Is Nancy Mace trying to dog whistle her way to the SC governor's mansion?

 Rumor control is that SC Congresswoman Nancy Mace is considering a run for Governor. If it's true, then the recent tweet she sent out might give an indication of how she plans to attract voters:

I want our kids to learn about A-E-I-O-U instead of L-G-B-T-Q.

— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) April 14, 2025

Mace has in the past made a spectacle of herself by picking fights with the trans leaders, allies, and the community in general.  And all the name of "women's safety, 

At least that's her claim.

Thus far, she has continuously verbally targeted trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride, threatened to fight another Congresswoman (Jasmine Crockett) for daring to question her motives, and had a trans ally arrested for assault (the charges were later dropped) when all he did was merely shake her hand.  And the day after the alleged incident, she was seen several times in the halls of Congress walking around with her arm in a sling.

With the above tweet, Mace could be indicating that she is stretching her net of scapegoating to ensnare entire LGBTQ community She is embracing the very old, but very effective, lie that schools are somehow teaching students to be LGBTQ and even the acknowledgement to kids that LGBTQ people exist is akin to teaching them about sexual intercourse, encouraging them to be transgender, or whatever the bigoted narrative may be at the time. The irony is that Mace was an "ally" to our community, but she claimed that the trans community was the reason why she turned against us.

Her eagerness to embrace the ugliest smears about our entire community pretty much says that she was lying.

Or in layman's terms, full of shit.

According to Mace's former employees (Mace was labeled as a toxic boss with a 100 percent turnover rate in The New Republic), she absolutely craves attention. There is even a story confirmed by former staffers that Mace wanted to confront the mob who rioted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 with the goal of getting roughed up.

From The Huffington Post:

Former staffers who spoke to the (Washington) Post on the condition of anonymity said Mace was furious with the former president for inciting the riots and believed video of a violent altercation would “give credence to her anti-Trump position.” 

 Three sources who spoke to The Daily Beast corroborated the Post’s report, saying they heard Mace explicitly telling staffers she intended to “get punched in the face.”

 “She literally begged us to let her leave the office and head to the floor so she could ‘get punched in the face’ and ‘get media attention,’” one former aide told The Daily Beast. “That’s word for word what she requested.” The source added that there were “several of us in the office who heard it.”

No doubt Mace is counting on the (maybe fair, maybe unfair) reputation of South Carolina as a redder than red state to ride a wave of bigotry and ignorance to the governor's mansion. Whatever the case may be, I would suggest that South Carolina's LGBTQ community start preparing themselves just in case.  

And above all, be ready for anything.

Mace has also been called a joke by former staffers, but that doesn't mean her possible political aspirations shouldn't be taken seriously.  As the present situation in the White House should tell us, political jokes who actually win are no longer funny. 

And that's probably because the voters get hit with the punchline.

'The courts hand Trump a loss in his transphobic war against Maine' & other Mon/ Tue news briefs

Editor's note - Just doing my part for the anti-Trump resistance. We won the first war in 2020, but apparently some folks got forgetful AND stupid. So, we are at an ugly moment in this country's history which is akin to the Friday the 13th horror movie franchise mixed with George Orwell's book, 1984.

Trump administration ordered to unfreeze funding in dispute with Maine over transgender students - Trump is already disregarding court decisions in two other cases. Will this be number three? Still, glad to see the courts trying to put a roadblock against his stupidity. 

How one Maine high school became the center of Trump's war on trans student athletes - This is how it all began: 

It started with a track meet. A transgender girl on the Greely High School track team in Maine had won a pole-vaulting event, and a state politician took to Facebook to complain. The lawmaker not only circulated the girl’s name but included a side-by-side image of her competing in the boy’s division two years before. As the Feb. 17 post went viral in conservative media, it drew the attention of the Trump administration, which had, in an executive order, effectively banned transgender students from participating in girls' and women's sports.

 President Donald Trump confronted Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, demanding that her state comply with the order. She hasn’t agreed. And the school district hasn’t backed down. Now Greely High School is at the center of a conflict over Title IX, the civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. On Friday, the Trump administration moved to pull all federal education funding — a major escalation risking over $200 million per year for Maine schools. 

Transgender pilot falsely linked to DC plane crash sues conservative influencer, alleging defamation - And I hope she wins. 

Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events - The struggle is always worldwide, y'all. 

Bowen Yang opens up about 'healing' after his parents put him in conversion therapy - Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang gives a powerful story about having to go through 'ex-gay' therapy. 

16 gay NFL players who proved that LGBTQ+ athletes belong in football - HELLO! We are representing in pro football!

