'31 Icons for LGBT History Month' a valuable asset to combat a year of attempted negativity

 

Each year, the Equality Forum names 31 LGBT icons for LGBT History Month in October. This year's list features such noted people as Chasten Buttigieg, Brittany Griner, Eddie Izzard and Leslie Jordan. They should remind us about how truly diverse and powerful we are as a people. And this year's list is important in light of all of the negativity we've been bombarded with. These icons attest to the resiliency of our community in the face of all of the hate. And how we always come out as winners.

To the transphobic bigot who came after my mother before the first anniversary of her passing . . .

UPDATE - Mr. "Protect the Kids" blocked me. Or maybe Facebook took care of it. I DID report him.

Friday, July 28 will be the first anniversary of my beloved mother's passing. As you can guess, I am not in a positive condition emotionally or spiritually.

My mother knew I was gay and she knew vaguely of my activism (my blogging, etc). We never really talked about it, but she gave me a lot of support, as all good mothers would give to their kids. One of my most cherished moments was being with her in the car when I received news that I had won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Blog in 2017.

But other than that, she was never really involved in the things I've done for the LGBTQ community.  I never felt the need to "pull her in," so to speak. So, you will forgive me for posting the following (click on the image to make it larger):

Apparently, this poor soul right here on Facebook (Picture below.) seems to think that since I support gender-affirming care for trans kids, I support "mutilation" and that makes me a pedophile. Subsequently to him, that makes my beloved mother . . . well you can read it for yourself.

He also threatened to shoot me.

Mr "Protect the Kids" also called me a racial slur (THE RACIAL SLUR) but he deleted that message. I guess he figured he had standards. But he did post the following on his Facebook page:

As strange as it seems, I am not angry in the least. Nothing he said about my mother hurts me. His ramblings can't ever diminish what a wonderful woman she was and how much I miss her. And to be honest, if he did physically come after me and she was present at the time, she would have whipped his ass. And that's no exaggeration on my part - my mother once used a chair very adeptly to defend my older brother against a physical attack.

But I recognize the opportunity this moron gives me to make a point about all of this hatred directed towards the LGBTQ (particularly the trans community) as of late.

I don't know this man.  I never met this man. He chose to engage with me because apparently, he read something I posted about trans kids which got him so upset that he felt the need come for me and my family. It wasn't enough for him to call me names or threaten to kill me. He actually took the time to mine through my material in a sad attempt to anger me. And he thought calling my late mother ugly names would garner an ugly reaction from me. Trash is what trash does.

That's hate my friend. It's evil, ugly, and so destructive that it's sad. And what's worse, he claims to be doing it for the sake of protecting kids.

But plainly speaking, he's the end result of all of that shit you hear from people like Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Chole Cole and groups like Moms for Liberty, Libs of TikTok and Gays Against Groomers. He owns the fertile mind of ignorance they exploit with their lies and horror stories about child mutilation, pedophilia, and grooming. He's the type of gullible fool they exploit for hits, social media status, and money.  And he is the type of monster they empower to bombard us (especially trans people) with the venom like you just read above on a daily basis.

What's genuinely sad is that there are more like him out there. Lots more. So when you hear people like me talk about people like him or the groups which feed into his mentality, it's not an overreaction on our part. It probably doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

Hitler-quoting hate group Moms for Liberty says 'health care has no place in public schools'

Alleged "parents' rights" group Moms for Liberty just showed its true colors yet again with the recent tweet:

Mental health care is health care Mr. President.

That’s why it has NO place in public schools. #ParentalRights https://t.co/a1uF6NV7Ec

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 25, 2023

 

And the group doubled down on the statement:

Yes. Health care has no place in public schools.

— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) July 26, 2023

 

Moms for Liberty is a rapidly growing conservative group claiming to be for the rights of parents. In actuality, it is an astroturfed group created to undermine inclusive school curriculums and the rights and safety of LGBTQ students. The SPLC has designated Moms for Liberty as a hate group because of its ugly tactics and its desired goals:

Moms for Liberty and its nationwide chapters combat what they consider the “woke indoctrination” of children by advocating for book bans in school libraries and endorsing candidates for public office that align with the group's views. They also use their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.

 . . .Moms for Liberty is an anti-student inclusion group that presents itself as a modern parents’ rights organization that seeks to “unify, educate, and empower parents to defend and protect their parental rights at every level of government.” The group’s website appears to align with this mission, featuring general information about the organization and its chapters, resources for parents, and links to press skewed in the group’s favor. The social media accounts and real-world activity of the national organization and its chapters reflect views and actions that are antigovernment and conspiracy propagandist, anti-LGBTQ and anti-gender identity, and anti-inclusive curriculum.

Those of us who stand against Moms for Liberty call them "Klanned Karenhood." And the name is definitely appropriate.  

While claiming to stand for "parental rights," the group has:

 Helped state legislators pass hateful anti-LGBTQ laws across the country,

Partnered with violent far right extremist groups such as The Proud Boys,

Been linked to several incidents of threats and harassment on school officials across the country, including:

The chairperson of the Monroe County, Pennsylvania, chapter was arrested on a “summary charge of harassment” after allegedly repeatedly harassing an individual with messages. 

The head of communications of the Lonoke County, Arkansas, chapter threatened gun violence against librarians. In audio obtained by Media Matters, the chapter’s head of communications and media, Melissa “Missy” Bosch, threatened librarians in the district, saying, “I’m telling you, if I was -- any mental issues, they would all be plowed down with a freaking gun by now.”

And then there was the "Hitler-quoting incident in June. According to VICE:

In the first ever edition of the Hamilton County, Indiana, Moms for Liberty newsletter, published on Wednesday, the group’s co-founders Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice blasted the Southern Poverty Law Center’s recent decision to label the group a far-right extremist organization.

