjaya comes out as bisexual​ - An important story about being an LGBTQ in the entertainment industry while trying to find yourself. Stories like this are always relevant.

Republican CNN contributors promote anti-LGBTQ Libs of TikTok account - And got promptly checked. Something which does not happen on Fox News. 

Judge blocks Utah’s transgender sports ban for being discriminatory - Just in case you haven't heard. 

Dwyane Wade Helps Trans Daughter Legally Change Her Name, Gender - Trans kids need more supportive parents like Dwayne Wade. 

The DeSantis administration’s latest transphobic ruling has them headed straight for a lawsuit - It's gonna happen and I have a hopeful idea of  how this is going to end.

'LGBTQ people banned. Democrats arrested. All schools are Christian' - Far-right Christian nationalist reveals dream for future America

This rant by white nationalist and far right Christian Dalton Clodfelter is both funny and scary. On one hand, can you really get angry at the child. I suppose going through life with a name like Dalton Clodfelter is bound to get you angry. But a genuine question is how many conservative and Republican candidates for public office out there silently agree with what he's loudly spewing?

“Once we take our country back, we will have federal agents kicking down the doors of every treasonous Democrat, every treasonous globalist, every homosexual couple that has molested a child, and they will be arrested, and they will be sentenced to prison,” Clodfelter declared.

 “I believe in a far right-authoritarian government. No, I am not a fascist. No, I am not a white supremacist. No, I am not a Nazi. But I do believe that hierarchy, structure, and authority are very important. I do believe that our society needs these things in order to progress and maintain its cultural framework.” “I believe that our society needs this in order to rid itself of the sexual immorality and blatant degeneracy running rampant all throughout the country,” he continued.

 “Once we take control, we will identify our enemies, and we will stomp them into the dirt. They will not be able to return to power. We will rip them from their offices. We will rip them from their homes for being degenerate liars, degenerate treasonous domestic terrorists because that is what they are.” “We want to take back the country and reestablish a Christ-like nation,” Clodfelter asserted.

 “A nation where the national religion is Christian. A nation where the national language is English. A nation where pornography is banned, homosexuality is banned, and transgenderism is banned. Where you will never see a college that isn’t a Christian college. The only college acceptable that you are able to go to is a Christian school because every school in these United States should teach Christian values. Every school should teach the 10 Commandments in elementary school. Every school should promote what it means to be a Christian to the youth of America. It cannot be any other way. There should be no secular teaching in the schools.”

tip to Right Wing Watch.

'LGBTQ advocates say the government's monkeypox response is missing communities of color' & other Mon midday news briefs

LGBTQ advocates say the government is missing communities of color in its monkeypox response​ - Like always, we have to shout the loudest to be heard. Then folks get mad at us for shouting. 

School says LGBTQ students will be asked to leave “immediately” if discovered - A hot mess. 

R&B Star Tevin Campbell Comes Out as Gay - How SOME folks in the gay community have acted over this says a lot about racism and self-hatred in our community. Just saying. I say he did good by being open and showing BLACK LGBTQ folks that we have more visibility than people think. 

Singapore will decriminalize sex between men, prime minister says - Way to go, Singapore!

Florida removes all LGBTQ support documents from schools after 'convenient' complaint about one sentence from out-of-date guide

The DeSantis Administration is trying to make this a reality for LGBTQ Floridians.

 In defending Florida's  'Don't Say Gay' law (passed in March of this year), Gov. DeSantis and the rest of its supporters claimed that it was simply for keeping children away from sexually-graphic material.  A lot of us knew however that the law would be used to erase and silence LGBTQ people and undermining resources beneficial to our health and well-being. 

It looks like we are being proven right with this latest move by Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr.  According to WFSU News:

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. on Wednesday gave his staff the go-ahead to "pull" LGBTQ support documents at all school districts, after a State Board of Education member asserted that some could violate a controversial new law. Board member Ryan Petty said he has “grave concerns” about some LGBTQ support guides provided to students, teachers and school staff members. Petty specifically took issue with one sentence from a Hillsborough County district guide, reading it aloud during a State Board of Education meeting in Pensacola. 

 Here is the sentence; 

“With the limited exception involving the imminent fear of physical harm, it is never appropriate to divulge the sexual orientation of a student to a parent,” the Hillsborough County guide said.

