Right-wing pastor Franklin Graham now has $300 million more reasons to continue kissing Donald Trump's butt

One of Donald Trump's biggest defenders over the years has been Pastor Franklin Graham. On many occasions, Graham has either lied about or made excuses for Trump's many excesses (such as when Trump compared himself to Jesus.)  Graham has also anointed Trump as a great defender of Christianity.

 One reason for this could be that Graham enjoys the prominence which comes with being a close ally to the president of the United States. Another reason could be seen as good old-fashioned greed. Trump's Administration gutted the USAID after he came back into office. Now Graham will be benefitting from it.

 From The Bulwark: 

 WITHIN WEEKS OF TAKING OFFICE, the Trump administration fed “USAID into the wood chipper.” And immediately, it had one vocal supporter among international aid groups. 

 One of Trump’s most stalwart evangelical allies, Franklin Graham—son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and founder and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, one of the largest Christian aid organizations—not only defended the administration’s actions, but repeated, at times verbatim, Elon Musk’s false claims about USAID’s waste, fraud, and abuse, even speculating that its staff’s diversion of funds into ideological “DEI” projects had cost human lives. He said he doubted USAID had “ever” been subject to meaningful oversight. “Ever.” 

 Graham undoubtedly knew better. Before 2025, Samaritan’s Purse received roughly $76 million annually in government funds (though not all of it from USAID). His personnel worked closely with USAID officers on the ground. His own organization had undergone USAID’s rigorous auditing of its grants, as he himself acknowledged. 

 . . . Graham said he trusted Trump’s team to “make good decisions.” 

 Those decisions have at least been good for Samaritan’s Purse. Almost immediately, Secretary of State/USAID undertaker Marco Rubio exempted the organization from the initial aid freeze. 

 Now, a year and a half later, Graham’s aid agency is receiving almost double the government funding it had before: $300 million over two years. And it’s one of a few organizations that form the centerpiece of the administration’s new evangelical-heavy aid regime, the contours of which have come into sharper focus with the administration’s announcement on August 6 of a $2 billion grant that will be disbursed over the next two to five years to mostly evangelical Christian aid organizations.

Editor's note - I've written extensively over the years about Graham's public embracing of Trump. Here are just a few of the posts:

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

Pastor publicly blasts Franklin Graham, calling him a 'liar' and 'poster child for Christian nationalism'

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

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.

From the archives: Hate group makes fool of itself with latest attack on Drag Queen Story Hour

Editor's note - For this post, I am going way back in the archives to show how ridiculous some anti-LGBTQ groups are when they attempt to push the "drag queens are grooming children" narrative.

In 2019, a Massachusetts hate group, Mass Resistance, raised a fuss about a Drag Queen Story Hour event and central to their message was the claim that the book being read was perverted. That was far from the truth, and it was my distinct pleasure to show how the hate group made a complete fool of itself with this lie.

From July 29, 2019:

No matter how they try, anti-LGBTQ groups and personalities can't seem to get a moral panic started over the popular event Drag Queen Story Hour. But that doesn't mean they don't try. Almost on a daily basis via various conservative sites, I read articles with lurid inferences about what drag queens are doing to children during this event. Usually, these lurid inferences translate to innocent situations exaggerated by homophobic need to exploit the "LGBTQs recruit children" lie

A perfect example is the hate group Mass Resistance's rendition of a recent Drag Queen Story Hour in Dallas. It was a perfectly harmless event, so the group had to be creative with details:

The “Drag Queen” disruptions in public libraries across the country are becoming more frightening and weird. But parents and citizens are fighting back! A bizarre pair of “Drag Queens” led a disturbing “Drag Queen Story Hour” event at the Grauwyler Park Public Library in Dallas, TX on July 13. A few of our people were inside documenting it, but a much larger group, organized by our new Dallas chapter of MassResistance, held a rousing protest outside.

Don't be fooled by the prose or the pictures on the webpage. Mass Resistance has a reputation going overboard on self-aggrandizement.

And speaking of exaggeration, the hate group bent over backwards to weave the notion that the drag queens were doing something nefarious to the children instead of simply reading to them.