 That statement might have carried more weight if the top of the very same newsletter wasn’t adorned with a quote from Adolf Hitler. The quote used in the newsletter was taken from a speech Hitler gave during a 1935 rally: “He alone, who OWNS the youth, GAINS the future.” It appeared just under the masthead for the “Parent Brigade” newsletter published on the group’s Facebook page on Wednesday night. It was first reported by the Indianapolis Star.

At the time, VICE called the Hitler quoting incident:

 . . . the latest evidence that Moms for Liberty’s pretense of being a wholesome, grassroots movement focused on protecting students is slipping.

Last month, CNN said Moms for Liberty was rapidly gaining influence in the Republican party by pointing out how GOP presidential candidates such as Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley all attended its summit in Philadelphia in attempts to garner support.

One can only hope that these candidates will be asked about Moms for Liberty's opinion concerning health care in public schools. If there is any place healthcare should be, it would be in the public schools.

Any group actually concerned about the welfare of kids would know this.

'Another lie from anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding case has been exposed' & other Wed midday news briefs

'This was a lie': Another fact in the anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court wedding website case was false - So many lies in God's name.

Parents protest school district’s no opt-out policy for LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum​ - See this is moronic. And before some folks willfully distort the issues, we are not talking about sex education. We are talking about curriculum which simply acknowledges the existence of LGBTQ+ people. THAT is simply not right and it's a deliberate distortion of the parents' rights argument. If you don't want your kids to acknowledge the existence of certain people, then you home school them. You don't get to erase the existence of groups of people. 

Gay Chechen Singer Killed on Order of Strongman Ramzan Kadyrov: Report - He was angry that he shook hands with a gay guy so he had him tortured and murdered. 

Booksellers sue over Texas law requiring them to rate books for appropriateness - And I hope that they win.

Congressional Republicans to hold transphobic, distortion-filled hearing on gender-affirming care (with no medical experts testifying)

I do not apologize for the headline. It is truth. Imagine holding hearings pushing the ideas that pedophilia and homosexuality are linked, or that gay men are so promiscuous that they stuff gerbils up their rectums. Those were false ideas once pushed by Republicans and conservatives.  That should give you an indication of the type of lies to expect Thursday when they attack gender-affirming medical care and trans people in their sham hearing.

 From The Advocate: 

 The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Consitution and Limited Government has scheduled a hearing this week ostensibly to discuss gender-affirming medical care. No doctors will testify. 

 Instead, during Thursday morning’s hearing titled “The Dangers and Due Process Violations of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Children,” lawmakers will hear from a former college athlete who took issue with a transgender team member’s participation, an anti-LGBTQ+ advocate from a conservative interest group, a member of the Federalist Society, and a person who had access to gender-affirming care, decided to detransition, and now advocates against the care for youth. 

 Republicans invited former University of Pennsylvania swimmer (and Lia Thomas critic) Paula Scanlan, detransitioner Chloe Cole, Director for Family Studies at the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group Family Research Council Jennifer Bauwens, and Federalist Society member May Mailman, who is also a senior fellow at the conservative Independent Women’s Law Center, to testify. 

 Democrats, already frustrated with Republican efforts to strip funding from all bills benefiting the LGBTQ+ community, called the hearing a sham. "The upcoming House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee hearing is the latest attempt by extremist Republicans to weaponize Congress and inject their culture wars into families’ private health care decisions,” Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, tells The Advocate. “Gender-affirming care is safe, effective, medically necessary, and supported by every major reputable medical association. The science is not up for debate. This hearing is nothing more than a concerted effort to cultivate fear and stigmatize vulnerable communities in order to pursue an extremist agenda and political power."

 . . . “This Congress, extreme MAGA Republicans are using the appropriations process to further their radical agenda and attack the LGBTQI+ community,” said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan of Wisconsin in a press release. “Motivated by bigotry and the desire to appeal to the GOP extremist base, more than 40 anti-equality provisions across the 12 appropriations bills were passed. Last week, they went even further and cut millions of dollars in funding for members’ community projects that would have tackled LGBTQI+ homelessness and housing insecurity. I condemn these discriminatory attacks and remain committed to ensuring none of these awful provisions make it into the final funding bill that becomes law.”

'Conservatives tried to hold LGBTQ+ books hostage. Accidentally raises $45,000 for library' & other Tue midday news briefs

Conservatives threatened to hold LGBTQ+ library books hostage. The plan blew up in their faces. - They ended up raising $45,00 for the library to expand LGBTQ+ programming and materials. Love it!

Arlington Schools Chief Rejects Youngkin’s ‘Discriminatory’ Transgender Student Policies - THIS is going to get interesting. 

OutKick hosts call Outsports, ESPN and others ‘homophobic’ for sharing Kevin Maxen’s coming out story - Isn't Outkick Rupert Murodch bought-and-paid-for trash?

Russian president signs legislation outlawing gender-affirming procedures - A quicker method than bigots are trying in America. But still the goals are the same.

Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is shaping up to be a #DeSaster

 

This couldn't be happening to a more deserving son-of-a-bit . . .  I mean person.

From The Orlando Sentinel (by way of Yahoo News):

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a difficult weekend on the culture war front, re-doubling his defense of the state’s controversial new Black history standards as a new report revealed a now-infamous anti-LGBTQ ad was actually made within the campaign itself. A pro-DeSantis account also tweeted a video that included alleged imagery of a Nazi symbol. Though reports that it had been retweeted by a DeSantis campaign staffer before it was deleted were unconfirmed, Florida Democrats pounced. DeSantis’ continuing cultural battles come amid reports that his presidential bid is planning a “reboot” following worsening poll numbers and a major shedding of cash.