J.K. Rowling throws hissy fit after John Oliver nukes hysteria about trans athletes

 

Comedian John Oliver calls out the hysteria about trans athletes for the lie that it is and gets (former gay ally and present transphobe) Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling all upset. His entire segment is above for those who want to see it. Rowling's hissy fit and Oliver's response is below. 

Good job, John!

John Oliver Stirs J.K. Rowling Outrage After Criticizing Right Wing ‘Obsession’ With Banning Trans Athletes; Rowling Tells Him to ‘Read the F—ing Room’ 

John Oliver Says It Feels ‘Weird’ to Get So Much Hate From JK Rowling, Given His Resemblance to Harry Potter | Video

Pictures: 'Hands Off' protest in Columbia, SC hoping to send a message to Donald Trump and Elon Musk

On Saturday, my city of Columbia, SC joined a vast multitude of other cities across the nation in "Hands Off" mass rallies and protests. Folks were expressing their anger at various actions of the Trump Administration including illegal deportations, tanking the economy via brainless tariffs against our allies, allowing billionaire Elon Musk to gut government agencies, attacks against African-Americans, the LGBTQ community, and other non-white communities, etc etc.

For me not to feel like a hypocrite in posting the following pictures, I admit that I was reticent about these mass protests. A lot of African-Americans feel the same and some of us made the point to say we were staying out of it. 

I'm not trying to speak for everyone, but a lot of us feel a general sense of betrayal due to the election. We showed up and did what we were supposed to, but some folks and groups who should have known better (particularly members of the Muslim and Latino communities and progressives) deliberately failed to do their duty on election day. They either did not vote at all, voted for Trump, or voted third party (hello Jill Stein) under the delusions that they were somehow "punishing" the Democratic party for certain offenses or that Trump could be trusted.

These people know who they are, and I know that a large number of them took place in Saturday's protests without any self-realization (or maybe with full self-realization) that if they weren't so damn stubborn, Trump wouldn't be perched in the Oval Office now like some vulgarly orange vulture.

Having said all of that, Saturday's mass protests was a good step in the positive direction. But it remains to be seen whether folks will keep up the anger AND FOCUS when it's time to vote again.

Hot Mess Mace - a look back at Nancy Mace's embarrassing transphobia as charges against advocate she accused of assaulting her are dropped

When Congresswoman Nancy Mace had a pro-trans advocate arrested for merely shaking her hand, she faced a huge onslaught of social media ridicule such as the above meme. The charges against the gentleman have been unsurprisingly dropped.

Charges dropped against trans advocate falsely accused of assault by Nancy Mace for giving her a firm handshake​ - Not surprising. In her bid to get attention, Mace smeared the trans community and had a supporter of the community arrested on a false claim that he had assaulted her. All he did was shake her hand. Mace got the attention she wanted, but with it came a lot of deserved ridicule. Rumor control is that she's going to be running for the governor's seat in South Carolina. If so, we will see if her shameless grandstanding reaps benefits. Or will the mockery of her embarrassingly obvious attempts do her ambitions in. 

Related posts - These posts below is a reminder of the depths Mace has crawled through thus far in her bed for public attention while scapegoating trans Americans:

Lord help her, Nancy Mace is no longer putting any effort in her transphobic stunts.

Jasmine Crockett calls out Nancy Mace as a clout-chaser who needs money

Nancy Mace becomes social media laughingstock after questionable claim of assault by 'pro-trans man' 

Nancy Mace claims she was assaulted by a 'pro-trans man.' A witness says she's lying.

Nancy Mace gets angry at reporter for interrupting her transphobic publicity wave with questions about Boeing layoffs in South Carolina 

Targeting of trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride is latest stunt of publicity-hungry Nancy Mace

In other news: 

Trump administration axes more than $125m in LGBTQ health funding, upending research field - Just madness. And those who voted for this will have to learn the hard way.

Hate influencer Chaya Raichik harasses trans teacher & forces her to resign - THIS is depressing because it only empowers Raichik to do worse. 

USA Fencing disqualifies female fencer for refusing to fight trans opponent - Good. Gurl, bye. Stop trying to get your moment. 

NFL Player Praised For Hosting LGBTQ-Friendly Football Camp - Definitely needed for our kids.

'Fox News pundit mocks co-host for criticizing illegal deportation of 'gay barber'' & other Tue/Wed news briefs

Fox News pundit Jesse Watters

Jesse Watters Mocks Co-Host For Criticizing Deportation of Innocent Man: ‘You’ve Been Talking About This Gay Barber For Weeks’​ - There is something seriously wrong with America and it's Fox News. Trump is merely a symptom. If it weren't for Fox News, Trump probably wouldn't have been seen as a serious presidential candidate. Trump will one day go on his way, but as long as Fox News exists, this country will have ugly division problems. And the saddest thing is that probably everyone in the national news and on Capitol Hill knows this. 