But according to Naples Daily News, the excerpt Petty was reading had already been removed:

But Petty was reading an excerpt that already has been removed following a review of the guide by the Palm Beach County school district. A section on talking to parents and guardians was overhauled substantially after the district’s review. “Parents are entitled to access their students’ educational records. If the information about a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity is contained in a student record, parents are entitled to this information,” the section now says. “Students also have a constitutional right to privacy which includes the right to determine whether or not sensitive information about themselves will be disclosed to others.” 

Petty did not name the law that he suspects is being violated, but the Legislature this year passed a controversial measure (HB 1557) that bars classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. In older grades, the law prohibits such instruction that is not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for students in accordance with state standards. 

The article went on to say that Diaz immediately signed off on Petty's request. 

This move by Florida to remove LGBTQ support guides from school comes on the heels of the state's  recent attempt  to ban gender-affirming care from kids and Medicaid patients.

According to VICE News:

Less than a month after “Don’t Say Gay” became law, the Florida Department of Health released its memo attempting to provide a scientific explanation for denying gender-affirming care. Then in June, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration also issued a new policy that no one, not even adults, would be able to access gender-affirming care through Medicaid. 

Rather than referring to the overwhelming body of research that shows positive outcomes of gender-affirming care, Florida instead commissioned hundreds of pages of new material—which did not go through a standard peer-review process—to justify the change. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo then wrote the state medical board and used these documents as the basis to “[recommend] against certain pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, and surgical treatments for gender dysphoria.”

Florida's report was condemned for deliberate misinformation not only by a group of Yale researchers but also 10 researchers whose work was used in the report. 

The Independent via Yahoo News said the following:

Researchers cited in the Florida health department’s April memo said their work was misrepresented in an attempt to justify denying gender-affirming care to Florida’s trans youth. A report from Vice found that all 12 citations in the memo either distort the work that was cited or come from explicitly anti-trans sources, with Florida’s Department of Health claiming that it could not find any evidence indicating that such treatments are safe, labelling them “experimental” – despite the work they cited saying the opposite.

Not only that, but meetings in which Florida sought to seek public input on this rule were conveniently dominated by those supporting it. According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

In what at times appeared more like a tent revival than an agency rule hearing, state health officials on Friday received public input on a proposal that would deny Medicaid coverage for treatments such as puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy for transgender people. 

 The state Agency for Health Care Administration rolled out the proposed rule in June, drawing harsh criticism from national and state legal and LGBTQ-advocacy groups. Friday’s meeting drew more than 150 people, with supporters of the proposed rule — many of them sporting “Let Kids Be Kids” decals and making biblical references — vastly outnumbering opponents. Speakers supporting the proposal included a Baptist minister, members of the Florida Citizens Alliance, the head of the Christian Family Coalition, the founder of the Florida Prayer Network, a representative of the Florida Federation of Republican Women and a man carrying a giant American flag on a pole. 

 In contrast to typically staid rule hearings, the crowd at Friday’s session frequently broke out in applause and more than once attempted to shout down opponents of the proposal.

Taking into account Florida's rigged effort to stamp out gender-affirming healthcare and now what seems to be a rigged attempt to remove LGBTQ support guides in its schools,  it is not hysterical to guess what's happening in the state. The DeSantis administration is undertaking a steady, deliberate, and cynically thought-out strategy to wreck the lives of LGBTQ Floridians. And if  we all (LGBTQ people, our allies, the media, etc)  don't loudly and strenuously call it out, it will probably be used as a framework to create havoc against LGBTQ people on a nationwide scale. 

Especially if the GOP takes over Congress in the upcoming midterms.

None of this is by accident. And certainly none of it is about protecting anyone, especially children. It's about bigotry, obscene thirsts for power, and scapegoating.

Libs of TikTok suspended, then let back on Facebook after campaign of transphobic misinformation against Boston Children's Hospital

For a moment, it looked like Facebook was doing something good for a change. For a moment that is. 

From Media Matters:

Facebook reportedly suspended anti-LGBTQ account “Libs of TikTok” for less than 24 hours following its latest anti-trans harassment campaign against Boston Children’s Hospital, which has resulted in violent threats against health care providers. The Facebook page and its larger Instagram account remained active with hundreds of posts during the suspension — and after it was lifted, Libs of TikTok immediately returned to targeting children’s hospitals providing gender-affirming care for trans youth.