 . . . “What’s happened is what might be expected, and I did expect,” said Mac Stipanovich, a former Tallahassee Republican consultant who has been a frequent critic of DeSantis. “The campaign is proving to be a clown car. Malevolent clowns, but clowns just the same.” 

 And this is just a small portion of a wonderful article chock full of DeSantis campaign missteps, blatant lies, and pitiful evasions, all of which gives us a front row seat of what happens when an empty suit decides to run for president without any integrity or substance to back up his verbal bravado. The DeSantis campaign is so bad, one has to wonder if it is a victim of deliberate internal sabotage.

DeSantis is also facing negative press in other areas which are not included in the article, such as his threat to sue Bud Light over its partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney and a leaked transcript from a canceled Showtime documentary about his time as a junior Navy officer at the Guantánamo ​prison camp. The transcript alleges that he was present at force feedings and tortures of prisoners.

'DeSantis campaign WAS behind insane anti-LGBTQ video attacking Trump' & other Mon midday news briefs

Maggie Haberman Source Says Bonkers Anti-LGBTQ Attack On Trump Was Made By DeSantis Camp — And ‘Passed Off’ To a Supporter - I don't like Trump and I don't like DeSantis. But this is DELICIOUS. 

California school district adopts textbook it rejected for covering LGBTQ+ figures after Newsom threat - Handle your business, Governor Newsom. 

Florida Board of Education OK's Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies, Sanitized View of Slavery - In case you haven't heard (and I hope you have because folks have been torching DeSantis's ass all weekend over it.

300 protest YMCA after teen lies about naked trans woman in locker room - Yet another lie denigrating trans female athletes. You can practically set your watch by them.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Arizona law banning trans athletes from competing in female-designated sports

 I know how some folks feel about trans women and girls (strangely the concern hardly ever touches trans men and boys) competing in sports, but here is something to consider. In spite of all of the preconceived notions fueling opposition to trans female athletes, maybe there is simply no concrete evidence that trans females have an unfair advantage over cis female athletes.

From Metro Weekly: 

A federal judge has blocked Arizona from enforcing a law prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in female-designated sports. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Zipps, of the District of Arizona, granted a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the Save Women’s Sports Act. The law prohibits transgender female athletes from competing in sports matching their gender identity and allows cisgender students to sue for damages if they believe they have lost out on an athletic opportunity after being forced to compete against a transgender athlete.

 The ban on transgender athletes was challenged by a 15-year-old volleyball player, referred to as Megan Roe, and an 11-year-old, referred to as Jane Doe, who wishes to play girls’ soccer, basketball and cross-country. Because neither has yet undergone male puberty, and both are on puberty blockers, they argue they don’t have a physical or physiological advantage and should be allowed to compete on teams matching their gender identity.

 In her order granting the injunction, Zipps found that the law is “overly broad” because it bans transgender female athletes, including those at the elementary school level, from girls’ sports teams, despite the lack of evidence proving that pre-pubertal athletes hold some physiological or unfair competitive advantage over other children based solely on their assigned sex at birth. She also noted that the ban treats transgender boys and transgender girls differently, noting that transgender boys — whom the state and proponents of the ban refer to as “biological girls” — are permitted to play on male-designated teams, despite the alleged physical risks that they would presumably face by competing against “biological male” athletes. 

 Zipps also noted that, under the law, even cisgender female athletes can be investigated and forced to submit to genetic testing to “prove” their biological sex.

''Right-wing already angry at 'Barbie' movie. Claims it's 'pushing transgender' propaganda.' & other Fri midday news briefs

Right wing blasts "Barbie" for "toxic femininity," "pushing transgender" and communist "propaganda"​ - Laaaaawd! These folks haven't even seen the movie yet.

As conservatives ban LGBTQ+ stories, we asked queer adults to share essential reading for youth - Try as they might, they simply cannot shut down queer voices.

  80% of Transgender Americans Have Considered Suicide: Study - Because of societal prejudice. Hearing all of those awful things said about them and claimed about them has to be a factor. And those of us in the community who turn our back on our trans brothers and sisters have a hand in this, too.

Conservatives are making the Ohio abortion amendment about trans rights - They are featuring ads with misleading claims. Win or lose, we could be seeing this tactic play itself out repeatedly in the future.

Florida's attempt to appeal injunction against anti-drag law backfires in a very delightful way

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis obviously didn't get the message that his law banning drag performances was a bad idea when a judge issued a preliminary injunction against it last month. So, like a hardheaded child, his administration tried to sidestep a "no." 

And got knocked back. 

From The Associated Press: 

 Librarians who feared fines for hosting drag queen story hours and Pride parade organizers who worried about citations for including drag performers can breathe easier now that a judge has ruled that his injunction blocking Florida’s anti-drag law extends to all Florida venues, an attorney who is helping challenge the law said Thursday.

  A pair of orders that U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued in the past month makes clear that drag performances in themselves are not lewd or lascivious behavior, said Gary Israel, one of the attorneys for an Orlando restaurant that filed a lawsuit challenging the new Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as unconstitutional. 

 “The state has a very weak hand in this litigation,” Israel said. 

 In his first order last month, the Orlando judge granted a preliminary injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the law until a trial is held to determine its constitutionality. He also denied a Florida licensing and regulatory agency’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The agency appealed the decision and asked that during the appeal the injunction only be applied to the restaurant that brought the lawsuit.

 Presnell rejected that argument on Wednesday, saying any harm to the state of Florida is minimal if the preliminary injunction remains in place, and that all Floridians are potentially parties since free speech is at stake. He reiterated that the law is likely unconstitutional. “Protecting the right to freedom of speech is the epitome of acting in the public interest,” Presnell wrote. “It is no accident that this freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment.” 