 This event pushed the envelope even beyond the usual perversion. A particularly creepy part was when one of the Drag Queens read “What color is your underwear” to the young kids. It’s a shabby looking children’s book that is not specifically LGBT-themed but has a troubling focus – given what we know about “Drag Queens.” In the book, various animals show the others their underwear. At the end the elephant says, “I’m not wearing any underwear.” Is this a subliminal encouragement for the young children? At one point the “Drag Queen” reader blurted out, “Oh, don’t moon me!”

 

 As you can see via the video above (which the group has on its site) Mass Resistance even admits that this is a children's book which isn't LGBTQ-themed. This is the book in question:

And ad for the book on Scholastic says the following:

This hilarious lift-the-flap features animals and their underwear! Kids will roar with laughter as they lift each flap and reveal cherry red boxers on a horse, furry yellow undies on a crocodile, wooly green bloomers on a sheep, and more! We save the best for last, though — on the final spread, an elephant is hiding behind a large leaf... for good reason. He forgot to put on any underwear! This is a fun way to teach colors... and the importance of wearing your drawers!

So basically, it comes down to the fact that Mass Resistance is angry at drag queens for  (wait for it) reading a children's book to children, which is the purpose of Drag Queen Story Hour.  I guess we should be relieved that none of the drag queens read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

'Lawsuit alleges WI school board teamed up with Moms for Liberty activists to wreck gay principal's' career' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Editor's note - some folks have commented on my two-day posting weeks. They weren't bad comments, but simply questions of concern. I am alright but I am moving a bit slower, emotionally. Please bear with me and enjoy these posts - even if some of them are news briefs (gotta do that aggregation thing) - because I'm still here and still raising hell as the 20th anniversary of this blog comes up next month.

Now, on to the news . . .

Wisconsin educator Jeff Peterson is suing his former school district, alleging that several board members worked anti-LGBTQ activists, including a Moms for Liberty official, to push false allegations of pedophilia against him in an attempt to destroy his career.

School board conspired with Moms for Liberty activists to destroy gay principal’s career, lawsuit says: 

 A Wisconsin educator is suing his former school district for discrimination, alleging that several members of the district’s board worked with anti-LGBTQ+ activists to fabricate a pretext to fire him because he is gay, going so far as to allegedly write an “anonymous” letter falsely accusing him of “inappropriate conduct” with children and distributing flyers blaming him for bringing “liberal extremists” to the community. 

 According to Jeffrey Peterson’s lawsuit, the campaign against him included spreading false allegations of “grooming,” cooked up by board members affiliated with anti-LGBTQ+ groups Moms for Liberty, the Natural Family Foundation, and the Convention of States.

Gay principal says school board made up fake pedophilia allegations to fire him - An LGBTQNation gives more details about the lawsuit, including allegations that school board officials gave a local anti-LGBTQ activist access to school employee records and that the activist used these records to coordinate with a Moms for Liberty vice chair and another school member to push a false allegation that Peterson was being investigated for inappropriate contact with children.

Trans CIA analyst explains how Laura Loomer got her fired from her job briefing Trump officials - Lara Loomer is trash. Full stop.

MAGA’s newest gay-hating Congress hopeful is *checks notes* a former male underwear model who partied in WeHo? - Another fake seduced by the money.

New emergency shelter aims to give Houston's LGBTQ+ youth a place to stay - We need more places like this one.

How LGBTQ+ Higher Ed Leaders Are Navigating the Political Moment - Good luck because you KNOW that it's not an easy thing to do.

'Police called on trans men using women's restroom as required by law' & other Wed/Thur news briefs

Trans men in Kansas simultaneously point out the quandary trans people have to deal with when using public restrooms and the idiocy of laws policing their usage of public restrooms.

Police Called on Trans Men Using Women's Restroom As Required By Kansas Law​ - Transgender men in Kansas simultaneously point out the quandary trans people have to deal with when using public restrooms and the idiocy of laws policing their usage of public restrooms. 

LGBTQ+ Democrats win big in Tuesday primaries while Angie Craig loses Senate bid - This is wonderful for LGBTQ people. Keep it going. 

Trump’s new Medicaid rule strips care from low-income families of transgender youth - The dumbass in the White House is flailing in the polls so he thinks beating up on trans people some more will lift him up. You'd better BELIEVE there will be a lawsuit about this. 

Why rumors about Lindsey Graham's sexuality followed him for decades - No comment.

I’m a gay high school soccer coach in rural America. I was afraid to be visible. Not anymore. - Good for him! 