Tesla’s in trouble. Elon blames…trans people? - Why of course he does. 

 A Mississippi cafe made a discount for straight couples only. Now, other restaurants are hitting back - Good for the other restaurants to strike back at this madness. 

Out gay figure skaters win two medals at 2025 world championships, with one making history - "It was largely a success for the six out LGBTQ figure skaters at this weekend’s world championships in Boston, with one athlete helping his country win a medal for the first time in 31 years." 

UNC Charlotte researcher’s grant cut for focusing on LGBTQ health, she says - Trying shut down our ability to improve our lives and health.

'Video - The Trump/Putin 'Spicegirls' duet you didn't know you needed' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

 

One of the main things which will get us through this turbulent period is comedy. And satire. Viciously on-point satire. This above video hits all of the spots.

 In other news:

In Memphis, Kayla Gore is building homes — and a future — for Black trans people - Good for her!

These 26 LGBTQ college basketball players and 62 coaches have been out while competing - I am ALWAYS going to amplify stories like this one because I remember a time when the knowledge of this was dangerous to said players and coaches. I'm going to keep reminding folks about our past, so they don't take what we have for granted. 

Gay Chicago firefighters, on TV and in real life, focus on their jobs - "An interview with the actor playing a gay firefighter on “Chicago Fire” raises the question: What’s it like for actual gay firefighters on the Chicago Fire Department?" 

Transgender people are about 1% of the U.S. population. Yet they're a political lightning rod.- Because they are one percent of the population and folks see them as easy scapegoats. 

‘Agatha All Along,’ ‘Baby Reindeer’ and Cynthia Erivo Win Top Prizes at 2025 GLAAD Media Awards - Congratulations to all of the recipients (also, I will scandalously but unashamedly use this moment to remind y'all that this blog was nominated seven times for a GLAAD award and actually won one in 2017).

Video above from PoliticsJOE.

Marjorie Taylor Greene makes a bigoted fool of herself during PBS, NPR hearing

Marjorie Taylor Greene

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene held a public hearing in which she tried to put forth the argument that PBS and NPR should be defunded. In interviews before the meeting and statements during the meeting, Greene pushed the claim that PBS in particular should be defunded because it supposedly uses drag queens to groom children into thinking that they are transgender. It's a ludicrous belief to normal people, but we are also talking about Marjorie Taylor Greene, a woman who made strange claims in the past about "Jewish space lasers." 

The hearing was ridiculous, of course. Luckily though all of the attention in the beltway is focused on the war plans leak scandal which has gripped the Trump Administration for the last few days. That's not to say that MTG''s hearing didn't have its moments. One is below when Greene showed her "proof" regarding her claims about PBS and drag queens supposedly grooming kids. It's a video of a drag queen singing:

🔥MUST WATCH🔥@RepMTG TORCHES PBS for airing a program that included a Drag Queen singing to children.

“‘The hips [on the drag queen] goes, swish, swish, swish. The shoulders go, shimmy, shimmy, shimmy.’ That's repulsive. That's not what children ages three to eight should… pic.twitter.com/am9D86wEsP

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) March 26, 2025

By the way, according to a Daily Beast article, the video did not air on PBS. In the same article, the drag queen in the video, who was also smeared as child predator by Greene, had this to say: 

 Lil Miss Hot Mess, the stage name of performer Harris Kornstein, told the Daily Beast in a statement that Greene’s “political bullying” amounted to censorship. Greene attacked PBS CEO Paula Kerger on Wednesday over a digital segment featuring Lil Miss Hot Mess reading her book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, though Kerger said the segment did not air on PBS. “While she claims to promote liberty, in reality, she just wants to tell us all what to think and do,” the performer said in a statement. “That’s not freedom, that’s fascism.” 

 “Greene’s attempts to defund PBS and NPR are the worst form of censorship, reflecting both her own ignorance and the Republican party’s authoritarian impulses,” she said. “The reality is that communities all over the country – including in her own district – deserve access to educational public media that reflects the diversity and creativity that makes our world beautiful.” 

But what if the segment had aired on PBS?  What was wrong with it? There was nothing obscene or sexual in general about it, except for in the bigoted minds of Greene and people like her. No matter what LGBTQ people do, they will always see us in a prejudicial light because they refuse to see us as anything else other than their stereotypical objects of derision. And that is their problem, not ours. 

One more thing of note which took place during MTG's hearing is how Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett called Greene out to her face. Ms. Crockett broke it down rather nicely.

 

Federal judge says 'NO' to Texas A&M's attempt to ban drag shows on campus

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against Texas A&M University's attempt to ban drag shows on campus.