 . . . The new law punished venues for allowing children into “adult live performances.” Though it did not specify drag shows, the sponsor of the legislation said it was aimed at those performances. Venues that violated the law faced fines and the possibility of their liquor licenses being suspended or revoked. Individuals could be charged with a misdemeanor crime.

  . . . The lawsuit challenging the new law was brought by the owner of a Hamburger Mary’s restaurant and bar in Orlando, which regularly hosts drag shows, including family-friendly performances on Sundays that children were invited to attend. The restaurant owner said the law was overbroad, was written vaguely and violated First Amendment rights by chilling speech.

'Anti-trans activist promotes lies & propaganda on Fox News' & other Wed midday news briefs

Anti-trans activist promotes lies & propaganda on Fox News​ - Another one is at the trough, y'all. 

Virginia finalizes guidance on transgender students, including rolling back some accommodations - It ain't good. 

Marjorie Taylor Greene wants anti-LGBTQ+ amendments in a national air travel bill - She is so annoying. 

Colman Domingo Is Gay Civil Rights Icon Bayard Rustin in New Biopic: Photos - I'm looking forward to this movie.

No, Enes Kanter. Acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ people is not the same as teaching boys how to perform oral sex. You nasty.

 

Former NBA player Enes Kanter turns acknowledgement about LGBTQ+ existence into some nonsense about teaching boys about oral sex. Gets dragged all over Twitter for it.

A recent incident involving former NBA player Charles Barkley and NBA former player-turned-activist Enes Kanter illustrates the basic idiocy of anti-LGBTQ prejudice.

From Mediate:

Over the weekend, Barkley took the microphone at a Lake Tahoe, California, bar and said he bought Bud Light for everyone. He then called Bud Light critics “rednecks” and “assholes.” “If you’re gay, bless you,” Barkley said. “If you’re transgender, bless you. And if you have a problem with that, fuck you!”

Please note that Barkley said nothing about sexual intercourse, teaching kids about sexual intercourse, or anything vaguely resembling stuff like that. But apparently Kanter heard something to that effect because he sent out this tweet:

I hear what you’re saying Charles Barkley, and yes, we shouldn’t have any problems with the LGBTQ or Trans community. However the problem starts when they try to come for innocent kids.

Stop pushing this agenda on our youth!
LEAVE KIDS ALONE!!!

We do not need to have literature… pic.twitter.com/MLVXZW5qSP

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 18, 2023

His exact statement was the following:

I hear what you’re saying Charles Barkley, and yes, we shouldn’t have any problems with the LGBTQ or Trans community. 

However the problem starts when they try to come for innocent kids. Stop pushing this agenda on our youth! LEAVE KIDS ALONE!!! 

 We do not need to have literature in schools that show boys how to suck di*k

My fellow LGBTQ+ folks, how many times has this happened to you?  You simply mention (usually for a point of clarification) that you are a member of the community and instantly you get accused of trying to talk about your sex life? Or get accused of trying to "shove it down someone's throat." Or told by others that "they don't want to hear about it" (whatever it may be.)

And then when you point out their basic inanity, they either mention or send to you some cherry-picked nonsense (usually from Twitter) which they think proves their point (while usually having nothing to do with the conversation at hand.)

It's a reality that we have learned to live with it. Some folks are just damned determined to reduce our lives to matters of lurid sexual intercourse. Some folks are simply obsessed with picturing us as a constantly plotting cabal out to "groom" kids and spread communism (or whatever "ism" they fear at the moment) while having lots and lots and LOTS of sex at the same time.

If these idiots gave it a serious thought, they would realize just how ignorant they sound. Or at least envy our stamina if they actually believe we can do all of those things without getting exhausted.

Fortunately, others responding to Kanter's tweet proceeded to call out his absolutely bizarre and disgusting connecting of simply acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ+ folks to teaching kids sex acts (yeah, even I got a shot in):

Whatever, Anita Bryant. That's an ugly beard you've grown since I last saw you in the 1970s.

— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) July 18, 2023

I see you're navigating this culture war in the same way you'd navigate a pick and roll.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) July 18, 2023

“We do not need to have literature in schools that show boys how to suck di*k”

Just the boys? Why so specific Enes?

— Rashaan (@Rashaan_954) July 18, 2023

pic.twitter.com/oKt8ykwfSU

— Susan (@tlily1024) July 18, 2023

What school you going to where they teaching kids how to give head pic.twitter.com/CA44rPrpK2

— Harold Stricklin (@hdotstrick) July 18, 2023

'Obama slams LGBTQ+ book bans in open letter' & other Tue midday news briefs

Obama Slams LGBTQ+ Book Bans in Open Letter to American Librarians - Still one of the greatest presidents of my lifetime. 

'He was a protector': Friends say Oregon man died while defending LGBTQ friend​ - This is such a sad story. 

Jen Psaki exposes Moms for Liberty’s extremist anti-LGBTQ+ agenda - Good. Hopefully more folks will listen.

Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis’ 2024 campaign continues to implode & these latest blunders prove it - And hopefully it will continue to do so.

Marjorie Taylor Greene rap video is latest Republican Party embarrassment

 

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has made a fool out of her party again. This time with a tone deaf rap video

While I was never a fan of the Republican party, there was a time in which I had some respect for them. But how can you respect a party whose governing philosophy is all about getting rich from lies, grievances, and the largesse of billionaires funding their naked pursuits of power? Maybe Obama becoming president did break the GOP? Maybe Trump's successful 2016 presidential campaign freed their minds from the so-called shackles of pretending to be respectable. Either way, the Republican party seems to be strapped face down on a airplane descending to the lowest depths of hell.