Virginia congressman's meeting with transgender Democrats erupts into profanity. Then he walked out - My brother, you need to do better.

'Lauren Boebert calls LGBTQ+ people 'groomers.' Her son was just arrested for child sex abuse' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert

Lauren Boebert calls LGBTQ+ people “groomers.” Her son was just arrested for child sex abuse.​ - This isn't about "rubbing salt in wounds. "It's about accountability. Boebert won't do any soul-searching after this, so it's up to us to point out the hypocrisy of it all. 

Two ex-NBA players turn transgender identity into a stunt. The WNBA is responding - Bear in mind that there are no trans players in the WNBA. But ever since this nonsense started, I have seen some folks attack Britney Griner and accuse her of being a trans women - she isn't - as well as bash the WNBA in general. This is what some folks have been pointing out - the attack on trans women is now being weaponized against ALL women, cis and trans. When the right can't find witches to "burn," they create them. 

The Heritage Foundation Only Wanted to Protect Women’s Sports When It Was About Trans Athletes - "About a week after its allies won a Supreme Court ruling allowing states to ban transgender girls from girls’ school athletics, a leading conservative group that has campaigned for seven years to “protect women’s sports” is singing a very different tune. On July 8, the Heritage Foundation—the right-wing think tank widely known for sponsoring Project 2025—published a report calling for the rollback of the very landmark federal protections for women’s sports that have driven their explosion in popularity over the last five decades." 

Breaking down that anti-trans SCOTUS decision - Fascinating way to look at a dumb SCOTUS decision.

Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures in 2026 - From the ACLU, a reminder to stay politically engaged. It certainly beats cowering in a corner.

Pioneering artistic swimmer says he’ll use gay slurs as ‘strength’ on road to Olympics - A GOOD motivator and a healthy attitude.

'LGBTQ candidates excel and win in Tuesday's primaries' & other Wed/Thur news briefs

“Ready for change”: LGBTQ+ & progressive candidates dominated Tuesday’s primaries​ - I am very cautious and pragmatic about this sort of thing. LGBTQ candidates did rather well, including:

 Joanna Whaley, a trans clinical chaplain who works in emergency rooms, intensive care units, and hospice, fended off two Democratic challengers in the state legislative primary in a blue district south of Detroit. She’ll likely be Michigan’s first-ever transgender state representative after a face-off against Republican Ron Kokinda in the November 3 general election.

Running for public office and winning provides much needed visibility and voices for our community. More of us should run for public office. 

Donald Trump’s 10 most humiliating presidential moments — among many - A stark reminder of why more LGBTQ people should run for public office. To combat jackasses like this fool and his attacks on our community. 

What’s missing from the renewed debate over trans athletes? The voices of trans people. - Generally speaking, in the debate about trans equality, the voices of trans people have been omitted and I think it's deliberate. Pundits and loudmouth idiots like Bill Maher and Joe Rogan rage against trans people but won't even invited them in the conversation. UNLESS it's a trans person willing to attack his or her own community. 

Buttigieg indicates he may run for president in 2028 - It would be nice but I don't think America is ready for a gay president. Of course, I have been wrong before. 

In Retrospect, Sophie Cunningham is Actually Okay with Shutting Up and Dribbling: ‘I Want to Get Back to Basketball’ - WNBA player becomes a hero to the right by attacking trans athletes, even though there are none in the WNBA and now wonders why she can't simply get back to playing basketball without talking about the culture war nonsense SHE helped to push.

'WA state ballot initiative could require genital exams for girls to play sports' & other Mon/Tue news briefs

Kindergarten girls targeted for invasive exams by new GOP-led ballot measure​ - Are we moving into the phase where anti-trans legislation could harm all girls in general. It was bound to happen. 

More details about this situation from a June article in OPB - Ballot initiative could require genital exams for Washington secondary students to play sports 

In other news: 

Hegseth forces national scouting event to end its spaces for gay youth, women, & scouts of color - Pete Hegseth is a pig. 

Michigan won't enforce its ban on conversion talk therapy for minors - All together now . . . booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! 

Michigan finds hair salon owner violated the law by directing trans people to pet groomers - This is an interesting case which we may see more of in the future.

MAGA Guys Are Going to Men-Only Gyms to Avoid “Distraction.” Welcome Back, Ancient Greece - No comment. It's just too damn easy.