From The Advocate:

A federal judge has struck down Texas A&M's ban on drag shows, determining it to be a violation of the First Amendment. Motivated by Donald Trump's executive order denying the existence of trans people, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted to ban drag performances across all 11 campuses earlier this month, claiming that the art form was somehow “offensive” and “inconsistent" with the “core values of its universities, including the value of respect for others.” 

 The Board of Regents vote cancelled a performance of "Draggieland" (a combination of “Drag” and “Aggieland”), an award-winning student-hosted show that has been performed annually since 2020. In response, the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) filed a lawsuit against the university. “Texas A&M, like any public university, has the utmost duty to respect the First Amendment rights of students,” 

FIRE Supervising Senior Attorney JT Morris said in a statement. “As public officials, they can’t banish speech from campus just because it offends them, any more than they could shut down a political rally or a Christmas pageant.”

 . . . “Today is a resounding victory for the First Amendment at public universities in Texas,” said Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with FIRE who argued before the district court. “The court reaffirmed that state university officials cannot block student expression they claim is offensive. State officials should stop trying to score political points at the expense of students’ First Amendment rights.” 

 The students' March 27 performance will go on as scheduled, which the Queer Empowerment Council said they are "overjoyed" by.

My guess is that the somewhat muted response from a lot of the opponents of drag shows means that the war on drag queens which gripped the nation for a number of years is pretty much over. Many of those "won't someone please think of the children" types have gotten bored with or tired of raising hell against drag and have moved on to other objects to rage-bait about.

But like that Japanese soldier who became famous for not knowing that World War 2 was over, there is still a contingent of folks raging on Twitter.

LAWFARE: Judge Rosenthal, a Texas federal judge, is forcing Texas A&M to host drag shows for children despite Trump's executive order. The judge believes that drag queens have a first amendment right to strip for kids. pic.twitter.com/YMZPzyOASu

— @amuse (@amuse) March 24, 2025

Editor's note - This drag show will be held on a college campus and geared to an adult audience. Judge Rosenhal mentioned this in her ruling. You know how certain people are, unfortunately. They think everything about LGBTQ culture has a goal of "grooming" or "recruiting" children. That in itself doesn't make any sense. If we could recruit, we'd go after adults with money. At least I would.

Anyway:

Drag queens have no right to be around children at all. They are exclusively adult entertainment, much like strippers.

— Valkyries for women🇺🇸 (@valkyriesrwomen) March 24, 2025

Please make all Texas A&M students aware that Judge Rosenthal is spending time and money forcing the hosting of Drag Shows. Boycott them and send her the bill to pay for these shows herself!

— Jeanious (@JeannieJeanious) March 24, 2025

All Pride events that are public where children can attend or witness it's atrocities should be banned

— MAGA MAGA-zine 🇺🇸 (The White Rabbit🐰) (@LukeSkywatcher4) March 24, 2025

These people are sick and they need to be disbarred. This is pedophilia, do you know when you want to force little children to watch adult human beings behaving in their devious sexual ways. They are grooming these children to be screwed up in their head and never know what’s…

— drmmadeinamerica (@Darryl572648) March 24, 2025

She's crazy!! Send a drag queen to her grandchildren and/or great grandchildrens houses and have them do a show. I'm sure it wouldn't be appreciated!

— Ziggy (@Ziggy581) March 24, 2025

pic.twitter.com/5y6ynXvQ9p

— PoppaVein (@poppavein) March 24, 2025

Judge Rosenthal should be charged with sexual child abuse of children.

— Christy McKnight (@ChristyRN2022) March 24, 2025

'Does MAGA have a child grooming problem? (Just asking questions)' & other Thur/Fri news briefs

Ricci Wynne (seen here on the right being interviewed by Tucker Carlson) has become the latest MAGA member in trouble for a sex abuse scandal.

MAGA Influencer And Fox News Guest Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges​ - We really need to start a serious conversation about how some people accuse drag queens and trans Americans of sexually grooming kids while ignoring the groomers in their own camp. 

Not a drag queen — 10 MAGA politicians and supporters accused of sexual harassment and assault

More details about this conversation:

The collective MAGA is sex trafficking minors and trafficking in child pornography! pic.twitter.com/1ugU8MLRvV

— Gary B (@GplusB) March 20, 2025

It’s always projection with the groomer party known as MAGA. There’s a running list of over 1,300 more with sources. pic.twitter.com/mzyPG4mKxh

— Joel 🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦🇨🇦 (@DJdolph) March 18, 2025

Cultist Who Posted Fake Photo Of Kamala Harris With Jeffrey Epstein Gets Arrested For Child Sexual Abuse https://t.co/MBPCuD81aN pic.twitter.com/fzmZfs0pFN

— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) August 20, 2024

Just asking questions . . . 