And the rap video below featuring Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene is an example of how nasty the GOP crash will be when it does happen. Greene is like the main character in the fable of The Mischievous Dog in that she is reveling in something which makes her look like a fool. Who is the person rapping in this video? Who cares. Feel free to google him if you want to, but you won't get any answers from me. All he represents is depths of filth the GOP seems to be knee deep in. Obviously, they don't seem to be embarrassed by it, so I will go ahead and be embarrassed for them. Folks may think that losing any sense of shame insulates them from being shamed, but they are generally wrong.

Hey look everyone; the Mayor of MAGAVILLE, it's the official MTG rap video! pic.twitter.com/03FwtWl8w8

— Kenny Akers (@KeneAkers) July 17, 2023

'School board faces backlash for not defending employees against 'groomer' slur' & other Mon midday news briefs

Roanoke County School Board faces backlash​ - A schoolboard which does not stand up for its employees deserves the backlash it receives. 

The Right Is Using the Anti-Abortion Supreme Court Ruling to Attack Trans Care. Will It Work? - We will see . . . 

“Our best days are ahead”: Trans congressional candidate Sarah McBride still believes in America - I love her enthusiasm and positive attitude. Those are two things we must never allow the opposition to take from us. 

Ron DeSantis fires roughly a dozen staffers in a campaign shake-up - Poor baby. Mr. Culture War is having problems.

Nikki Haley Is Losing Her Culture War Campaign - And so is Haley. Good.

All the Celebrities Who Came Out As LGBTQ+ in 2023 (So Far) - So far . . .

Casey DeSantis channeling Anita Bryant in sad attempt to save husband's flailing presidential campaign

Florida activist and former state legislator Carlos Guillermo Smith got it right with this tweet about how the Ron DeSantis presidential campaign is attempting to use his wife Casey as a political asset. 

And how it's actually not a good look.

 In the 1970s, Anita Bryant became infamous with her attacks on the LGBTQ community. She was probably the first who recognized how homophobia disguised as Christian faith can be a devasting political tool. And she used it with abandon.  She made horribly inaccurate claims about how gays are recruiting children and then used her "Christian beliefs" to shield herself from accusations of bigotry. It was successful for her at first, but her crusade eventually destroyed her career and marriage. 

Mrs. DeSantis is obviously copying Bryant's modus operandi of scapegoating LGBTQ people, even down to the 'recruiting' narrative. While I certainly don't wish ruin for the DeSantis marriage, I sincerely hope this desperate shift from Ron DeSantis to his wife as sort of fiercely protective "grizzly mother" helps to wreck his flailing presidential campaign.

It certainly appears so.

'Hair product line severs relationship with Michigan hair stylist after she bans trans and queer customers' & other Thur midday news briefs.

Traverse City salon fallout: Hair product line drops salon after anti-transgender post - This is what's called 'consequences culture.' She doesn't want to serve trans or queer clients. A beauty product line has refused to supply to her. The end. 

Michigan AG: Salon Owner’s Refusal of Service to Transgender Clients Unacceptable - And it gets better (or worse) depending on who you're rooting for. 

Trial over Alabama transgender care ban for minors delayed until 2024 - Meanwhile that awful law cannot be enforced.

Christian city officials wants to close public library over book about trans people​ - More of the same from the book burners.

'How dare you!' - Fired up mom brings the smoke in school board meeting to protect LGBTQ students from bad policies

Don't let the right fool you with their false narratives about fired up parents supposedly being solely on their side. LGBTQ kids have parents too and they don't need any astroturfed groups to manufacture the fire for them. They bring their own, like this mother recently did in front of the Wilson School Board in Tennessee as she defended not only her child, but other LGBTQ students, from bigoted school board policies.

'Rollout for South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's anti-LGBTQ whistleblower hotline is hot mess' & other Wed midday news briefs

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is having problems. And she deserves those problems.

Surprise! The rollout for Kristi Noem’s anti-LGBTQ+ “whistleblower hotline” has been a total sh*tshow - She deserves every bit of the chaos.

At least 88 out LGBTQ athletes competing in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a record​ - This is wonderful. 

Mississippi’s new book-banning law denies minors access to e-books & audiobooks - This, on the other hand, is ridiculous. 

Supreme Court’s Anti-LGBTQ Ruling Has Already Incited Discrimination - Yes it has. BUT the subject in question WILL learn TODAY. 

Michigan Salon Owner Refuses to Serve LGBTQ+ Community Because of ‘Pedophiles’ - More details about the above news brief. As I said, she is learning the hard way even as we speak.

The grift is real: Kid Rock still sells Bud Light even after helping to start boycott

It has always been a grift. From The Daily Beast by the way of JoeMyGod:

After Bud Light’s brief partnership with a transgender influencer sparked right-wing outrage, Kid Rock established himself as one of the brand’s strongest critics. But CNN’s recent visit to his signature bar in Nashville— Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse—told a different story. “Despite the online bravado, and talk of a boycott, Bud Light was available when CNN stopped in recently,” CNN reporter Ryan Young said in a segment that aired Tuesday morning. “It is not clear if the ban had been lifted or if there ever had been one to begin with.” The visit by CNN comes after some patrons had posted on social media about spotting Bud Light at the bar. After Bud Light sent free beer to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Kid Rock filmed himself shooting up a case of the iconic beer. 

 This really isn't a new development. Newsweek reported the same thing last week: 

 Despite his vocal opposition to Bud Light, Kid Rock's Tennessee bar is still selling the beer, according to a Newsweek source. Kid Rock was one of the first to publicly dismiss Bud Light and its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev, filming a video of himself shooting crates of the drink with an assault rifle after the brand sent transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a personalized beer can.