 

Bear with me as I tell you the entire story. Let's start from the beginning:

From Yahoo News:

The account known as Libs of TikTok announced to its 1.3 million Twitter followers on Wednesday evening that Meta had permanently suspended its Facebook page with “no reason given.” In a screenshot shared in the tweet, Facebook had advised Libs of TikTok that it had been put on ice because it “didn’t follow our Community Standards.” The page’s disabling comes nearly a week after Libs of TikTok posted a false claim to its social media pages about gender-affirming surgical procedures, leading to a sustained campaign of right-wing harassment levied at a top New England pediatric hospital. 

 . . . The page was apparently disabled but still was visible on Facebook Wednesday night. A request for comment sent to Facebook’s press office was not immediately returned. A later tweet from the Libs of TikTok account confirmed “our page is back up on Facebook but we are still locked out and were last told that it’s permanent.” 

 . . . On Aug. 11, Libs of TikTok’s Twitter, run by Brooklyn real estate agent Chaya Raichik, posted a video clip from Boston Children’s Hospital about gender-affirming hysterectomies—or the removal of the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes—and claimed that the institution was offering these procedures to “young girls.”

 The account followed its initial allegation up with more than a dozen inflammatory tweets and retweets that name-checked the hospital and accused it of mutilating children. In a Tuesday newsletter, Libs of TikTok fumed that the hospital “supports castrating kids and I have evidence,” adding that it “had a full menu of castration and mutilation options for minors to choose from.”

 

But the claim that Boston Children's Hospital was performing hysterectomies on young girls was a lie. It was refuted by sites such as Politifact and Lead Stories. Unfortunately, the damage was done:

According to Media Matters:

 Following Raichik’s social media posts on Boston Children’s Hospital, members of far-right online forums threatened to “start executing these ‘doctors’” and saying that “demons like this don’t deserve to breathe.” More death threats were also made against the hospital and its employees on Twitter, some of which are detailed below. The Department of Justice announced Wednesday it is investigating the violent threats directed at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Media Matters also pointed out that Raichik and her followers have been targeting other hospitals and medical providers. Ari Dennan, LGBT Program Director of the group, sent out the following tweet which showcases just how Raichik lies about children receiving 'trans surgery'

As when she promoted misinformation about Boston Children's Hospital, Raichik counts on her audience not actually watching these videos. This woman is a *clinical psychologist* with a PhD, not a surgeon. She's there to talk to trans people and their families, not operate.

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) August 18, 2022

Even after all of this, Facebook allowed Raichik and Libs of TikTok to return. And since returning, Raichik has continued to target hospitals and medical professionals:

Using CrowdTangle, Media Matters found that the Libs of TikTok page has an additional 480 posts that remain active on Facebook. These posts, which are nearly all photos and videos, have earned more than 375,000 interactions and include posts about Boston Children’s Hospital and other hospitals providing gender-affirming care.

Let's be clear. This is has nothing to do with censorship. No one has a right to push lies for any reason, especially under the guise of free speech. The situation is even worse because Raichik is deliberately undermining the right of trans men, women, and children to receive accurate healthcare. Lastly, Media Matters makes a frighteningly logical point in terms of why Raichik is declaring a war of disinformation against medical professionals:

The threats against Boston Children’s Hospital after it was targeted by Libs of TikTok — and Raichik’s reaction to these threats — demonstrate the sort of harm she apparently seeks to inflict. There are also troubling historical parallels: In 2009, Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller was shot to death outside his church by an anti-abortion extremist following his targeting by right-wing media.

'Dark money group pumping in millions to push transphobia in the mid-terms' & other Thur midday news briefs

Conservative nonprofit plans to spend millions bashing ‘woke’ left in midterms​ - A dark money group is putting up millions to scare people with lies about trans women in sports. Someone is feeling a little less secure about the midterms if they have to stoop to this. 

Meet the new dark money Republican hoax and troll group, 'Citizens for Sanity' - More about the group from the above article.

Florida state attorney sues after Governor suspends him over pro-trans public statements - No doubt, DeSantis was once relishing fights like this. Now I think he is seeing just how too far he is pushing. 

Sex between men, not skin contact, is fueling monkeypox, new research suggests - Get ahead of this before the anti-LGBTQ industry does. 

Boston Children's Hospital warns employees over far-right online harassment campaign - Speaking of the anti-LGBTQ industry and its lies.

Satire - Drag Queens aren't grooming kids. Cartoons are.

Yeah I know. This is has been repeatedly pointed out.  But with all of the mess going on with those on the right accusing LGBTQ people and especially drag queens of  "grooming kids," a reminder about how absolutely caustic and stupid the entire hysteria is can always be fun.

And if the video above doesn't push your buttons, how about the ones below (from a hilarious Youtube page which has a large number of snippets dating back decades.)