 In other news 

LGBTQ+ asylum seeker ‘forcibly removed’ from US, sent to El Salvador - Trump continues to cause havoc. We told people this would happen.

Marco Rubio removes LGBTQ+ people & women from annual human rights report - Unbelievable. Then again . . . 

 Disney Shareholders Overwhelmingly Reject Proposal to Sever Ties With LGBTQ Rights Group at Annual Meeting - Good! 

Ban on conversion ‘therapy’ to be reconsidered by Supreme Court. Here’s what the discredited practice that tries to change LGBTQ youth is like - As we wait on the SCOTUS hearing, here is a reminder of what this false therapy was actually about - causing a lot of pain.

Appeals court strikes down Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, citing parental rights and calling out healthcare discrimination

Good news courtesy of The Associated Press:

Ohio’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors is unconstitutional and must be permanently blocked from being enforced, a three-judge panel of appellate judges ruled Tuesday. The law also banned trans women and girls from participating in female sports. The state’s Republican attorney general vowed an immediate appeal. 

On Tuesday, the state’s 10th District Court of Appeals reversed a decision made last summer to allow the law to go into effect after a judge found it “reasonably limits parents’ rights.” The law bans counseling, gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy for minors, unless they are already receiving such therapies and a doctor deems it risky to stop. 

 The litigation was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Ohio and the global law firm Goodwin, who argued the law not only denies health care to transgender children and teens, but specifically discriminates against them accessing it. 

 The court agreed and cited a number of flaws in the lower court’s reasoning. Judge Carly Edelstein wrote in the ruling that the Ohio law does not outlaw identical drugs when they’re used for other reasons, only when they’re used for gender transitioning, which makes it discriminatory. She also said that a prescription ban is not a reasonable exercise of the state’s police power when it is weighed against the rights of parents to care for their children. 

Addressing proponents’ arguments that minors are not in a position to understand the long-term impacts such procedures could have on their lives, the judge said that, while they may not be, their parents are. “Thus, in considering whether the H.B. 68 ban is reasonable, it is necessary to keep in mind that the law recognizes the maturity, experience, and capacity of parents to make difficult judgments and act in their children’s best interest,” she wrote. 

 

The irony of this ruling is how it's partly based on the argument that it is parents who should decide what's best for their children when it comes to healthcare. Parental rights are an argument generally used by conservative and right-wing groups as a way to undermine the rights of LGBTQ students.

Erin Reed has a very thorough view of the ruling.

'Court kicks Florida mom's deceptive anti-trans case to the curb' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Attention-seeking mom loses anti-trans appeal - The Trump Administration is using Florida mom January Littlejohn's story to justify its attack on the rights of transgender Americans. Florida Gov Ron DeSantis used her story as a justification for his now muted 'Don't Say Gay' law. While Littlejohn was invited to Trump's address before Congress last week, a court ruled against her 

From LGBTQNation: 

 A federal appeals court this week upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit brought by January Littlejohn against her child’s school district in Tallahassee. In 2022, Littlejohn sued the Leon County School District and staff members at Deer Lake Middle School for allowing her 13-year-old child to use they/them pronouns and go by the “masculine” nickname “J” without their express permission. 

 . . . The U.S. District Court dismissed the case for the Northern District of Florida in December 2022. The school officials named in the case “did not force the Littlejohns’ child to do anything at all,” Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in this week’s decision. “And perhaps most importantly, defendants did not act with intent to injure. To the contrary, they sought to help the child.” 

 “Even if the Littlejohns felt that defendants’ efforts to help their child were misguided or wrong, the mere fact that the school officials acted contrary to the Littlejohns’ wishes does not mean that their conduct ‘shocks the conscience’ in a constitutional sense,” Rosenbaum wrote.

 In a concurring opinion, Judge Kevin C. Newsom said he considered the actions taken by the school district officials “shameful.” But the question at hand, he wrote, was “whether it was unconstitutional.” 

 According to a post I published in 2022, the narrative that the school did all of this without Littlejohn's knowledge or permission isn't accurate. The following is from the post: 

CNN did a fact check and discovered, according to emails, that Mrs. Littlejohn knew full well what was going on. In fact, she was the one who notified the school about her trans son:

CNN obtained emails that show Littlejohn wrote the school in 2020 and notified a teacher that her child wanted to change pronouns. Contrary to the governor's portrayal of the story, Littlejohn also wrote that she would not stop her child from using preferred pronouns or name of choice at school. Littlejohn references these emails in her lawsuit against the school and they were reported by the Tallahassee Democrat in November. 