 This reaction made it surprising to some when it was claimed in June that the Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse was still selling Bud Light. another social media user seemed to dismiss this with a viral video, saying it wasn't sold there, but a source has come forward to Newsweek, showing pictures of Bud Light being sold and drunk at Kid Rock's establishment. 

 And that article made reference to a June tweet proving the same thing:

In other words, this is hardly a new or shocking development. If anything, it underscores just how lazy and overpaid some members of the American media are. Most likely very few will note this stunning degree of hypocrisy because the Bud Light controversy has run its course. It's no longer a hot item for the media to waste time with frivolous debates about the trans community (but talking to very few members of the trans community) while convincing themselves that they doing hard hitting work. 

Cut them some slack. They're practically bending over backwards to justify to themselves the embarrassingly large paychecks they receive year after year. The real shame is that this newest revelation would create a fruitful discussion about how people can easily be manipulated into a frenzy over something as irrelevant as a little beer campaign featuring a transgender woman. And also about how it has led to more vilification against trans Americans. 

But I doubt anyone is going to talk about that.

The only person who probably gained from all of this this is Kid Rock. He got an obscenely large amount of attention by helping to usher a boycott against a beer which he continued to sell during said boycott. He's probably laughing at all of the trouble he caused. 

Then again, knowing Kid Rock, he's probably doing this to us all:

'Did Ron DeSantis's anti-LGBTQ ad backfire against his presidential campaign?' & other Tue midday news briefs

A narrative seems to be forming that Ron DeSantis's recent anti-LGBTQ ad backfired against him. Badly.

‘Crossed the line’: String of anti-gay ads from DeSantis force Trump supporters to flip on LGBTQ support

Ron DeSantis’ very gay ad: Who made this steaming pile? 

In other news: 

Casey DeSantis has been declared “America’s Karen” & we’ve never heard a more fitting nickname - Mrs. DeSantis taking a leading position in her husband's presidential campaign doesn't seem to be working. 

“Drag isn’t hurting anyone”: The teen star of ‘Drag: the Musical’ has no time for hate - Keep shining, young man. Don't let anyone dull your light.

Alex Kane wins MLW World Heavyweight title, becomes second out LGBTQ male world champion ever - Visibility matters.

Federal court says school district can't restrict 11-year-old trans girl from using girls' bathroom

 

A victory in Wisconsin underscores just how ugly attacks against the trans community are. 

From NBC News:

A federal judge has blocked a Wisconsin school district from requiring transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth while a lawsuit plays out against the school. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said Thursday that the Mukwonago Area School District must allow a transgender student to use facilities that align with their gender identity, temporarily blocking a policy approved last month by the school board, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. 

The order comes in a lawsuit brought anonymously by an 11-year-old transgender student and her mother. The judge ruled that the school’s policy was causing emotional and mental harm to the student, who was described as a boy at birth but has identified as a girl since she was three years old.

 It's an 11-year-old child. Why is a policy attempting to force her to use the boys' bathroom necessary? Who is she hurting? From the way some people behave about this sort of thing, one would thing she was doing something other than normal bodily functions. Headlines from far-right publication prove that point by attempting to paint a lurid picture:

Gateway Pundit:

Clinton-Appointed Liberal Judge Rules Wisconsin School Must Let Trans-Identifying Biological Male Students Use Girls’ Restroom

Daily Wire: 

Wisconsin School District Must Let Trans-Identifying Student Use Girls’ Restroom, Federal Judge Orders

But even The Daily Wire, in spite of its headline, lends credence to questioning why such a policy banning trans kids from using restrooms of their gender identity is necessary:

The judge’s decision blocks the district from keeping the 11-year-old boy out of the girls’ bathroom. The temporary restraining order states that the boy has been using the girls’ bathroom since he was in third grade and is entering sixth grade. The boy is reportedly currently attending summer school and was told by school district staff that he must use either the boys’ bathroom or a gender-neutral option. The restraining order also says the boy is suffering “emotional and mental harms” due to the bathroom policy.

 

Since the trans girl was already using the girls' restroom since third grade, what would be the harming with allowing her to use it now? It's doubtful many folks reading publications like The Daily Wire or The Gateway Pundit would get past those headlines with an objective mind intact.

Unfortunately, when it comes to trans issues - particularly trans issues involving kids - the simplicity which is usually there is always ignored by the right and their readers. It's all about exploiting people's fears about predators attacking kids in places where they are vulnerable.  That in itself is a justified fear, but in the worldview of the right, trans kids aren't seen as vulnerable. In fact, they would like these kids not to be seen at all.  

This is because their visibility makes it difficult for grifting outfits like The Daily Wire and The Gateway Pundit and the transphobes they feed off of to forget that when we talk about protecting children, that also means trans children.

'US religious right at center of anti-LGBTQ+ message pushed around the world' & other Mon midday news briefs

US religious right at center of anti-LGBTQ+ message pushed around the world​ - I hate to say it, but this is a serious code red situation here. Bloggers with limited resources, or any resources, can combat this. It is going to take all of us, so please stop with the arguments about pronouns, claiming that our community should divest from each other, whining about people adding more colors to the rainbow flag, and all of the other petty internal squabbles which some of us seem to be obsessed with. We have SERIOUS issues here. 

Controversial ‘Pride Month’ video highlighted by Ron DeSantis campaign disappears - Let's hope that DeSantis's presidential aspirations follow. 

7 GOP attorneys general threaten Target over Pride display - What the hell is this? 

Glenn Youngkin Strips LGBTQ+ Young People of Resources in Virginia - Youngkin doesn't believe in protecting LGBTQ kids.