And of course there is Disney:

'Pennsylvania governor signs executive order banning 'ex-gay therapy'' & other Wed midday news briefs

Pennsylvania governor signs executive order banning conversion therapy - Boom! Let the haters stay mad. 

Out NFL Player Carl Nassib Signs Contract With Tampa Bay Buccaneers​ - Good for them. They made an excellent choice. 

Fox's Greg Gutfeld says there are so few Black openly gay lawmakers for the same reason “there are not a lot of short guys in the NBA” - The real sad thing is that this guy is employed.

Rugby gold medalist Ellia Green makes history as first Olympian to come out as a trans man - Glad to hear it!

Conservative claiming trans healthcare is damaging to kids also said 12-year-old rape victims should have to carry babies to term

Matt Walsh

Conservative talking head Matt Walsh is practically a one-man industry when it comes to exploiting people's ignorance and fear about LGBTQ people and especially trans healthcare. From writing a 'children's book' attacking the trans community, to attempting to trick trans people into taking part in a ridiculous 'documentary, to actually creating a documentary full of bigoted lies, to even engaging in the "gays are sexually grooming children" lie, Walsh seems to have his dirty paws into every angle devoted to making LGBTQ lives hell.

When it comes to attacking affirming healthcare, particularly for trans kids, Walsh claims that he is on a mission to save children. He practically lives for constantly pushing the lie that affirming care for trans kids involves surgery, castration, and "mutilation."

Again, gender-affirming healthcare for trans kids is a complex issue and is not as cut and dry as Walsh paints it.  The deliberate vulgarity in which he describes things exposes his desire to incite instead of providing decent facts about the subject.  

And Walsh's concern about possible physical damage to kids is ironic seeing how he has also said the following when it comes to 12-year-old rape victims:

If a 12 year old is raped by her father and the father takes her to get an abortion, the evidence of the crime will be destroyed and he will go on molesting his victim for years. If however the child is born, his crime will be discovered and she will be rescued from the abuse. https://t.co/emV8tJifWE

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 15, 2019

And when challenged, he doubled down on the argument:

Abortion enthusiasts are mad at me for this tweet. I stand by it 100 percent. Rapists use abortion to cover their tracks and Planned Parenthood helps them. That’s a fact. Read more: https://t.co/ZwjBG9lDQg https://t.co/w6J6OQuhxx

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 15, 2019

The inanity of Walsh's tweets is breathtaking. He reminds me of those annoying types I attended college with, i.e. the type who liked to engage in pointless arguments. They see debates as verbal masturbation in that they like to get themselves off by confusing their self-designated opponents with arguments, counter arguments, and verbal gymnastics all designed to create confusion so that they can claim that they "won" the debate. To them, it was all a game designed to give themselves an inflated sense of self-importance. 

And that's what all of this is to Walsh; a game in which he gets a charge out of leading one group of people like sheep while trolling another group. In that regard he would be pathetic except for the fact that what he's doing is leading to real-life repercussions. That makes him dangerous, particularly to those who didn't ask to be caught up in his game.

'16 state attorney generals join lawsuit against DeSantis's 'Don't Say Gay' law' & other Tue midday news briefs

16 states’ attorneys general join suit opposing Florida’s “hate-fueled” Don’t Say Gay law​ - THIS is getting good.

Florida Has An Outrageous New Law Targeting Teachers. Here's Why I'll Be Breaking It. - More opposition to DeSantis's insanity. Wonderful. 

Brittney Griner's Defense Team Appeals Her Conviction in Russia - I hope she's released. And soon!

Video of boy receiving a sewing machine for his ninth birthday goes viral on TikTok - Awwwww! This is so cute! 

Gay-hating GOP nominee Tudor Dixon’s past life as a horror movie actress is back to haunt her - It's the hypocrisy which gets me. Ew.

Silly conservative 'activist' doesn't know the difference between drag queens, drag kings, and strippers

Right-wing provocateur and wannabe evil mastermind (I call him 'Little Blofeld') Christopher Rufo earlier this year pushed the idea that to further exploit anti-LGBTQ 'grooming' hysteria, folks should refer to drag queens as 'trans strippers.'

One wannabe far-right activist has taken that to heart:

But one thing is putting a money wrench into girlfriend's plans of becoming the reincarnation of Anita Bryant - the simple fact that she was dumb enough to post pictures which contradict her pearl-clutching claim about "drag queen strippers." And when those pictures from her tweet are individually seen, one can't help asking just where are the strippers?