 . . In an August 27, 2020, email to a teacher, Littlejohn stated, in part, "This has been an incredibly difficult situation for our family and her father and I are trying to be as supportive as we can. She is currently identifying as non-binary. She would like to go by the new name [redacted] and prefers the pronouns they/them. We have not changed her name at home yet, but I told her if she wants to go by the name [redacted] with her teachers, I won't stop her." 

The teacher thanked Littlejohn and asked if she should share with other teachers. Littlejohn explained it was difficult and confusing, and went on to write, "Whatever you think is best or [redacted] can handle it herself." In another email the same day, Littlejohn told the teacher, "This gender situation has thrown us for a loop. I sincerely appreciate your support. I'm going to let her take the lead on this."

According to CNN, Littlejohn filed a lawsuit against the school because she claimed that after this email, the school went behind her and her husband's back and created a Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Student Support Plan with the child. She also claimed that she was denied access to information.

However, the school district spokesperson said the following:

"From the moment Mrs. Littlejohn first emailed her child's teacher to inform our staff of the situation, this has been handled together in partnership with clear communication. We understand that outside entities have now become involved, but the family clearly instructed the school staff via email to allow their child to 'take the lead on this' and to do 'whatever you think is the best,' " Chris Petley, Leon County Schools communications coordinator, said in a statement to CNN.

In other news briefs:

BREAKING: Trump administration announces end to gender-affirming care for transgender veterans - An act of animus which I hope will be challenged in the courts. 

How to gird your gay loins for Trump's tariffs - We are also going to be affected by Trump's tariffs.

A new anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Hungary would ban Pride event and allow use of facial recognition software - Some folks in America probably want to follow Hungary's lead.

'Federal judge dismantles Trump's trans military ban in explosive hearing' & other Thur/Fri news briefs

Editor's note - It has thus been a wild week. So much so that it's difficult to write a post about one thing, so below are more news briefs. 

 Federal judge dismantles Trump's trans military ban in explosive hearing - This is happening while folks seem to be distracted by other things. Keep your eyes open because should the judge rule in our favor, the right is going to go full throttle against her because she's lesbian.

Judge approves Pentagon's settlement with LGBTQ veterans over discharge status - From the article - "The agreement could affect tens of thousands of veterans who were discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” and similar policies." 

Sorry, haters — drag is everywhere - And there isn't a damn thing wrong with it, either. 

Aides to Gov. Gavin Newsom moved to suppress pro-LGBT legislation - Careful, Gavin. We know you have 2028 aspirations, but you had better not sell us out.

Once-a-year shot for HIV protection passes early safety trial - Yet another bit of good news getting overlooked. 

Our Books Help Teach LGBTQ Themes in Schools. Should SCOTUS Allow Parents to Opt Out? - Nope because we are talking about normal issues. Opt-out policies regarding LGBTQ themes gives the false message that our lives are somehow dangerous to kids. We have families and children. Our families deserve respect just like everyone else's. 

A video message from Black people to the rest of America regarding Donald Trump's second term

As Donald Trump lies, backstabs, and incompetently bulldozes thus far through his second term, I think the following video clip courtesy of Family Guy accurately conveys what Black Americans have to say to the rest of y'all who voted for him (especially after the vast majority of you were here during his disastrous first term.)

While I am not attempting to speak for the entire Black American community, I feel safe in saying that the clip below conveys what a vast majority of us are feeling.

'State dept official once spread rumors that Marco Rubio is gay, Elon Musk dubbed 'White Kanye'' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

 

 Before or after you read the news briefs below, check out the above video of Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update' absolutely skewering the Trump Administration and its associates. I don' think I've ever seen them be as merciless as this. Referring to Elon Musk as "the White Kanye" (at 2:49) left me laid out laughing. 

 Also: 

State Department official boosted fake rumor about Rubio’s sexuality and called him ‘low IQ’ in since-deleted tweets​ - We don't want him. Rubio that is.

Supreme Court Will Review Ban on LGBTQ ‘Conversion Therapy’ - If you hadn't already heard about this, here you are. I don't see how SCOTUS can make a religious argument for quack therapy. We will see. 

Elon Musk celebrates firing of federal worker who refused to remove pronouns from emails - That's okay, Elon. That's why your Tesla stock is crashing and your Space X Starship is exploding.

200-foot rainbow banner unfurled at capitol as GOP bans Pride flags on government land - Good for the folks in Salt Lake City! 

Defense Department schools that serve the children of military members have scrapped affinity clubs and flagged LGBTQ books for removal. - Straight-up bullshit.

'Trump Administration hit with over 100 lawsuits since inauguration' & other Thur/Fri news briefs

Trump administration hit with over 100 lawsuits since inauguration ​ - The point is defeating the lie that is Trumpism isn't going to happen overnight and it won't be easy. It's going to be a long, hard battle. But do NOT believe anyone who claims that folks are capitulating to him or his MAGA bullies. Just because you don't see things happen doesn't mean they aren't. And I am very hopeful about how all of this will end. 