Anti-LGBTQ state laws are failing to stand up in courts, according to NBC News

Saturday's ridiculous ruling by federal court ruling that Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for trans kids can temporarily go into effect was an anomaly. According to NBC News, a majority of the recent laws passed to undermine LGBTQ rights have been falling in courts.

A record number of bills aimed at restricting the rights of LGBTQ people have become law in the past three years, but the majority of those that have faced legal challenges haven’t held up in court, according to an NBC News analysis, legal experts and the American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed legal challenges against some of the laws. 

 Of the 20 states that have passed into law restrictions on transition-related care for transgender minors, 11 have faced lawsuits. Five — Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida — have had their restrictions completely or partially blocked by federal judges who ruled they violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. Oklahoma’s has been iced by a legal agreement while litigation continues.

 Tennessee’s care restriction was temporarily blocked by a federal court last month, but an appeals court lifted the injunction Friday, marking a rare loss in a series of legal victories for advocates fighting against transgender bans. The four other lawsuits over similar restrictions in Georgia, Idaho, Montana and Nebraska are still pending . . . 

 And it's not just laws and bills banning gender-affirming care for trans teens, either.

The legal losses for states that have attempted to limit LGBTQ rights extend beyond restrictions on transgender health care. 

 Twenty-two states have passed laws that bar transgender student athletes from participating on school sports teams that align with their gender identities, and judges last year temporarily blocked three of those in Idaho, West Virginia and Utah pending the outcome of litigation, according to the Movement Advancement Project. A federal judge in Montana also permanently struck down the state’s ban on transgender women playing on collegiate sports teams in September. 

 Laws that explicitly restrict drag shows have been passed in two states, Montana and Tennessee, though an additional four states — Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota and Texas — passed laws that regulate “adult” performances, which LGBTQ advocates say could be used to target drag performers. Last month, federal judges declared Tennessee’s restriction unconstitutional and temporarily blocked Florida’s. Three Montanans sued the state Friday over its drag-restriction law.

 Paul Smith, who successfully argued the 2003 landmark Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas, which found the U.S.’s remaining sodomy laws unconstitutional, said the repeated victories for LGBTQ people and advocates are “a sign that these laws are mostly being thought up based on their appeal to a certain frenzied group of people in the country who were very excited about picking on LGBTQ people right now, not based on their legal merits and sustainability.

NBC News points out that there have been some losses and legal experts it talked to is divided on the  possible narrative that a conservative Supreme Court would automatically rule against the LGBTQ community should these cases make it there.

The legal experts interviewed by NBC News were split on which of the cases could make it to the Supreme Court, but most of them agreed that drag restrictions would be the least likely to hold up, and that it would be harder to predict how the court would rule on transition-related care restrictions.

 Craig Konnoth, a University of Virginia law professor who previously served as a deputy solicitor general with the California Department of Justice, said the drag ban cases in particular have “a pretty good chance of continuing to win, even if it goes up to the Supreme Court.”

 “I think that with respect to health care decisions, after Dobbs, I am hesitant to say anything about the right of individuals to be able to access health care,” he said, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion.

'Hypocrite Mike Pences lies about Biden while attacking trans youth' & other Fri midday news briefs

Hypocrite Mike Pence lies about Biden while attacking trans youth - When it comes to LGBTQ people, Mike Pence is always lying. And it's a sad commentary on his supposed faith.

Popeyes Franchise Ordered to Pay $50k After Harassing, Firing Gay Employee - Give it up! Turn it loose!

Georgia's Gender-Affirming Care Ban Stands for Now, Judge Rules - "Four families with transgender children and a national organization for such families, TransParent, last week filed a request for an emergency court order to keep the ban from going into effect. But U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty Wednesday decided to allow the law to stand because, she said, the request was filed too late, Atlanta TV station WANF reports. It was filed Thursday evening, less than 48 hours before the law was scheduled to go into effect Saturday. Attorneys for the state had said they needed more time to prepare their defense, and Geraghty allowed them that." 

Businesses use rainbow flags to defy anti-Pride mayor who called LGBTQ+ identity a “lifestyle”​ - Good for them!

Ex-NBA star Gilbert Arenas just became the #1 champ in the tiresome sport of whining about LGBTQ+ people - Yet another fool.

New DeSantis ad reeks of transphobia, homophobia, QAnon conspiracies, and sweaty desperation

This latest Ron DeSantis ad - brought to Twitter by his wife Casey - exudes desperation because he can't seen to catch up to Trump in the polls. The fact that his wife is taking the lead on this ad is significant. Apparently, he can't get shit together so she's taking the lead position.  And it seems Mrs. DeSantis is just as disastrous as her husband. I would describe this ad as the physical version of throwing sh!t at the wall and hoping some of it sticks. In this case, it's just about 'anti-woke' narrative we've been hearing lately. Except for the drag queens.  I can't believe it omitted the drag queens.

We will not allow you to exploit the innocence of our children to advance your agenda.

When you come after our kids, we fight back.

We are no longer silent.

We are united.

We are Mamas for DeSantis.

...and we will elect @RonDeSantis President of the United States.

Join our… pic.twitter.com/jo6HUATaVa

— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) July 6, 2023

 The ad, which is supposed to be launching some silly endeavor called Mamas for DeSantis, is being justifiably condemned as some QAnon type of trash.

Several journalists and political experts blasted the "bizarre" ad. Kimberly Leonard, politics correspondent for Business Insider said, "This video reveals something I've emphasized for a while: The DeSantises are in lockstep. She is fully engaged and supportive in her husband's political rise, and when it comes to policy they agree." 

 MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan wrote, "Imagine thinking in 2023 that the threat to our kids is from…masking in a pandemic? The actual threat to our kids, missing from this video, are mass shooters in schools, who are able to exist of course with the support of GOP gun laws." 