Granted, those defending the activist will probably make excuses about condoms, birth control, and pregnancy tests being available. I say big deal. It's no different than children seeing commercials advertising these things. And I feel safe in saying that I doubt that children were given condoms or birth control at the event.

And of course there is the familiar and tired refrain of "let kids be kids." Well they are being kids in these pictures. They are enjoying a wonderful pride event with their families while being entertained by funny characters in very colorful costumes. 

That's what they see. No sex, no grooming, nor no salacious innuendoes involved. That is except for on the side of those pushing the "OMG, THEY ARE GROOMING KIDS" hysteria.

Unfortunately, nothing I have said will probably get through to the wannabe activist and people supporting her because they are determined to wrap themselves around a ridiculous cause. Still, it's always spotlight the truth so at least others can see just how ridiculous these pearl-clutching, hysteria-chugging fools truly are.

'Librarian sues conservative activists for defamation over banned books controversy' & other Mon midday news briefs

In rare move, school librarian fights back in court against conservative activists - That's right, honey! Take all of their money! There should be consequences with falsely labeling or inferring that people are pedophiles. 

LGBTQ groups denounce Florida plan to limit transgender care - Awful rule brought out of lies takes effect on Sunday. And no doubt folks in other states will push theirs. Bring it on. 

10 researchers say Florida is deliberately distorting their work to undermine healthcare for trans kids and adults - A reminder how FL governor Ron DeSantis and his administration is pushing the above policy via lies and cherry-picked science. 

Wedding rescued by stranger after baker refuses to make cake for lesbian couple - This the problem - the baker didn't let the couple KNOW until the last moment. She had a month. It underscores the basic cowardice of policies like this. You want the right to serve the customers you chose, but then you don't want to announce your policy in the first place. LGBTQ couples are supposed to come in and allow themselves to be humiliated. Yeah, I know. You fear people not wanting to be customers if they find out your policy. That's too bad. That's the price you pay for having such a policy and you simply can't have it both ways. 

Texas PrEP Case Name Changed Because of Negative Press - Awww poor baby! Another coward hiding behind religious beliefs which he doesn't have the guts to publicly stand by.

Florida Rep. John Snyder accuses Nickelodeon of 'targeting' kids by showing rainbows. Gets quickly and thoroughly humiliated on Twitter

 On Saturday, Florida State Rep. John Snyder sent out a tweet accusing kids' channel Nickelodeon of  "pushing gender identity and sexual orientation on channel because one of its shows included a rainbow:

In almost no time at all, the responses figuratively dragged him from one end of Twitter to another as folks loudly and very vigorously called out his bigotry. And it's something we need to do more of when people like Snyder pull the "they are grooming kids" card when it comes to LGBTQ people and things which support our basic visibility - embarrass them by pointing out the unrestrained hysteria of their homophobia and transphobia

But enough of that. Bring on the humiliation because the twitter responses were a massacre:

Texas woman wants town to reject LGBTQ books just like she rejected her gay son

A heartbreaking story from The Texas Tribune: 

 Weston Brown was scrolling through Twitter last month when he came across a video that made his chest tighten. It showed a woman at a school board meeting in North Texas, calling on district leaders to ask for forgiveness. “Repentance is the word that’s on my heart,” she said near the start of the video. For months, the woman in the clip had been demanding that the Granbury Independent School District ban from its libraries dozens of books that contained descriptions of sex or LGBTQ themes — books that she believed could be damaging to the hearts and minds of students. Unsatisfied after a district committee that she served on voted to remove only a handful of titles, the woman filed a police report in May accusing school employees of providing pornography to children, triggering a criminal investigation by Hood County. 

 . . . Weston, 28, said his heart was racing as he watched and rewatched the video — and not only because he opposes censorship. He’d instantly recognized the speaker. It was his mother, Monica Brown. The same woman, he said, who’d removed pages from science books when he was a child to keep him and his siblings from seeing illustrations of male and female anatomy. The woman who’d always warned that reading the wrong books or watching the wrong movies could open the door to sinful temptation. And the one, he said, who’d effectively cut him off from his family four years ago after he came out as gay. “You are not invited to our house for Thanksgiving or any other meal,” his mother had texted to him in November 2018, eight months after he revealed his sexual orientation to his parents.

More of this sad story here. 

Some people need to stop trying to save the world and instead work on their own families.  It's obvious that books with LGBTQ themes aren't the hazard here.