Powerful Speeches From Trans Dems Flip 29 Republicans, Anti-Trans Bills Die In Montana - Also, savor every victory such as this one. It will keep you sane.

NPS takes down web pages dedicated to transgender activists and LGBTQ history - Because the fight will be ugly at times. 

California's Gavin Newsom opposes trans athletes in women's sports, splitting with progressives - Newsom is usually a good egg, but he comes across as pandering here. And to Charlie Kirk of all people? 

LGBTQ Advocates Condemn Newsom’s Anti-Trans Stance on Sports - Unfortunately, picking a fight if probably what Newsom wants to do in order to supposedly distinguish himself from other Democrats. He is definitely preparing a 2028 presidential run. 

More AIDS activists arrested when protesting global funding cuts - Good for them!

Lord help her, Nancy Mace is no longer putting any effort in her transphobic stunts.

 South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace has made a name for herself by targeting the trans community. But sometimes in doing so, she makes a colossal fool of herself. Mark this one as another example.

That’s a male lion. pic.twitter.com/n6SxjIYY96

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 4, 2025

Now before you get into a long tangent about lions, lionesses, and manes, let me stop you before you even start. This is a male lion. I even know his name. 

 It's Mufasa.

From Nancy Mace

 From the 2019 live action movie The Lion King

Dang, Nancy. This is just slack and tacky. You put more effort in wearing that "cast" than this. 

Related posts:

Jasmine Crockett calls out Nancy Mace as a clout-chaser who needs money

Nancy Mace becomes social media laughingstock after questionable claim of assault by 'pro-trans man' 

Nancy Mace claims she was assaulted by a 'pro-trans man.' A witness says she's lying.

Nancy Mace gets angry at reporter for interrupting her transphobic publicity wave with questions about Boeing layoffs in South Carolina 

Targeting of trans Congresswoman Sarah McBride is latest stunt of publicity-hungry Nancy Mace

GOP senator makes inane claim that high school teams are made up completely of trans female athletes

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) makes a bonkers claim that some high school teams are comprised solely of trans female athletes.

If some Americans were honest with themselves, they would admit that their negative views about trans female athletes are rooted in weird fears instead of reality.   An example of this is the following video below in which Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville (R) makes an incredibly inaccurate claim about trans female athletes:

Tuberville: "We're getting to a point now where women and girls sports and getting ready to be extinct. Because already in states across this country, we have high school teams that are made up of totally boys participating against girls." pic.twitter.com/3toOXcCtPF

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2025

It goes without saying - even though he was rightfully laughed at online - that Tuberville's assertion isn't true. 

And for a number of reasons. A main one, which is solely my opinion, is knowing the way folks go crazy about sports, if such teams of female trans athletes existed and they were winning, a lot of high schools AND parents would greet them with open arms. 

Just saying.

Franklin Graham declares that Donald Trump welcomed God back into the White House

 One of these days, we're all going to have a very interesting conversation about how conservative evangelicals like Franklin Graham wrecked Christianity by dipping it into the sewer that is MAGA.

Yesterday President @realDonaldTrump's first Cabinet meeting of his new term was opened with prayer. God has been welcomed back to the White House! @POTUS

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) February 27, 2025

Far be it from me to be spreading rumors, but I hear whoever is running Franklin's Twitter account has been hiding the negative comments he receives from his customary puppy love tweets of Trump.

Related posts:

Trump sycophant Franklin Graham accuses bishop of having an 'agenda' after sermon. Says 'Trump stands for truth.'

Remembering all of the times Franklin Graham and other conservative evangelicals kissed Donald Trump's a$$ 

Franklin Graham whines that President Biden is being too mean to Trump

Franklin Graham shamefully implies that Trump's impeachment is like the betrayal of Jesus 

Franklin Graham debases himself by implying that a vote for Trump = a vote for Jesus.

Video - Voter across America raise hell in townhalls against Trump, Musk and the Republican Party

Consider this video as therapeutic in dealing with what's going on in America today. 

Voters are NOT happy with how Trump, Musk and the Republican party are governing and as seen in this video, they are raising hell across the nation. One thing is certain (and anyone with half a brain could have seen it coming), Elon Musk is definitely shaping up to be the villain Democrats couldn't have thought up even in their wildest dreams.  And knowing how Trump hates to admit being wrong, Musk will probably stick around for a long time no matter how much he damages the Republican brand.

 Hat tip to Keith Edwards

Hacked AI video of Trump kissing Elon Musk's feet plays at HUD headquarters, giving prescient view of country's mood.