 Former President Barack Obama staffer Tommy Vietor commented, "A couple weeks ago, the DeSantis campaign was pitching stories about how his wife was the secret weapon to help sand off his weird, rough edges. Now she's releasing insane agitprop videos. Bizarre choice!" 

 Peter Schorsch, publisher of Florida Politics, added, "The more it becomes clear @RonDeSantis will not win in 2024, the more you’ll see them position @CaseyDeSantis for 2026." Deputy Political Editor at Courier Newsroom Keya Vakil, wrote, "This is utterly indistinguishable from QAnon."

No doubt, the only success this ad will probably have is dredging up the Lady MacBeth vibes about Mrs. DeSantis that the campaign thought it killed a few months ago.

Meanwhile, this is 0-2 for DeSantis in the ad department. The first ad, from his 'war room' attacking Trump and the LGBTQ community got called out for its bizarre violent, homoerotic undertones. It also started an ugly, but highly pleasurable to watch, feud amongst gay Republicans

To wrap up “Pride Month,” let’s hear from the politician who did more than any other Republican to celebrate it…

pic.twitter.com/FT7LdW4vls

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) June 30, 2023

God help us all if this man somehow does become President. He's really NOT good at any of this.

'DeSantis doubles down on controversial anti-LGBTQ ad amid feud with gay Republicans' & other Thur midday news briefs

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis doubles down on controversial anti-LGBTQ ad amid criticism​ - Of course he does and seeing the trouble it has caused gay Republicans and that awful 'Gay Against Groomers' group, I say - for now - keep on, Ronnie.

Gay Republicans finally turn on Ron DeSantis for his outlandish ad attacking LGBTQ+ people - THIS is delicious. 

Right-wing media smear trans people and BLM supporters following Philadelphia shooting - Good grief!

N.C. governor vetoes trio of LGBTQ restrictions in ongoing fight with GOP supermajority - But Republicans in NC have a supermajority so we will see how it goes. 

Trans man speaks out against famous anti-trans mother - I cannot imagine a sadder story than this one.

'Gays Against Groomers' imploding over DeSantis ad, allegations that founder is on DeSantis payroll

Gays Against Groomers is in the middle of an ugly feud to an anti-LGBTQ ad by DeSantis campaign

It looks like DeSantis' so-called "war on woke" has claimed a scalp, so to speak. But not one which he hoped for:

For the initiated, David Leatherwood is one of the founders of the group Gays Against Groomers (GAG). This group claims made up of gays and lesbians supposedly fed up with "left-wing" members of the community and supporters of "trans ideology" going after kids.

In reality, according to The Advocate:

GAG is not a grassroots initiative but a right-wing project seeking to gain political and financial advantage by using anti-trans rhetoric, according to the left-leaning media watchdog. GAG was formed last year “to protect the kids” from “sexualization, indoctrination, and medicalization,” Michell claims, and it has gained prestige in right-wing circles along with Chaiya Raichik’s Libs of TikTok, which also attacks the LGBTQ+ community. Both have promoted the use of the anti-LGBTQ+ slur “groomer.”

So what got Leatherwood upset? 

Last week, Ron DeSantis' campaign unleashed an ad on Twitter calling out Donald Trump for voicing support for the LGBTQ community in 2016. The ad was condemned by both folks on the left and right of the political spectrum. Gay conservatives in particular were incensed, claiming that they were misled by DeSantis. Some said they couldn't understand why DeSantis attacked LGBTQ people in general instead of the so-called far left of the community:

 LGBTQ conservatives, reacting to the video, said DeSantis had shown his true colors as an “anti-LGBT champion,” undermining his arguments that his support for the policies were about protecting children and parents’ rights. 

 “It’s like he’s going mask off,” said Brad Polumbo, a Michigan-based libertarian journalist. “The cat’s out of the bag.” Polumbo said he’d have considered voting for DeSantis at one time. “I’m somebody who has my fair share of policy disagreements with DeSantis, but I was considering voting for him in the primary before he entered the race officially,” he said. “Since then, he’s done thing after thing that really makes me increasingly write off that possibility.” 

 Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who has endorsed Trump for president but vocally supported Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill on the campaign trail last year, said that in light of Friday’s video, he now feels that he was “used” and misled by DeSantis. “I used to think he was a great governor,” Santos, the first non-incumbent gay Republican elected to Congress, said of DeSantis. “Now, I’m starting to think differently.”

The ad caused gay Republicans and members of the DeSantis campaign to snipe at each other on Twitter with Leatherwood being in the middle of it all.

Then things got considerably ugly when Caitlyn Jenner got involved. Jenner, who at one time was seen as a positive role model for trans people, has made a name for herself with her anti-trans positions and statements.  She chose to interject herself in the middle of the argument by calling out Jaimee Mitchell, the other founder of Gays Against Groomers.

Mitchell did not take Jenner's comments well. She got downright nasty.

And this is where we came in, so to speak. While it has not been confirmed that Mitchell (and thus GAG) is on the payroll of DeSantis, some alleged former members tweeted support to Leatherwood and criticism of GAG, particularly Mitchell.

Viscount was voicing opposition to Mitchell as far back as May.

Important context as a Gays Against Groomers founder quits over allegations that cofounder Jaimee Michelle is on the DeSantis payroll: more than 23 members of the org have quit recently, including the Director of Operations, Director of Chapters, and NY Chapter leader. https://t.co/7f5KPREAu4 pic.twitter.com/UVYfMkTuxm

— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) July 5, 2023

So, this is where we are thus far. I don't know how or where this is going to end, but I am enjoying the ride. It couldn't be happening to a more deserving bunch of . . . people.