Hackers played an AI video of Trump kissing Elon Musk's feet at HUD headquarters, giving an interesting, but somewhat accurate view of how some Americans see the relationship between the two.

It's a shame how this incident isn't getting as much attention as it should. I would love to see a member of the press be brave enough to ask Trump about it.

From The HuffPost: 

Staffers at the Department of Housing and Urban Development arrived at work Monday to an AI-rendered video of President Donald Trump aggressively licking Elon Musk’s feet playing nonstop on every television throughout the building. The video played on a loop for around five minutes while employees frantically unplugged the TVs. 

 HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett confirmed the clip did play at HUD in an email to HuffPost and called it “another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources.” Lovett also pledged that “appropriate action will be taken for all involved.” While HUD removed the video immediately, copies of the clip obtained by independent reporter Marisa Kabas went viral on BlueSky, as did other videos filmed elsewhere in the building. 

The roughly 5-second clip shows Trump rubbing Musk’s feet and sucking on the multibillionaire’s toes while Musk smiles approvingly in the background. 

Some would say that the video is an apt depiction of what's going on with billionaire Elon Musk attempting to exert power over government agencies (with Trump's affirmation) even though no one elected him to do anything. Through his DOGE committee, Musk has wreaked an ill wind of chaos throughout the country via sloppy mass firings of federal workers and eliminating much needed government offices and services. This has led many to question just who is in charge at the White House? Trump or Musk?

The video also reflects a growing feeling of anger across the country - as seen in various town hall meetings - of voters giving their Republican representatives hell for giving no pushback to Musk.

 Particularly when it looks like he will now be targeting Medicaid.

A few ways the LGBTQ community is fighting back against Donald Trump's attempted erasure of trans people and history

It is looking like after an initial shock with how Donald Trump is targeting trans Americans, the LGBTQ community and our allies are fighting back.  The following are just a few of the many fights across the nation against Trump's bigotry.

From The Advocate on Friday:

The LGBTQ+ community is continuing to challenge the Trump administration’s latest executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ rights in court. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and several other California advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint, brought in partnership with Lambda Legal, argues that the orders violate the First and Fifth Amendments and unlawfully threaten the existence of programs that provide life-saving services to marginalized communities. 

 “These executive orders aren’t just policy shifts; they are existential threats to our mission,” said Dr. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, a lead plaintiff in the case, in an interview with The Advocate on Friday. “They dismantle decades of progress, undermine public trust, and directly endanger the lives of the communities we serve.” 

 At issue are orders signed by President Donald Trump that erase federal recognition of transgender and nonbinary people, gut diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and strip funding from organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities and people of color. The administration has instructed federal agencies to defund organizations that “promote gender ideology” and to rescind DEI-based grants, moves that civil rights groups say amount to censorship and discrimination.

And that came a week after a huge protest near the National Park Service’s website for the Stonewall National Monument. According to CNN: 

 After the words “transgender” and “queer” were removed from the National Park Service’s website for the Stonewall National Monument, a landmark of the LGBTQ pride movement in New York City, protesters filled nearby Christopher Park Friday with a simple message: “You can’t erase us.”  The message was scrawled in chalk on the pavement surrounding the park and reflected on the posters demonstrators waved and in the messages from speakers. 

 “The trans and drag community have always been part of the LGBTQ community,” Steven Love Menendez, a longtime volunteer at the Stonewall Monument, told CNN Friday. “So now for the federal government to try to erase trans from our community makes absolutely no sense.” 

 Protesters waving trans and rainbow flags and holding banners with messages like “Silence = Death” – a consciousness-raising slogan from the AIDS crisis – and “Erasure is Annihilation” filled the park Friday, spilling out onto the surrounding street. The word “transgender” also appeared written in chalk on the National Parks Service’s “Stonewall National Monument” sign outside Christopher Park. 

 The demonstration comes after the term “LGBTQ+” was shortened to “LGB” on the NPS web page late this week, according to an archived version of the page. There are no more references to transgender people on the web page – despite what activists and historians say were trans activists’ key contributions to the Stonewall Uprising and the larger LGBTQ rights movement. 

The event included government officials and Congressional leaders such as Rep. Jerry Nadler and New York City Council member Erik Bottcher  

And on Feb 14, a federal judge temporarily paused Trump's executive order banning federal support of gender-affirming care for trans youth.  This has led to several hospitals across the country either resuming or refusing cease giving gender-affirming care for trans youth, including the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The University of Virginia’s hospital, the Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Prisma Community Care in Phoenix.

We have a long road ahead and there will be many victories and defeats. However, take comfort in the fact that the LGBTQ community isn't going to take Trump's actions laying down. You come after one of us, then you will deal with all of us.